[Freeda]

I consulted my buddy Steve on our way back from the shuttle launch this morning. He is our "TV expert" from living here for many years, and he lives in front of one of the preserves with snakes etc around (and which, nevertheless, he has only rarely confronted anywhere around his house, he says). He says snakes in the house almost for sure came in the same way people do--through the door, when we left it open for a bit while unloading a car, while we were in the garage etc. Soooo, Steve says keep garage and house doors closed and we probably won't have uninvited visitors! He has certainly convinced me to be more careful.

This makes sense to me; when we lived in Kentucky our lot backed up to woods, and we always had to be careful to keep our garage and house doors closed to keep wasps, even raccoons and other critters out - the same goes here! I think it's just that since we live in a more developed area here, not being in a directly wooded area, it is easier to overlook the natural surroundings within which we live.