Mud Mouse?

   It is not uncommon to find mice just about anywhere.  The critters seem to have an adaptable lifestyle that allows them to move right into a spot and call it home. For a while, the area was kept quite clear of the little rascals due to the fact that the old Bayou Queen had a "liking" for them.  The old cat made it hard to find evidence of any rodent, not only in our yard, but the neighbor's as well.  She often would present them with "headless critters" as a token of her love.  The Bayou Princess, Ms. Nycto, thought she was high above such menial labor and the Bayou Prince, Bat (the cat) is too busy chasing feral cats and squirrels.  The mice are having a heyday!  Thankfully, they stay outside and have not ventured into the Little Bayou House...yet.  

  My "Mud Mouse" is of a different sort.  It has been rainy, drizzly, foggy...you name it...for the past week.  I love this weather but it does make hiking a bit difficult.  Mark and I did venture down to the pier through the drippiness and found that the north wind had pushed the tide far out from the shoreline.  This exposed the soft mud for about a good thirty feet.  It was upon those mudflats that I found my mouse!  There, as perfect as you wish to see, was the most adorable critter complete with big ears and beady eyes!  Oh, my goodness!  A mud mouse had decided to come to visit!  I just had to get a photograph.

  Pareidolia is a weird thing.  Years ago, Granddad taught me to "see faces" in everything in nature.  That spilled over to seeing "things" in just about any mundane discovery.  My mud mouse was a pure bit of happenstance.  Two clam shells were perfectly aligned by the waves to allow me to see a critter..not a live mouse, at all, but the reasonable facsimile of one!  A sealed clam as the head, an open one as the ears and an ideally placed barnacle as an eye.  Yep...a MOUSE!

 Ok, so I have always admitted to having a wild imagination and I guess this is as wild as it can get.  Most folks would probably see clam shells in the mud and not much more.  My sighting, however, tickled me and brightened the day tremendously...therefore, it cannot all be bad.  Folks, when things are a bit boring or not to your liking, look for something...anything...that can bring a smile.  Do not focus on the drear...make the sunshine...even if it is a mud mouse!

It's Pirate Treasure!

   A few years back, I noticed a bright, glowing spot on the water right at the edge of the marsh.  This spot was on the opposite shore if I looked eastward.  It was late fall and right at sunset when the intense light appeared.  I was so adamant that one of the recent hurricanes had washed something ashore there that Mark paddled the small skiff to the spot to check.  He found nothing amiss.  In fact, by the time he got there, the "spot" had fully disappeared.  The sun had slid down behind the pines and fully blocked the beams.  We pondered this for quite some time but never figured out why the sun pinpointed that spot with its rays.  What was reflecting the light?  Our murky, muddy waters are not sparkling enough to cause this phenomenon.   Then, as seasons do, things shifted and the sun was not at the "perfect" angle to create the brilliant splash on the shore.

  Yesterday evening as we sat on the pier, the glow appeared again.  The sunset has now shifted enough to reflect on whatever is causing the glow.  There, at the edge of the marsh seated beneath a background of groundsel bushes and goldenrod, the shimmer was back, if only for a few fleeting moments.  I was tempted to ask Mark to paddle the skiff to the spot once again!  (Poor fellow!)  As we mulled over the possibilities, he mumbled something about pirate treasure and that was all it took to get the wheels going in my head!  Perhaps that is it!  Maybe some pirate ship made its way into the Bay and deposited treasure in that exact spot!  After many years and a goodly number of hurricanes, the gold doubloons are spilling out over the muddy bank catching the sun's rays!  Interesting thought, but I do believe someone would have already laid claim to the treasure if it was out in the open with a huge spotlight shining on it.  Although...pirate treasure would be something that my brain could wrap itself around and come up with a dozen or so tall tales to explain the shimmer across the Bay!

  Will we ever be able to explain what is causing our "bright spot" or shall we leave it up to speculation and let the "haunted tales" become another "Bayou Legend"?  I sort of like the latter.  Leave some things unexplained.   

