About the photos in this post: 

Reggie’s and Roger’s interest in the blue mat returns when I move it to a different area of shade in order to mow. 

As the sun slides toward the horizon, the boys tussle in the last, outdoor play session of another day at our new home in southern Arizona.

I also include photos of a few plants found in our yard.  (Photo at left:  Mesquite pods turning red.)

 

Wednesday, July 18, in Arizona

Longtime readers of this blog know they can depend upon me to grab an ordinary, mundane topic, latch onto it with terrier-like tenacity, and expand it far beyond normal, sane limits.

Make something out of nothing?  That’s what I do best!

Having said that, let’s talk lawn mowing, shall we?

Morning and late afternoon I work to finish mowing the back yard.

Well, not exactly finish because there’s trimming along the fence to do and the mower blades can’t get close enough.  That will have to wait.

I suppose I have to buy a darn weed-whacker string thing.  

For the time being I’ll also ignore the intimidating tangle of weeds lurking at the back fence and plotting an uprising against me and my new mower.

What I mean is I’m almost finished with what I set out to do.

Just mow that patch around the yucca and the patch around the little mesquite and I’ll be done . . . .

I push the mower into the yucca patch of grass.

Pushing and pulling the mower, forward and back, being mindful to keep my head out of the mesquite thorns above, I make good progress.

Suddenly, as I’m pulling the mower back, who should appear in the just-mowed path but our little friend, Horned Toad!

(Photo at right taken previously.)

Immediately I pull the mower further back and in doing so I glance away for a moment. In that instant Horned Toad disappears.

Where’d he go?  Oh, I’m too weary to deal with this.  I’ll go mow the little mesquite patch and then I’ll quit.  

Round and round the mesquite I go until . . .

Oh, NO! . . . Not again!

Horned Toad in my path!

Gee whiz, either we have two horned toads or Horned Toad is one very speedy reptile.

Before anyone jumps on me for calling a toad a reptile, remember that horned toad is a common name for the horned lizard.

Toads are amphibians and lizards are reptiles.

Now that we’ve cleared that up . . . 

Recently while doing laundry I watch Horned Toad through the window as he browses his way across the bare ground in the back yard.  

Probably eating ants.

I don’t want to hurt him or run him off.

Now here’s Horned Toad in front of the mower.  He doesn’t move.  We stare at each other for a few moments.

This is what is known as a stand-off.

Okay, I know when I’m beat.  It’s hot. I’m tired.  I’m going into the house right now, take a shower, make myself a fruit smoothie, and sit on the front porch.

Thursday, July 19

In the cool of morning I take a rake out to the patch of grass around the yucca.  Carefully I rake aside the grass in search of Horned Toad.  Satisfied he’s not there, I start up the mower and get that job done.

I won’t mow around the little mesquite tree for now.  Let Horned Toad enjoy the shade of the tall grass, much like Reggie, Roger and I enjoy the shade of the big mesquite tree.

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rvsue

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