Snakes, snakes and more snakes

In the past two weeks I have seen not one, not two but seven yes seven SNAKES in my yard. Today we saw a really pretty big one. Too big for comfort. Last year when we moved in it was hotter so the snakes hung out by the canal that is behind our yard. This year it is still cooler and well the snakes are a comin' out to play. Usually they are these little pencil size snakes, still startle me but are small and fearful. Today' was way bigger and the cat was trying to get it. My friend and her daughter were over and the girls found them. They came over to us and said in excited tones, There is a snake, we found a snake. Even though Thing 1 has seen several of these real snakes I couldn't help but think she was just using her imagination and saw one of the million branches in our yard. But to my dismay, it was a real snake and 20 times bigger then any of the others I have seen. They freak me out in my yard and make me nervous when I have to go outside at night.