The "People Watchers"

Darling Daughter, Elizabeth was here this weekend.  It is always a delight when she visits as the time is filled with non-stop chatter and giggles.  Somehow we always manage to find time to some sort of creative project.  This time, we went shopping for Halloween decorations and then we planned how our goodies would be put to use. We also worked on her costume.  My beautiful daughter is going to parties as Medusa this year.  Our creativeness was called into play making that head full of snakes!  Pictures of all of the decorations and that "wig" will be featured in the blog a bit later.  While shopping for decorations, we were a bit disappointed that the local dollar store had only a few ragtag decorations that appeared to be leftovers from last season.  It amazed us that there was a full aisle of Christmas decorations but only one small bin of Halloween and Fall decorations.   Anyway, we went on the search for other items to "transform" into unique pieces for our Halloween houses!  I did, however, buy six small owls to be used in some way..three for her and three to stay with me.

Back at the Little Bayou House, we checked our purchases.  The owls were a bit tattered but we were happy with their strange appearance.  She was trying to clear the fluffy feathers from the owls' eyes and was teasing about them watching us.  "Better to see you with, my dear!"  This jogged a memory from my childhood..not from the "Little Red Riding Hood" tale but from my grandparents' house.  Their house, like most here, had a most lovely porch.  For a while it was screened but later, Granddad installed windows so Grandmother could enjoy the view year round.  It was one of her favorite places in the late evening.  I can remember going out to sit with her in the large wicker rocking chairs and listening to her tell tales of long ago.  Suddenly, she would put her finger to her lips and silence us.  "Shhhh!  The "People Watchers" are coming!"  This would always send a bit of nervous chills up my spine!  After a few minutes, she would point to the ever present Boston Fern that was hanging from the eaves of the house.  There, three small owls could be seen nestling in among the fern fronds.  Their big golden eyes would glow in the soft light from the kitchen just beyond the porch.  These little guys would never miss a night of coming to watch whoever was on the porch.  Ahhh.."People Watchers"!  The little Screech Owls were no bigger than a pint jar and were always so well camouflaged that it took me a great while before I could see them at all.  They would fly in on silent wings and sit for hours staring at us!  Occasionally, one would let out a warbling trill just to let us know they were there.  It was strange, in a way, as I always saw three..never more..never less.

I told Elizabeth the tale of the "People Watchers" as we sorted our loot!  She made the comment that she was going to somehow use that in her decorations.  Then she reminded me of some long forgotten owls that were hanging in my laundry room.  Over the doorway leading out to the back porch are three small castiron trivets.  These are shaped like owls!  Back when we first built that room, Mom had hung the owls above the door..they are still there..never moved.  People Watchers in their own right!  Again..three.  Three tiny black owls from the store..three owl trivets hanging over the door..three wee Screech Owls of family lore...hmmmm?  Hidden meaning or mere coincident?  Probably..just fun!