Just absolutely amazing! 

I was doing my evening chores when I saw Zoe assuming her predator pose near the pond.  I figured a turtle, right?  When I got there, my jaw dropped.

This guy was coiled up, trying to protect himself from Zoe. 

He? She? is a Redbellied Mud Snake.  They are completely harmless, even when handled they will not bite.  She was so docile ...and absolutely gorgeous.  We showed her to the kids (the boys were terrified...honestly, she was scary big!) and then I took her back to the bayou.  It occurred to me that she's plenty big enough to eat almost any goldfish in my pond.  More likely she was after the frogs, though the websites all say that adults primarily eat amphiumas.

 I grabbed him..(her?  Probably her.  Females are larger.)  Anyway...she immediately coiled around my arm.  Y'all.  This one was at least five feet long...probably a bit more... and as thick as my forearm.  I have seen many of these snakes, they are fairly common here.  But I have never seen one so large!  Average is considered 40-50 inches.  She was much larger than that.

While walking back from the bayou, a flock of roseate spoonbills flew overhead.

I love where we live.  Truly. 

(Though...I did engage in Operate Net Secure when I got back to the pond.  No sushi bar at this pond, thank you very much)