Can you spot the Copperhead (poisonous snake) on this tree trunk?

[capncarl]

Another large one taking a swim

[capncarl]

If you had a couple of these critters fenced in your back yard you wouldn't have to worry about any snakes...... dogs......cats.......neighbors kids.
I am surprised to see them out this early on Lake Eufaula. Curious weather we are having. We didn't catch many fish but had a wonderful outing. It was the 1 year anniversary of loosing my dad, I though he would have rather us be fishing than mourning his passing. . He love to fish and being on the water.
capncarl

[cwsmith]

I LOVE New York!

[cwsmith]

Sorry to hear of your Dad's passing.

I think you are right, that you Dad would have liked that you commemorate his passing with doing something that HE loved to do.


CWS

[Carlos]

[capncarl]

CW. How you liking NY now? The weather report shows lots of snow your way. That much snow down here would freeze all the snakes, might not be such a bad thing.

[cwsmith]

You know Carl, I love the snow. Don't know what it is about it, but it brings out the sense of adventure in me I guess. I've been that way since I was a kid, when we moved to the country when I was about ten. The more it snows and drifts the better I like it.

I haven't checked into the forum for almost two days, as Ive been outside for a good share of it. We live here in the city of Binghamton, on the west side. The street is a double-wide and double-wide sidewalks. This is the first year I have a snow-blower, as I've always shoveled the stuff. So, I spent most of yesterday trying to keep ahead of the snow, running the machine for both of my neighbors too. I went out at 10:00 AM, took a break for lunch at 1:30, went back out a 2:00 and again last night after supper. Stuff was coming down at about 3" a hour yesterday.

I just came in a few minutes ago (4:00 pm), after going out at 1:00. Temperatures yesterday were in the low 20's and right now it's 21 and falling. Wind gusts to about thirty, which is great as it's blowing the snow off the roof, especially important because we have a couple of low slopes that concern me.

When I was a teen we lived up on West Windsor hill which is about the steepest highway slope here in the county and the highest point in the county was a short distance out my back door. I had the local paper route which about five miles of country road and there were a few times when I did that on cross-country ski's.

Nice part about the winter is you don't have to be bothered by insects or snakes and we surely don't get alligators this far north. You learn how to deal with the cold, and drive in slippery stuff and I don't mind being outside at all in the winter.

Monday night it started snowing and by early Tuesday afternoon we had 16-3/4 inches of the white stuff in my driveway.... just before I came in, several minutes ago now, I measured again and it was 23-1/2 in the same spott.... 27 inches over on the side of the house.

I took some pictures yesterday with my phone... and will do so again after dinner. I'll try to post.


CWS

[capncarl]

CWS, glad you didn't freeze. Everyone down here also enjoys the rare snow we do get, and the rare deep freezes and gets out and enjoys it, then quickly goes back inside where it is warm. I use to enjoy the coldest weather we had for my deer hunting, the deer moved around a lot in the cold and was quite successful times for me.
I think that there is a lot to the climate a person is born and raised in that determines their heat/cold tolerance. I'm not cold tolerant, I can handle it down into the 40s but lower than that I start looking for my artic gear. When it gets in the 90s and hits 100 I'm ok. Don't really like it but I don't start melting like some of my northern friends. You just must stay out of the direct sun or you will cook.
Insects are another subject. We definately have our share but the worst insect problem I've run into was Alaska, so cold temperatures doesnt necessarily mean insect free. Reptiles like alligators don't handle the cold very well though. Out of curiousif I googled snakes and was surprised to see NY has 17 species of snakes, 3 being venomous. They must be able to tolerate the cold ok. Ga has 41 species, 6 being venomous. What surprised me was this 2014 statement, Georgia has 15.67 snakes per square mile, surpassing Arizona's 15.2 for the largest number in the country. Georgia should be called the snake state rather than the peach state! You just have to watch your step and never ever step over a log!
Stay warm my friend!
capncarl

[Twin Oaks]

I have relatives in Ga. My Uncle used to raise hogs. He always carried a .22 9 shot pistol with him.
He averaged shooting 2 snakes a week in farrowing season. Rattlesnakes like piglets for some reason.
I remember shooting one with a 12 gauge in my Grandpa's barn.
I blew a hole thru the wall about 2' in diameter.