Afternoon Peace

  So Thanksgiving came and went.  It was quiet and we had far too much food prepared (just as I thought we would.)  The meal was eaten without the usual chatter and giggles that accompany large crowds. There was no crowd, large or otherwise.  My two days of work ended with more work as I tried to stash the huge amounts of leftovers in the frig.  That was just not working well!  I do believe that next holiday will see me getting a headcount before the cooking begins.  This was ridiculous.

  With the afternoon empty, I decided that Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, and I needed a hike.  There is nothing like a bit of fresh air and a loyal dog to clear the mind.  She and I roamed about the hillside looking for anything interesting.  She sniffed and I peered at anything that moved, wiggled or flew.  She, also, sniffed anything that she found on the ground...I did not.  I did noticed that the nandina berries were bright red and waiting to be plucked by the Cedar Waxwings if they make an appearance this winter.  The clusters are thick and will provide a hearty meal for the birds after their long migration.  Mother Nature was thinking about her critters.  She filled most of the bushes with berries and the hickory trees full of nuts.  The winter on the Bayou will pass with very few hungry bellies this year.

  Once the old dog and I reached the lane that heads out from the Little Bayou House, a sight brightened the day tremendously.  The setting sun beamed brilliantly through the trees and gave the entire pathway sort of an "otherworldly" feeling.  It never fails to intrigue me how sunlight plays among the leaves and dapples the ground with shadows. I stood in awe for a bit until the free-for-all broke loose.  Ms. Nycto and Ms. Put had a misunderstanding over whose yard it was and Ms. Ez decided that both cats were in the wrong.  The big, old dog lumbered through the fallen leaves to dispel the ruckus that the cats were creating.  Ms. Put, the Bayou Queen, had sense enough to lay low while Ms. Nycto, the interloper, barreled around back.  This caused Ms. Ez to become needlessly excited and she gave chase.  So much for my peace and serenity.  I retreated to the greenhouse to recapture whatever calmness I could.  Let the critters fend for themselves!