We Have a Plan!

  Lately, it has been foggy as pea soup here on the Bayou.  Each morning, Mr. PJ and I are met with drippy, misty, almost rain type weather.  This is fine by me but the old dog prefers drier weather.  He is not overly happy to have cold, wet fur and I am not happy about having that "wet-dog" smell wafting about the living room when we return from our hikes.  Still, he has to go out to do his morning business but then hustles back indoors to snuggle in his warm bed.  Our old dog, Ms. Ez, being a Lab, did not mind the wet.  She reveled in being out on hikes where the sounds, sights and smells were different than on drier days.  She was my constant companion until her death but Mr. PJ has other ideas and that is fine by me.  I fully understand his desire to be warm and dry!

  The hike this morning led Mark and me to the pier as usual.  Instead of fog, however, we were greeted by a fine, misty rain that obscured the shorelines. A lone pelican braved the weather in search of his breakfast while the cormorants sat dismally on the pier posts with soggy wings. This drizzle later developed into a regular rain which is heralding in what could become snow.  Yep, snow on the Bayou is being predicted.  Rather unusual but not unheard of this far south.  

  This day found me gathering firewood to add to my stockpile.  The Little Bayou House gets its heat from two wood-burning stoves that need constant stoking.  Once the fires fill the fireboxes with hot coals, I can damper down on them and let them do a slow burn.  Like that, I save on wood all the while keeping the place rather warm.  I figured it was better to get out in this drizzly rain to gather the wood than to wait until there is slippery ice on the hillside.  

  If, indeed, we do get the forecasted weather, my days will be much simpler.  Along with the wood stoves chugging out their heat, the kitchen oven will be going full blast.  Snowy or icy days are great baking times.  Christmas goodies will soon fill the trays and platters.  While we may not have all the fun entertainment that other places will, we shall have lots of tasty treats to fill our tummies.   Mr. Pelican will dive by himself, Mr. PJ can snuggle in his warm bed,  Ms, Nycto, the Bayou Princess Cat, can lounge on the sofa and I shall bake.  Sounds like the perfect plan to me!