(NYT gift link. Would not one-box for some reason)
A Fish Falls From the Sky and Sparks a Brush Fire in British Columbia
The authorities believe an osprey flying overhead dropped its catch midflight.
The fish struck power lines, producing sparks that landed on dry grass and ignited the blaze, which took up less than an acre.
The closest river, the likely place where the osprey caught its prey, is about two miles from the fire scene.
I was doing some sketching beside the cottage (just got back today), and since we’d had rain, my butt was getting wet, so I went around the corner, up the steps (about 10 steps) and got this old torn cot cover that I use as a dog bed; it’s canvas on the top and has a woven, fiberglass lining on the bottom, and I figured I could sit on it and not get my butt wet.
I picked it up, and started hearing buzzing, like an insect, and I thought; “Is there a bee or wasp in the lining?”. I shook it a few more times, and kept hearing buzzing as I went down the steps. Then I thought that it wasn’t coming from the cot cover, but rather from down beside the steps. Being a curious sort, I thought that it was maybe a cicada or some other large insect, and started looking for it. Kept hearing the buzzing, and finally figured that it was about two feet away, kind of behind me, where I’d passed by a few seconds before. I turned around and saw this (not my pic, but this is basically what I saw):
Danger noodle was PISSED at me! I barely missed getting bitten. I’ve never seen, or heard one before. They don’t chase you though; they want you to get out of the way. I froze and then backed away, and it sauntered off; they do not move quickly, apparently, unlike garter snakes. So I was able to get this (zoomed) picture, once I got back up the steps and grabbed my phone;
And further to our discussion a few weeks ago, which turned out to be prescient, it was an Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. They only grow about 2 ft long, so this was likely an adult.
I have to say that it was actually very patient, since I was unknowingly annoying it for a few minutes, and walked past it at least once.
Thanks to all the Gods it turned out so well for you!
What a beautiful paisley snek!
I was very, very lucky! I’ve never seen or heard one before, neither had my mother or grandmother, at the same cottage, going back over 100 years.
They are endangered,so it was equal parts cool and scary.
A few days ago, my daughter was explaining to me why rattlesnakes make good pets: “They rattle to let you know they’re not happy or uncomfortable about things. Other snakes strike, and even a warning strike can be dangerous. But the these guys: they’re like ‘Excuse me madam, but there are things about this situation that simply will not do.’”
I wouldn’t go so far as to say they make good pets, but as venomous snakes go, they make better neighbours than some others, I suppose.
I have a similar opinion, but I’ll keep that powder dry with her unless this conversation becomes something other than hypothetical. 
Fortunately, we live in Australia and it’s nearly impossible to get a rattlesnake as a pet - you have to basically be a zoo before they’ll even look at your application to import one. Biosecurity and all that.
And with rattlesnakes off the table, she’s not really interested in keeping Australian venomous snakes. Whew.
She would like a small python very much, and I think that would be fine.
That is a great name for a python!
ETA
I am glad the cats were taking a nap. They would be tempted to take the mighty chicken of the skies.
Very smol bunny. It ran along the sidewalk ahead of me, then dove into the plants, and came right back out chewing on something that was hanging out of its mouth, and turned to face me. It looked like a clover flower. It’s hard to discern it in the picture—it looks kind of like an extra bulge of fur, hanging out the right side of the bunny’s mouth.
The other day I got some salad from the salad bar at my co-op. One of the veggies they had that day was green peas, so I put some on top of all the other veggies in the container. Then I brought it home, put it in my fridge and forgot about it. Later on when I opened the container and saw the peas on top, without even thinking about it I put my arms in the air and yelled “PEEEEEEEEAS!”
Then I laughed because it was the wrong consonant 
But I think it shows you’re training us here…for what I’m not sure 
My work here is done…
