Fluffy, the Bayou Baby!

  My sweet daughter and son-in-law took me to lunch today at the neatest cafe.  After a delightful, vegan meal we came back to the Little Bayou House.  We wandered about the yard for a bit and then wound up on the pier.  There is just something about that water that draws everyone towards it.  Pop used to always say that we had "salt water in our veins".  I guess he may have been right since that is where I seem to be my happiest.  The Bayou calls and it is hard to resist.  

   As we were heading back up the pier, I called their attention to the newest resident of the Bayou.  Right at the base of the pier was a baby alligator.  This was the cutest thing I could ever imagine!  The little guy was only about 15 inches in length so I am estimating that he was last year's hatchling.  At first, we were not even sure the little fellow was alive.  He sat so very still that I had to look real close to make sure he was even breathing.  The kids (young adults, I should say) were mesmerized by this little alligator.  Elizabeth, especially, was excited. She was so excited that she decided to name our little friend.  "Fluffy!  I shall name him Fluffy!" she proclaimed.  So Fluffy, the alligator, came into existence.  (Unusual?  True, but all is well.)  She, also, wanted to hold the gator but since he was sitting on top of that mushy mudflat, that would have proved to be her undoing.  One step in that mess would have been quite distasteful.  Speaking from experience, you DO NOT walk on the mudflats around here.  You SINK!  The stuff is not unlike quicksand in the fact that it literally sucks you under and does not let go.  

  The little gator on the other hand was quite adept at skittering across the mudflats.  We watched for a while until we had to bright idea to feed the gator some sausages.  Up to the house we trotted and when we returned the little gator had made his escape..almost. He had gotten as far as the little tidepool where he was trying to catch bull minnows for dinner.  The tiny tot was not having much luck, though, and our attempts at feeding him were just as in vain.  He sat and stared at us and did not take one bite!  After a bit, the bull minnows started feasting on the sausage and grew oblivious of the danger that was lurking nearby.  SNATCH!  The gator was using the sausage as bait to draw his natural prey to him.  For being such a tiny tot, this little gator was smart!

  So, meet the newest Bayou Baby, the little alligator named Fluffy! There is never a dull day here on the Bayou.  Something interesting always pops up (or slithers, skitters, flies, scoots, runs or hops in) at the most unexpected times.