Month: April 2023

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5 Fascinating Snakes in The Woods of South Carolina

Art Design by Debra Roinestad. (c) The Comfy Cabin, 2023.

Throughout history snakes  have been a symbol of medicine, love, rebirth, wisdom, good, and evil. Snakes will seek shelter in any place that is hidden. They burrow under rocks, logs, tree stumps, and bushes. Snakes are frightened of humans and are not prone to strike unless they feel threatened. It’s best to keep a good distance, and they will mosey on by. 

Tuberculosis must be conquered like the most evil of reptiles (1918) poster by Géo Dorival. Original public domain image from the Library of Congress.
Less dangerous than careless talk. Don’t discuss troop movements, ship sailings, war equipment.

Here are 5 fascinating snakes that I encountered in the woods of South Carolina.

1) Corn Snake

Corn Snake. Courtesy of WWF, (World Wide Fund for Nature).
Corn Snake. Photo by Debra Roinestad. (c) The Comfy cabin, 2023.

Corn snakes are generally docile and non-venomous. The corn snake has colors of orange and brown with patterns that resemble a ‘corn on the cob.’ 

It is easy to confuse corn snakes with venomous copperhead snakes. Corn snakes have brighter colors and are of a more slender build than copperheads. Corn snakes are also an excellent choice as a pet snake according to experts.  Read more here.

Video by Debra Roinestad, (c) The Comfy Cabin, 2023.

2) Copperhead

Photo by Grayson Smith. Original in the public domain.

Copperhead under wood pile. Photo by Kurt Roinestad.
(c) The Comfy Cabin, 2023.

Copperheads are the most common venomous snake you will find in South Carolina. They are reddish-brown, long, and wide snakes with a diamond shape pattern on their backs. Copperheads try to avoid humans and often hide under fallen leaves. Most copperhead bites occur when an unsuspecting human steps on the snake. Read more about the copperhead here.

3) King Snake

King Snake. Image in the public domain.

The king snake has a black body with yellow patterns. King snakes dislike copperheads. King snakes do not have venom. They kill their prey by wrapping themselves around the prey and squeezing it to death. 

King Snake eating Copperhead in our backyard. Photo by Kurt Roinestad. (c) The Comfy Cabin, 2023.
King Snake eating Copperhead in our backyard. Video by Kurt Roinestad.
Editing & Design by Debra Roinestad. (c) The Comfy Cabin, 2023.

4) Black Snake

Black snake. Image in the public domain image.

Black snakes are not venomous nor aggressive. If they feel threatened, they may bite as a last resort. The black snake can reach up to 8 feet in length.  Black snakes eat large amounts of rats and mice. They are especially handy to have around when you are growing a vegetable garden.

Black Snake in our backyard. Video by Kurt Roinestad.
Editing & Design by Debra Roinestad. (c) The Comfy Cabin, 2023.

5) Eastern Milk Snake

Eastern Milk Snake. Image in the public domain.

Historically, the eastern milk snake got it’s name from a silly belief that it would drink milk from a cow. The eastern milk snake is not venomous. People confuse the eastern milk snake with the venomous coral snake. Experts have suggested learning the following rhyme in order to differentiate the two snakes: “Red on yellow kills a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack.”

Eastern Milk Snake in our backyard. Video by Kurt Roinestad.
Editing & Design by Debra Roinestad. (c) The Comfy Cabin, 2023.

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, there are 38 different species of snakes in South Carolina.

You can read more here.

Many people have a natural fear of snakes including, myself. Experts have studied this reaction and have discovered that we usually are not born with the fear of snakes. The fear of snakes is a learned behavior.  

Read more here.

After encountering many snakes here in the woods, my fear of snakes has diminished, and I have developed a great admiration and respect for these magical creatures.

Warm Wishes,

Debra Roinestad

Debra Roinestad
Kurt & Debra

Shelter Logic

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Spring Wildlife on Trail Cam

Photo by Pete Nuij

Hey Everyone! 

April is an exciting time to see wildlife in the woods. All the animals are active this month. Black bears are emerging from their dens and showing up around the neighborhood. I spotted a black bear and her cubs a few miles from my home and captured a short video. 

Read more about the black bears here. 

Plus, the coyotes are roaming around at night, and the raccoons are busy socailizing and searching for food.

As always, enjoy the trail cam videos!