The Weirdness Continues!

   With the drought still upon us (16wks with no rain), the salinity in the Bay and Bayou has vastly changed.  With that change, there has been a huge change in the critters, as well.  All of our brackish water creatures have gone farther up into the rivers leaving the saltiness behind.  Now, fish and sea creatures from the Gulf of Mexico are converging into our area.  This makes for some interesting fishing.  The Bay and Bayou are still filled with life...just of a different ilk.

  This morning, Mark and I headed back to the pier in hopes of catching enough fish for lunch.  Today, that was easy.  As I was throwing the net, I caught some nice mullet and a few shrimp.  Seafood is always welcome as a meal!  Then, I had to turn the net over to him simply because I caught something "interesting".  (Son always says that I have a short attention span and get easily distracted.  I say things are interesting.)  Anyway, it was time to do a quick photo shoot of the latest "weird critter caught from the pier"!

  This time, I caught a squid!  Squid are normally NEVER up this far.  These are strictly...very strictly "sea" creatures. They need that saltwater to live.  Well, that just shows how salty our Bay is right now.  This is actually a White Squid or Brief Squid or Loligunclia brevis...according to my expert in the field of sea creatures.  (Yes, Andre is truly an expert so I trust his identifications.)  It really did not matter what the critter was called, it was cute.  I knew it was a squid and did not belong near the pier so that was a good enough reason for me to drop the net and pick up the camera.  I took a few pictures and let my friend go back into the water.  Several folks had to reprimand me for letting it go as it could have been used as bait but I figured I had plenty of menhaden so the wayward critter got a reprieve.  So...the weirdness continues and I shall keep photographing! 

Nine Catfish, One Stingray, One Trout and a Big Lizard!

   Early this morning, I caught a few menhaden so Mark and I could go fishing.  The end of the pier is my choice of fishing spots as it is convenient.  If the fish are not biting, I can simply head back to the gardens to work.  This morning, however, we were determined to catch some hardhead catfish to use as crab bait.  It was not long before the fish started biting and I was pulling in one catfish after another. Suddenly, the pull bent downward and the drag started humming.  I knew I had something a bit larger than a hardhead. One nice gafftopsail (catfish) was hauled to the pier.  Then, another good pull and a stingray was flopped onto the pier.  That could be used as crab bait, as well!  At one point, Mark was swishing around in the bait bucket to hand me a minnow, when I heard his line going out like crazy!  I grabbed the pole and pulled in a small trout.  Well...maybe our lunch?  Catfish continued to bite until I had to head back to chores.  All in all, it was a good morning!

  As I walked back up to the pier, I became exasperated.  In the edge of the marsh was a large piece of plastic.  Since it was out of reach, I grabbed my reel and tossed the hook over the edge of the plastic.  The hook slid around and caught hold of an attached rope.  Smooth sailing!  The plastic sheet easily came to the pier.  I picked it up and had to start giggling.  After all of those fish, I had now caught a "Big Lizard"!  It seems this was one of those "boogie boards" or "wake boards" that I have seen young folks using.  (Not sure on either of those terms.)  Anyway, the name printed on the top was "Big Lizard"!  I wonder where that came from? It sort of fit...maybe?  I went from fishing to the garden and caught a big lizard?  Anyway, the morning was fun and now...beautiful rain!  Hopefully, it will rain all night and end this dreadful drought!

All Choked Up...

   You can catch some of the oddest critters when throwing the net from the pier.  In fact, I never know exactly what might be in the catch.  Everything from the tiniest pipefish to a monster of a snapping turtle have been hauled to the pier.  Pipefish...I can handle.  Snapping turtles...I cannot.  Those critters tear up the entire net and are a pain to set free.  Not something I relish.  

