by PAULINE TOM
Fire and Ice sizzled and fizzled. Games and competition, barbeque dinners and neighborhood conversations proceeded, as planned, even with rain showers. The plan for live music died, and the event closed down early.
The annual Mountain City festival features a “fire” (salsa) and “ice” (ice cream) tasting, with winners determined by popular vote of those age two and older, with no need to show identification.
Leslie and Brett Burich carried away the salsa trophy and Jason Gamble (Dr. MaryAnn Gamble’s husband) won with a chocolate ice cream with crushed sugar cones.
Thanks to those who made purchases and to local business sponsors this was a profitable fundraiser for Loving Mountain City, the group that plans and presents community events throughout the year.
Stephanie Jamail’s event photographs appear on the Facebook page of Loving Mountain City and her business Facebook page.
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Stephanie recently photographed a Texas rat snake hanging from a tree in her backyard as it tried to devour a squirrel. In this instance, it was not successful. But, the photo gives evidence of the size of a snake’s mouth.
Rat snakes are the only large snakes in Mountain City that climb. Rat snakes are good news for Mountain City because they devour rodents and compete with rattlesnakes for the same food sources, keeping down the population of rattlesnakes. Indeed, sometimes they eat birds and bird eggs. Weigh the good and bad.
A YouTube search for “rat snake coral snake” produced a video of a tiny-mouth coral snake eating a small rat snake. WOW! Many times readers tell me, “I’m not worried about coral snakes. Their mouths are so small.” Be cautious and play it safe. Who amongst us has a finger larger than a rat snake?
The entire remaining supply of coral snake antivenin (last manufactured in 2003) carries a printed expiration of 2008. Each year the FDA has extended the expiration for one more year. The current extension goes through Oct. 31, 2012. By the end of the month we will know if FDA evaluation of stability data determines that the aging antivenin will maintain stability and potency for an additional year.
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Just before the end of the month, on Sunday, Oct. 23, Loving Mountain City will conduct the postponed food drive. Leave bags of non-perishable food near your mailbox by noon.
Send perishable and non-perishable tidbits for “Montage” to [email protected] or phone (512) 268-5678.
