More Snakes

I was just met by this baby rattler upon opening the studio door. I guess it was as startled as I was. Had to yell for Bob to come with the snake tongs and take it away in a bucket. I read recently in some science journal that a study of relocated vipers showed most of them died within a year when removed from their home territory, so I'm not sure it wouldn't be better to just dispatch them right away. But we feel like they are getting a chance to survive. If not, some roadrunner or other snake eating critter makes out. I always worry about the dogs running into one of these things when they go out at night. Now I'm back to wearing my hot snake boots in the yard....

Snake Season

We're seeing rattlers almost daily now. The one day walking without camera I spotted a speckled rattler swallowing a bird that I believe was a quail! The diamondback below was from last night. 

Western Diamondback

Vertical pupil

Cat's claw acacia

Unexpected Color

The Gilded Flickers were here today feeding on insects in the mesquite trees, and here is a Common Side-Blotched Lizard, a male with turquoise spots.

Nearing 100 degrees

Staying cool today and trying some slip painting. If I don't like what comes out of the bisque I can always glaze over it.

Pansy purple and violet

Opposites

Yellow and blue

Four flowers open!

Clay Day

It's conenose bug season and I've already suffered multiple bites. One eye swelled up like Romana's sign so I was off to see a doctor. Got some blood tests for Chaga's exposure (it isn't common but recent studies in Tuscon showed 40% of conenose bugs collected there had the Chaga's parasite - Trypanosoma cruzi). There is no good way to get rid of the parasite that causes the disease so I hope I'm not exposed.

Back to white clay and making some functional pieces.

Red barrel cactus flower

Snake Wrangler

First snake of the season in the yard. Bob is getting pretty good at picking them up with the snake tongs and putting them in a bucket for transport to anywhere but here. No pictures unfortunately. My camera was on the blink, not recognizing the memory card. Thank goodness for the internet. I found a simple DIY fix online and we're back in the picture business. Anyway, time for me to put on the snake boots.

Tux is eating well but not putting on weight with any speed. Look at the bones sticking out on the poor dog.

Skinny girl

Wowie!

I sure hope these cactus survive.

Tux's Weight

She's 51 pounds. Down four pounds since March. She may just waste away despite having started eating again. Poor dog.

Disappearing: Rusty Blackbirds

Rusty blackbirds are mysteriously disappearing from North America. These songbirds – cousins to meadowlarks and orioles – were described as “traveling in great noisy flocks” and “enormous numbers” just a few decades ago. Today their decline is now estimated at between 90 and 99 percent, the steepest decline of any songbird in North America.   Link to story.

Snake Walk

I've been wondering when they'd be out and we ran into two this evening.

Cat's claw blooming profusely 

Diamondback

Sidewinder

Clay

There's a potters' saying that you have to throw a thousand bowls to become a master, or something like that. I'm working on throwing a thousand bottles (most of them I throw into the pool).... only 985 to go! Anyway, here are some things I've been working on. Clay is Sedona Red. Love the toasty color when it's fired.