“Just north of Houston.”
I’m a former Houstonian. I thought your pictures looked like St. Augustine grass! I bet it was a cottonmouth.
The first two “fish” I caught as a little child were cottonmouths. I don’t remember if it was at Sam Houston State or Dave Crockett State Park. My mom cut off their heads with a machete. I had quite the mom!
I hope you got some really nice stuff for Mom today - she's earned the best.