Did you know that toads can talk? I didn’t. At least not until yesterday. Rick was mowing along the edges of our back yard yesterday afternoon when he stopped, sighed, and looked at me. I saw the toad jump in front of the mower and knew what he was sighing about. He didn’t want to run over the toad. I picked up the toad to relocate him elsewhere and he started making a chirping sound not unlike a baby bird. I was so startled that I dropped him.

After Rick was done mowing I had a hard time catching him again because he kept leaping out of my hand. Finally I calmed him down enough to sit in my hand and take this video. Turn up your sound!

I know he was just giving out a distress call and not really “talking,” but a gal can imagine he was, now can’t she? I’m sure I heard him say hey lady, thanks for saving me, but would ya please put me down now and leave me alone .. and by the way don’t even think about kissing me!
See To Kiss A Golden Toad

Tonight I held a baby bat in my hands. No, really, I know what you’re thinking (ewwwww!) but I really did. And it was very cool. Rick and I were out swimming tonight after it was dark by the light of the Tiki torches. We were doing laps in the *almost* 80 F degree pool water (finally!) when I noticed something strange crawling right along the edge of the pool. At first I thought it might be a frog due to its ungainly gait. When I got close I realized it was tiny baby bat!

With our bat population down here in New Jersey by a huge degree due to a fungus that has been affecting our bat population, I was ecstatic to see this little guy! He was insistent upon going into the pool no matter how Rick or I tried to redirect him. He seemed to be unable to fly. Finally I jumped out of the pool, let him climb on my hand, and transported him to the railing where he would at least be safe from puppy-everything-goes-in-my-mouth Bella who was also out with us. He felt strange to my hand. Not like the hummingbird which I held last year; not like a rodent-like creature either. I felt its wings a bit and maybe its feet. I can’t describe him quite. Not creepy though. 

When I put him down on the railing he started crawling along. We weren’t sure if it was hurt and unable to fly, or just too young to fly.

I jumped back in the pool and continued swimming. About ten minutes or so later I decided to get out and see if it was still making its way along the railing. I found it not too far from where I had left it. I spoke softly to it and said something like “are you still here” and with the breath from my voice it spread its tiny wings and flew away.

I can only hope in that instant it finally learned how to fly. Am I just plain weird that I feel quite blessed tonight?

See you next year, little fledgling bat ...

how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

What place could be more fitting for a woodchuck than in our stack of wood? Remember meeting Chuck last year? I guess Chuck was really Chuckette.This baby woodchuck found a safe place away from the dogs—thank goodness. But if it weren’t for the dogs I would never have known it was even around.

Yesterday Hailey was acting crazy, going from window to window panting and in a state of extreme agitation. She jumped up on the love seat that doubles as a dog bed here in the office and whined and stared out the window. I had a feeling I knew what it was because we went through the same routine last week. Sure enough when I looked out the window I saw a baby woodchuck ambling around the back yard near our firewood stack. Forget about it, I told her, no way am I letting you outside!

You see, last week the same thing happened, only in the front of the house. Hailey and Bella kept going to the window and looking down into the hedges at the front windows. I kept looking out the window and saw nothing. Finally they convinced me that something was there that was very interesting, so out the front door I went. I started down the steps and this little head popped out of the marigolds.

So cute! I did not let the dogs out because I knew they would chase it down like they do with the squirrels and chipmunks. I waited a while but finally had to let the dogs out. I went out first and found it still walking around in the back yard. I scared it under the deck and figured it was safe. I fed the dogs and let them outside. After about ten minutes my brain registered that they had been out longer than usual without wanting to come inside and I went outside to see what they were up to. Well ... I’m afraid that adorable baby woodchuck met its demise that day. I cried buckets of tears and felt so badly for it. But, really, what can you do? They are dogs after all and prey drive runs in their veins. I have no idea exactly who was involved in the woodchuck’s demise and I don’t want to know.

So ... I don’t know whether to be thrilled that there is another baby chuck or worried that it may meet the same fate as the other one. When it grows up and is eating all my flowers, ask me again!

I think it has the cutest ears!

I hereby declare firefly season open as of tonight. They may have been here a few days ago, I don’t know for certain. But as of tonight —  they have arrived. Whether or not it was due to the fact that I mowed the grass today or not, they seemed to be drawn to it tonight. Rick saw the first one. We were sitting out by the pool having a late night glass of wine, tiki torches lit. We went down into the yard to get a closer look.

As dusk descended around me I sat in the newly mown grass, knees drawn up to my chest, my arms wrapped tightly around them. Fireflies flickered on and off all around me. I sat there in perfect silence just watching. Mesmerized by their flashing lights. Winking so close to my body I could reach out and catch them. But I didn’t. I just sat and watched. A peaceful kind of joy dropped like a protective cloak about me as if nothing in this world could touch me outside of its custody. I was immune from everything happening in the world just then. Just me and the fireflies. They certainly didn’t care, why should I?

I find fireflies magical beings. I am so glad they have arrived for their brief stay here in my New Jersey back yard.

This morning I saved two toads from drowning. It’s true. I did. I love toads. Last year I didn’t see any. When I went out to skim the pool this morning I found a toad floating face down in the water. Oh no! I thought it was dead but when I touched him with the skimmer he moved, albeit feebly. I fished him out and put him somewhere safe. Here he is.

It took him awhile to gather his strength back again, but he finally managed to hop off. I think it’s the same kind of toad that we had the summer before last. The Golden Toad, as I called him.

As I worked my way around the pool I filled my skimmer with caterpillars and lots of spiders. When I got to the opposite side I found another toad, this time a different color. He too was doing the dead man’s float and I thought for sure he was a goner. I scooped him up gently and he moved! Again, I placed him where I thought he was safe from Bella and he too eventually hopped off into the yard.

So, two toads saved. Do you think I’m strange for liking (and sometimes kissing) toads?

Oh yes. Did I mention the pool is open? Yesterday was the first day. Bella did not jump in (thank goodness) but did have some cute encounters with it. She is working on her own blog entry to come soon complete with pics and video. It might be open but we won’t be swimming for awhile. The temperature stands at 60 chilly degrees. brrrrrr!!!!! Hopefully we’ll get some sun next week and the solar cover will help to keep in whatever warmth we might get out of it. We’ll be patiently waiting ...