All About Timing

   With all of the hullabaloo going on around the nation about the "Ring of Fire" eclipse, I was pondering just how many photographs would make it to the social media scene.  Granted, I am on the "few friends" list but there were more photographs of people watching the grand event than of the spectacle itself.  This actually pretty much impressed me!  Normally, the whole newsfeed would be filled with the same pictures of a "half-eaten" sun but, other than a handful of photos taken through strange filters, the streaming was pretty vacant.  So...I could not help myself but throw the photograph that I sort of halfheartedly took.  In reality, I had not given the even much thought.  My gardening was of more importance to me than what the sun was doing, at the moment.  Still, when I noticed strange shadows on the garden pathway, I grabbed the ever ready camera and snapped a few photos.  One stuck out more than the others. 

 

  Of the four photographs I took, one was "at the right time, right place".  Without my even noticing a falcon flew within the camera range.  I was happier with the bird in the photo than the others of just the eclipse.  Keep in mind, these were taken with an 18yr old camera, no tripod, no special lens and no special filter.  How did I achieve the shot without damage to my camera (and eyes)?  Well, Mother Nature came to my rescue.  Right as the eclipse started to get interesting, a thick cloud covered the sky.  The previously bright blue sky turned gray and overcast thus blocking out the brilliance of the sun.  That cloud cover lasted just about 20 minutes then poof!  The skies were blue again...but I had my pictures.  So...the eclipse has come and gone but I have a pretty cool photograph to document it!

Portal to the Brighter Side!

     The sun had other thoughts today.  It was not up to the usual "rise and shine".  In fact, it made very little effort to even break through the clouds.  We are in that typical "rainy/cloudy/foggy" time of year so the drear was to be expected.  It does not bother me much as I still go about the chores regardless of the weather.  If I fretted about getting a little wet, not a thing would be done during January and February.  Drippiness abounds and there is nothing that can be done about it so you might as well embrace it.  So...the vegetable garden got a bit of attention.

  Late this evening, however, there was a "portal" to another world in the westward sky.  Even with the dark clouds, the bright sunshine beyond could be seen!  This was one of those "being in the right place at the right time" experiences.  What a lovely sight!

  Things like this make you fully understand that old adage about there being brighter days ahead.  Somewhere the sun is shining, the birds are singing and life is good.  Even if darkness seems to be closing in around you, find that portal to the brighter side of things.  It is there.  Search for it and know that tomorrow will come and the sun will shine...somewhere. I am happy with the slight glimmer today.  Life is good.

Ominous Feeling

    Rising before dawn usually gives me the opportunity to view the sunrise in all of its glorious colors.  This is a great reason to roll out of bed at such an hour.  That and Bat (the cat) decides that 4am is the perfect time for breakfast.  It seems as if it is the perfect time for that first mug of coffee, too.  He and I share a few peaceful moments on the pier before we go our separate ways for the day.  I head to the gardens and he starts his rounds to make sure our property did not disappear overnight.

  This morning, however, we were not greeted with that array of color.  Grey...simply grey dominated the sky.  A slight mist was on the air and silence prevailed over the Bayou...a thick, heavy silence.  It almost felt as if there was an ominous shroud being laid around us.  Usually, I get this feeling before a hurricane bears down upon us but (thankfully) there are none in the Gulf.  Still, there was that feeling...a feeling that I did not shake all day.  Grey...ominous...almost disquieting. 

Cotton Candy Waters?

   The waters of the Bay and the Bayou are both considered to be brackish.  We do not have the pretty, clear waters of the ocean.  Ours is muddy.  In fact, the bottom beneath the waters is nothing but mud.  You would pretty much sink up to your neck if you ever decided to try standing on the bottom.  Items dropped overboard will sink quickly never to be seen again.  To give you an idea of how bad it is, I will tell you that Pop once slipped and dropped an outboard motor off the side of the boat.  He was anchored against the shore in about two feet of water but the motor quickly sank out of sight.  No matter how he tried, he never found that motor.   That related, you can understand that it is difficult to describe our waters as beautiful.  Every now and again, however, something occurs that gives the waters a bit of beauty.

