Weather's cooling....guests are arriving....

Today's weather is a testament to why we are living in the desert....it is NOT because of the 115 degree summer days that last from June through September. No it's not that! It is because of the 85 degree weather that brings people outdoors. It also brings visitors to our door that would not normally come to endure the oven-like summer temps! Here's proof - - - - -







Larry discovered these little "guests" when he came home from a Church meeting tonight. One graced each side of our front door. This first little guy was a bit camera shy.
(Side note: Candy said these guys were probably toads so I did some research - which I should have done in the first place - and this is what I found:
Sonoran Desert Toad Common Names: Sonoran Toad Genus: BufoSpecies: alvarius
A toad is a small animal without a tail that looks a lot like a frog. It is a type of animal called an amphibian. That means that toads live in water and on land. Toads have dry, warty skin with a raised area behind the eyes. The desert toad is olive green in color with a white "wart" bumpy area near the jaw and on the back legs. The Sonoran Desert Toad is the largest toad found in the United States, and it measures 7 inches in size.
The Sonoran Desert Toad is found in the Southwest United States Desert. The toad lives in the areas of the desertthat stay wet. Sonoran Desert Toads eat insects and mice.
In the spring, the male toad "sings" to attract the female. A female toad can lay up to 8,000 eggs. The eggs are laid in water and hatch in 2-12 days and are called tadpoles. The tadpoles change or go through "metamorphosis" . This change can take from 3 to 8 weeks. Once the toads have changed, they live on land. They grow to their adult size in less than 1 years. Toads can live ten years or more.
Toads can live in the desert where water is sometimes not easily available. The toad spends the dry winters buried under ground. The spring rains "wake" the toad. The toad survives on fat in its body. This is called hibernation.
Sonoran Desert Toads are not endangered.
by Amanda K. and Edey Y. 2000)


I'm sure the second one was posing - notice how it turned its good side toward the camera?













Then without so much as a thank you they (with a little prodding from Larry) scurried off to grace someone else's doorstep!





While I was busy posting these delightful pictures of our unexpected guests, another guest showed up. Larry saw something flash by the sliding glass door and was certain it was another toad that had gotten into the house. We had a bit of discussion on what we could use to capture this little critter. He said my idea of a waste basket was really lame because the toad would just hop out. I gave him a magazine to put over the top of the basket. He didn't like that idea so he found a plastic grocery bag to trap Kermit. Just as Larry lifted the box Kermie was hiding behind we quickly discovered it was not sweet little Kermie but Mickey Mouse INSTEAD!!!! Things happened REALLY fast after that. As Mickey RAN toward me (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!) Snickers the Cat decided to pounce on him - she didn't have much experience with vermin and didn't grab him. I, on the other hand (with my trusty little waste basket), scooped Mickey up and not sure he was really in there screamed at Larry to look. YES, he was captured! Larry took his trusty plastic grocery bag and grabbed the little thing ----- see the picture. Next we had to debate his fate. I will not tell you his fate. Snickers is still looking around for some action. I think Mickey whet her appetite. Pest control service just went up several notches on MY priority list!