By Pauline Tom.
Rick Thomas caught a small rattlesnake on his driveway (across the street from Old City Hall) on March 20. Caught? Rick catches and releases (away from humans) snakes from in and around Mountain City.
Rattlesnakes and coral snakes are the only two venomous snakes common in Mountain City. Even though they play important roles on the earth, most of us do not want them in our suburban yards. Contact Rick (512 393 1986) to catch and release snakes, evenings and weekends. Many times it’s feasible to cover the snake with a bucket or barrel and weight it down while waiting for Rick to arrive.
Has anyone found a large rattlesnake in Mountain City in recent years? We killed rain barrel-sized rattlesnake near our back porch over a dozen years ago. We took the skin to Texas Hatters (back then, on the highway in Buda) with thoughts of a hat band. It sits across a wide spot on our piano, mounted on felt.
There’s no need for fear. But, caution is advised. Rustle weeds with a snake stick and use gloves when weed-pulling.
Google’ing “weed pulling therapeutic” pulls up over two million hits. In the midst of weed pulling, pleasant memories shoveled into me when I came across a large patch of “little carrot top” weeds. I kept remembering kneeling on the ground with Frances Cobb by the gazebo between our houses. She showed me to slowly, slowly, slowly pull those weeds, without a yank. I miss her.
The lilac blooms on our wisteria remind us of Mrs. Tokar. When we bought this house, Don Tokar asked that we care for the tree that he planted in memory of his wife who died with breast cancer. We never met her, but every day we enjoy special touches she added in the design of our house.
Nowadays big pink blossoms rain from our Paulownia when the wind blows. Frequently people ask its identity. It’s also called Chinese Empress. Since it’s not a native, it’s not my favorite. But, it is beautiful and fast-growing. Ron estimates ours is 30-feet tall, and it’s only seven years old.
Our passion vine is just starting to put out leaves and already hungry butterfly-promising Gulf Fritillary caterpillars are chomping. Cocoons hang nearby.
Thanks to Marjie Kelly who organized Mountain City’s “March Away Hunger” for the good folks at the Food Pantry at the Buda United Methodist Church. It’s hard to remember these drives, isn’t it? Our memory happened to get jogged at Fellowship Church on Sunday morning when Pastor Jonathan’s message on fasting from Isaiah 58 included, “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: … to share your food with the hungry?” The food pantry, which serves Buda and Kyle, accepts donations year round.
Year round, tidbits for Montage are needed. Send to [email protected] (Subject: Tidbit) or (512) 268-5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
