Let Them Sleep

   I rise before dawn and relish my alone time while I meander the Small Gardens.  It is here that I can revel in the beauty of the new day and give thanks for the peaceful sleep of the night before.  It is also here that I find a lot of my critter friends.  We share a love for the wildness of the overgrown plants and the dewy coolness that the night has brought.  

  This morning found me almost entranced by a single bumblebee that was snuggled down inside calyx of a spent bloom of the mist plant.  The bee had probably sought shelter for the night but had not been warned of the predawn thunderstorm.  My poor friend was waiting for the sun to dry its wings and warm it so it could continue its daily foraging.  I let the little one sleep even though the plant needed deadheading.  Bees are of high importance to anyone who gardens so they are treated kindly.

  It is funny how it never occurs to some folks that things like bees sleep.  Just like us, they need rest and will seek out some cozy spot to bed down for the nighttime hours.  My little bee friend did not choose its napping place wisely as the rains had to be startling.  Perhaps next time, it should shelter beneath the ginger leaves.  Rest on, Little One.  I bid you a good day.

While the north wind doth blow, Sleeping Beauty slumbers soundly!

  The wind is whipping about the Bayou like something crazy.  The Little Bayou House's windows are a-rattling and the trees are sending up howls as the wind thrashes through their bare branches.  Outside, the temperature has already begun its plummet to lows unknown. Although, we shall never equal the frigid lows of our neighbors to the north, it is still quite, ummm, nippy out.  Mark, Michael and I did what we could to protect the three "Ps" as our weatherman calls them...pets, pipes and plants.  We had a few extra chores as the tractors, pump and woodpile all needed tending.  By nightfall, things seemed to be ready to face the worst.  The house is snug and warm.

  As for pets, Ms. Ez, the old Bayou Dog, has always had her cozy bed in the corner of the living room.   The Bayou Queen, better known as Ms. Put, the cat, laid claim to the dining room, kitchen, two downstairs bedrooms and two upstairs bedrooms (and any other nook that she could squeeze into!).  This left little area for the Bayou Princess, Ms. Nycto, (also known as the "new" cat).  I could close her into the entryway but since that is not heated, she would still be cold.  Ponder, ponder.  Something just had to be done.  Since the critters all have their quirky ways and do not see eye-to-eye on anything, I was afraid to leave them all to their own methods of civility...of which there would be none.

  I was just about to have the need to evict the Bayou Queen from some of her realm when the Princess solved the whole situation.  Since she normally refuses to enter the house, I felt quite honored when she chose to bed down right next to me.  I know this was merely due to the fact that I could play referee if any confrontations occurred but it did tickle me just a bit.  Perhaps this cat did like me a bit....maybe? Actually, she is a sweetie and loves to be petted....constantly.  That said, I may not get a lot of sleep since she does demand that the hand keep stroking her long fur.  Ahh, well, at least I know she is warm and safe from the harshness of a wintry night.  Good night, Ms.Nycto, sleep warm.