  For the past week or so, some schools of shrimp have been making their way through the Bay and that calls for the locals to head down to their piers with the nets.  We never catch huge amounts but we are grateful for any we do.  During those throws we find our odd critters.  Yesterday's oddity (somewhat) is known as a hogchoker.  Mark caught several and I finally convinced him to get a photograph for me as my camera was safe inside the house.  The hogchoker is native here.  It is perhaps the flattest fish in these parts even more than the flounder.  A hogchoker only gets about 5 inches in length and is quite camouflaged in color.  This coloring allows it to blend well with the muddy bottoms where it hides.  Like all other flat fish, when it is born it has an eye on either side of its body but the "bottom" eye migrates to the top of the fish before it is a month old or about 1/2 inch in length.  Pretty cool!

  When my kids were little, they loved playing with the tiny hogchokers.  While I was throwing the net, a bucket of water and a few hogchokers kept the kiddos entertained.  After they played with the "suckerfish" (their name) for a while, they knew to return them to the same place where we caught them.  Odd critters make wonderful babysitters and provide plenty of learning experiences.  Teach 'em young, folks.  Teach 'em young!  

That Feeling Of Belonging

   People often ask me why I cling to my little house here on the Bayou.  I have one answer...because it is HOME.  I find peace here.  This is where I belong and where I shall stay as long as possible.  This...this is my little piece of paradise.

  Early this morning as I was on the pier, I had to smile as several dolphins were putting on quite a show just for me...obviously, just for me since I was the only person up at the crack of dawn when they started.  I smiled because of a recent news article where the reporter was "surprised" to see dolphins and porpoises in the Bay.  Hmmm...perhaps that reporter is not very observant or perhaps he has just never spent much time on the water.  The lovely creatures can be seen frolicking whenever there are mullet schooling. Today, the dolphins were quite close to the pier.  I watched as the pod worked together to corral mullet into a tight wad so their hunting could be easier.  Then...a surprise!  Among the adults, there were two calves with this pod!  

  As I sat there watching the show, an overwhelming sense of belonging came over me.  This...this is where I belong.  This...this is indeed my little piece of paradise. Just home...just home.

Just A Cousin

    Sometimes, extended family can be the closest friends you can have...sometimes.  Sometimes, those same family members can be the very ones that will throw you under the bus if ever a chance occurs.  It all boils down to that old adage of "It is better to have an honest enemy than a fake family."  When things come to light, there oftentimes comes a need to purge...family or not. Seriously, though, family is (in most cases) exactly what is needed to make life livable.  The closeness, the love, the laughter...that...THAT is pure bliss.

  This morning, I found a cousin...not of mine but a cousin to another critter.  Most folks are keenly aware of the adorable seahorses that are found the warmer waters of the world. These fine fish are found near coral reefs and in seagrass beds where they have protection from larger predators.  (Yes, they are fish.)  Here, we have an abundance of pipefish.  Pipefish are the sweet cousins of the seahorses!  Like their cousins they tend to hide among the underwater plants as they go about eating tiny plankton.  I occasionally catch one when I am throwing the net for mullet or bait fish.  I marvel at the beauty and then carefully release the tiny critters.

  It is easy to see the "family resemblance" if you ever take the time to really observe the pipefish.  Their heads and "snouts" are so much like that of the seahorses.  These snouts are specialized to capture small prey that other fish overlook.  Also, like their cousins, pipefish are extremely camouflaged and can go unseen in a bed of seagrass.  This helps them avoid being eaten and also helps them to capture food.  Another way they are like their cousins, is the male pipefish gives birth not the female.  He has a specialized brood pouch which can hold up to dozens of eggs or tiny pipefish!  

  So...there you have it!  Cousins...seahorses and pipefish!  Oh...let us not forget their other cousins...the sea dragons but they are way over in Australia not around my Bayou!

Gafftopsail Dad!

   Finally, the fish have returned to the Bay.  The waters are teeming with mullet and menhaden which in turn attracts the larger fish.  This is all fine and dandy except for the fact that those larger fish are mostly catfish.  Both the hardhead catfish and the gafftopsails are following the smaller fish as they come into the Bay to spawn.  Every spring, thousands of these large fish enter the Bay.  Most of the ones we are catching are females and are full of eggs. Soon, the female will spawn (lay the eggs).  The male fertilizes the eggs after the laying and then scoops up the orange, marble-sized eggs.  He  will carry the eggs in his mouth until they hatch which can take up to 65 days.  During this time, the male does not eat.  His whole existence is to protect those eggs until they hatch.  Once hatched, the babies (called fry) still stay with dear, old Dad until they can feed on their own.  Male catfish make good daddies!

