Leighton's experiment

Today I was going to get the recycling bin from the curb to bring it up to the house, but my efforts were halted by a little lizard friend hanging out on the handle.

Leighton was thrilled when I told him to come see because we've been seeing them skitter skatter in yards and gardens the last couple days (seems like they are everywhere as soon as it hits 80 degrees!) and this time he got to see it so well since the little creature was marooned on the recycling can with nowhere to go.

And then Leighton decided he NEEDED to see it change color.  He NEEDED it to go onto something of a different color.  Did I mention it was stranded on the recycling can and showed no inclination to find a way down to something of a different color while we watched (and photographed) it?  Leighton figured I should go get the black garbage can to put it back beside the green recycling can so the lizard could crawl over to it and change color.  So, up the driveway I went to grab it and wheel it back down to the curb.  I put the two as close as possible and we waited.  Nothing.  Mr Lizard was not taking the bait.  So we snapped, clapped, and knocked on the green can to encourage some movement towards the black one.

Success!

And then it ran across it.  Most likely hoping there was something better on the other side to get away from the hyper kid and the crazy lady with the camera!

No such luck, buddy.  We watched for a few moments and Leighton was convinced the nose and back were getting browner.

I convinced Leighton to leave the poor thing alone for a bit while we washed the mud off the wagon.  While we did this, we came across another lizard.  It was brown and very shy!  And then we went to go check to see if our friend had turned black.

Picture me jumping up and down in excitement that Leighton's experiment worked.  I give him a high five.  I snap some pictures.  And then he says, "But it's brown Mommy.  Why isn't it black?"  He wasn't nearly as impressed as I was, obviously!

Our next task was to try to get it off the garbage can.  Of course, I made it sound like I was doing this because I felt sorry for the little thing, but honestly, I was too much of a wimp to drag the can back up the driveway with our passenger on there in case it decided to jump off towards me!  So, I bravely tipped over the can and our friend took off into the grass (I may or may not have squealed like a little girl when Leighton went to step from the grass to the driveway and almost stepped on it!).

It's going to be over 80 some more this week.  I am guessing there will be more creatures, and experiments, in my future!