Spiders, and Skunks, and Snakes... Oh My!

 One of my biggest fears growing up were spiders. Ask any of my family members or best friends they absolutely scared me to death. My bratty little sister chased me around the house with a spider in her hand one time. It left me in tears and a grounding for her ( I think I was 14, not that little) that is how deathly afraid of them I was. I would see one and get the hebe-jeebez, I am getting goosebumps just thinking about them. Yuck! Well, living here at the ranch I have had to get use to some creepy crawly visitors. We have spiders everywhere! The other day I sprayed the side of the house off because it was covered in cobwebs. Spiders went EVEYWHERE! Jeff soon took over that job. I am proud to say that I don't scream as loud when I see one, and I even have killed a few on my own! I am overcoming fear one spider at a time!

Our skunk count is up to 4. Dead skunks that is, they hang out right outside our yard eating bugs from the light at the pens. I have always had this weird quirk of liking the smell of a skunk. You know as your driving down the road and all of a sudden the strong aroma of black and white roadkill fills your nostrils. Ahhh lovely! I know I am a weirdo I can't help it. Well that same lovely aroma is not so lovely when it sprays right outside your house! Jeff and I pulled up one evening and noticed a skunk right outside our fence. I noticed a faint skunk smell but didn't think much of it. Jeff jumped out of the car, ran in the house, and got his gun. Bang! Another one bites the dust... I walked up to the house congratulated him then smelled a STRONG not so lovely scent. I walked in the house and the smell was stronger. We then realized that before we pulled up Lottie must have scared the skunk. When Jeff ran inside to get his gun, Lottie ran in behind him and had been shut up in the house while the skunk slaying was taking place. Lottie smelled like skunk, and when in the house she potpourried the house with her smell. Poor Lottie had to spend the next 2 days outside. Our skunk count could possibly go up to 6 tonight! We have been watching 2 come to the light every night.

As much as I am afraid of spiders I am afraid of snakes. I don't see the good in them at All! The only kind of snake I like is a DEAD one! I have not come across one (knock on wood) so far at my time at the ranch and I would like to keep it that way. I have taken some precautionary measures just in case. Snake Charmers! Meet Buttercup and Pepper. I am putting faith in these gals to grow up and keep the snakes away from me!