Refocus

   With all the everyday hubbub, it is easy to lose focus on what really matters.  "Things that need to be done" can oftentimes get in the way of what "should be done".  We all get hung up in chores, duties to others and the humdrum of everyday life that we forget to keep an eye on that "should be done" which is take care of ourselves.  I know I am that way much to a fault.  Lately, I have not dedicated any time whatsoever to selfcare and my physical, as well as, mental state is taking a severe hit.  It has got to stop.

  That was the revelation that I had on the pier this morning before dawn.  The skies were just beginning to glow that glorious golden orange when I noticed a lone heron standing hunched over in the shallows near the marsh.  The bird was slightly hidden behind some tall cord grass and it took some focusing of the camera to be able to photograph the bird.  After getting my picture, I watched as the bird looked so forlorn...so forgotten.  I know herons are solitary birds meaning they prefer to be alone except when seeking a mate but this fellow did give the appearance of being lonely.  

  Pondering the bird, the difficulty focusing the camera and the forlornness of the setting, I came to the conclusion that I needed change.  I needed me.  I guess it is time to shuffle the daily workload for a while so I can get back to me.  Refocus...

A Smile To Brighten The Day

  Back when this whole quarantine thing started, I noticed on social media that a lot of folks were having a hard time coping with the idea that they had to stay home.  It seems that, even though we should be thankful we have a home, it is a struggle to be there for days on end.  I do not have that problem as the Bayou is where I prefer to be and I prefer to be there without other people.  But, back to those folks grappling with the prospect of being home-bound for a length of time.  When I realized they were only seeing the downside of things, I decided to post one photograph each day of something to hopefully lift their spirits.  I created "Thing of Beauty" posts and asked my friends to do the same.  It went over well with several following suit.  That, in itself, is a thing of beauty.

  Today, I posted a photograph of an Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus.  The image was particularly interesting to me as I managed to catch the first sun rays of the morning illuminating the bloom.  It was almost as if the yellow flower was glowing.  So, I used that idea to make a point about how each day is a gift and we should try our best to "glow" in appreciation.   That idea got me to thinking about how it is totally up to us how we start our days.  Yes, things do often go awry but our outlook determines how we deal with whatever is thrown at us.  Beginning the day with a positive attitude goes a long way in determining the path we will follow.  Going back to the quarantine, I refuse to look at it as a bad thing.  Folks are being forced to become family again.  Folks are being made to realize that not everything they "had to have" a few months back is even pertinent now.  Folks are sharing, caring and being generally nice folks.  Yes, there are those "people" (some people are just not folks) who are taking the wrong road and going off the deep end.  But those are the few....the many are being decent human beings.  They are glowing...something folks have not done for some time now.

  The cactus will keep on growing and blooming.  Hopefully, folks will keep on growing, blooming and glowing right along with the plant.  Life is only as good as you make it regardless of the situation.  No, a smile is not going to make the virus go away.  It is not going to repair financial problems.  Nor will it keep you from going stir crazy because you cannot be with your friends.  It will, however, make the day brighter...for you and anyone who is on the receiving end of your friendly gesture.  Be happy, folks.  Glow!

What's Not To Love?

  After several months of struggle with one thing or another, it was brought to my attention that for everything that is trying to get you down, there is a thousand to pick you up again.   An attitude adjustment was definitely needed!  I was bound and determined that it was going to happen!  Life is just too good to go around in a blue funk. Life is far too short and far too good!  

  This new outlook was to start with the coming dawn as there is nothing like starting a day with a smile on the face.  At daybreak, my morning walk took me down to where there is a break in the tree-line along the east side of the property.  Here, I can gaze out across part of the Bayou and watch the sun rise.  Obviously, a thick fog had laid in over the night so my "sunrise" was more of a sun "glimmer" but it was a glimmer of perfection.  My little piece of paradise never looked so fine.  The fog may have blocked the radiant beams of sunlight but left an overall ambient glow.  From the glistening mudflats (from low tide) to the deep shadows of the trees, all was cast in an almost eerie glow.  Yes, the glimmer of perfection was the best way to describe the start of my day.

  As I stood there in awe of the Master Artist's glorious works, a thought...What's not to love?  Seriously?  What's not to love?  All it takes is one moment, one word, one kind gesture to start things going in a far better direction.  Even in the soft glow of the morn, I could now see this clearly.  Good morning, world!  It's a new day! 

Mr. PJ And Rain...He Was Not Amused

  It has always amused me to see dogs frolicking in puddles after a rainstorm or even playing out in the rain.  They seem to be having the best time just being dogs.  The animals are purely blissful and have no worries at the moment.  They are not worried what others think, how dirty they are or if they are getting chilled to the bone.  They just want to play.  People need to be more like that.  

  "I don't like the rain!"  Not me....that comes from the old dog, Mr. PJ.  While I love a good rainy day (or night), he simply hates them.  He is not prone to go gallivanting through the puddles nor likes to be muddy in any sense of the word.  Lord help us if his feet are dirty.  In fact, with the rains of late, he would just as soon stay in bed as venture outside.

  This is not by my doing.  I assume, as a puppy, he never had the opportunity to be "free and wild" in the rain.  Our old Bayou Dog, Ms. Ezzy, loved the rain.  She loved any water and would lounge in a pool, mud puddle, pond, bay, tub or just on a soggy blanket.  Of course, she was a "water dog" being part Labrador.  Ms. Ez was at her happiest when she was swimming.  I am hard pressed to get Mr. PJ in the tub to bathe him.  He sulks the entire time.  

