The Anguis fragilis of Bensberg

It's common name is Blindschleiche in German, and blindworm or slowworm in English, and it's the first time I've ever seen one.

It's not big, but it's cute.

He (or she) visited me today just outside my window. I'm a basement dweller at the observatory in Bensberg, but I do have a window that looks out over the back garden.

Slither in repose.

We saw him (or her) just by accident, tanking some sun. I've named it Slither.

Slither with tongue.

 After tolerating a couple of minutes of picture-taking, the Blindschleiche skedaddled under a huge pile of dried leaves between the cement steps and my window. I'm hoping that it lives nearby and that I get a chance to see him/her again (and find out its gender).

So what is it, you might be asking? Even though it looks like a baby grass snake, Anguis fragilis is a reptile, a sort of legless lizard. According to Wikipedia, it's not blind, but apparently can't see very well. The fragilis part of the name apparently comes from its ability to break off a part of its tail (which then continues to writhe, thus distracting its would-be devourer). The tail grows back.

If you have one of these beauties in your garden, count yourself lucky. They eat slugs. But they don't have any defenses against cats or dogs, unfortunately.

Go here for the English Wikipedia entry.
The German entry is much much better.

The postman peeps twice!

I only wish the frogs would return. They got chased away during an excavation last year and since then have only been back sporadically.

And we're eagerly awaiting the nesting season to see if the robin redbreast makes her nest in our mailbox again.

A Few Words About Spring

March and April are highly intensive times for me as a writer. I tend to hunker down and try to get projects finished and started and thought up. It's also a time for looking outward, into the real world of lawns and flower beds and watching tiny seedlings poke up out of the earth, so I also tend to get easily distracted (squirrel! mouse!).

But here's a short poem from Caitlin anyway until I have something more worthy to send into the world via this blog. For her, spring is waiting - waiting for Hagen to return to her.


Promise

Spring is showing some leg, green and sassy
and participating in a fair amount of crocusry
She has my attention now, and not just because
her secrets hold my heart in its prison of anticipation

When will he be back?
Spring has let her hair down, and I am ready
Feet bared and frilly dress airing
For love's footsteps to trample all over me.

Events and News for March

Scheduled Appearance:

I'll be giving a reading at DORT.con in Dortmund on Sunday, 22 March 2015 at 12:00. This will be my first visit to DORT.con and I'm looking forward to meeting new people and hearing a lot of readings. I'll be there Saturday through Sunday.

The guest of honor is Chris Beckett, author of the award-winning SF novel, Dark Eden. I've just started reading it and hope to have it finished by next week.

If you're interested in attending, the DORT.con homepage is the place to start.

Blog Sightings:

Interview on Marcie Turner's To Read, Or Not To Read blog. Check out her reviews and interviews and sign up for a giveaway!

Interview(s) on Alexandra Butcher's Library of Erana blog and a guest post on Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Literary Heroes in our Society . It was a lot of fun (and the questions were very thought-provoking). Check out Alexandra's books starting here.

Good Things That Have Happened Recently:

In January, Primary Fault was selected to be the Indie Book of the Day on January 27, of this year. Check out all the winners on the IBD site.

Next up. Primary Fault, Book 1 of The Schattenreich was honored with an Indie B.R.A.G. medallion in 2014, and Shaky Ground, Book 2 of The Schattenreich has received one as of February, 2015. Please check out the Indie B.R.A.G. medallion winners. I'm very happy to share their company.