Just faster than a snail's pace...after the storm...

It takes days of practice to learn the art of sauntering. Commonly we stride through the out-of-doors too swiftly to see more than the most obvious and prominent things. For observing nature, the best pace is a snail’s pace.        - Edwin Way Teale*

 


A friend shared the quote the same day I found this guy on the sidewalk near our house. I saw it as an omen.

As we headed to the park we noticed many leaves had been washed down the street or into the storm drains. Some puddles remained. Earthworms were on the move up and down the street and in the park. A few snails crawled along the curbs and sidewalks, but we were traveling just faster.

Here's what we saw:

Fire ant mounds have tripled in number and size, it seemed.

So, do we travel at a snail's pace or an earthworm's pace. Compare the photos. He moved. [Pretty snaky for a worm.]

Slowly, slowly, he is moving across the road.

Another couple of slow movers.

 

We left the pecan gleaners (and worms) behind and headed home for breakfast.

 

But I still wanted to connect with the snail (and Mr. Teale). So, how slowly does a snail move? I stopped in my yard to see if our snails were out.

 

Yes, they were and moving pretty darn slowly....

 







So I tried the snail' pace...

Hidden down in the center of the plant, the gerbera daisy refuses to succumb to the weather and is sending out two blooms...



Another snail on the garden floor.



Water drips from the wind chime...



and from the tips of the crepe myrtle leaves...

We really do have autumn colors...you just have to slow down and look...



Oh, another snail!



and another hiding in the flowerbed...

 

and one last hidden guy eating my plants.

NOTES:

*I need this quote on a T-shirt - maybe just the last line. Whatever the case, if you would like to read more on Mr. Teale see his bio.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Way_Teale