Warm Wishes,

Debra Roinestad

YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4ODZKd3VDU2dhLVZfOWJkTHhqQXdJNC4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy ~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
The Comfy Cabin Trail Cam: Coyote (1 of 4)
April 21, 2023 2:58 pm
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
The Comfy Cabin Trail Cam: Coyote (1 of 4)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4ODZKd3VDU2dhLVZfOWJkTHhqQXdJNC4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
The Comfy Cabin Trail Cam: Coyote (2 of 4)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4ODZKd3VDU2dhLVZfOWJkTHhqQXdJNC4wMTcyMDhGQUE4NTIzM0Y5
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
The Comfy Cabin Trail Cam: Coyote (3 of 4)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4ODZKd3VDU2dhLVZfOWJkTHhqQXdJNC41MjE1MkI0OTQ2QzJGNzNG
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
The Comfy Cabin Trail Cam: Coyote (4 of 4)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4ODZKd3VDU2dhLVZfOWJkTHhqQXdJNC4wOTA3OTZBNzVEMTUzOTMy
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
The Comfy Cabin Trail Cam: Raccoon (1 of 2)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4ODZKd3VDU2dhLVZfOWJkTHhqQXdJNC4xMkVGQjNCMUM1N0RFNEUx
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
The Comfy Cabin Trail Cam: Raccoon ( 2 of 2 )
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4ODZKd3VDU2dhLVZfOWJkTHhqQXdJNC41MzJCQjBCNDIyRkJDN0VD
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Blue Cheese and Fig Pizza with Prosciutto

One of my favorite pizzas for the warm weather is blue cheese pizza with prosciutto. Blue cheese and fig pizzas are easy to make. You can purchase a premade pizza crust and it will be ready in just a few minutes. It’s crunchy, salty, and sweet. Plus, drizzle a little bit of balsamic vinegar for extra flavor. Serve it with a salad or your favorite side dish.

Enjoy!

Debra Roinestad

Jump to Recipe

Basic Ingredients

• Pizza Crust Choose your favorite pizza crust. I used a gluten-free premade pizza crust.
• Blue Cheese & Figs The perfect combination of sweet and salty.
• Fig Preserves Fig preserves for spreading onto the pizza crust. 
• Prosciutto Fresh prosciutto for a bit of crunch on your pizza. 

Note: You can also use bacon in place of prosciutto or vegan bacon as another option.  It's all up to you and your taste buds. 🙂 👍
• Small Yellow Onion Use a small yellow thinly diced onion.  
• Sherry Wine Use sherry wine for deglazing and caramelizing the onions.
• Maple Syrup Use maple syrup for caramelizing the onions.

Instructions

Preheat a medium pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Thinly dice a yellow onion. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes stirring often, until the onions begin to wilt. Season with salt, pepper, and stir. Reduce the heat and add 1 tablespoon of sherry cooking wine. Add 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and stir for another 10 minutes. Turn off heat and set onions aside to cool.

Now its time to bake the prosciutto. Turn on the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Place the entire packet of prosciutto onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a bowl. Allow to cool.

Slice 3/4 cup of figs in half and place into a small bowl. Set aside.

Now it’s time to assemble the pizza. Again, set the oven to 400 degrees F. Use a round pizza tray and add a small amount of oil to the pizza tray. Place the pizza crust onto the pizza tray and spread the fig preserves to your liking. I used 2 tablespoons of fig preserves. Crumble the baked prosciutto into small pieces evenly onto the pizza. Add the cooked onions and sliced figs.

Add the blue cheese as desired. I added about 3/4 cup.

Bake for about 10-12 minutes. Drizzle a little bit of balsamic vinegar for extra flavor. Serve the blue cheese and fig pizza with a salad or your favorite side dish.

Blue Cheese & Fig Pizza With Prosciutto

Debra Roinestad (The Comfy Cabin)
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion (diced)
  • 1 pizza crust
  • ¾ cup blue cheese (crumbled)
  • ¾ cup figs (slice in half)
  • 2 tablespoons fig preserve
  • 1 pack prosciutto
  • 1 tablespoon sherry cooking wine
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • salt & pepper
  • optional: balsamic vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat a medium pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Thinly dice a yellow onion. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes stirring often, until the onions begin to wilt. Season with salt, pepper, and stir. Reduce the heat and add 1 tablespoon of sherry cooking wine. Add 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and stir for another 10 minutes. Turn off heat and set onions aside to cool.
  • Turn on the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Place the entire packet of prosciutto onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a bowl. Allow to cool.
  • Slice 3/4 cup of figs in half and place into a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Set the oven to 400 degrees F. Use a round pizza tray and add a small amount of oil to the pizza tray. Place the pizza crust onto the pizza tray and spread the fig preserves to your liking. I used 2 tablespoons of fig preserves. Crumble the baked prosciutto into small pieces evenly onto the pizza. Add the cooked onions and sliced figs.
  • Add the blue cheese as desired. I added about 3/4 cup.
  • Bake for about 10-12 minutes.
    Optional: Drizzle a little bit of balsamic vinegar for extra flavor.
    Serve the blue cheese and fig pizza with a salad or your favorite side dish.
Keyword pizza

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10 Beauty Products for the Warm Weather

The weather gets scorching hot here in the South Carolina mountains. I try to maintain a simple beauty regime. I enjoy the natural no-makeup look that is hassle-free yet put together. Here are my ten favorite beauty products for the spring and summer months.

