Lucky us! We don’t even need to leave the comfort of our home to observe wild life, it comes to us!

A few months ago I was sitting in the back yard on the patio swing. It was about 6:30 am. I was enjoying the cool breeze and the peace while the kids were still sleeping. Our back yard is not very deep. Probably about 30-40 feet from the house to the brick wall.

I’m swinging and letting my thoughts wander when something off to the left catches my eye. I look up and freeze. I put my feet down to stop the swing and I held my breath. My instincts told me to run for the house, but my body would not listen. Fear had gripped me. Walking just like a tall, slender, graceful cat across the back brick wall was a coyote. A big one! His black eyes scanned the back yard for any bite sized rodents or bite sized doggies.

When he positioned himself right in front of me he turned and leaped off the back side of the wall. He did not see me. If he did, he stayed very calm. I wasn’t a threat to him at all. I took in some air and finally was able to move. I felt that was enough fresh air for the morning and I dashed inside.

Then a couple of days later, I was cleaning out the pool. The kids had left the toys in it from the day before and some rafts. I couldn’t even see the water, there were so many toys. I started pulling out the floaties and rafts when I saw a “bobber”. There bobbing in the water was the biggest fattest bloated desert toad I have ever seen!

I thought the one was bad enough. I had Aliya take a picture of it for me, isn’t he cute!

When I pulled out the last raft, there was another one!

My mind started working:

Once upon a time…

Mr. Toad enters his home after a long day of work. “Jewls” he says to his wife. “You need a night out, and I know the perfect place.”

On his way home from work a couple of days earlier, he had discovered a large lake. He had scouted out the area and found that not only was it clean and warm, but he was confident there was no threat of any predators.

The night is warm and humid as Mr. and Mrs. Toad make their journey across the desert, under the bushes and through tiny openings to get to the wide open space…and the water!

“It’s beautiful” Mrs. Toad says dotingly to the love of her life. They can hardly wait to feel the refreshing water on their dry wart covered Lycra skin.

Together in unison they make three graceful hops before landing happily in the warm water.

“Ahhhh!” they sigh.

They swim and enjoy each others company for a very long time. They fall in love all over again. It is the perfect evening and just what they need to break away from the stress and tediousness of daily life as a desert toad. The endless searching and collecting dried leaves for the home, scavenging for food and watching carefully for pesticides. A long relaxing swim is the perfect get away!

Soon they grow tired and reluctantly decide to call it a night.

“How do we get out?” Mrs. Toad pants.

“Ummm.” Mr. Toad takes off and circles the outskirts of the lake. He is discouraged to find only sheer walls straight up out of the water.

They kick for as long as possible, but unfortunately, it won’t be enough. They know “the end” is coming.

“Sorry darling. I only wanted to show you how much I love you.” Mr. Toad whispers fighting to keep his head above the water.

“I love you, Harold.”

And then together they suck in water. Memories of their short lives together flash like still framed flash photography. They look into each others eyes one last time.

Two tiny bubbles are seen from the surface.

Poor little desert toads!