Old Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
Good morning. A quiet day here, beautiful weather, but I'm relaxing inside, doing some leisurely catch-up of laundry. Yesterday the weather was not bad but it was windy and felt a little chilly in the shade, while wearing short sleeves. The kids played outside a lot. The little ones required supervision, since the temperature was mild enough for snakes. We did see one but it wasn't an immediate threat to anyone. My 17-year old grandson decided he wanted to go inside our storm cellar.
I did have a new door and window (with metal instead of glass) put on it a couple of years ago, but no one has been inside it since then. I don't believe any of the grandkids have ever been in it. So they all gathered around as he opened the door, then quickly gasped and stepped back. The snake was not visible but they all heard the rattling. I got a flashlight and was able to spot a big rattler coiled up in a far corner. I wanted them to see and hear it because the younger ones have never seen a snake out here and they don't seem to pay much attention when I tell them they must be watching for them.
Now I need to deal with that snake at some point. Not excited about going down into the cellar for it. Also, there could be others in there that were out of sight from above. I stuffed steel wool in the places they could possibly get in or out, in hopes it might just die in there. The door is covered with sheet metal. The modern types of sheet metal have ridges big enough for even a large snake to get through. I'm not a fan of that type but my builder had some left over from other projects so that's what he used. Next time he comes I'll see if he can cover the bottom edge of the door with something.
I did have a new door and window (with metal instead of glass) put on it a couple of years ago, but no one has been inside it since then. I don't believe any of the grandkids have ever been in it. So they all gathered around as he opened the door, then quickly gasped and stepped back. The snake was not visible but they all heard the rattling. I got a flashlight and was able to spot a big rattler coiled up in a far corner. I wanted them to see and hear it because the younger ones have never seen a snake out here and they don't seem to pay much attention when I tell them they must be watching for them.
Now I need to deal with that snake at some point. Not excited about going down into the cellar for it. Also, there could be others in there that were out of sight from above. I stuffed steel wool in the places they could possibly get in or out, in hopes it might just die in there. The door is covered with sheet metal. The modern types of sheet metal have ridges big enough for even a large snake to get through. I'm not a fan of that type but my builder had some left over from other projects so that's what he used. Next time he comes I'll see if he can cover the bottom edge of the door with something.