IF YOU LIKE RATTLESNAKES, I’VE GOT A LINK FOR YOU

If you don’t, then don’t read any further.

Project RattleCam on YouTube lets you choose from Colorado (prairie rattlers), Pennsylvania (timber rattlers), and California (western rattlers) dens. The cameras are not inside the dens but facing toward an entrance in rock crevices.

I’ve counted as many as eight snakes in view at a time. Sometimes there are not any. It’s amazing how they sleep on top of each other (Not mating. At least I don’t think so). The cameras are remotely controlled by operators who scan, zoom, and refocus. I like I can go back to see what’s happened the previous five hours. Interesting happenings are saved as separate videos.

The color variations between the three groups is interesting. There’s even variations within the groups. I have been enjoying the live streams and the comments. There are some eagle eyed watchers out there. Interesting points are made into videos:

Rattlesnake gives birth in California! Watch the birth of a western rattler. You can even see an umbilical cord at 10:04.

A number of animals visit the den. Foxes, coyotes, badgers. Not sure if they were hunting for food or accidentally meandered over. Spotted skunk visits rattlesnake den. The skunk almost steps on a pile of snakes. The snakes became concerned, and I wish the video had better sound because you could see a big rattle shaking.

The closeups show bugs crawling on them and mosquitoes trying to get a proboscis in between scales.

Ever wondered what eats rattlesnake shed skins? You’ll have to watch this to see: What eats the shed skins of rattlesnakes?

It’s amazing how they slide out from the group without being a disruption.

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In the mountains of southern New Mexico we were told we lived within a half mile of a large den. Only had one small rattler found in our yard. I moved it away from houses. One October day, HappyDog and I were on a trail near the den and came upon a chunky, light colored rattler. It was much more interested in getting away from us. Both meetings were reminders that dogs are inherently not scared of snakes, and I need to get Bella snake proofed.

CHIP SEAL AND NO COYOTE CREEK STATE PARK

Earlier in the week I had a doctor’s appointment. I left from Margo’s since Bella would be staying with her. I turned onto US-82 with my fingers crossed that the postponed chip resealing was still postponed. Surely every driver has experienced this awfulness tucked in as resurfacing the highway so it will last another — what 3-4 years?. Until the road is squished thoroughly and had several thousand tires run along it, the chips might get caught in tire grooves and sent a-flying. So, so hard on the windshields and vehicle finishes. Oh good, no construction equipment. I headed uphill.

I hit fresh chip seal a mile up with not a warning sign in sight. No place to turn around. No traffic was coming toward me. Should I gamble I can get to unsealed before I meet traffic? I hoped they were not far ahead. Forward I went. Soon a slug of traffic came toward me. Fortunately, everyone thought as I did. Nice and slow. Don’t toss up rock. What was odd was I couldn’t hear any rock hitting the underside. Soon I was sitting behind a long line waiting for a pilot vehicle. Hey, ten minutes of waiting is considered reasonably fast. (Always potty before getting on this stretch of road). We passed the downhill waiting line and construction equipment. Immediately past them, the road was surprisingly clear of chip that briefly sticks to the tires. I finally took a deep breath. My finish and windshield survived. At the doctor’s office, the receptionist said the road was being chip sealed all the way to Mayhill eighteen miles away. So a grand total of 34 miles. I hope it’s finished before I have to go to Texas.

I stepped on the scale at the clinic and almost fainted. Did somebody fill my pockets with bricks? I talked with the doctor about my lack of energy and poor sleep. She suggested I don’t get off the sleep pills and was going to test my thyroid again. I was on a prescription three years ago, and my numbers returned to fine after a bit of a RX. I took the last of the appointment to complain about my aching hands that first became obvious when I drove home seven hours in the RV in early May. I showed her my hands and said, “Do these hands look like I have arthritis?” Mom had arthritis in her hands. They were puffy, the fingers were twisted and she talked about how hot they were. My hands look like they did when I was 20, just older. She told me aching hands is a symptom of low thyroid. So now I don’t need to go do the blood test, I’m back on the thyroid medicine. I hope it works soon. So tired of being tired. Funny thing is I think it also affected my brain. Who would notice such symptoms and not go to the doctor months and months ago?