  Yesterday, while out for a potty break, Mr. PJ was a bit agitated.  He did not wish to be outside and was determined to let me know that.  It was for only a split second that the door closed between us but you would have thought it was a lifetime.  The glare that I received because his feet were in a puddle was something else again.  If looks could kill, I would not be around to tell the tale.  I figure I am still here only because he cannot open the door himself.  He was not amused...at all. 

How To Brighten The Day

  Today was one of those "feel blah" days.  Maybe I am just pushing myself a bit too much trying to get things straightened out in the gardens or maybe I am still a tad under the weather or maybe I am just missing my kids...maybe it is a combination of all those things.  Who knows???  Still, regardless of the multitude of things that needed to be done, my brain was in a fog.  The day passed with me acting like some animatronic puppet.  Late this afternoon, I took one last hike about the property.  As usual, the hike started at the pier and then meandered around back to the canebrake before taking me into the vegetable garden.  It was there that my attitude had a major adjustment.

  While in the back near the creek, I noticed that the Cherokee Roses were blooming.  Their white blossoms could be seen far up in the branches of the maples that dot the creek bed.  Seeing this made me hurry to the garden.  On the east arbor, our wild Cherokee Rose was in full bloom.  Yep, it is still February and the thing is splashing white blooms everywhere among the spring-green leaves.  Ahh, how delightful!   This rose is one that Son and I braved the brambles of the creek to dig and bring home.  It has not failed to bloom every year since.

  I am not sure if it was the rose that lifted my spirits of if, perhaps, it was the memory of Son's patience with my request of having the bush.  Either way, I do feel better.  Still miss my kids but I do feel some better.

Hope

  With the direction that most of the world seems to be heading, it is becoming more and more a relief to keep to the solitude found on the Bayou.  I can meander about the hillside in relative safety and, more oft than not, find a small bit of happiness along the way.  That joy might be in the form of a nest of baby rabbits, the sighting of the red fox as it slips behind the canebrake or even a tiny flower that has managed to take root and flourish in some tiny nook not meant as a garden.  I suppose it is all in the way you look at things and if you go out looking for despair, you will most likely find it.  On the other hand, go out looking for beauty and you are bound to not be disappointed.  Yep, sometimes it takes a bit of searching but it is there.  Mother Nature does not tend to leave things in disrepair for long. 

  Ms. Ez, the old Bayou Dog, and I hiked about a bit early this morning. There was still a bit of greyness lingering on the horizon but the day promised to be delightful.  I let the dog roam free this time as I was not in search of any elusive critter.  I was more out just to gather my sanity after being cooped up inside the Little Bayou House.  As she galloped ahead of me, I thought how delightful it must be to have not a care in the world.  She was a happy camper.  This is one time that the dog actually led the way and was not required to follow at my heels.  I do think she felt an air of importance with her freedom.  She headed down to the marsh edge under the old oak tree so I dutifully followed.  It was almost as if she was leading me somewhere and I felt it only proper to follow.  Once under the tree, Ms. Ez started sniffing the reeds as if to say "These are highly interesting!  You should take a look!"  So, I listened to her and proceeded to inspect the reeds.  "Alrighty then. These are just normal marsh plants, my friend," I told her.  Then I looked again.  Yep, normal marsh plants but in a way, not so normal. The plants were full of seeds.  They were full of hope for a new generation...hope of a fresh start...hope for tomorrow.  

  The human race would be much better off if we, as a whole, would learn to listen to our critter and plant friends.  A bit of hope for the future generations can be as simple as a seed...a seed of kindness...a seed of generosity...a seed of understanding.  In a way, it is sort of funny how an old dog and a weed can give better advice than most people that I know.  

Five Pink Pebbles

Some time back, I mentioned how Grandpa took the time to show me a lot of things about flowers, critters and things of nature.  He had always told me to "Treat Mother Nature like the lady she is and she will treat you likewise."  Perhaps those words set me on a track of taking care of our environment.  I do not presume to be able "heal" the world but just try to take care of my little corner. I, also, mention how he showed me the beauty of stones and how water would make the pebbles even prettier.  His wise words were something to the effect that sometimes the way we see things is purely in how we look at them.  This got me to thinking that some folks go through life seeing things negatively while others always seem to see that silver lining in every cloud.  The optimism that life is that half full cup rather than the near empty one sure seems like a good way to be.  With the coming of warmer weather and Mother Nature revitalizing herself, I decided that perhaps I should start looking at things in a happier way.  I have never been one to find a whole lot of fault with Mother Nature in the first place but it is that "looking" at things a bit differently that appeals to me.

As a reminder to be more positive and look for the "good" in things, I went outside to find pebbles.  After finding a few pink stones, I washed them clean of any residue and set them on a small outdoor bench. These pebbles when wet shone prettier than when covered with grime.  Their colors were brighter and the water made them almost glisten.  Yep..those pink pebbles sure were pretty!  Now, when I start to feel mentally exhausted and maybe a bit agitated, I plan on holding my pink pebbles.  I can wash them again and marvel at their beauty.  If things seem really bad, I will hunt for more pebbles to add to my collection.  This may not solve all the problems of the world but it may make me realize that what seems to be a mountain in front of me is actually nothing but a small molehill.

I am going to try something with others who come to the Bayou for a visit.  If their day is not going well or perhaps their outlook is a bit dimmed, I will give them a stone.  Not that this is of any great monetary value but if it shows that someone cares..then it is priceless.  Being a good bit older and a wee bit wiser than I was back in the day, I can honestly say that looking through a clear window makes the scenery a lot brighter.  Life is only as good a one makes it.  Pebbles or diamonds..sometimes one is as good as the other.