Either Mrs Toad is expecting, or she is feasting on far too many bugs! She is over 5 inches long and quite chubby.
Dragon, the fly, needs to keep his distance, because Mrs T can spring into action quite suddenly.
Mrs T is a clever critter, who waits patiently at the right time of day for the drip line to start emitting precious water, providing needed relief for an overheated toad on hot summer days.
T is a California Western Toad, a threatened species of ‘special concern,’ due to die offs caused by fertilizer contamination, disease, and habitat destruction.
Western Toads are terrestrial, and we have a thriving colony of them inside The Holler fences.
Cheers to you & happy weekend from the comfortably chubby, and quite toadish, Mrs Toad~
Such a cute frog and stunning dragonfly!
Love that you find him cute. Says lots of good things about you!
Good grief, Mrs Toad! Get on the treadmill, girl – lol!
I think she may benefit from a multi-axial approach including diet, exercise and toad appropriate tutelage. 🐸🐸 ribbit…ribbit!
Hee, hee…
That dragonfly is gorgeous! Great capture.
The dragon fly and I thank you & send you cheers!
Such a fine Toad! Great shots.
She is nobody’s toady…… 🐸🐸
Lol! For sure …hat would make her hopping mad! 😛
It’s wonderful that you could construct such an engaging story from photos of a toad who doesn’t seem to move very much. Every animal has a story to tell 🙂
Thank you Josh! She was definitely not budging from the drip line. She didn’t care how many photos the hideous human took of her gorgeous self!
Beautiful dragonfly! I hope this toad species comes off the endangered list, but I have to admit, they kind of give me the willies.
She has a face that only a mother toad could kiss! 🐸🐸
He is a chunky little nugget!
Laughing, more fat bugs please! ribbit ribbit….. 🐸🐸
I already missed your magnificent photos. They are great. regards
Thank you so much. Means a lot to me and happy weekend!
What a great toad (and photos). 🙂
Ahhh, thank you Lynette, on behalf of Madam Toad and myself. Ribbit 🐸🐸
I suppose it’s all in the eye of the beholder. To me, these are great photos of a rather ugly toad. My apologies to those who thought he was cute.
She is Jabba the Toadette. Jabba the Hut would find her heavenly, in a toady sort of way! 🐸
A face only a mother could love. 😉
Exactly! <3
Those photos bring a smile to my face.
Ahh, your comment makes me very happy I posted <3 🐸
These photos made me laugh! Thanks!
Your laugh made me smile <3
Oh, you do mean terrestrial! Burl Ives is my earliest recollection, but seemingly EVERYONE has recorded it. Quite a history. “Its first known appearance is in Wedderburn’s Complaynt of Scotland (1548) under the name “The Frog cam to the Myl dur”, though this is in Scots rather than English. There is a reference in the London Company of Stationers’ Register of 1580 to “A Moste Strange Weddinge of the Frogge and the Mouse.” There are many texts of the ballad; however the oldest known musical version is in Thomas Ravenscroft’s Melismata in 1611.” … “According to Albert Jack in his book “Pop Goes the Weasel, The Secret Meanings of Nursery Rhymes” (pp. 33–37, copyright 2008), the earliest known version of the song was published in 1549 as “The Frog Came to the Myl Dur” in Robert Wedderburn’s “Complaynt of Scotland”. He states that in 1547 the Scottish Queen Consort, Mary of Guise, under attack from Henry VIII, sought to marry her daughter Princess Mary (later Mary Queen of Scots), “Mrs. Mouse” to the 3 year old French Prince Louis, the “frog”. The song resurfaced a few years later, with changes, when another French (frog) wooing caused concern—that of the Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth I in 1579. Elizabeth even nicknamed Anjou, her favorite suitor, “the frog”.” –Wikipedia. Who knew?!
I was going to copy bits of this back to you, as I started to read, because I was astounded, but there were too many astonishing bits to copy!
I love all the bits of this.
“The most strange wedding of the frog and the mouse,” 1580.
This is a wedding I would so joyously attend. Not like a human wedding at all. British in feeling, but no need to wear a hat, whether or not, you were the frog or the mouse.
Those canny, by necessity, English and Scottish, soon to be dead Queens, obviously watched frogs, and is this where the derogatory term for French men, “frogs,” comes from?
