With a bowl of birdseed in each hand, I stepped outside to complete my morning ritual for the daytime wildlife.  I immediately heard the clicking of nails walking across the ground.  They were so loud I expected it to be a dog.  Not so!  It was a nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) sauntering his way from the creek toward the lake.  Of course I had my camera with me.  Equally of course, my hands were full, and it was too late to snap any photos by the time I set down the birdseed, retrieved the camera from my pocket, turned it on, and took aim.

Still, it was nice to see my early morning visitor.  But only if it was not the same one who abused me a few months ago.