So...This Happened!

  Things looked brighter at the Little Bayou House, today.  This was the first morning that I was not in pain, not weak and wobbly and not unduly agitated.  It appears that the medications that were prescribed were way too strong.  Instead of making me better, they were indeed making me worse.  I guess doctors never can truly tell just how a person's body will react to medications so it is up to us to inform them of unwanted changes.  This is not to say that the danger has passed but that, for now, things seem to be a lot better.  Even with that, my range of (solo) freedom is no further than the Small Gardens.  I do not mind as there is plenty there to occupy the time.  Between the kitchen and the Small Gardens, I piddle and try to make myself somewhat useful.  I think it is that feeling of being unproductive that is the trying factor in my case.  I hate being idle.

  After making two batches of cherry/cranberry jelly, I decided to bring Son a cooling glass of water. He was out working near the pier so this gave me a tiny escape!  I shall take any and all!  The trek down did tire me so there was no "work" in the garden.  Instead, I made myself "useful".   A treat for when Son completed his rebuilding task was just the thing to make me feel better!

  Two days ago, I baked chocolate/buttermilk brownies and there was still a half of pan left.  Hmm...if I wanted to make a new treat, something needed to be done with those.  Wasting food is a no go in this house!  So....a new treat was made WITH the leftover brownies.  I just happened to have everything on hand to make trifle!  

  Trifle is a favorite around here simply because it is a cold, tasty treat.  It is always made in individual sized servings, covered with plastic wrap and kept in the refrigerator.  When working in this heat, it is always nice to have something cooling on hand as a snack.  If that something contains chocolate brownies, vanilla custard, cherries and whipped cream, it is all the better!  Son and I both enjoyed our mid-afternoon treat!

The Busy Morning

  It was rather chilly out on the pier this morning.  With the temperature in the upper thirties, I had to watch my step for fear of slipping on the frost-covered pier planks.  I was fully not expecting others to be out on the water but, to my surprise, the place was quite active.  The north wind had pushed the tide far out exposing the mudflats for some distance.  Those mudflats and the shallows were teeming with activity as all sorts of critters were hunting breakfast.

  A group of mottled ducks were the first that I noticed.  It seemed that they kept their heads under the water more than above.  They were shuffling the bottom to muddy the waters.  This allowed them to confuse the small mullet and bull minnows swimming there.   Along with the mottled ducks was a pair of hooded mergansers.  These, too, were busy feasting on the little fish.  I was surprised to see the two types of ducks mingling.  The hoodies are a much smaller type of duck than the mottleds but they had no problem working together to find their morning meal.  I watched  the ducks for a few moments before I noticed yet another critter joining the feeding frenzy.  A snowy egret flew in to the open diner.  This gorgeous bird stepped gingerly in the shallows and dipped its beak often.  It always came up with a tasty morsel!  Imagine my surprise when a tri-colored heron joined this motley crew!  This bird, too, caught its breakfast with ease.  The sight fully amazed me.  I was so impressed that each of these birds seemed oblivious to the fact that it was dining alongside of those different than itself.  The sole intent was to fill the belly on this cold morning.  But...I was being chilled to the bone and decided to head back to the warmth of the wood stove.  I rose from the bench, looked up and was floored!  Yet another critter wandered to the area to dine.  A lone raccoon waddled out of the marsh and started scavenging the mudflats for trapped minnows.  After a few moments, the coon waded out to share in the bounty the others were enjoying.  All in all, six mottled ducks, two hooded mergansers, one snowy egret, one tri-colored heron and a lone raccoon feasted upon the minnows that had been flushed out of the marshes by the low tide.  It was definitely a busy, busy morning on the Bayou!