Who knew?
Simply wonderful.
Toads (and their cousins frogs) apparently have croaked their way into our (un?) consciousness.
Thank you so much for this.
🐸 <3
A Holler toad prompts a history lesson. 🙂
What a beautiful and happy toad, Cindy!
She, Mrs T, is here right now, as it is night. I have turned on the drip irrigation, off schedule, to accommodate her. She is a toad worthy of accomodation. I suspect all toads are such 🐸
FANTASTIC PICTURES ‘C’ THAT MUST BE SOME PHOTOGRAPHER, CHINA
Your dragonfly photograph is simply stunning. Better than some in fancy magazines.
Oh, thank you so very much! Means a lot to me <3
Was it a prince? Did you try to kiss him? 🙂
I do not think a prince is worth the requirement of toad kissing. Mrs T is relieved 🐸
She looks very content with her place in the Holler. Hopefully she will add new life and energy to her threatened species.
She doesn’t even croak, polite Mrs T. She kinda chirps 🐸
Awww
Close-ups as amazing as ever
Ahh, thank you kindly 🐸
Mrs Toad looks rather big, can she really jump quickly…..she might be fitter than she looks.
She can jump far and fast! Maybe she stores up all her energy to spring on only very fat bugs!
🐸
I love your gorgeous photographs, Cindy. Thank you very much.
Thank you more Isabel for such a very kind comment <3
Stunning shots!!!
And yes Mrs Toad does look like in the need of dieting and exercise!! 😂
She needs some dietary toady tutelage 🐸
😂😂
Mrs Toad gives me the eeby-jeebies, but your story makes her sound quite cute!
It’s interesting some people think she is very cute, some are repelled, and others in between.
I like frog legs as much as chicken wings
Mrs.T the Dragon whisperer 🙂
She is silent and sibilant when she whispers….
Whoa, froggie appears a bit on the heavy side for sure! But, then, I don’t suppose I should be pointing fingers! LOL! That dragonfly pic is amazing!
Laughing….you crack me up! Mrs T appreciates your sensitivity <3 🐸
From one Mrs. T to another! 😆
You have to notice how many bloggers find her cute. These bloggers see past the surface shallow stuff and see the beating <3 within.
<3 😀
Well I never thought a toad could be made to look so cute and cuddly, but I do hope he didn’t eat that gorgeous red dragonfly
She didn’t! She was far too busy gulping down water from the drips. I think we have an army of toads doing this! 🐸🐸🐸🐸
schöne Bilder für alle, die sie mögen, bleib trotz der Hitze entspannt, aber passe gut auf dich auf.
Danke mein Freund für dich, Güte und sei gesund!
Big frog and very cute!
She is cute isn’t she, in a toady sorta way 🐸
She is quite remarkable! I do enjoy your photos and your words. The dragonfly is an amazing shot! Thank you Cindy 💛
Ahhh, thank you Val, for your kindness <3
Hi Cindy. Yikes! That seems a tad large for a toad (but I wouldn’t know). She’s quite impressive with the complimentary color of her eyebrows. Yes, she was ready for her close up, Ms. DeMille!
The detail you captured on the dragonfly is amazing. A gorgeous photo, worthy of framing. Hugs to you and everyone at the Holler.
Mrs T and I thank you for such a lovely comment Teagan & sends you cheers and wishes for a happy weekend. All of us over here and very much enjoying the continuing adventures of Hullabaloo Lulu!
Your holler is a hub for fascinating critters. And you make even Chubby T a celebrity on the endangered species list. Thank you for including me among the ugly observers of your stellar photos of T at the dripline.
Laughing….Thank you Dor! Mrs T does find us humans to be shockingly unattractive, but who can blame her? She is such a paragon of toadly pulchritude.
Agghhh! Why are frog (& lizard lips) the cutest?!
Some people love them, and others, well, we don’t need to bother about them <3 🐸
In several ways, it resembles Yoda.
“Judge me by my size, do you?”
Croak!
Croaking up! 🐸🐸
Very beautiful! 🙂
Awww, thank you very much 🐸
🙂
Mrt. T looks cute… but I am a bit scare of toad.
I certainly would not be willing to kiss a 🐸, even if it were to turn into a prince!
