288/365: "To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect." ~ Oscar Wilde

3 more pictures in notes above! :)

After I finished my work, I decided to celebrate by taking Zoe and Moosie up to the ridge so I could leisurely stroll along in the late afternoon sun, taking all the time I wanted to enjoy the day and to look for interesting subjects to photograph.

Though I kept my eyes open for mushrooms, I wasn't actively searching for them because it's actually been on the dry side this fall and as I expected, I didn't find any. However, I was looking forward to finding out if there was anything under "Snakey's Log", which is where I have found many creatures, most recently a Western or Blue-Tailed Skink. Lifting up one end of the log, I saw that today there was nobody at home, but as I carefully replaced the log, my eye caught a quick movement about 5 feet away. What did I see but a gorgeous Mountain Garter Snake! It stayed frozen in place the entire time I took pictures (about 5 minutes) and I was delighted to get so many choices to pick from when I got home! I was very interested to find out what kind of snake this was, though I was fairly certain it was a kind of garter snake. What a surprise to discover there were so many species and sub-species--it took forever to find out what type this beauty is, but I finally figured it out! I've never seen such a pretty garter snake before and I'm so happy that I got some nice images to share!! :)

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. Today he is remembered for his epigrams and plays, and the circumstances of his imprisonment which was followed by his early death. Wikipedia: Oscar Wilde

Explored on October 17, 2013. Highest placement, page 8.