A quiz for you: Was that SCARY or LUCKY? I think BOTH!

This was a first for us.  It was super hot Friday, so for our "longer" walk we waited until it was almost dark to get out the stroller and walk around the campground.  We were walking along the paved road and passed something on the inside edge of the pavement.  I stopped and backed up, saying to myself, "It looks like a large, fat lizard.  Darn, I didn't bring my camera!"  I wondered if it had been run over because it wasn't moving.  It was dark enough that I couldn't see the critter clearly, just an outline, barely, and it looked to be just sitting there, about a foot long and fat in the middle.  I was thinking, a big lizard that just had a meal.

I got closer, maybe three feet away, and started to lean down to see if I could get a clearer view when I heard the RATTLES.   SH*T!!!   (Excuse my French, it's my go-to word when totally shocked.)  I backed up as fast as I could, EEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!, pulling the stroller with me, almost turning it over twice and twisting my wrist.  GGGGEEEEEEEEEEZZZZ! 

I've never seen a rattlesnake in person before, and I guess I still haven't, but now I've sure heard one.  I walked quickly away, doing some of those breaths where you breathe in deeply and blow it out through your lips.  I kept saying to Katie, "That was really scary."  Then "That was really lucky."

It must have been coiled, and that's why it looked so short and fat.  Even though I couldn't see it clearly, when it started rattling, I could see a vague outline of the tail raised.  I couldn't believe it didn't strike at me when I leaned over to get a closer look.  I still think about it and say, Boy was that scary! Boy was that lucky!

Needless to say, no more late evening walks for us.  Last evening it was still completely light wen we walked, still, it was around 7:30 or so because that's when it starts cooling down enough to walk.  But completely light, and I scanned the road.  To the left, to the right, straight ahead, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Boy, was that scary!  Boy was that lucky!  WHEW!  :)

Here are a few shots taken in the last weeks:

Bluewater Lake State Park, NM

The Palms under a huge rainbow - we had a LOT of rain when we were there.

It was a double rainbow:

Two Raven lovebirds sitting on a rock together:

There were still some beautiful cactus flowers blooming:

When I see Gambel's Quail, I think of Nuns; when I see Turkey Buzzards, I think of SCOTUS.  Here's the Chief Justice:

(No religious or political implications meant.)

And here are three of the other Justices:

Elephant Butte Lake State Park, NM

Bunnies and lizards just remind me of bunnies and lizards:

I think this guy is called a Zebra-tailed Lizard.  What made him stand out is that when we were walking along and got too close to him, he scooted away with his tail in the air.  He didn't go far, just a few feet, and as we walked closer, he did it again and again.  This isn't a very clear shot, but was the best one I got of him.  I don't know what the loose neck skin is all about, or those weird toes.  And he sure looked different than other lizards when he flipped up his tail and ran.  I've never seen that before.  The underside of his tail is white with black stripes around it.

Beautiful Eastern sky the other night at sunset.  There are lots of evenings where the sunset isn't as pretty as the eastern sky, and this was one of them.

Sunset sky over Elephant Butte Lake:

I'm still quaking about the rattlesnake incident.  Wow, that was scarey!  And I just can't say that without saying, That was SO lucky!

From me and Katie, have a great Sunday, everyone!  :) 

PS:  Here's a great idea for you, and something I should have brought with me on the rattle snake walk the other night:  
This one is made by Coleman and comes in different colors.  The one I got is exactly like this except it has three lights, one in the middle edge of the brim, and two under the brim.  It's plenty of light to see at night, and so much easier than holding a flashlight.  So if you order from this link, you might get three lights instead of four, but I'm super happy with mine. 

They are well made with very sturdy material.  I should have had mine on the other night during our scarey rattle snake walk.  :)