The "Do-Nothing" Day

  This was one of those days that warranted doing nothing...nothing at all.  Too bad that did not happen.  I was up bright and early peeling shrimp.  Mark had brought in another sixty pounds.  At least I did not have to head these..only peel.  As I whipped the peels from the critters, Son washed and bagged them for the freezer.  I informed Mark that this is the limit!  There is absolutely no more room in the freezers...yes, freezers.  I have four chest-type freezers plus the two small freezers above the refrigerators filled to capacity.  I cannot...will not...shall not need any more shrimp...nor shall our kids.  Seafood abounds in the Gulf so it does here as well.  Besides, I am tired of dealing with the stuff!  I never thought I would ever say that but I am.  At least until the shrimp move into the Bayou.  Then, as little as I need them, you will most likely find me on the pier throwing the net. 

  But, like I said, this day warranted being idle if for no other reason than it was hot.  It was far too hot to do many chores and definitely no outside work but I get real antsy sitting inside.  About one o'clock in the afternoon, Ms. Ez and I headed outside.  We wandered about the hillside for a bit when I noticed she was panting rather hard.  Mark had taken her for her annual checkup earlier and she received her shots so I imagine she was feeling a tad under the weather.  Well, that ended our hike. I made my way to the benches under the oak trees.  There we could sit in the cooling breezes from the Bay.  Ms. Ez eased herself up on one bench while I sat on the other.  She loves to rest on the old benches because it puts her high enough to see out over the water.  I rested my hand on the old dog's head and thought of how she has been around for quite some time.  We got her right after Hurricane Katrina. The family that had Ms. Ez's mama was going to kill some of a litter they allowed her to have.  Elizabeth could not stand the thought of that so she rescued the runt of the bunch.  Elizabeth named her Esmeralda. (I shortened this to Ez as it was easier to call.)  I have cared for this dog since she was a wee pup.  

  After a bit, Ms. Ez nodded off into a deep sleep.  She seemed to feel better and I guess that is one way to beat the heat.  Me?  I just sat beside her and continued to rub her ears.  Poor old dog.