  Yesterday morning, there was a lone streak of rosy clouds over the pier.  There was nary a ripple on the water so the cloud was perfectly reflected on the surface.  Wow!  That was interesting!  I had clouds in the water!  In fact, it almost appeared as if some large, puffy, cotton-candy-like mass was floating just beneath the surface.  Funny how mesmerizing things like this can be.  At least, our waters were pretty for a few moments!  Then...back to brackish.

Pretty Morning Sky!

   The old saying "Red skies in the morning, sailors warning" rings true almost every time.  Old time sailors knew how to read the weather.  This morning, the sky was ablaze with the fiery turmoil of an approaching storm.  The day was beautiful with no hint of turbulent weather.  Pop would have said "It is time to get those cabbages in the ground so they can get the rain!"  I did just that.  I spent the day planting all sorts of greens in the winter garden.  Then, along about sunset, things started turning in the opposite direction.  The storms are approaching...quickly.

  The same weather left our neighbors in Louisiana with some pretty hefty damage in some spots.  I truly hope that trend will not follow.  Yet, the thunder rolls, rains pound the rooftop of the Little Bayou House and winds are rattling the windows.  Hopefully, this will swing on out of here shortly and just leave the cooler air behind it.   That...I am looking forward to having.

Just say "Please!"

  Usually, when the morning breaks with odd clouds, you are looking at some pretty quirky weather.  Yesterday morning, I was on the pier far before daybreak.  This is my peaceful time before the hectic pace of the day starts.  A very slight breeze made the morning air feel just about as perfect as it could get.  Overhead, clouds.  Lovely, lovely clouds.  I was in hopes those clouds would linger around a bit and then dump some rain on us as we have been quite dry lately.  Plants do far better with Mother Nature watering them than with me dragging the hose about the gardens.  I sat and contemplated the clouds.  Please rain!  Please rain.

  For the past week, I have been grubbling through a huge mess of rotted boards.  It amazes me how things get all stacked up and never thought of again.  The boards were stacked with good intentions of being used but you know what they say about those good intentions.  So, after leaving the pier, my chores began again but I kept thinking about those clouds!  For several hours, I dragged out boards and cleared the space.  About midmorning, a threatening thunderhead loomed to our north.  Please!  Within ten minutes, drops were starting to fall and I figured it was time to head inside.  Just as I got to the door, the bottom fell out and we got the most glorious rain!  Almost a full inch fell!  Then a thought...maybe if you beg those clouds enough they take pity on you!

Never Know What To Expect

   Weather is one of those crazy things that can never make up its mind what it wants to be.  Weather..."Hmm, do I want to be sunny, partly cloudy or rainy?  And if rainy, should I storm or merely sprinkle?  Cold or hot?  Foggy?"  The imaginary conversation could go on for hours except, here, the weather changes its mind in a matter of minutes.  I never know what to expect lately.

  I was out dead-heading the zinnias when I heard a rumble to the east.  Wait a minute!  It is sunny!  Not toward the east.  I slipped to the pier to get a good view of what was headed our way.  Yep, old Fickle Weather was up to his tricks again.  

  On the northeast horizon a storm cloud was looming over the Bayou.  The southeast had poofy white clouds and the southwest was pretty much sunny and clear.  Boom!  A big bolt of lightning shot across the  dark cloud.  Ok, that was enough for me.  I have more sense than to stay on the pier during a lightning storm!  It was time to head back to the Little Bayou House and safety.

One Fine Morning

   After weeks...no months of rains, it was most exhilarating to see the sun peeping over the pines this morning.  I had gone out for a five minute stroll when a rainbow in the western sky drew me to the pier.  For there to be a rainbow, there had to be the sun!  This was, indeed, something that has not been seen in a while!  While photographing the rainbow, a mountainous cloud started glowing with the sunshine!  Would this be the setting for today?  The cloud was photographed as was the sun doing its best to rise.