  The gafftopsail catfish is named because its dorsal fin resembles a sail of a ship.  This fin rises tall on the back of the fish but can be laid flat.  Both the dorsal fin and the pectoral fins are supported by a sharp spine that can quickly injure an unsuspecting predator (or angler).  It is best to be careful when unhooking one!  While both the hardhead catfish and the gafftopsail are edible, not many folks around here use them for anything other than crab bait. Personally, I unhook and release them unless I am in dire need of bait.  Live and let live is always a good mantra.

Neighborhood Geese?

   According to all range maps, the Canada Goose lives primarily in the northern regions of the United States and Canada.  They migrate southward during the late fall but then return north to breed and raise their young.  These range maps may need to be updated as the geese are now regular, year-round residents of the Deep South.  They do not migrate as the weather warms but rather stay and nest here.  On any given day, you can hear them honking as they fly overhead.  They fly low and often stop in to visit the Bayou after they visit my cousin's place just west of us along the shore. Dozens go to her place to feed and eventually bring their young with them.  The flock is growing! The geese are here to stay, obviously.

  This morning as I was throwing the net for mullet, I heard that familiar honking as the geese flew over the pier.  They, as always, headed to get breakfast but then, instead of flying back eastward, they swam down the shoreline.  Several times, they would stop to investigate small clearings in the marsh.  The group started out quite large but I noticed as they made their way toward our pier, the number was dwindling.  Several pairs were staying behind in the marshes.  Soon there were only five left.  Those five lingered a bit before taking flight eastward.  Where were the others?  Perhaps they stayed behind to check possible nesting sights?  It would be nice if the geese did nest nearby!  While a lot of people complain about the noise and mess the geese make, I feel they are just about the same as any other critter and, yes, I like the critters a lot better than I do most people.  Give me the geese any day!

Hoodies, Golden Moments and Memories!

   A few mornings ago, I awoke to find the room awash in a golden glow.  That told me that the sunrise was to be spectacular.  Even though, I had little emotional energy left to even think of sunrises, sunsets or anything else on the Bayou, instinct made me stumble out to the pier.  Golden....beautiful golden moments...those are the times that life hands you when you least expect.

  That morning, the waters of the Bay were pushed far from the shore by the north winds of overnight.  The mudflats were busied by the raccoons and shorebirds foraging for breakfast but I was more interested in three little beings paddling in the shallows.  The hoodies were back!  Hooded mergansers hold a special place in my heart.  They are not seen here except during the winter months and, even then, they are here for only few weeks.  I try to enjoy them as much as possible while the opportunity lasts.

  One of my early recollections of the hoodies involved my grandmother.  She loved feeding all the birds even the waterfowl.  Come wintertime, she would carefully put birdseed in the long, tray-like feeder under the south-facing window and then fill a pie tin with bread crumbs, corn and sometimes barley.  Carefully, she would traipse down to the pier my granddad had built.  The goodies would be scattered on the lower part of the lawn for the ducks to enjoy.  If, Pop and Granddad were trying to do a little duck hunting near the mouth of the Bayou, she would bang that pie tin and give a call of "Here, duck, duck, duck!"  Yep, those menfolk gave up the hunt rather quickly since they knew that "Hattie" was not approving of their antics!  Plus, all of the ducks within earshot would flock to their free meal.  Of course, the fish-eating mergansers never came to feast upon the grains but the banging on the tin would send them skittering across the water!

  It is funny how a simple things like the hoodies' presence can bring back a flood of memories.  Golden moments abound!  Life is good. 

  

Bundled Up Against The Cold!