🙂
Love the dragon fly photo and that toad looks like it belongs in a children’s book as a wise toad
She does look like a wise old toad, and due to her stakeout of such a prime drip-line location, I bet she is one 🐸
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Some great pictures of a chubby toad who lives near Cindy Knoke’s home.
Hugs to you Patricia, and if the Russians keep sending me outlook spam, I will send an army of Mrs T toads to croak them to death 😉 😉 🐸🐸🐸🐸
Love it! 🙂
<3 🐸
Cute! I’m glad Mrs T and her family are thriving at the Holler! 🙂
I am too. I do not want toads, or anything else, to be endangered <3 🐸
Agreed! 🙂
<3
Let’s hope then, that she (and her offspring) will survive. Great shot of the dragon Fly.
Have a wonderful weekend, too,
Pit
Yes, I am watching Mrs T every night now, along with Valentine the owlet. Everything should be fine, as long as the Valentine doesn’t start watching Mrs T! 🐸
You seem to have a nice animal refuge there! 🙂
They really do make the best neighbors!
Agree!
<3
That is quite a substantial toad!!!
She has heft and grandeur 🐸
Mrs Toad looks very contented. I reckon she’s adopted that pose so she looks like a spotted stone for the dragon fly to land on!
Croaking up!!!! Perfect <3 🐸
I love her smile! She does look rather chubby, obviously happy and well fed in the holler.
She is one territorial-toady! No one will dislodge her from her drip-line 🐸
Love toads and frogs. Thanks for including them.
Thank you more for appreciating them!
Love that shot of the dragonfly!
Alison
Grazie Mille Alison!
She looks rather well fed! Hope the beautiful dragonfly flew away!
I am happy to report affirmatively on both counts 🐸🐸
;-D Then I am happy too!
<3 <3
Aw sweetness, I love toads!
Toads are toadally awesome 🐸
Oh, Mrs T is gorgeous! She looks thoroughly content. 😊
-Emma
She is a toadally content toadster <3 🐸
She’s so beautiful. Thank you.
I love my toad loving friends 🐸 <3
What a handsome fellow! Now I’m singing along with you – Froggie went a courtin’, and he did ride, un huh…..
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey’s door, uh-huh
He rode up to Miss Mousey’s door, uh-huh
He rode up to Miss Mousey’s door
Gave three loud raps and a very big roar, uh-huh
Said, “Miss Mouse, are you within?” uh-huh
Said he, “Miss Mouse, are you within?” uh-huh
Said, “Miss Mouse, are you within?”
“Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin, ” uh-huh
He took Miss Mousey on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousey on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousey on his knee.
Said, “Miss Mousey, will you marry me?” uh-huh
Miss Mousie married him because he was toadally persuasive.
Brilliant!!!And they lived happily ever after. There are many stories in the Holler and I look forward to every one that shows up in my reader. Hugs coming your way.
And hugs flying back to you <3
Not exactly a spokesperson for SlimFast! 🙂
It would have to be a rigged ‘before and after’ gig with Mrs Toadly T being the ‘before’ and a leaner-meaner-toadster being the ‘after’ 🐸
Wonderful!
I <3 my 🐸 loving friends!
I love that bug shot. It’s so clear and full of detail. It’s beautiful and would scare the hell out of me if I saw it in my living. 🙂
room…in my living room. 🙂
It is wonderful that you can so appreciate something that would seriously scare you. Very few people can do that. 🐸
I would never have known how beautiful it is had I not seen the photograph. 🙂
Ahhh, makes me glad I posted <3
Glad you are keeping the local population in good stead. A drip line is a life line!
It is indeed and it keeps lots of critters safe within our fences <3
Wow, what a gorgeous toad & the dragon fly is to eat for!!! LOL! Cindy, I don’t speak Toad, but I speak Frog… so a good RIBBIT to you, and to all a RIBBIT night!
Toadally croaking back at you my friend 🐸
🐸 X
I’m so glad you have a happy toad population, Cindy. And I’m glad we didn’t see Mrs. T munching on a Dragon, the fly. 🙂
That would have been terrible and required a parental guidance notification so I would never post it! My posts are for the happy child in all of us <3
Whatever all she is finding to eat makes her look more lethargic than energetic. She definitely has had a diet rich in calories. 🙂 Maybe the dragon fly will be safe, for the moment.
