Britta - go to Rachelsreflections.com and find some info. But basically wait until the babies leaves are about a nickel so you can handle them easily, separate and give them their own pots. Plastic Solo cups 3 oz. work OK for babies - and are much cheaper than Oyamas. Momma leaves will do OK in a 4" pot till then. Cheers Irina

Screech owls and barred owls are the easiest to call. I can do a barred owl well enough that they answer me, and sometimes fly in close to take a look. I learned it from a friend who was so good at it, you really couldn't tell the difference between her calls and the owls. Birders will on occasion use a recording of a screech owl call to bring in small birds. Birds will "mob" any screechie they thing is in their nesting territory, so they respond to the call by flying in like crazy to take a look around. This isn't really considered a good thing to do very often as it agitates the little birds, obviously. Once in awhile, it is helpful in seeing just what you might have living in a given area, though. I have been hearing barred owls at night for weeks now. Earlier in the season, I had two in my big oaks, calling at the top of their lungs one night, but I never could get the light on them to see them. Now they are calling from a block or so away every night. Ya gotta love owls. Too cool! Marcia

Thanks, sportsguy and wayne. Looked up some pictures and pretty sure that's what it was. The tiny size fits, too. From what I read, a brown snake is sub-terranean most of the time so that also makes sense that I found it pulling grass away from the wall. Wish I would have had the presence of mind to try to catch it for a better look (not to try to keep.) It was SO CUTE! He/she is welcome to eat as many slugs and bugs as it can find! Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.

I'm going to be okay, sjerin. I'm going to be a whole lot more careful though. And I am happy. I am going to take another little donkey, one that I call Bug, so Fern will have company here when I bring her home. I am going to leave Buttermilk until I find out she can be handled. If she doesn't adapt to being handled, when her baby is old enough to be weaned, I will take it, and leave Buttermilk there. I can't take her if she won't allow me to touch her. She is getting a little bit better...I can at least stand close to her.