I have been seeing more snakes than ever down here this year. I think that it has a lot to do with the fact that we, at least down here on the coast, are in a drought. They are everywhere, and I keep finding snake skins all over my yard.

I guess we should all watch where we step. Maybe their food source has moved into more residential areas and that is what they're really after - mice and rats and anything else they can get into their mouth. Don't worry - you're too big for them to eat, but they might just bite you anyway if you make them mad enough.

Gives me the shivers! I heard on the news that coral snakes are on the rise. They're even more poisonous than rattlesnakes!

I do hope they don't try one of the bigger poisonous ones . . . but they are quick at killing the little ones, so they might keep the big ones away.

On Tuesday my son was walking to his truck and caught something moving out of the corner of his eye. It was a baby water mocassin. Being 19 and thinking he's bulletproof he jumped on it with both feet to kill it. Not what a mom wants to hear.

I have also found so many snake skins this year! I was thinking that just the other day - all small ones, luckily, so I think they're all just from our usual earth snakes.

I went to a party over in Lamar, Texas, across the bridge from Rockport, on Saturday night. My friends live out in the woods on 7 acres of land. Earlier on Saturday morning they found a large coral snake crossing their driveway, and while we were there, one of the younger men caught a good size rat snake. It was wrapped around his arm 3 times, and still there was about a foot with his head and another foot with his tail. He was a big one. I got brave and went over to look at it and noticed that all of the kids were petting it, and he was very docile. After the all kids petted him, he was realized back into the undergrowth.

OK, I'm hoping the next time I encounter one of the non-poisonous snakes that I won't freak out so bad. So far this year, I've let all of the ones that I found live. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't see any of the poisonous ones any time soon!