  • 1- Versed Dew Point – Daily Lightweight Gel Face Moisturizer for Hydrated, Bouncy Skin. A non-greasy and lightweight gel moisturizer with green tea and aloe that keeps the face hydrated all day.
  • 2- Flower Beauty– Powder blush that is smooth and silky. It gives your complexion a natural and lovely rosy glow.

  • 3- Olay Body Wash– This body wash is packed with vitamin B3 that leaves your skin soft, hydrated, and silky.

  • 4-Clinique High Impact Water Proof Mascara– A perfect mascara that won’t smear in the heat and gives your lashes extra length and fullness.

  • 5-Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer– A rich combination of lipgloss and lipstick all-in-one. Protects and hydrates your lips with a hint of color.

  • 6- It Cosmetics CC– Full coverage hydrating serum with SPF 50 sunscreen. Protects your face and covers any imperfection leaving your face with a dewy and sparking glow.

  • 7- Degree Ultra Clear Deodorant– This antiperspirant deodorant protects you for 72 hours and leaves your clothes stain free. Plus, it has a delicate powdery scent that is not overwhelming.

  • 8- Moroccan Oil Hydrating Shampoohttps://amzn.to/3KOcmce– This has been my favorite shampoo for many years. It restores dryness, adds shine, and leaves your hair silky. Plus, the argan oil scent is spellbinding.

  • 9-Moroccan Oil Hydrating Conditioner– The heat can do a lot of damage to your hair. Moroccan hydrating conditioner is sulfate free which is perfect for color treated hair. It leaves your hair soft and manageable.

  • 10- R+Co Cool Wind pH Perfect Air Dry Cream– You can leave the blow dryer alone during the hot weather. This is the perfect air dryer hair cream when you are in a rush. Also, the cream keeps your frizz at bay and maintains your hair style.

Warm Wishes,
Debra Roinestad

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Ravishing Ravens on Trail Cam

I am raving about ravens. The weather is great now for raven watching. According to wildlife experts, many have admired the ravens’s intelligence and confidence as they strut around. Ravens are not usually as social like crows, but sometimes they hang around in pairs. 

Read more here about ravens.

Our trail cam captured 174 raven videos! I narrowed down the trail cam videos and picked out the most enjoyable footage.

To view past trail cam videos of ravens click here. And here.

Wishing everyone a lovely spring.

All the best!

Debra Roinestad

~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
Ravishing Ravens (1 of 12)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4XzVQYnZFOXh2eXB0UFNka3FWR1BaRi41NkI0NEY2RDEwNTU3Q0M2
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
Ravishing Ravens (2 of 12)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4XzVQYnZFOXh2eXB0UFNka3FWR1BaRi4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
Ravishing Ravens (3 of 12)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4XzVQYnZFOXh2eXB0UFNka3FWR1BaRi4wMTcyMDhGQUE4NTIzM0Y5
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
Ravishing Ravens (4 of 12)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4XzVQYnZFOXh2eXB0UFNka3FWR1BaRi41MjE1MkI0OTQ2QzJGNzNG
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
Ravishing Ravens (5 of 12)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4XzVQYnZFOXh2eXB0UFNka3FWR1BaRi4wOTA3OTZBNzVEMTUzOTMy
~ Welcome to our woodland in the back of our cabin in South Carolina. Here you may see a variety of wildlife including birds, squirrels, deer, bears and much more! There is always some beautiful animal in the back of the log cabin exploring or gathering food. ~ Debra Roinestad For more nature & wildlife videos 🅥🅘🅢🅘🅣 The Comfy Cabin blog site www.thecomfycabin.com
Ravishing Ravens (6 of 12)
YouTube Video UExJd29Sbkp4Z3B4XzVQYnZFOXh2eXB0UFNka3FWR1BaRi4xMkVGQjNCMUM1N0RFNEUx
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Raven / Kaufmann & Strauss N.Y.
Raven in winter (1802 – 1890) vintage Ukiyo-e style by Ikeda Koson. Original public domain image from the Library of Congress.