Snakes, and snails, and puppy dog tales...

(Yes, I did use that form of "tales" on purpose.)

So today, as I'm just waking up and getting ready for the day, I clumsily stagger toward the shower. As I approach the bathroom door, my eyes suddenly go into focus on something on the shoe shelf in the front entry.

It was about a foot from my face, so it was hard to miss.

"What is this new item of interest that my children have brought home?", I ask myself.

Upon closer inspection, with closer being about 6 inches, I see they have found a skull.

A dirty skull.

Thankfully, it's just dirt - no tissue remains or bugs in the skull cavity.

Last year they brought home a painted turtle shell. They hid that outside in case I'd be upset with them for bringing it home. Apparently they were pleased with my reaction when I did finally come across it, because now they not only bring the remains-of-the-dead home, they put it on a shelf at eye-level so when I wake up and groggily stumble through the house, I come face-to-face with said dead thing.

I can't honestly say that this upsets me. In fact, it's quite the opposite...

I haven't had the chance to fully inspect the skull to my satisfaction, but I'm pleased to announce that I was able to resist the urge to bring it into the shower with me and clean it using the toothbrush I've saved for Extra-Funky-Shower-Stall-Tile-Cleaning. It looks like it could possibly be to a beaver except that it's too large. It has two large front teeth that follow the curve of the skull. There's no lower jaw attached.

You can bet that I'll find time to clean this skull sometime this weekend.
Outside.
I'm wondering how I can incorporate it into one of the gardens.

And hopefully that turtle shell shows up again. It seems to have wandered off.

I keep hoping I find indian artifacts on my property. Or maybe an indian that 'expired' a few centuries ago. So far, I've only found a horse shoe - and there was no long dead cowboy next to it.

I can't say I wonder where my kids got it from!