   Any fisherman worth his salt will tell you that you need to "get out there early".  Not only are you more apt to catch bait but you will be the "first to get the good spot" since we all know that everyone wants to fish in exactly the same place.  Personally, I stick to fishing from the pier.  Just as many fish can be caught from there and, if I tire of fishing, I can simply walk up the hill to find something else to do.   Still, that firm idea of getting out there before the crack of dawn is a hard trend to break.  Everyone knows that I rise early and head to the pier to start my day.  Not everyone knows that Mark will occasionally rise early and head out in the little skiff.  Different methods but can be a comparable idea.

  Yesterday morning, we did just that.  Rose early, went to the pier, he jumped in the skiff to get that best spot and I headed back up the hillside to plant mustard greens.  As I meandered the slope, I turned just in time to catch a glimpse of him between the trees.  He was throwing the net to catch menhaden or little mullet for bait but I had to ponder just how in the world he managed.  He was so bundled up against the "cold" that it had to be quite the feat.  I am not sure I would have been able to move much less throw the net.  Yes, it was chilly and, yes, I did pull on a sweatshirt but it was not THAT cold!  It made me giggle!

First The Bayou...Now The Bay

  Commonsense seems to be a thing of the past.  Or, perhaps, people just do not care anymore.  Either way, the actions of the "non-thinkers" are not for the best of the environment.  Take, for instance, the water plants that have now fully clogged the Bayou.  Coontail is an aquatic plant that is highly invasive.  It has excessive growth habits that will fill an area and soon clog the waterways.  The Bayou is clogged.  The Bay will be if something is not done soon. 

  A few months back, someone decided it was a fine thing to dump their unwanted pond plants into the Bay.  Well, the little amount they dumped has now turned into acres of the invasive plants.  Truly...acres.  The sad thing is, there is very little that can be done to remedy the situation.  The amount is too massive to be removed by normal methods.  This could be the end of an era for the Bayou...and Bay.  Fish will perish, marine mammals and birds may become ensnared and boating may even come to a halt as the weeds tangle around the propellers.  Life is changing....and not in a good way.  And those responsible go about their merry way.  Saddening.  Saddening for the rest of us.  I am beginning to lose all faith in humanity.

Only Ten Minutes

   Have you ever stopped to think just how quickly things can change?  In a matter of moments, things can bounce from one extreme to the other and sometimes back again.  While we have a tendency to think things pretty much remain as they are, nothing stays the same for long.  Life is that way.  Better enjoy the moments as they are and not fret over what may be as it can flip-flop around so fast your head will spin!

  As proof of how things can quickly do turnarounds, compare the two photographs.  The first one was taken when I arrived at the pier early this morning.  There was an odd haze obscuring the view.  The sun was blocked by clouds but looking southward down the pier, the entire Bay seemed to be a blur.  It was an odd haze which almost appeared to be smoky...maybe?  As I waited, the haze started lifting.  Ten minutes after arriving on the pier, everything was crystal clear.  Thick clouds still hung in the sky but the golden-hued haze had totally disappeared.  Odd...very odd.  It only takes a few moments, folks, for things to reverse themselves.  

One Fine Morning

   After weeks...no months of rains, it was most exhilarating to see the sun peeping over the pines this morning.  I had gone out for a five minute stroll when a rainbow in the western sky drew me to the pier.  For there to be a rainbow, there had to be the sun!  This was, indeed, something that has not been seen in a while!  While photographing the rainbow, a mountainous cloud started glowing with the sunshine!  Would this be the setting for today?  The cloud was photographed as was the sun doing its best to rise.

  It did not last long.  I was still on the pier when thunder started rolling and lightning started flashing across the Bay.  Five minutes later, it was drizzling rain at the Little Bayou House.  I had just made it back inside when the rain started.  That is just what we needed...more rain.  I am quite sure that when this does quit and a dryer bit of air sets in, I will be wishing for these daily rains but it would be nice to occasionally be outside for longer than a few minutes!  

