This post was created in partnership with Colavita. All opinions are our own.

A funny thing happened on the way to the mailbox last night. Our small, cozy home rests at the bottom of a long, steep driveway, so every time we check the mail or take out the trash, it’s like climbing up the side of Mount Everest. But we love where we live. Yesterday evening during our daily ascent up the hill, a full moon lit the sky, and two great-horned owls were hooting in the trees. When we arrived at the mailbox, we noticed a small shape across the street running towards us in the dark. This mystery creature didn’t show any signs of slowing down, and as it grew closer we could see bright streaks of black and white flashing in the moonlight. At that moment, it became terrifyingly obvious that this curious animal was indeed a skunk. We both froze, hoping it would turn the other way, but it kept coming towards us. We said some prayers and a few other words that can’t be repeated here, then panicked and sprinted back to the house as fast as we could. We didn’t get the mail and we didn’t get sprayed, but we got a good workout and a dose of excitement for the day. With all the coyotes, raccoons, bobcats, owls, opossums, hawks, small snakes, and lizards roaming our neighborhood, it seems more like the Serengeti than Los Angeles. But temperatures are starting to sizzle, reminding us that summer has arrived—this is clearly not Africa, and the Hollywood Bowl is just twenty minutes away.