Actually, it was snake in the weeds today. The mail had just been delivered so I was on my way to get it from the mailbox when I saw a snake just off the driveway in the weeds. This is by no means the first time we have found a snake in that particular area. But it was the first time for finding a snake featuring the rattles at the tip of its tail. My spouse kept watch on it while I went in for the camera. The rattler seemed in no hurry and allowed me to take pictures from several places. I guess it figured we were no threat and was happy to soak up the sun.
Even more unusual was the fact that while I was getting the camera, my husband noticed a second snake just a few feet away. But that one was a gopher snake, the kind we have encountered frequently. The sunlight caught its scales just right — it almost sparkled. It moved off and when I checked again some minutes later, it was doing what a good gopher snake should do — heading down a gopher hole.