The rattlers have been really bad this year, old timers have their reasons for the snakes being out in mass numbers and vicious this summer. Doesn't matter how many reasons a person comes up with a rattler is a rattler and a bite is a bite, and I am just a really big woosey when it comes to rattlers ! If you want a really good book to read try 'Perma Red".

Now a person can take most anything for a while without change and I am one of the most patient when it comes to eventual change so long as I know there 'will' be a change in the future sometime and I am working toward that change. Now this can pertain to anything. Facts a fact and that's a fact.

So when we had the most days over a 100 degrees anyone could remember and the hottest, driest wind blowing, blasting the mountains and the prairie without prejudice for mother nature's children. When the springs shrivel up and recourse their lifesource downward and not up and out for the forest babies to quench their much parched throats with, when their mother's milk is disappearing faster, without the moisture to make more, than the babies can survive with. Then the forest creatures fear of all that is man starts to fade with each ragged breath.

My troughs become the new springs where hope cools eternal. I leave a drip on the frosttfree.

When the ga'hoppers become the main meal for my pups and a meal they love to eat, how do you limit the number they inhale like a gourmet meal. My rottie is huge, ga'hopper round. When the hummers flight brings them close to death from heat exhaustion just trying to forage for a few bugs and some sweet nectar to wash them down with. Then, its just a little toasty in the prairie.

When its too dadburned HOT for so consistently long that I even consider the snake laden river, then its time for a change and to steel up. So steel up I did, without the kids.

My CPN slid over to jump in the pool for a moments relief from the incinerating heat today, got her calves in the water, her personal leg calves not her 4 legged black calves that go mooo, then I was desperate to dare the 'ice' water from just filling the pool. The mini tornado lifted the pool with roughly 12 inches of water in it and tossed it upside down twisting and bending a 'few' metal poles. So with enough help to right it and scrub it down, we were just filling it up.

I was trying sooo hard to get in and cool off. It was now deep enough and the babies had headed home with their mom and the other 'splashers' were in the house warming up and watching a movie. They had been splashing, dripping and climbing in my lap all day. So here I go into the pool! Not enough sun long enough to take the 'cicles' off the edges much less warm it up a might. Then add 100 plus body heat from working in the heat of the day. Well in others words the rattlers' seemed a little less threatening.

So with the mere mention of the river with its snow fed water shed from ages ago, sounded like a less shocking to the system option, off we went likity split.

After thankfully not seeing nary a snake on the way we pulled up and jumped out. Half of the prairie was already swimming and soaking up the sweet refreshing invigorating 'cool' moisture Mother Nature has been providing for eons and the other half was scarfing up and picking out the beginnings of 'dinner' offered up, before they could fly away!

Dadgum rottie just up and beelines it down the dirt side trail, hell bent for leather, with nary a care as to how I will make it safely thru the snake laden, snake booby trapped side hill hmmm what a 'bud'!

So brave I be without my 'steel rattler gators' on. Down the steep, slippery, to dusty to see a dadgum rattler, hillside I tip-toe! That river water was the sweetest reward for my bravery one could imagine. Now why oh why have we suffered so long?!

All summer, with my fear keeping us from relief. Shhh never reveal the simple relief to my kids and dogs this river could have provided all summer, please. Even remembering that scene in that western I love. Where that nice Irish kid gets swallowed 'up' by the 'shudder' slithering ball of water moccasins 'cotton mouths', when trying to cross a river on horseback.

Ohhhh ya, did influence my entire life with one scene. Uhgg just couldn't make myself not think of that scene. Still I braved all my fears and down to the river and well not quite jumpin in but close! Oh man, today was the sweetest reward for my bravery in a long time!! So if tomorrow is the hottest day predicted 'yet', I hope my courage resurfaces with a vengence and I load up all the puppies and kids and off and jumping in we go!!

So much closer than the lake, they can swim and my lures will drift down without a thought of hooking a kid. Got a current tho so gotta watch careful on the kids, rivers high enough to be a danger. Without ac at the house this river is a blatant blessing I've avoided like a fool.

Dang, the more I write about the 'dangers' of rattlers. Or my foolish fear! The more I talk myself out of braving Mother Nature's creatures offered abundantly for my viewing pleasure only and appreciating the blessings flowing for our blessed relief from Mother Nature's heat.

I mean really, is 'one' bite worth it!

Look where 'one' bite got the entire world !