I had to be home in time for a package. Of course, after I got home I found out the package would arrive at a later date. This is happening more often. It’s arriving today — now it’s arriving tomorrow — now the next day and then radio silence. I’m beginning to think all my packages should be sent to Margo’s house. At least the boxes are farther from the street. I had a package that supposedly was delivered to my porch where I was sitting only four feet away at a window. It was claimed to have arrived after a delay of several days, and more days. I notified them and they asked me to wait a couple of days. Today, I struggled through several of their “it was delivered” to finally get a promise that a refund would be sent. Now I have to reorder which I won’t do until their refund has been made. I also fought my way through menus to cancel an order that was put through in early July. It’s like the business had dropped off the face of the earth. It was there, just nothing happening.

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I’ve been having gut issues for months. I didn’t bother asking the doc what to do. It is an unhappy companion since my 30s. I know what I need to do. It begins and ends with letting time do the healing and eating and drinking properly. In the meantime I feel like a balloon about to burst. So after honestly asking myself if I wanted to be sick a five hour RV drive from home, I asked Margo to cancel my Coyote Creek State Park reservation. I told her I still wanted to get to a cooler elevation, but not five hours away and six days stationary. So as you read this BellaDog and I will soon back at one of the triple campgrounds without soda, alcohol, or sweets. Gonna be an interesting stay. I’ll again study running the fridge/freezer on propane and running the generator to recharge the house batteries.

BELLADOG’S FIRST VISIT TO THE PET RESORT

Back in Texas, we had a wonderful pet sitter who would come by to care for our dogs and cats when we went on vacation. Had a big fenced in back yard in a relatively quiet subdivision. Here in New Mexico, it’s often too hot or too cold to leave our dogs in the back yard without supervision so we use a pet boarding service.

In December of 2025, LolliDog was delivered to the pet resort for a free orientation day. She got to see if she liked it there and the owner and workers got to see if she’s too much of a problem to accept. Within a couple of hours, Margo received a photo of a very happy Lolli running with a new bud, and she was accepted as a future client.

Yesterday, it was Bella’s turn. I walked her in at 8:30 a.m. What a dog person the owner is. She was squatting when we walked in and talking quietly. Within seconds Bella was asking for pets. Two female employees came in and she was in happy pet land. I pointed out Bella doesn’t like enclosed places, and she proved it when she wouldn’t go with me into their intake room where dogs are usually placed to get used to the smells and meet the employees. But she happily followed the owner out a glass back door where dogs were already gathering to meet the newby.

I felt like I’d delivered my kindergartner to her first day of school and slightly teared up as I walked out to the CR-V. I’d stay at the big house in case they called for her to be picked up early. Was I expecting such? No. Her reactions to dogs on the hiking trail showed me she knew proper dog etiquette, and she wanted to play with every one of them. I figured she was going to enjoy herself immensely.

They would start her with smaller dogs to judge her behavior and as she proved she could behave, they would work her up to bigger and bigger groups. An hour later I received a photo and text saying she was having a good time. She was in with bigger dogs and they were playing in the kiddie pool.

I picked her up at 3:30 amid gushing employees talking about how wonderful she was and she was allowed back any time. I promised to deliver her at least another time before we go on our December vacation.

Bella was revved up. It was like trying to reel in a big one. When I opened the back door to the CR-V she looked like she was willing to jump in. “Can you do it?” She gave a mighty leap and for the first time ever got into the CR-V without my help. It wasn’t the cleanest jump. She did have to dig her back feet into the seat cover but she got in. She also got out without the ramp. Maybe this is the start of me not having to lug the dog ramp out of the cargo area.

I let her run free in the yard while I got out the dog soap, a towel, a camp chair and pulled the water hose into the back yard. Gave her a thorough bath. She loves her baths. I expect her to go a little hog wild when she sees a lake or one of New Mexico’s streams.

She likes drying even more than the scrubbing. Soon she was indoors enjoying her meal. When she finished, she hovered around the bowl. I imagined how many calories she burned off and gave her an additional half scoop.

It took her an hour to calm down. She wanted to play, play, play. Kept bringing me her toys. She located the squeaker ball and enjoyed the noise until she accidentally rolled it under the sofa. “No, Mama is not going to get it.”

