Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

  With another cool spell descending upon the Bayou, it was quite pertinent that I gather a bit of kindling for the old cast iron stove.  There are, in fact, two wood-burning stoves in the Little Bayou House that need to be fed when the weather takes a turn on the cooler side.  These early stages of winter just beg for a bit of warmth and the stoves provide just that.  The cat, old dog and I will huddle near the crackling embers and while away the evening hours.  Ms. Nycto will be on my lap and Mr. PJ will rest near my feet.  All in all, it makes for a perfect evening but only if I gather enough sticks to stoke the fire a bit.

  I took the long way around the property to gather an armload of "fire sticks" as my sweet granddaughter calls them.  The old stoves do not need large logs to put out a nice heat.  An armload or two of small branches will burn for hours.  The path took me around back to the canebrake.  This path heads due north and is, more or less, a tunnel like feature with large trees making a canopy overhead and thick underbrush lining the sides.  Sometimes, it can seem quite dark even during the bright of day.  This afternoon, the "tunnel' was cast in gloom from the overcast skies and a brisk north wind made it feel icy cold.  I was ever so thankful to feel my canvas log tote weighted as it meant my hike was about complete. At this same time, the sun shone through just enough to give me that "light at the end of the tunnel" feeling.   It was time to head back to the Little Bayou House and get warm.  A mug of hot ginger tea and some warm pumpkin bread fresh from the oven awaited my return!  All is well.