SNAIL CIRCUSES

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Ever since we have moved into our house, the kids have adopted a new species of pet: the snails that appear at our house after a rain or in the morning after the sprinklers shut off.

Snails are a West Coast phenomenon. I first encountered them on my morning walks when I lived up at Carol's, and I had to be careful not to smoosh them because they were just everywhere! Well, the kids are relishing the novelty of these little creatures and could be occupied for hours.

Lining them up and having snail races. Making snail highways up and down our back fence. Giving the snails rides on their scooters. Having a snail circus with snails riding in tiny train cars.

Don finds them repulsive. Sometimes I find myself wondering if we should be cooking them. The kids are naming them. It's funny how we all have different views of them. Here they are pictured with Larry and Barry. They are thinking of labeling the snails with paint so they can figure out who's in the yard each morning. Sigh.