got it :-) Lucy

thats a sad lesson about nature for your kids. maybe the other nestlings will have a better ending.

Enjoyed your story and pics! Too bad your scarlet snake was a DOR. I am always impressed with your pics. That was a really cool post you had a while back with pics of the red milks you found this year. I always look at your backgrounds. Elephant ear leaves, old boards, moss covered rocks. Some of those really make the snake stand out. I don't think everyone realizes how difficult it is to get a snake to cooperate sometimes!

It's not just in HOA communities. My neighborhood (it was a subdivision when it was started just before WWII and finished in the late 40's), is a Sixth Class City. We have a Mayor, Councilmen, and a rep on the county Metro Council. All are elected posts but few are contested elections - hard to find anyone to run. In my state, a Sixth Class city may pass ordinances, but has no power to enforce them, i.e. Ordinances become mere "suggestions". I've lived hear for nearly 33 years and have seen the neighborhood change in many ways. Property values have soared - I could never afford to buy here today. A good thing! So have property taxes. Not such a good thing! The biggest difference is the people buying in this neighborhood - all are young and very affluent and most blatantly disregard the city ordinances. Parking on the street is a big problem - usually where there are multiple teen drivers. While most houses were built with 2-car garages but single lane driveways, these houses now have 5 drivers, and yes, inevitably their garages are packed with "stuff". There is truly no place to park unless they want to have to play musical cars when folks come and go. Very few use their garages as they are stuffed. Many garages have been converted to family rooms over the years and unattached garages built at the back of the property. They were supposed to get permits for these and have abutting and across the street neighbors give there consent but few bother - they just build them since the city can't make them tear them down. Trash pickup is a major problem with the young families. We have twice weekly pickup with 3 containers allowed at the house line, but these families each have one big container that they put out on the street the night before, invariably over flowing. This attracts skunks and raccoons. If anyone complains to the mayor, he sends out a citywide email reminding all residents of the rules, and one to the offending family. Nothing happens and they know it won't. In the past, people in the neighborhood were far more considerate of their neighbors. A sign of the times. These days, one must just accept such thoughtlessness or move to the country.