Scorpions or Snakes??

If you're my Facebook friend, you've probably already seen this guy.  Only the second one I've found, the first being under a rock outside on the patio.  I smashed him so quickly I didn't get a picture.

Probably the two worst critters around here to cause me angst are scorpions and snakes.  No one ever mentioned them until AFTER I purchased the house.  Apparently the smaller they are, the worse they are.  I don't want to find out.

Here's what happened ... I needed a plant for the corner where I tore out an oleander that was huge and rubbing up against the house.  I went to Civano's nursery, probably the most expensive in the neighborhood, just to look around.

I told the nice lady what I wanted and she showed me my choices.  This is a Convent Texas Ranger.   It only grows to 5-6 feet all around, perfect to hide the crawl hole and blooms with beautiful pink flowers.  She even placed it in the back of my Jeep, a thought that makes me cringe with fear.

As I took it out of the Jeep, now parked in my garage, I reached for the back door, only to see that baby scurry across the floor.  Was he in the plant?  Was he under the door?  WHERE did he come from.  I literally dropped the plant on the floor as I grabbed my shovel.  The dude made a wrong turn and came right for me.  SMASH!!!!!!!  I crippled him!  He's about 3 inches long.

This time I had the sense to take a picture before smashing him another 35 times until there was absolutely nothing recognizable but a smush on the concrete.  I truly didn't want to touch the plant again, but finally put on gloves and got up the nerve to park it in the dirt.  Now I wonder if there are any more scorpions in my Jeep??

She also gave me some tree and shrub stuff to kill the weevils that are killing my cactus.  Once I find a suitable bucket for mixing, that will be my next project.  I purchased the roundup at Ace Hardware, to use in keeping the lawn from invading the flowerbeds.  

I made one more trip to town for groceries after searching the inside of my Jeep from top to bottom.  Back home, I got out and headed to the very same door and what do I see ... ANOTHER SCORPION!!!!  What the heck???  Luckily I keep the shovel right there, so more slamming and smashing ensued until there was nothing visible.  Did he escape from the plant pot?  Did he come in under the door?  

I grabbed my household kill-everything spray ... having no idea if it's going to have any effect at all on those horrible little critters ... and soaked the garage from top to bottom.  I advise you don't walk barefoot in my garage.  

Next morning I find all these guys on my patio.  I've no idea what they are, but at least they are DEAD!!  I found a broom in the garage to sweep them up, but by the time I got to the steps, some birds were picking them up right and left for a quick breakfast snack.  THAT was awesome .. natures broom got rid of every single one.

It's been in the high 90's with thunderstorms every afternoon or evening, making it rather humid.  Nothing like back East however.  In the afternoons I just stay inside in my nice air conditioned house.

I'm totally done with the scorpions and hoping I don't run across any snakes this year.  They are a little more intimidating to hit over the head with a shovel.