Hangin' With Old Gus

   One of my favorite things about living on the Bayou is the abundance of wildlife.  Here lately, that abundance is becoming even more abundant.  Yet another wooded area is being clear-cut which drives out the critters.  It hurts me to think of how many little ones are being killed as the crews drive their machines over the dens.  Just recently, my aunt and uncle's old place was clear-cut and it was heartbreaking to hear the tiny animals' screams.  Those that were large enough to flee were separated from their parents and, at night, the cries were almost too difficult to bear.  I could only imagine the agony.  People don't care, though.  It is all about the money.  

  This afternoon, the skies were gray and a sort of drippy fog shrouded the Bay.  I slipped down to the pier to see if the moccasin was in its usual spot but could not find it.  Perhaps it was too dreary even for the snake.  A lone brown pelican was roosting on one of the pier posts so it became my target! Old Gus (all brown pelicans are named Gus, for some odd reason.) looked mighty fine as he rested a bit from fishing.  About thirty photographs later, the bird and I said our goodbyes and we each went our separate ways.  It is nice to spend time with old friends.  Even better to spend time with the critter sort of friends.

Spring Storms and White Ibises

  Before the stormy weather set in for the long haul, I headed to the pier.  This was a few days ago and the clouds were already threatening.  The rains did catch me off-guard later in the morning but while on the pier, the dark, heavy clouds just felt ominous.  Another thing that caught me by surprise was a whole flock of White Ibises flying overhead.  Even though the sky was still quite dark, I was able to identify the birds by their black wingtips and their long, curved bills.  It is not a usual thing for me to see so many ibises in a single flock.  I counted over fifty of the birds!

  Ibises are actually considered to be a fisherman's friend.  They feed on crustaceans like crabs, fiddler crabs and crawfish (crayfish for those of you not from down here). Those critters feed a good bit on fish eggs.  By eating the crustaceans, the birds are actually making it so more of the fish eggs hatch and survive.  All fishermen should love seeing these birds in their areas!  Personally, I just love seeing them.  

  As I am writing this, thunder is grumbling out over the Gulf so our short respite is about to come to an end.  The storms shall rumble through again tonight.  Spring is definitely here.

Possibility?

  Just before noon, I heard the familiar honking of geese as I was out painting some flower pots.  It is not unusual to hear the geese as they fly to and from my cousin's house to the west.  She sets out a fine buffet of feed for the critters so the geese feel welcome to dine there.  The honking lasts only a few moments as the geese fly past the Little Bayou House.  This time, however, the honking did not cease.  It kept on and on until I decided to meander down the hillside to see what was up with the neighborhood critters.

  Thankfully, nothing appeared to be wrong with the geese so I suppose they were either "taking the slow route" or were scouting out potential nesting sites.  In a way, I hope it is the latter since the pair headed up the Bayou.  It would be nice to have little goslings about the place.

  I watched as the geese disappeared into the marsh.  Baby geese soon, maybe?  One can only hope!

Purely Magical Sunrise

  After a pretty much sleepless night, I headed to the pier before dawn.  Tossing and turning in the bed is ridiculous.  It was time to start the day.  Once there, I realized that this was no ordinary day.  It was more on the weird side than anything.  The sunrise was not even "right".  In fact, in all my years being on the Bayou, I had never experienced a day breaking in such a manner.

 

  There was a slight ridge of fog out over the mid part of the Bay.  It started back in the bowels of the Bayou and streamed out to the middle of the open water.  Fog is not anything new but seeing a long streak was.  Usually, the fog is low-lying and spread more over the marsh.  Then when the sun started to peek over the pines, it illuminated the fog streak near the mouth of the Bayou with such a brilliance that it was almost blinding.  The sky above the fog was blue and dotted with white clouds and this was mirrored in the still waters.  It almost had an ethereal glow to it.  I was spellbound.

  Then, the sky turned golden and the fog thickened to block out everything making it seem to be a lot darker than it should have been at that time.  The sun, however, was higher and absolutely blinding.  I was so enthralled by the phenomenon that I hardly noticed the family of otters playing nearby or the osprey flying overhead.  The mystical view had captured my full attention.  Folks, you never know what you will miss by lingering inside.  Get outside...see the magic!

