The Magic of Lizards

I have always loved lizards.

All kinds, from the skittish little anoles we have here in Florida to the exotic Tokay Geckos, which we also have here in Florida apparently.

When I first heard the distinctive rattle and the "uh-oh" of the gecko, I was amazed. I had no clue what it was, just thought it was a bird of some sort. Or maybe a frog.

And then we saw them as we were cleaning an old rabbit hutch off the side of the fence. There were two of them at first, big blue lizards, with orange spots and very menacing eyes. I knew they weren't native, because nothing like that had been in the woods where I grew up, so of course I went immediately to Google.

There was a sound byte, and lots of photos, and apparently, according to The Pirate, who knows everyone's business here in Ormond By The Sea, said there was a guy that lived a street over on Margaret who bred them, and they got loose. And there you go.

But I digress.

I get up at 4 a.m., because my hubby has to drive into Orlando for his job, and I like to fix his lunch in the morning. I'm used to it by now, after doing it for a couple of years, so if I go to sleep at a ridiculously early hour, I can manage the day just fine. I usually go straight into my studio after and begin working, but it's still dark, so I switch on a small lamp by the window.

This attracts bugs and moths, which attracts lizards. Not geckos, but anoles.

And they are having a field day at 4:30 a.m.

This morning, I counted seven, all feasting to their heart's desire on moths, beetles, small flying whatever...their bellies were so full I'm not sure how they could waddle off. But they did, and by morning's light, they had disappeared to wherever lizards of the anole variety go when the sun comes up.