If it is any comfort, Lisa, most black snakes are non-venomous and, therefore, harmeless. Well, unless you're like me, and any snake makes your skin crawl. And, remember, if you see one snake, then you most likely have others around.

I haven't seen any live snakes in over a week, and I am starting to relax a bit....well, I heard one rattle in the veggie garden the other day (and haven't been back in the garden but once since then!), but couldn't find it.

I did see some Halloween candy that grossed me out, though. It was gummy snakes made to look like Coral Snakes--you know, the Coral Snake is venomous, as in "red on yellow, kill a fellow, red on black, venom lack". I want to know what idiot thought it a good idea to put candy that resembles venomous snakes in the hands of kids? (We don't have coral snakes in Oklahoma, as far as I know, but they have them in Texas. One of DH's co-workers had one in his yard a couple of years ago.)

And, just in case you encounter a 'dead' venoumous snake, remember that 'dead' snakes can sometimes still strike and inject venom for a few hours after they die.

Dawn