sitting on my toad stool

moths on lightsheet

Colombian Plump Frog (Elachistocleis pearsei), family Microhylidae, found in Central and NW South America

This is my sweet spoiled Princess Polly Toad.

It's felt like everything in my life has gone to shit for a long time now. From people lost to tragedy, to the stress and struggles that seem to never end but somehow still manage to surprise me in getting worse.

But this chonkers little lady is one of the things that keeps me going. Like, I have other reasons, of course. But the impact Polly has had on me is so strong. She just feels right, yknow? Like when I had newts, that felt right. When I had snails, they were SO right for me and I miss having them so much. Polly has filled a pet ownership void in my heart.

Like, all the awful shit going on around me, I can forget about it for just a little bit when she wakes up in the evening and I just sit and watch her for a little bit before bed.

Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris), family Bufonidae, southeastern United States

This individual is has aberrant coloration. I have personally never seen one bright red like this - "Erythristic".