Yesterday, I was trying to see if we had even one fish left in our poor little pond, which has dropped four or five feet due to the drought.  When I pulled the trap in, there was an enormous frog, tons of tadpoles, and a stick that was about 15 inches long.  Then the "stick"--a small moccasin--got me in the leg.  I have a bruise half the size of a football, and not even morphine helped with the pain.  Next snake I see in my pond will see the end of my old .22.

Our pond is drying up, the grass is all brown and yellow, and the dust is horrible.  Last year we get Hurricane Ike, this year we are baking with no rain.

Our pond has dropped between 2-3 feet, and it was only 5 or 6 feet deep to begin with.  So we are running a hose down to the pond to add water to it.  There are eight baby painted turtles in the pond, catfish, snails, bluegills, minnows, tadpoles, and many frogs.  If the pond dries up, where will they go?  Everyone else's ponds are drying up too.

Ana Bryant, a friend of mine since Jessica first joined 4-H (seventeen or eighteen years ago) is representing a company called Ignite, an alternative electric company (deregulation oriented) with cheaper rates that the big three.  I would take advantage of the noticeable difference except we are out of their zone.   So if you are down Brazoria County way, consider contacting Ana and seeing if she can get you a better electric rate.  PS...I am adding her site to the Family sites on the right side.  I have known her for so long, she is like a sister to me.