  It did not last long.  I was still on the pier when thunder started rolling and lightning started flashing across the Bay.  Five minutes later, it was drizzling rain at the Little Bayou House.  I had just made it back inside when the rain started.  That is just what we needed...more rain.  I am quite sure that when this does quit and a dryer bit of air sets in, I will be wishing for these daily rains but it would be nice to occasionally be outside for longer than a few minutes!  

All I Need

  I have always claimed that the Bayou was my little piece of paradise and now I have proof that this is true.  It is not often that things are pointed out so clearly but with this morning's sunrise, it is quite evident.  Mark and I were taking our morning hike about the place even though it was still quite dark.  The sun should have been long up but a heavy cloud cover blocked any glimpse of that big, ball of light.  We were beginning to think it was going to be a rather gloomy day but, then, I noticed that the sun was trying its best to break through the clouds.  After pointing it out to Mark, he suggested that we make our way back down to the marsh edge to watch the light show.  I was afraid that we would miss it since we were way down behind the canebrake by this time.   We hustled (as much as two old people can hustle) and made it just in time to see the sun taking perfect aim.  As the sun broke through the clouds, it shot a large beam right down to the Bayou!  

  I needed that boost.  I needed to see something spectacular instead of the chaos still around us.  I needed that feeling of calmness that only a sunrise on the Bayou can bring.  I needed that walk with Mark and him understanding what the sunrise means to me.  I needed the Magic of the Bayou.

I thought about it

  Today was Mother's Day where all mothers are to be honored and celebrated.  It should be their day off from the worries of the world but, I have got news for you...that just does not happen....especially with the uncertain times that are slapping us in the face.  Mothers worry.  Mothers fret for the safety of their children (even when they are grown).  Mothers are mothers.  We will always look out for the best interest of our kids.  Obviously, there is no "day off".  The work is just conveniently shoved to another day.  After all, who is going to pick up the slack while everyone insists she sits.  The answer...no one.  No one!  The laundry, cooking, cleaning, caring for children, tending the needs of all family members, caring for the ill, soothing bruised egos are all mom chores.  No one will pick up the slack.  Don't even think that some one else will scrub that toilet cause it ain't happenin', folks.  It ain't happenin'.

  Perhaps it was just because of this social distancing or chalk it up to a bad mood day, but this was not a favorite day of mine.  Oh, it had its bright moments since I did get to "see" (but not hug) my beautiful daughter and handsome son-in-law.  We had to keep our "6 feet distancing" since she is in the medical field and is adamant about not spreading the virus.  (I fully agree with that.)  Having them here (in the yard) for a few moments was glorious!  Another delightful moment was when Son pitched in to help home can the green beans that Mark brought home for the farmer's market.  His quirky jokes made the time go faster.   Still, I missed my oldest son, sweet daughter-in-law and grandlittles.  That huge hole in my day hurt.

  Speaking of "holes", I was tempted to crawl into one I found early this morning and just stay there.  I could ride out the day in perfect bliss hiding in the sky!  There was one break in the clouds that gave the illusion that it was an escape hatch from the worries of the world!  If only I had a ladder long enough to reach the clouds, things would have been ok.  Sometimes you just need to escape....I thought about it. It might have been a fun adventure!

 

Two Sunrises and a Nightmare!

  I spend a good many mornings on the pier watching the sunrise.  This is my time to prepare for the coming day as I soak in the peace and tranquility of the morn.  It is relaxing to hear the birds singing praises of the morning as the sun's rays start to peep over the pines on the far shore.  Yesterday, that horizon was blotted with heavy clouds so the sun refused to shine.  What was to the east was a waterspout.  That entity worked its way in the Bay and then fizzled.  This morning's eastern sky was a mix of thick, blocky clouds and brilliant sun rays.  Both sunrises were fascinating, to say the least.  One morning could have turned scary had the waterspout come my way while the other evoke an extreme peace.