Yes, life is best lived in the moment, and I think Mrs T eats as if she is living her last moment. Smart for a toad 🐸 But the Dragon🐉, the Fly, is even smarter, as he is ancient, and has lived here forever, so he knows some things Mrs T does not.
Aren’t those dragonfly wings just so exquisitely delicate ?
Yes. So fragile and so complex, like living snowflakes <3
That is one big toad! The detail you captured on the dragonfly is beautiful.
Thank you Jennie & be well my friend <3
Always a pleasure, Cindy. Best to you! ❤️
<3
Hopefully, Mrs Toad is just expecting a large family of little toads. Love the shot of the dragon fly. There are many in my friend, Sabine’s back yard that are the same color. Fertilizers should all be organic matter, noting else. When will folks figure that out? ;( Keep taking care of the little creatures. You have such a big heart.
It doesn’t seem like some folks may ever figure it unfortunately for all of us creatures on this planet. It takes a big <3 to recognize one, and you my friend, most certainly do too <3 🐸
I promise to try and get a recording of the bullfrogs croaking behind my house next spring. It’s the most beautiful music you have ever heard. They sounded so happy.
I want to hear it!!!!
Exquisite Dragon! Mrs. Toad is plain jealous.
She is, but then, so I am I. Dragonfly’s are magical ancient creatures~
Oh, my, she’s certainly well fed, Cindy! Looks like she’s found her way into the hidden treats and refused to go away hungry!
That seems to perfectly sum her up <3 🐸
sehr schön, liebe Cindy, möge die Woche für dich schön werden.
Gesundheit und Glück für dich mein Freund!
danke, es wird schon gut gehen
<3 <3
Adorable post and fabulous photos!
Awww, so nice! Happy week & cheers to you <3
Your close-ups are simply wonderful, Cindy. <3 Excellent captures. What a fascinating creature Mrs Toad is!
Ups, I didn’t mean to leave without wishing you a wonderful day from the
The Fab Four of Cley, almost evening here now. Xx 🙂 Xx 🙂
Thank you kind friend. Loved your photo of Klaus in the sticks! Be well my friend & happy week <3 <3
I love him!
Cindy your closeups are phenomenal! Do you use a macro filter to enlarge those closeups? 🙂 xx
Ahhh, thank you. Creative people like you, my friend, are the reason I like to blog. I don’t use any filters. I don’t actually like them. I just have lots of zoom capability on my camera, and I am good at cropping, which brings us all, even closer.
Ahaaaaaaa, the old zoom! Lol. Well, you are a professional photographer (whether you think so or not, lol) so naturally you have a great camera. I recently purchased that macro lens to attach to my phone. I haven’t used it yet., so that’s why I asked. 🙂 xx
I can’t wait to see, what your camera helps you see <3 <3
I’ll keep you posted when I get a fantastic shot. <3
<3
She is beautiful and I hope to see pics of her babies, perhaps, if you can. xxx
This is so cool that you thought of this!
I didn’t.
I doubt she will let me see them, because she is probably a good mother <3 <3
Thank you, Cindy, and yes, I agree she will be a wonderful mother and keep her children hidden. xxx
🐸🐸
ansonsten sag ich nur, :”Halte durch bei der Hitze.”
Vielen danke mein lieber Freund <3
Toad-tastic! RH
I love, so much, that you just invented a new word <3
You’re so lucky to have this colony. She’s magnificent! If I were a creature of any description I would hope to land in the refuge that you provide.
That seems, basically, one of the kindness things anyone could ever say <3
Thank you for providing safe habitat for this species of toad, she’s quite photogenic and quite well fed!
Thank you for caring about her <3
So beautiful…thanks for sharing..
Thank you more for appreciating a toad <3
She’s a biggen! Sign her up for the frog jumpin contest. 😊 Thankfully she’s found a safe haven there. I hope they make a comeback!
I hope so too! Maybe she is the offspring of, “The Celebrated jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”
😁🐸 That’s the frog jump I was thinking of.
It’s been years since I was there to see it.
Lucky you! I have never seen it. Your photos are beautiful btw.
