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Post by Lady B on Jan 4, 2009 14:06:19 GMT -5
Randy asked all of us RTHers for some photos to get posted and since I am doing my best to get back up to speed, I thought I would comply with his request! This isn't about rocks, as such, but I think it's worth a look-see... Some of you have already seen this strange tale elsewhere. Forgive me for not going the whole new route. Energy is at a premium today but I know this story always makes me laugh and you know what they say about laughter and medicine!!! [glow=red,2,300]*~* *~* *~*[/glow] Way back in the summer of '08 I was prodidgiously busy with this, that, and the other!!! I needed a quick pick me upper and since there wasn't any Sassparilla handy, I settled for some nice, ice cold Cherry Pepsi. Refrigeration alone doesn't do much to chill things here in hot old Florida in the full summer so I decided to add some ice to my soda! We have one of those lovely ice-through-the-door type freezers! What a wonderful invention (except when the plumb-line fails and the dang thing floods your house!!! But that's a whole 'nother story!!) So there, I went with glass in hand, to get some ice. I don't know what made me choose a clear plastic cup this time. I usually use a dark-lined insulated mug for my pick-me-ups. All I can think is that God really does watch out for all the little creatures - especially aging women who can screech like Banshees!! I was just about to add the soda when a piece of discolored ice caught my eye!!! "How disgusting!!!", I thought. "And how did that get in there? Is there something wrong with the water filtration system?" And then I took a second look… How I managed to not send the cup and the ice on a tumbling flight across my kitchen, I will NEVER know!!! But once my heart rate approached near-normal again (and I stopped screeching like two dozen Banshees) this is what I found in my cup of ice! So then I did the only humanely thing I could. I emptied that cup of ice into a dead-flower pot (No one will ever accuse me of having a green thumb. Kind heart – yes! Green thumb – NO!) and began melting the ice with repeated washings of gradually increasing warmer water (starting out with icy cold and gradually getting near to room temp/air temp. Mother Nature then graciously lent a hand and added some nice summer rain and before long I am very happy to report that Froggy eventually reanimated and wandered off to rejoin his/her backyard buddies! Now some of you might be wondering…How did Froggy get into my ice bin in the first place? Bob and I are pretty certain that this little Curious George of an amphibian plopped into our house late one night when we were letting Bea Bea and Pookie take care of business just before bed. Froggy most probably came in through the back door which is closest to our kitchen. In search of dark spaces AND moisture, Froggy very likely smelled water in high places and simply clambered up the door of the freezer and then up the rubber lined chute to the ice cube bin. Unfortunately, being a Florida born-and-bred amphibian, Froggy didn’t realize that ice bins are not great places to hide while quenching one’s thirst! Either that or Froggy is the first known case of attempted suicide by an amphibian using an ice bin in Dover, Florida!!!! And there you have it, Randy, and all my other RTH Friends...my contribution to the Photo Board and a wild tale it 'tis, it 'tis!!!! ;D Lady B P.S. I thought I would let you know that I no longer get ice through the door of my freezer unless it is going into a clear cup and then it gets a very thorough inspection before it gets used!!!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 4, 2009 14:52:55 GMT -5
Wow! Great story and pics Kate! We have to watch for geckos here as they're all over the deck on hotter days, jump like frogs, and can sure get into everything.....Mel
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 4, 2009 15:54:50 GMT -5
Frogs are a great sourse of protein. ;D Lady B knows all about geckos (or "anoles"), they're all over Florida too. My moms yard has thousands of them!
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Post by sitnwrap on Jan 4, 2009 18:12:27 GMT -5
I can't believe he survived the deep freeze but glad he did. Are those frogs normally that white? Your story created a whole ton of "thank heavens you found it but what if you didn't" scenerios. lol
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jan 4, 2009 18:24:31 GMT -5
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...... Nothin' better than a big Ice-cold glass if Frog Ice Tea! It quenches your thirst on a HOT day like nothing else! ;D Great story LadyB. Thanks for sharing it. Steve
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Post by BuiltonRock on Jan 4, 2009 22:38:35 GMT -5
Frogsicles all around.