Finally, she calmed and slept.

Yeppers, she did well. I can go on vacation without worrying about her.

SUV TOWEL, BELLADOG’S FEET AND CRISPY LAWN

Yesterday, as I drove home from Margo’s the clouds over the mountains were a trash bag dark blue. I asked Bella, “Aren’t you happy we didn’t go hiking today?” Man, would we have been wet and cold. Brrr. In the SUVs hold I already carry a change of clothes just in case I get caught in such. I must now consider a pup without an undercoat. I went out to the RV and got a spare towel and hunted down the wool blanket I don’t carry in the summer. I can at least dry her off.

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Bella’s feet seem to be growing as fast as she is. She’s well on her way to being a big girl. Seven and a half months and she’s near 50 pounds. I barely have to lean over to pet her forehead.

She’s surprisingly fleet on those big paws. I certainly can’t run with her. She still lacks great coordination and it shows in my bumpy lawn. She’ll be running and suddenly do a face plant.

Her toenails are getting so big that several of them barely fit in the slot of her nail grinder.

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The village emergency water issues are lessening. Ten days ago, the holding tanks were at a very concerning five feet. Now they are at 20′. Collectively we have enough water that we can unwrap those worrisome straps around our chests that kept squeezing the question from us… What will we do when it runs out?. The village now has water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and cleaning. However, it’s not enough to be allowed to water our lawns, trees, shrubs, and gardens. The only reprieve the lawns gets is when it rains. We had a nice rain a week ago, but the return of almost triple digit numbers baked it out.

I felt like a criminal last week when I had to use two gallons to rinse the RV windshield. Gritty dust collects like a layer of paint. No way in heck am I going to damage the windshield by using the wipers to scrape it off.

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As I sit here looking out the window northeast on this Sunday evening, the clouds have built to the east on top of the mountains. Low thunder made me reach for the forecast. Was this a promise or a tease? Would the clouds slide down the mountain into the basin or walk along the peaks? Mostly they peak hop. Future radar says in an hour or so the batch of white/gray clouds will drift over the village, in a light yellow and green haze to dissolve a few miles to our southwest. Maybe the lawn will get a drink but a second check 15 minutes later has an umbrella opening over our village. What is it about the nearby mountains that forces the moisture out before it crawls over our village? And if it makes it this far, what causes it to split in two and drift to the sides? If the same elements combined in Alamogordo, it would rain no doubt. Here, it is great doubt it will rain.

Maybe the nearby rains will lesson the heat. I looked at my indoor thermometer weather station. An hour ago it showed 100°. It is now 89°. Sweet. At least the cold is sliding to us.

Down to 82°. Even if it doesn’t rain, we win. Cloudcroft shows 100% chance of rain and 64°. I must admit that such temperatures up there seem very cozy if I could run the little electric heater I carry in the RV except for the summer. The RV has a built-in furnace but everyone says don’t use it because it sucks propane at an astronomical rate. I was raised old school. Bundle up.

My curiosity got me and I looked up the temperature for Guadalupita which is near Coyote Creek State Park. I’ll be there in a bit over a week. 51s to 85s and since Guadalupita is lower than Coyote Creek it will probably be a bit colder. Rain chances every afternoon. I put the electric heater back in the RV. It’s getting old. I should order another.

Monday.

Why are package deliveries like a pot put on to boil? When you watch the pot it doesn’t boil and when you watch the delivery data waiting to see when it will arrive, it postpones.

We are having a bit of a problem here getting packages on the day originally posted. I rely on those dates because I am so close to the street. I’ve been waiting all day for the new heater that I ordered. It was not out for delivery and not out for delivery and just as I’m about to leave because I can’t wait any longer, it shows it’s out for delivery and an hour and a half window. I’ve already waited all day. I think I just need to switch all my deliveries to the big house. Being such a big town, their deliveries are a bit more consistent.

I’ve toyed with the idea of building a partially enclosed front porch between the two porch posts, but the packages can still be seen from the sides.

Ohhh, I see a sunlight reflection off my wall near the TV. “Timothy” may be here. Sure nuff. He said the package was late because of a lightning storm at their facility. It shuts down during lightning. Didn’t know that.

Now I can get out of here. Yippee.