Boah, I am afried, i dont like them so much…
That is okay my friend. You are not required to. Hope all is well with you and happy weekend!
sharing to my blog to.. just the link beautiful.. I forgot which one.. these are all so beautiful dear Cindy.. love sweet friend
http:www.sherrisofpalmspringsboutique. com or blogspot..
Reblogged this on Sherri Of Palm Springs.
Sweet friend <3 Thank you so much and be well Sherri~
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
I love sharing Cindy Knokes fabulous photographs of the critters that she shares The Holler with.. today certainly a little change from the delicate humming birds and fluffy owlet, but a creature who is equally precious, especially as the California Western Toads are endangered. She may not look like a supermodel but that face is very cute.. just watch out Mr. Dragonfly as Mrs. T. is light on her feet and has a long tongue….
Hugs to you Sally and thank you for liking Ms. Toad! She needs friends like you, and so do I <3
My pleasure Cindy.. I love sharing your critters since we have nothing as exotic close to home. Ireland does not even have moles! ♥
The luck of the Irish!!! We have gopher tunnels like swiss cheese undermining everything.
I have a suspicion that the amount of rain we have here is probably not to a mole’s liking as they would be mopping out their tunnels all day long….hugsxx
Now I know we need more rain for yet another reason!
Will send some of ours.. ♥
Much appreciated <3
Thank you for sharing. Great! Have a good weekend. Michael
Back to you my friend and thank you!
:-))
The mysterious richness and variety of life never ceases to . . . (no one word fits). But really, Mrs T is interested in that little red dragon??
Nah, she was just there for the water! 🐸
Your photograph of the dragonfly is exceptional, Cindy. I know what it takes to photograph a dragonfly and the details on this one are mind-blowing. Thank you for sharing! 🌹
Ahhh, so thoughtful of you Amy and most appreciated too! Thank you.
Very nice shot of the dragonfly. I could not look at the toad photos – amphibians creep me out.
I understand and am grateful you looked beyond them to Dragon the Fly <3
Amazing photos! Great detail.
Thank you for introducing me to the California Western Toad. That dragon fly really lived up to its name with its color. Beautiful picture.
Thank you for being interested in all creatures great and small and be well my friend <3
Your photos really are special Cindy.
Awww, you are a very kind friend, my friend <3
magnificent photos, as ever 🙂
Merci beaucoup mon ami <3
Beautiful creatures. Dragonflies looks like high tech aeroplanes.
I hear you, but honestly, they put human made high tech stuff to shame. No human could build something so delicate, so intricate, so perfectly evasive, and aerodynamic, that is actually alive, and has been so for 300 million years.
I agree. Nature is the unbeaten technician 🙂
<3 <3
Toads are ages I do not see here in Venetian environment. Decades ago was an usual presence. I am happy see your post. Thanks.
I am glad you enjoyed seeing Ms. Toad. I had a toad hijack ia ride in my suitcase without my knowledge from South Africa to Europe. When I opened my case, she hopped right out the window. I always wondered if there would be a European African Toad sub-colony due to her arrival!! 😉 😉
😃
Beautiful photos of the toads and dragonfly, Cindy. A dragonfly landed on my hand one day and I spoke to it. It stayed on my hand for a few minutes and appeared to be listening to me. My husband snapped some photos. It was amazing. It put it on my blog. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos. Hugs xx
Yes. I know. These creatures know more than many of us wish to admit. Butterflies and bees do this with me, but a dragonfly is pretty amazing! Never happened to me. If I were you, I would be honored, which I expect you were, for good reason <3
Yes, I was! I thought of it as my mother visiting me in a way. She was fascinated by dragonflies and hummingbirds as I am. All I did was put my hand out to it and it came. I was thrilled. ♥️
How magical <3
How do you know the Toadly One is a Misses? It could be a Mister! Couldn’t it?
Yes it certainly could be a he. I just have fun with it and come up with whatever strikes my imagination and fancy……
Frogs are my favorite!
They are awesome 🐸🐸
Ooh… how special! Mrs. T is patient. Great captures, Cindy! 🙂
Thanks much and you’re right, Mrs. T is a most patient toadster!
Quite the chubby duo! Glad they are thriving in your area!
Yes they are awesome critters <3