wild

The last few days have seen a bunch of wildlife in and around my home. Three sightings in particular. First, deer. That is correct there were deer near my home. I was biking on the ATT (American Tobacco Trail) and as I sped along I heard a rustling on the right side of the trail. I looked over and a Deer ran across the trail just in front of me, it was amazing until the second deer ran out following the first deer nearly colliding with me on the trail. I braked hard and swerved to miss the second one almost going off the trail, good times. The second animal was a snake in my house. IN my house. I was in the back room with the door open doing some work in and out of the house and when I can in and shut the door there was a snake, beautiful green little guy, about 18 inches long. It slithered out the back and onto the porch I followed and shooed it off the porch and into the yard where it slithered to the trees. I havent seen it since. I am not such a huge fan of snakes but this one didnt get all pissey when it had to go so I didnt mind it. finally a huge ant fight. Ant war really. There was a small hole in the deck which I had taken little notice of until today when I went out back for my coffee. I stepped onto the porch and looked down and it was covered with red ants. They were scurrying and biting each other and generally in a state of agitation. I quickly moved off the porh and into the yard for a better view of the action. Seems that ant team A lives in the yard. Team B in the hole on the porch. I guess team B did or said something to piss of team B because team B was attacking. They were up on the porch going into the hole and carrying out larva, and then returning to the yard. Team A was being slaughtered. Dead ants abound. I watched for a good 30 minutes as the battle raged. I wonder what happens to those captured larva? Are they eaten, raised as members of the victorious team? How did the ants decide that today was the day to fight? Was there planning did they have a meeting? Later when I went out back it was as if nothing had happened. All the bodies have been taken away, the hole on the porch is quite as always and the ants in the yard are again just milling around a few at a time. Just a strange thing to witness. I was going to get some insecticide to put around the porch to kill them but now I feel bad about it. They have a society that executes advanced maneuvers they took captives, they arent there to piss me off they are just there. If they dont come inside I think I will let them stay put. No harm no foul.

As an aside my matress arrived as did the couch and loveseat, and the house is coming along. The ivy has subsided and I have a bicycle. Life is good.