Just a Couple of Things

  Just a couple of things here, Folks.  First, for any of you following the story of the skink family, it ended in tragedy.  My early morning check gave me hope that the little family would survive the onslaught of bad weather brought on by Tropical Storm Cindy.  Nine of the eggs had hatched and were doing well.  One little one had perished. Mama Skink seemed happy and was trying her best to care for her family in spite of the danger that came with the storm.  This first check found the tide waters still at least a foot away from the nest under the board.  When I went down after the next torrential thunderstorm, tragedy had struck.  Mama and two babies had abandoned the nest but all the rest of the little skinks had perished.  The ground was just too saturated.  Rainwater had flooded the entire area. The nest filled with water and the little ones drowned.  With a heavy heart, I hastily gathered the remaining sixteen eggs and headed up the hill. The eggs were cold but I could not just leave them.  Halfway up the hillside, I felt something wiggle in my hand.  Two tiny skinks were working their way out of the eggs.  I JUST HATCHED TWO BABY SKINKS!  Even under a light and in a nice bed of moss, the other eggs did not hatch.  This morning, however, the two little ones were bright, happy and trying to catch some little moths that were attracted by the light.  My little ones seemed to be ok. (Sorry about the picture below.  It is difficult to take clear photographs in the middle of a gale!)

  Next, regardless of the torrential rains and high winds that ravaged the Bayou, a splotch of purple led me to the garden.  The Stoke's Asters were in full bloom!  Their bright blossoms waved in the winds and dripped beads of water but were still gorgeous!  I needed that bright spot in all of the gloom that surrounded me.  Somehow, there is always a silver lining that gives hope. Not that Tropical Storm Cindy was a bad storm but the days on end of nonstop rain had started to take its toll on my emotions.  The asters brought a smile.

  Then, in the midst of all the drippiness, the clothes dryer went kaput.  It had been going nonstop for at least three days when suddenly it gave up the ghost.  Try as they might, Mark and Son could not repair the thing. That is when I realized just how important it is to save things.  Most folks would have tossed the old clothes rack years ago but I knew that it would come in handy some day.  It did.  Towels were hung to dry in front of the open door.  The gale winds flapped the towels and I was able to do laundry without the so called conveniences.  Folks who live down here and who experience storms on a regular basis understand the value in items such as this.  When there is a need, we have something to fill that need.  Sometimes it pays to use a little logic and be prepared for whatever may come.  Just saying....

  All in all, the storm turned out to be eventful.  We had babies, found blooms, salvaged a damaged pier, endured nigh on twelve inches of rain, ate far too much and realized just how fortunate we really are.  Life is good.