  The sighting of the waterspout brought back memories of a terrifying dream that I had as a teenager.  While in dreamland, Pop and I were going fishing.  When we reached his small skiff docked here on the Bayou, we saw dozens of waterspouts making their way across the Bay directly for us.  We hurried back in his old truck and sped home to tell Mom and take cover.  It seems (in my dream) that the waterspouts made landfall and quickly turned into tornadoes throwing this whole side of the Bay into turmoil.  It was a frightening dream and seemed oh, so real.

   The next morning, Pop and I were heading fishing when I told him my dream.  He stopped me mid dream and finished the story for me.  It seems that he had the very same vivid nightmare that I had.  Both of us sat in his old truck for a while looking out over the Bay.  We were both shaken, to say the least, and were almost skeptical about heading out in the small boat. 

  I cannot remember if we ever went fishing that day or if we turned around and went home.  I do remember it being a strange feeling to know that he and I both had the same frightening nightmare of dozens of waterspouts/tornadoes.  I will say, however, that this nightmare never dulled our love of fishing!

Take It Or Leave It...

  Even if you do not believe that signs can be sent as a personal message, you have to admit that there are some pretty incredible sightings.  Orbs in photographs, a white feather floating down from the sky when no bird is in sight and cardinals visiting on the windowsill are all explained as "signs" from beyond.  If you do not believe..fine..go on about your business and brush these things off as nothing.  To my way of thinking, if it brings comfort, then by all means...believe!  Why not?  Life can be pretty crazy and, occasionally, we all need to have something that tells us we are not alone. 

  A few days back, my brain was cluttered with a thousand things.  The mind was troubled with events surrounding the Bayou.  The turmoil would go into a slight lull only to return with a vengeance.  It is not like me to lie awake at night pondering what might be as I have always had full trust that my life was being handled by a stronger power than I possess.  Granddaddy had once told me that each day of my life had already been planned and I should simply strive to do the best with what was given.  It had always worked like a charm.  That said, I sure have been having a lot of sleepless night lately as my brain just cannot seem to let go of the anxiety.  (A few weeks ago, a conversation with a snake helped tremendously but was not lasting!  Yes, I talk to the critters of the Bayou.)  

  After one such sleepless night, I headed to my peaceful place.  The waters of the Bayou and Bay always seem to have a positive effect on my troubled mind.  To the east, heavy clouds hung close to the horizon promising a stormy day ahead.  I was all for that as a good storm clears the mind.  After twenty minutes or so of meditation (good for the mind) and stretches (good for the body), I turned to head back up the hillside.  It was then that I saw a reassuring sign that all was going to work out for the best.  The thick clouds had lurched up as if two hands were forming a heart.  A clearing in the middle held the only bit of brightness in the entire sky.  A sign?

  I have always been told that the heart is the center of physical and spiritual being.  It is where compassion and understanding begin and where true wisdom originates.  (Not to be confused with knowledge, here.)  Anyone can be fed information and retain it but true wisdom is knowing how to apply that information in the everyday life.  In short, you can be smart but not wise.  My spiritual wisdom seemed to be shaken to its core and, to retain my peace, I have to restore it.  Spiritual wisdom is not something that can be taken for granted.  It has to be maintained.  I am fully coming to believe this is all true more than I ever expected.    

  Whether the heart-shaped cloud could be considered a sign or not remains to be seen.  Since that morning, the nights have been more restful, however.  Peace...it is good for the body, mind and spirit.

Happy Grey Days!