Very cool story (pun intended)
John
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Post by frane on Jan 4, 2009 22:54:09 GMT -5
What a shocker that was! I am sure that frog will not try to return to the deep freeze again! I bet you will be thoroughly checking your glass now every time you get ice. I am glad you saw it before pouring a cold one! YIKES, just the thought makes me shiver! Fran
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 4, 2009 23:17:40 GMT -5
Good Golly Lady B, sure am glad you weren't in the mood for crushed ice! LOL (Sorry everybody) Jo
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jan 4, 2009 23:49:41 GMT -5
Neat story, glad you didn't pour a wine cooler in there with the little guy, I don't believe they do alcohol very well !
Harley
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UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
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Post by UtahRockHound on Jan 5, 2009 0:46:39 GMT -5
The only question is now, did you scrub out the fridge. :-)
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Post by Bejewelme on Jan 5, 2009 6:56:23 GMT -5
Ughhhh, that is so gross!!
I would have screamed my lungs out!!
I can't believe he came back to life
Amber
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Post by Titania on Jan 5, 2009 9:54:10 GMT -5
Hahahaha! At least you found him BEFORE taking a big swig of drink!
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Tigger
freely admits to licking rocks
The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers is I'm the Only One!
Member since January 2008
Posts: 896
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Post by Tigger on Jan 5, 2009 10:18:55 GMT -5
Yep, those nasty frogs end up everywhere! Those suckers can flatten out and squeeze themselves into the smallest of places, no matter how big they are and they do get big! They are not native to Florida. They are Cuban Tree Frogs. If your dog gets one in it's mouth, it extracts a poisin that makes your dog very sick. You have to almost drown the poor dog to wash their mouth out before transporting them to the vet. I personally do not like those frogs at all. When they see me coming, they get ready and ALWAYS jump on me as I go by. I've had one that literally chased me up the driveway, into the garage and into the house. My hubby was laughing so hard as I ran from the monster frog! Now during the summer, I make him check the front door area before I go through. I had one get in the truck and I didn't know. Almost had a cardic arrest when I saw it climbing up the windsheild from the inside, with me inside too. I couldn't stop that truck fast enough to get the hell out! Had to call my freind to come get it out so I could get the truck home. Nasty creatures I tell ya!!
Thanks for the memories LadyB !!!
Tigger
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Post by akansan on Jan 5, 2009 12:06:04 GMT -5
Yeck! Blech, yeck, gross!
I love that story, LadyB. So glad to have you back around again.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jan 5, 2009 14:20:57 GMT -5
We have an ice maker too in the freezer, ours doesn,t come out the door though - but yuck! are they that color, or did he fade?
We got a nice bunch of frogs in our pool - pulled one out and it looked like a plastic toy - till my son poked it with a small stick - yuck!
We also found field mice in there too - one had been in the filter basket for quite a while it had stretched long & gross - at least some things got some use out of that pool, cuz we sure didn't !
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2009 22:22:27 GMT -5
Awwwww, its so cute!!!! Im glad it survived.
Shannon
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Jan 5, 2009 22:33:00 GMT -5
OMG THAT was the scariest thing I've ever seen!! YUK! I am so scared of frogs .. not sure why but omg I almost gagged reading your story and especially when I seen what it was.. I would of died for sure if I found one Blech! nevermind I can't even think about it. .bout lost my dinner on my keyboard..
ugh! ..
