Sssssss....Spiders, Snakes and Storms! Oh, My!

  This crazy weather has really been smacking us here on the Bayou.  Last night saw another terrific storm slam the area just about midnight.  I watched as lightning flashed continuously over the Gulf for a half hour before finally taking aim right at us.  Just after the clock struck twelve, hail started pelting the rooftop.  The wind blew at gale force breaking limbs as if they were toothpicks.  Then, the lightning reached us...literally.  The nonstop strikes bounced across the marsh and then up the hillside until finally one large bolt made contact.  The large TV upstairs took a direct shot and was fried.  The stench of burning plastic filled the upstairs of the Little Bayou House.  Thankfully, we have not found any other damage...so far.  This weather pattern has been a weekly occurrence.

  With all of the stormy weather, the critters of the Bayou and surrounding hillside are searching for drier places.  Mark and I saw a beautiful Black Racer sunning itself on the pier ramp on one of our walks.  The snake was trying to dry out a bit after the rains and the warm sunshine probably felt rather nice.  The snake lived up to its name and quickly slithered off into the marsh as we neared.  I only wish I had been quicker with the camera!  That thing was fast!

  Then, of all things, Mark found that spiders had moved into his trolling motor.  While spiders living inside the motor is bad enough, the fact that these were Black Widow Spiders made the whole situation a tad scary! Seven fat egg sacs were like some sort of weird bombs waiting to explode and strew billions of baby Black Widows all over the boat. Creepy!  Once he found the eggs, he smashed them all and hoped that the moms were no where around the area!

  So far, we have been fortunate with little damage from the storms and with no unwanted critters trying to invade the Little Bayou House. Hopefully, that will hold throughout the summer.  I just read where the National Hurricane Center is not giving us much hope for a hurricane-free season.  In fact, they predict just the opposite which is much like what I have been saying.  A gut feeling is telling me to keep an eye on the horizon and a few hurricane supplies on hand.  Things might just get a tad rougher before getting easier.  Stay safe, folks, stay safe.