Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Missing pieces…

A few years ago Richard threw up a wooden scaffold attached to the porch and running along the side of the house so he could tear into the wall, repair some termite damage, replace a window, and put up new siding, and he extended it around the corner and across the front of the house part way so he could work on some siding on that side of the house that is falling apart.

The scaffold was supposed to be temporary, but it has yet to be taken down (and, alas, the second part of the project has yet to be done), and for several summers it has served as a handy place to sit large pots of tomatoes and some of my cactus.

It has also become a playground for a small army of lizards that patrol it regularly for insects.



One day some years ago, just before I was going to open the screen door to go outside, I watched a little lizard race across the porch and gobble up a cockroach that was headed in a determined way toward the house. So I think of them as our first line of defense during the Spring and Summer.



After I inherited Richard’s old camera, I began to have a lot of fun trying to take pictures of them. They are nervous, very fast, and usually don’t sit still too long for their portraits, but once in a while…




 They will sit still long enough so that I can get a few shots.


The cat also hangs out on the porch and the scaffold – she likes to stretch out in patch of sun and sleep, or perch on a board that forms a shelf at the corner, as is true with most cats, she is very alert to anything that moves.

In the last few days, I have noticed at least one lizard with a missing tail.



Isn’t too hard to guess who was responsible. The lizard’s tail will grow back, assuming she doesn’t kill it. Wouldn’t it be interesting if we also could grow replacement parts?

7 comments:

Cloudia said...

Look at those guys!!!



Aloha from Waikiki;


Comfort Spiral


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Lo said...

Love those lizards and their gorgeous green tails.

As for growing replacement parts........let me be the first to put my name on the list....a new left knee please.

Donna. W said...

I love those little skinks. When I had my cabin in the woods I would see them often. I like tree-frogs, too, and it makes me happy to see one on my window at night.

Oklahoma Granny said...

Great photos! I'm rooting for the lizards.

Wanda..... said...

I would just think of the scaffolding as a wrap around deck! We don't have lizards, but we have a tree frog that has taken up residence on our porch. Thanks for visiting, Leilani.

Maggie May said...

That was a lovely post.
Wish we had lizards. Well we do have one or two but they are rare;y seem especially in the city. Looks like yours are a very common sight.
The lizards are pretty little creatures and I'm glad that they can grow back their chopped of tails. Naughty cat. Yes..... if only mammals could regrow limbs..... or better still grow new brain cells.

Many thanks for visiting my blog.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

troutbirder said...

Interesting. For all my time in the woods and on trails I never see lizard, salamander etc. Maybe an occasional turtle. Must be too cold up in here on the frozen tundra of southern Minnesota. :)