Glad you didn't .. gaglaajaglk anvmind. blech.. LOL
*smiles* Roxy
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Post by Lady B on Jan 6, 2009 18:31:30 GMT -5
Just thought I would respond to some of your posts on this thread: Wow! Great story and pics Kate! We have to watch for geckos here as they're all over the deck on hotter days, jump like frogs, and can sure get into everything.....Mel I have never seen such a variety of reptiles and amphibians as we have here in this part of Florida, Mel. Growing up in Philadelphia, the only creatures like these that I saw were either at the zoo or in the movies. We did have some hop toads at the seashore...but I never saw a lizard up close and personal until I lived in San Antonio, and now I see them every day...even on cold days they will dash out for some sun. We have anoles - green and brown - small geckos that have the most fascinating way of "walking", and what look like skinks by shape, color and size. There are also some beautiful non-poisonous snakes around here. And then there are turtles and frogs...lots and lots of frogs!!! I can't believe he survived the deep freeze but glad he did. Are those frogs normally that white? Your story created a whole ton of "thank heavens you found it but what if you didn't" scenerios. lol These frogs have a wonderfully developed ability to change coloration. They range from luscious greens to dark browns to anemic tannish-white. They are palest at night - as are our geckoes - which I find particularly fascinating as the lighter skin is more easy for me to see in the darkness but perhaps a great camouflage for the predatory hawks and owls who seek movement rather than coloration. And yes...I said MANY "Thank Goodnesses" that day!!!! ;D Frogsicles all around. Very cool story (pun intended) John Only you, John!! Only you! And Steve certainly wasn't much better!!! Good Golly Lady B, sure am glad you weren't in the mood for crushed ice! LOL (Sorry everybody) Jo I shall be eternally grateful that I opted for the cubes that day!!! ;D The only question is now, did you scrub out the fridge. :-) Yes! and YES! and YES!!!! The remaining ice cubes were quickly disposed of and the emptied ice bin and the chute were thoroughly cleaned with hot water and soap, then chlorine, then alcohol, then a peroxide wash. I think I covered all the bases...we didn't suddenly sprout warts so I think I cleaned the system very well! ;D ;D ;D Ughhhh, that is so gross!! I would have screamed my lungs out!! I can't believe he came back to life Amber I hit two octaves above High C. Bob had just come home and thought there was an intruder or else I had severely cut myself. (He was right about the intruder!!) Amphibians have been blessed with the ability to "come back to life" whether it is from severe cold or severe dehydration. Because they can lie dormant in dried out lake beds and then emerge when rains return, many people thought frogs represented "spontaneous birth" - the sudden appearance of fully grown frogs where before there had only been dry and cracked dirt!! Yep, those nasty frogs end up everywhere! Those suckers can flatten out and squeeze themselves into the smallest of places, no matter how big they are and they do get big! They are not native to Florida. They are Cuban Tree Frogs. If your dog gets one in it's mouth, it extracts a poisin that makes your dog very sick. You have to almost drown the poor dog to wash their mouth out before transporting them to the vet. I personally do not like those frogs at all. When they see me coming, they get ready and ALWAYS jump on me as I go by. I've had one that literally chased me up the driveway, into the garage and into the house. My hubby was laughing so hard as I ran from the monster frog! Now during the summer, I make him check the front door area before I go through. I had one get in the truck and I didn't know. Almost had a cardic arrest when I saw it climbing up the windsheild from the inside, with me inside too. I couldn't stop that truck fast enough to get the hell out! Had to call my freind to come get it out so I could get the truck home. Nasty creatures I tell ya!! Thanks for the memories LadyB !!! Tigger Ah, Tigger. I didn't remember that you aren't as fond of the little critters as I am. I love when they walk up my arms or cling to my shirt! Bob has less fond thoughts since one landed on his cheek and decided to stay for a visit!! ;D Isn't living in Florida just the most amazing adventure - even without DIsney's help?!!! Yeck! Blech, yeck, gross! I love that story, LadyB. Yeck!! It was a bit of a stunner, Ronda - but at least I caught it before it slithered down my throat!!! I opted not to quote Roxy...one reading sufficed for me!!! ;D ;D Sorry about your keyboard, Roxy! I should have started the thread with a warning I guess! ;D And thanks to all the rest of you who enjoyed my adventure with me. These froggies are amazing...the males have discovered that if they creep into the space between the door frame and the wall when they croak, the sound is AMPLIFIED!!! And they have the most amazing way of walking up vertical surfaces...look like little commando soldiers. At night, if we leave the front porch light on for more than a few minutes we'll get a dozen or so lined up above the door (Tigger, we'll make certain to get you in and out the back door if you visit past nightfall!!!). I love the wonderful creatures that live around here (by choice or by ranchers' decisions.) For a city-born-and-bred-girl, I've died and gone to Beastie Heaven!!! I'll have to upload some more pix - and share some more wonderful adventures - in a few days! Thanks for all the comments - well, at least most of them!!! ;D ;D ;D Lady B
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jan 6, 2009 19:07:38 GMT -5
We have a tree frog here in Iowa called a Reticulated Tree Frog. Once in a while we have one on our front window at night as we have a light over our front door. They race up and down the picture window catching bugs. The wife's cat gets so worked up I have to shut the light off, because if I don't the darn thing winds up barfing in the window sill !
Harley
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