  Weather on the Bayou is never short on surprises.  A hurricane can whip in from the Gulf and give us a beating or a cold front can surprise us from the north and make things dreary.  Either way, the cloud formations never cease to astound.  The recent cold front (which never got overly cold), brought its share of wind.  Last night, gusts reached upwards of 60mph and had a fun time blowing things around.  Lawn furniture, tarps covering firewood and fishing gear all took flight!  Then a short shower, more wind and finally a bit of cooler temperatures settled for the night.  By morning, things had eased a bit but the skies still appeared ominous.  I took advantage of the misting rain to do a bit of indoor work before heading to the pier just after noon.  

  The "cold front" squalls had moved south of us with a dark line of clouds right on the horizon.  Above, a sort of eerie swirl of blotchy clouds blocked out most of the sun.  At one point, the Mr. Sun tried his best to burn off the clouds but had no such luck.  The entire Bayou appeared to be cloaked by some entity that would wreak havoc on any who dared to oppose it.  Instead of taking issue with this entity, I embraced it and sat back to enjoy the weirdness of the day.  I have been told that I am one of a few that can find peace in storms.  

  By nightfall, the clouds had moved on and a clear sky with a nigh on full moon graced the Bayou.  About an hour after dark, Son and I headed to the pier to secure the small skiff a bit more before the next weather system approaches.  The bright moon left little need for flashlights as we did our work.  Tomorrow will see more rain but a lot less wind.  Grey days of winter are here and all is good on the Bayou.  

I can handle the day...

  Yesterday morning, Mark and I traipsed to the pier in hopes of finding a few minnows to use as bait.  He has been catching a lot of mullet lately but I was in hopes of a redfish or large trout.  I do not mind eating mullet but grow tired of the "muddy" taste.  To my way of thinking, mullet are best eaten fresh.  As soon as they are caught..clean, fry and eat.  A distinct flavor of bayou mud permeates the fish after it sits for a few hours in the refrigerator and especially after the fish are frozen.  I am not a fan.  Yesterday morning, however, the fishing did not happen so they were not on the menu for our meal.

  I was duly impressed by the scenery from the pier.  A heavy cloud cover made the sunrise invisible but, along about 8am, the sun tried to poke its face through the overcast skies.  It tried but could not quite burst through to brighten the day.  The effort made for an amazing view, though, and the still waters were reflecting just enough light to make it interesting.  

  There has to be something said about how still waters can bring forth beauty.  Leading a calm, peaceful life reflects upon all nearby.  I am seeing that more clearly, as I age.  Things are just not worth the turmoil.  It is best to live in peace with the world and let beauty be a reflection of all that is good.  It has to start somewhere.  I may as well be with me.  I CAN handle this day and find the beauty therein.

Simply Thankful

   As usual, many things battle for space in the brain as I meander about the hillside.  Here lately, my hikes have become slow strolls due to the health of the old dog. He moves slow so I move slow.  There is no need to hurry if it causes him not to enjoy his time outside.  We spend time together purely because we like each other but, as of late, he never wants me out of his sight.  So, instead of fast-paced hikes where I would leave him far behind, we stroll, take time to see things and often stop to rest.  He needs our time together as a reassurance that I will always be here for him.  I need our time together simply because he has been so faithful.  But, as I said, many things have the chance to pop in and out of the thoughts on these long, slow walks.

  This afternoon being as tomorrow is Thanksgiving, it occurred to me that I am thankful for the chance to move slow.  I am thankful for life being slower paced than in the past.  I am thankful that, as a kid, I was able to lie on my back in the cool grass and watch the clouds float by overhead.  I am thankful that the old dog, Mr. PJ has given me the opportunity to do it again.  I am thankful that he came to the Bayou to be a part of the family.  I am just thankful for life and what all is here.  

Stirring the Imagination

  Sometimes the horizon can look quite ominous.  Heavy, dark clouds being whipped about by high winds can only mean one thing...a storm is brewing.  Here on the Bayou, a good storm can stir the blood a bit.  Weather wise, I like storms.  In actuality, I prefer them over most other weather events.  When the clouds dip low and the waters of the Bay and Bayou are being churned, I feel inspired.  

