Update

As I came around the corner this afternoon. loaded with shopping
bags, I saw that that litle brown tail sticking out from under the
boxwood. I stopped , but he'd obviously seen (heard) me,
and slipped away into his space. That little brown lizard
is here to stay.

We had other  visitors to our Back 40 today, as well.
A surveyor crew were busy measuring lines and
tying bright orange tape to the bushes along the back of my lot.
And trampling through the ferns and huckleberry bushes,
complaining bitterly about the blackberries. Hehe.

There may be much noise and upset coming to our
wild, quiet space. But there's not much we can do about
this, as we don't own the lot behind us. It has been vacant
and uncared for since we built here, so I guess it's time
has come.
But they best not mess with the set backs for the creek
that runs in the ravine between the two lots, or they will
have one wildly angry senior gardener on their case!!

Hello....We've got a Visitor!!

This afternoon, as I was stepping out the side door of the garage,
I notice this "thing" on the edge of the sidewalk step in front of me.
It was a long, with brown and black stripes, and looked for all the
world like a dead leaf.
It was bigger than most leaves in my yard (about 6 inches), so I
stopped to look have a closer look.
The colouring suggested 'Slug' to me right away. Yuck.
So I leaned down to get a closer look, and startled the little guy.

Two little legs popped out of the side of this creature, and it
whipped around and scuttled under the boxwood.

I laughed, feeling glad that I didn't have 6 inch slugs living in my
garden, but also sad that I had interupted his sunbath on the
warm concrete.

Maybe he'll come back if the sun comes out again (and if that
concrete ever warms up again).
I think he might be a skink, but I'm not sure.
Any suggestions as to his name?