The Clam Show!

   For quite some time now, there has been an odd little white spot in the mud near the pier.  This spot is there regardless of the tide.  Waves come and go.  The sandy spot is covered over with mud but then reappears in a few hours.  In the center of that white patch is a small hole about the size of a dime.  If you have patience and don't mind staring at one spot for a while during low tide, you will occasionally see a odd little spurt of water shooting up out of the hole.  It is reminiscent of a teeny geyser...in the mud, most of the time underwater and not hot.  So...what is this?

  Down in our soft mud we have a lot of clams.  They can easily bury themselves and live happily ever after in that one spot.   Occasionally, the raccoons or otters will go on a seafood binge and dig the clams but this one has been here quite a while.  I started noticing it over a year ago so no predator has taken a notion to go clamming yet.  The white spot with the hole actually has a name.  This is called a "clam show".  During really low tides, the clam can be seen spirting water through its siphon.  This helps it during feeding, reproduction and breathing.  As the water squirts out of the siphon and hole, it washes the mud to the side exposing the sandy part of the bottom.  If you dig down in the mud just a bit, you would find a nice, fat clam!

  So, now you know what I do with my spare time.  I watch clams.  (Not really.  Only when I am bored.)  But, admit it.  You did learn something today!  Clams squirt water creating a Clam Show!  A bit of Bayou Awesomeness there!

Faerie Tale Ball

   When I was a child, my grandparents lived just down the road from the farm.  In fact, the Little Bayou House stands right next to their house and my brother lives in it today.  As a child, I was often allowed to go spend the night with Grandmother and Granddaddy.  For a tyke whose only fulltime friends were older siblings, these visits were a special treat.  Later, I found out that I was literally sent there whenever Mom needed a break.  Having five kids was quite a job and I am sure that I, being the youngest, was quite a handful at times.  Still, I thought it was a reward of some sort to be allowed to stay the night.  Even though their house was about a quarter of a mile from the farmhouse (and then down a wooded lane of about that same distance), I would pack my little bag and walk to their house.  I admit that sometimes it was a bit scary for a preschooler to be alone on that long hike.  Several times, people driving down the road would stop and ask where I was going.  I am sure these were just neighbors being concerned as after I reassured them I was on my way to Grandmother's place, they would pull into the driveway to confirm with Mom.  Neighbors used to watch out for each other. The only other frightening time was when several stray dogs approached.  Thankfully, Granddaddy was in the lane and heard the commotion.  He came to my rescue!

  While on the pier yesterday morning, it was dark enough that all of the lights from across the Bay were casting beautiful streaks on the calm waters.  Those lights jogged a memory loose from the nooks and crannies of the brain.  I started thinking about those pleasant nights spent with grandparents.  My hike to my grandparent's house would begin in midafternoon and I would have supper with them.  Then, I was allowed to stay up and play a game with Grandmother or sit on Granddaddy's lap while he watched the news.  He had a huge rocking chair that seemed to be perfect for two!  Afterward, he would read me a story!  Then, I would climb in the big double bed and try to sleep.  The room seemed huge as this was the only place that I did not share a room with siblings.  To overcome the feeling of "aloneness", I learned to turn toward the big windows that faced the Bay.  Across the water was Keesler Air Force Base.  The lights of the Base were a source of interest to this little girl.  By day, they were the Air Base.  By night, they became a castle.  In my imagination, a fanciful ball was taking place under those lights!  Either Belle, Cinderella or even the Twelve Dancing Princesses were twirling in their loveliest ball gowns just across the Bay.  (My imagination worked really great even back then.)

  Sitting in the stillness of the predawn hours, my brain flitted from one memory of my grandparents to another.  I am glad that I was able to grow up being involved with them.  I learned so many things from how to appreciate a good cup of tea in a fine porcelain cup to using a wood lathe to turn candlesticks.  Sometimes, sitting in the dark by oneself is all it takes to set things right with the world.