  Today, the weather was a bit like that.  Although our "storm" was nothing more than a simple rain shower, it looked as if a major blow was coming our way.  The winds picked up and rattled the windows, clouds dipped down low and the waves became quite choppy.  The old rocking chair was pulled close to the southward facing windows and I settled back to watch.  Then, no sooner had it begun, it quit.  All became quiet, still, without a breath of wind.  A light shower that was just enough to water the gardens was all those deep clouds dropped.  That squall was a bit of a disappointment!

  Still, we are promised more to come tonight and tomorrow.  The rocking chair will stay in place as I stain more flooring planks.  I figure that I might as well have things ready for "break time" if and when a good blow comes.  All that will be needed is a nice mug of coffee!  A good storm can purify the air but it can also clear the mind. 

As Far As The Eye Can See

  I will be the first to tell you that my vision is getting weak.  What started as just needed reading glasses has now developed into a full-time spectacles wearing adventure.  This aggravates me somewhat. I miss being able to see things as clearly as I once did.  Weird thing is...prescription glasses do not help.  Wearing cheap reading glasses constantly seems to have filled the need.  I asked the doctor about this and she simply replied that it might be all in my head.  Well, she has a point.  My eyes are in my head and whatever helps them must be ok...prescription or not.

  This morning, however, I noticed something.  While my vision may be blurred at certain distances, miles and miles away, things seem mighty clear.  Mr. PJ and I sat on the ground near a path heading to the back of the property.  The old dog had decided this was a good resting spot so he and I took a few moments to relax.  As the dog stared into the bushes at some unseen critter that was scratching about in the leaves, I stared upwards.  I COULD SEE FOR MILES!  Yep, just look upwards and marvel at your eyes' capabilities!  Think about it for a moment.  The treetops were clear.  The clouds were clear.  Planes passing overhead were clear.  Things were clear with a $1 pair of reading glasses!

  Speaking of treetops and clouds, have you ever thought just how many little fluffy wads of water droplets pass above us unnoticed every day?  How many birds, planes, bugs, dust particles and other things zoom past us without our ever looking up to see them?  I say when things get a bit foggy down at eye level, look up! Great things are up there as far as the eye can see!  Sometimes our vision is not what we see but how we look at things.

Cloud Watching

  I have an elderly neighbor who was telling me today that he likes to "cloud watch".  He sits in his rocking chair on the front porch and watches the clouds as they pass overhead.  This particular day, he was exceedingly happy because he claims that he saw Ben Franklin and Abraham Lincoln floating around up there in the sky.  Imagine that!  The neighbor went on to say that he sees all sorts of things but mostly people....dead people...??  I guess that is applicable because Old Ben and Old Abe are not with us any longer but the elderly gentleman said he never sees anyone that is still alive.  Alrighty then...

  After a a lengthy chat, our phone call ended with me pondering why I never see dead people in clouds.  Is this some special skill that I am sorely lacking?  So when I took the old dog out for his last run of the day, we headed to the pier.  There, I can see just about any cloud in the sky.  I sat for a good while looking up at the sky.  Nope.  No dead people.  In fact, no people at all.  No cats, dogs, rabbits, elephants, dinosaurs or anything that resembled anything but a cloud.  All I saw was the possibility of a rain shower heading our way. 

  Perhaps I need to venture out when the sky is filled with puffy white clouds to do my cloud watching.  Maybe the dark, threatening clouds only carry rain and not images.  To be honest, only thrice have I ever seen anything that resembled people in the sky and one of those looked a lot like a demon. So...what do I see in the clouds? ....  That likely chance of a rain shower.

Oh, This Weather!

