10 May 2007

Exciting news:  Kyle surprised me last night with the news that he had bought my “pro” <tee hee> status membership at www.flickr.com.  I had officially run out of space, so my oldest photos were going to fall off the back end of my “storage” there.  And since I’m learning about groups and sets and stuff—and it’s fun!—he thought this was the thing to do.  I’m very happy.  

Today was a full, productive day. Computer and business stuff in the early morning during coffee, but by 9:30 a.m. I was on the roof trimming tree branches!  I didn’t want more rain or storms before that job got done.I worked at it for about two hours, give or take some photography time then worked for a couple of hours before heading out to do important errands–some of which will carry into Friday, I’m afraid.  But, the really exciting part of today is that Kyle and I got to go see a movie!  Neither one of us is sure just what the last movie we saw together was, but it certainly hasn’t happened in the last three months!  We saw Spiderman 3 and very much enjoyed it.  And then, we came home and I went back to work!

So, lizards two days in a row.  Go figure.  This guy isn’t quite as large as the one I shot yesterday, but he is a bit braver.  I was pruning the trumpet vine and suddenly there he was!  Seemingly undisturbed by my rustling the leaves and vines all around him.  I shot quite a few pictures—this is my favourite.  I like the green leaves on the left and the blue paint on the right—fun contrast to the earthy colouration of the brick and the lizard himself.

I finally took the time to do a little research and this is what I’ve found:

• The Texas Spiny Lizard is an Iguanid lizard and in the same subfamily as Horned Lizards (Phrynosomatidae).
• They are found from the Red River south into northern and eastern Mexico.
• They are active during the day (diurnal) and are fast-moving, agile tree climbers. They are primarily arboreal, but will bask on ground, rocks, buildings and fences.
• Adults attain a length of up to 11″. They are a very spiny, slender lizard with long tails and long clawed toes. Dorsal ground color is light tan/grey to reddish-brown with dark broken lines. Adult males have brilliant blue patches on their sides.
• They are sexually mature at one year and are prolific breeders. Mating occurs in early spring and eggs are laid through the summer, sometimes as many as four times a year. Eggs are laid in the soil, with clutch sizes averaging 14 eggs. The eggs hatch in 50-60 days.
• They are voracious eaters – consuming insects, spiders and sometimes small lizards.

~MB

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