Faeries Exist!

   Sometimes I have to wonder about the those who get all up in arms about the beliefs of other folks.  What does it matter?   If I want to believe that the world is a giant snow globe or that there are actually purple snakes that spit darts, what business is it of yours?  To be honest, the snow globe thing was an awfully real dream of mine one time but purple snakes?  That said, if you really stop and think about a lot of things that seem impossible, there is usually a plausible explanation.  I tend to ponder things and can honestly understand how things become believable at times.  Still, it is of no concern of anyone's so if my ideas do not suit you, kindly move along.  Most everything here is for pure enjoyment anyway and not to be touted as evidence of any sort.

 My plausible ponderings of today revolved around tiny beings that are said to inhabit the woods, gardens, bayous or any spot anyone wishes to claim.  Faeries, sprites, elves, whatever you wish to call them, were flitting around in the brain today as I weeded the gardens.  There are those who fully believe that these creatures exist...and who am I to say contrary?  There are a lot of unexplained things on the Bayou so faeries may as well be real here.  These beings are a lot like Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster.  A lot of folks claim to see them but any "photographs" usually just show a blur.  Does it take photographic proof to deem something as real?  Nah.  Some things are just camera shy.  The lack of clear pictures does not dull the interest in the tiny beings of the Bayou, however.  Plus, I have proof!  In photos!  For sure!  Ok, but the photos do sort of explain how some folks may come to have the idea in the first place. 

  While photographing butterflies in the Small Gardens, I found it highly difficult to catch any in flight.  I have a very old camera that does not do well with "action shots" so the wings are skewed and blurry (think Big Foot here).  Still, when looking at the photos, if one sort of squints (or has bad eyesight), the images could be of faeries...maybe?  If nothing else, the photographs lend themselves to be the basis of fantastical tales to amuse small children or easily entertained adults like me. (Also, look at the bottom colorless photo.  If you use the imagination, a faerie appears!  They exist!  Proof! hehe!)

  

  The point is that all of us have beliefs that could possibly be proved false.  We are human.  We are not infallible.  Get over it.  We are not made to be all carbon copies of one another.  That would be boring, to say the least.  So, if my purple snakes, snow globe theory or butterfly faeries are not your thing, I am ok with it.  Just like I am ok with whatever you wish to believe.  Life is too short to fret over others. (You do have to admit that Bayou Faeries and Swamp Nixies are rather intriguing!)

Poor Little Thing....

  The harsh winter weather that we have been feeling here on the Bayou is bad enough for people.  We whine and complain about how cold it is and how the wind chills us to the bone all the while, sitting in our warm, snug houses.  While it is bad for us, think about the critters.  We receive constant reminders to "bring pets indoors" but what about the wild critters?  They have to fend for themselves during these harsh times.  Our pets have become lackadaisical in their survival skills since we have provided everything from food to a soft, warm bed for them.  Most would not survive on their own nowadays.  They have become "soft" and would not have a clue as to finding food, sensible shelter and protection from predators.  In our kindness, we truly have not done the pets any favors.  When, (God forbid!) one should become lost or separated from the family, it likely will succumb to the elements due to the very protection we have always given it. Not that this is bad.  Don't get me wrong...I am all for making life the best for our furry friends but I was just trying to drive home a point.  These harsh times are strenuous on the wild critters out there.  If a critter is fragile or weak, it will most likely die cold and hungry.  Sad to say but true.  It all goes back to that "survival of the fittest".

  Our winters here are fickle.  We can have frigid, pipe-bursting, ice-coating storms that cause us to shiver and shake then, three days later, we are barefoot and sweating.  This erratic weather pattern confuses, not only folks like me, but most critters, as well.  They do not know whether to hunker down in a warm den or start nesting.  I was out gathering firewood today when I spied something that saddened me a bit.  The spurt of warm weather after the last Arctic blast brought out a number of critters that would have been well-advised to stay dormant a bit longer.  Spring is not here.  A tiny butterfly wing fluttered in the north wind.  The poor little thing obviously had thought spring was here and crawled out of its cocoon.  This was the wrong move as its life was cut short but the current blast of cold.  The small, yellow butterfly had met its demise due to the plunging temperatures last night.  Bitter cold weather took its toll on the fragile being.  Hopefully, our next bout of warmer weather will not encourage other critters to take the same plunge as this butterfly.  Hunker down, little critters!  We have more winter yet to come.