  As of late, we have been having a lot of weird weather here on the Bayou.  By "as of late", I mean this whole past year.  Things have just not been right.  By the first of August, we had already received as much rainfall as our yearly total should be and it just keeps on coming. Things are soggy, to say the least.  Instead of our usual late afternoon thunderstorms, we are having deluges.  Inches of water pour from the sky almost daily.  The rain gauge is in constant need of emptying as are any other receptacles about the place.  Everything is filled with water and that only encourages mosquitoes to lay more eggs.  They are not the only ones, though.  I even found tadpoles in the folds of a tarp covering lumber!  Tadpoles, mind you, in little pockets of water.  Geez!

 This evening was not unlike any other day.  Our clouds came.  The rains poured.  Thunder pounded.  Lightning blasted.  It was another rough storm.  It does seem like we should get used to the things eventually but, since each one comes from a different direction, they all exhilarate.  This evening after the particularly severe storm, I noticed that the sky looked a bit different.  Hmmm?  Time to brave the elements and take a look.  Sure enough, the sky had an orange glow about it and the yard seemed extremely bright even though dark clouds were still gathering and thunder threatened.  

  Now with several tropical systems moving across the ocean, I have to ponder if all of the aforementioned rains will have ill effects on the place.  Since the ground is already mush from so much water, will our trees withstand gale force winds?  Can the rivers, inlets, bayous, lakes hold any more water?  Will the already flooded neighborhoods survive more rain?  It is all something to think about, folks.  Best to prepare now since the next two months present a good chance of a hurricane whipping into the area....a soggy, water-soaked area that probably cannot endure much more of this.  I am so thankful that we live on a high hill above the Bayou.  Now if our trees can dig their roots a bit deeper into this mushy ground, things may be ok.  Mark and I were joking about needing pontoons under the Little Bayou House!  Hang tight, folks, and keep a weather eye on the horizon!

Highlight of the Day!

  In every art class that I ever took (and it has been eons since I have), the instructor always stressed shading and highlighting.  It was drilled into my head that if you wanted a painting to look nice, you needed to use both.  Both techniques would accentuate the one thing that you wanted to feature as the focal point of the picture.  Okey dokey.  I am good with that as far as instructions go but, also as most folks will tell you, I have a hard time following "rules" when it comes to things like that.  My oldest son explained it to me one time as we were watching a line of ants traveling from their food source to their nest.  (This was right after he had joined the military.)  "You see, Mom, I am going to be like these ants. I will follow orders and stay in the straight line.  Ants are so organized."  As we were talking, a single ant came scurrying willy-nilly around the rest.  This ant was making circles and loops.  It was going up blades of grass and then retracing its steps.  We sat and pondered that single ant until he looked at me and said, "That, Mom, is you.  You are the one ant that marches or scurries to the beat of a different drummer. You are always out of step, out of sync and always a little bit weird."  While most mothers might have been a bit miffed, I sat there thinking how right he was!  He nailed it!  

  The weather, of late, pretty much keeps the sky covered in clouds.  It was those clouds that brought back memories of both the art classes and of the conversation with my son.  First, the offbeat side in me found beauty in a dead pine tree.  Not that the thing ranks any better than other trees, it just happens to have a bit of odd appeal to it.  I like that.  Today, the Master Artist was following all the rules of art class when He decided to highlight the old tree.  Set against the dark clouds, the tree would have been difficult to see, much less photograph, but with the help of highlighting and shadows, the tree stood out with flare!  A break in the clouds perfectly outlined the old tree.  This made the beauty of the dead tree even more intense. The tree's one gnarled branch reached out as if it was trying to shoo away the threatening clouds.  (That, in itself, was ironic as it was a similar storm that took out the tree in the first place.  One strong bolt of lightning killed the tree several years ago.)

  While I never learned to follow the rules pertaining to art, I did recognize the method behind the madness.  A simple thing like a break in the clouds did wonders to accentuate the beauty of the old tree.  It goes to prove that while some of us know the way, we do not always follow the same path to get to the end results.  And that is ok. It takes all sorts of folks to make this world an interesting place.