The Frozen Pier

   As the sun was rising over the pines on the far side of the Bayou, it cast a lovely golden glow on the pier planks.  I was walking down the hill toward the pier when I first noticed the glimmer.  Strange.  The planks had never glowed before.  Stepping up on the ramp, I soon came to realize that the glow was the sun's ray glinting off of the heavy layer of frost that coated the boards.  Hmmm?  Was it safe to walk any further or would I slip and slide right off into the mud.  I decided to chance it.  Walking was not as hard as I expected as my feet were quite literally freezing to the pier.  If I stopped for longer than a few seconds, my shoes were beginning to become attached to the boards!  Maybe I was to be stuck on the pier forever! 

  Once I was about halfway down the pier, I noticed that someone else had been on the pier before me and had the same problem.  Obviously, a small raccoon had traipsed up the pier and at some point stopped.  The heat from its body had melted the frost and left clear footprints.  That was interesting enough but, as I was photographing the tracks, I noticed what a weird pattern the frost had made on the planks. Long stripes of very wicked looking spikes ran along each plank.  Well, I might as well photograph those while I was there.  

After the pictures, I poked the frosty spikes fully expecting them to be sharp.  Nope. Though thorn-like in appearance, they were extremely fragile and soft.  In fact, they were almost fluffy!  Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me but it was time to get up off of my knees and head back to the warmth of the Little Bayou House.

Critter Encounter

  Have you ever been out at the break of dawn and suddenly get that feeling that someone or something is watching you?  The hair starts to tingle on the back of your neck and you start peering into the shadows to see if something is lurking nearby.  It is a strange feeling.  Normally, it would not bother me much being way down here on the Bayou but, with the old dog ailing, we do not need a critter attack.  Coyotes and bobcats are roaming the hillside and if they ever deemed that we were too near, it would not be a pretty sight.  I am sure that, even though he is feeble, Mr. PJ would try to defend me and, in a sense, give his life for me.  He is just that good of a friend....canine or not.

  On this morning's hike, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.  The hair started standing on end and that gut started knotting.  Something, somewhere was keeping a steady eye on the old dog and me.  Mr. PJ did not get the feeling and kept his slow amble down the path.  Silently...slowly...I reached out and put my hand on his back.  He stopped immediately and stared at me.  This gave me the opportunity to scan the area.  Somewhere among the underbrush, a shadowy figure lurked. 

  It did not take long before I found our "menacing monster".  A raccoon was keeping a wary eye on this pair that was invading "his" territory.  I breathed a sigh of relief but kept my hand on Mr. PJ's back.  "Stay, boy, stay!"  I said in a hushed voice.  While I was somewhat more at ease with this being a coon, they can be vicious in their own right when cornered and this was one HUGE coon!  It was nigh on as big as the old dog. There was no need to push the critter into a fight mode.  

  We stood motionless for a bit as the coon stared at us.  Then, he silently turned and waddled down the path in the opposite direction.  Mr. PJ and I turned and retraced our steps.  Finding one critter was enough for this morning.  If Mr. PJ had been younger and stronger, we would have ventured further down toward the creek bed but not today...not today.

The Garden Thief

  Along about noontime, I decided to make another batch of peach jam.  Since I had already picked all of the peaches due to marauding coons, the task was half done.  It was a just a matter of "jamming".  The fruit was all prepared, cooked and jarred within a short time.  There was nothing to do but clean up my mess.  While doing that, I heard a strange sound on the back porch. Hmmm...that was unusual as no one was out there.  I opened the door to come face to face with the Garden Thief!  

  A young raccoon was searching the area for something for lunch.  I eased my way out the backdoor and onto the small porch all the while still holding a pot and dish towel.  The coon slowly made its way down the steps and then turned to look at me.  It seemed to expect me to give it a handout!!  As if I needed to do that after it has raided the garden numerous times!!  Nope, Little One!  You are not getting a handout today!  The little coon edged its way under the shed and I thought all was ended for the day.  

  About five minutes after disappearing under the south side of the shed, a small head popped out of the north side!  The little rascal was exiting there and making its way back to the porch!  Ok, coon!  That is enough!  Get yourself out of here before I hurl this pot at you!  The coon did not stop.  Rather, it kept coming toward me and, once again, appeared to be begging for food.  

  It suddenly dawned on me that this little coon must be the same one that my brother feeds at the end of the lane.  Since he gives it daily handouts, the coon has lost all fear of humans and thinks that every one should do the same. Not me!  I do not mind feeding the critters during bleak times but the garden is in full swing and they are surely getting their bellies full each night.  So...Little Coon...go back down the lane.  You cannot have my plums, peaches or tomatoes!

Murder on the Back Steps!

  Early this morning, Ms. Nycto begged to be let out the back door.  The cat, otherwise known as the Bayou Princess, demanded in loud meows to have her whims met.  Not wanting to wake up the entire neighborhood at 5am, I heeded her calls and unlocked the door.  No sooner had she slipped out the screen door, than she begged to be let back inside.  Something was amiss out on the back porch and she was having no part of it!  I opened the screen door and let the finicky feline back inside.  The Princess then scampered up the stairs and retired to the large queen-sized bed that she has claimed as her own.  Well, now!!! I pondered if some coyote was prowling in the darkness.  I headed back into the kitchen to get a mug of hot coffee then settled in by the old wood burning stove.

  Along about daybreak, I ventured out that back door just to see if there was any evidence of what scared the cat.  Yup.  Plenty of evidence!  It appeared that a brutal murder had taken place on my doorstep overnight!  The entire steps was covered in blood-red goo!  Not to mention there were incriminating "hand prints" in the "blood"!  My goodness!  No wonder the poor Bayou Princess was scared out of her wits!  

  Now came the time for me to clean up this mess as it was mostly by my own oversight that it occurred.  The night before, I found a nice bowl of cherry sauce in the fridge,  This stuff had somehow gotten shoved far behind the half bottles of pickles, the extra cartons of cream cheese and the chilling pie dough for today's dessert.  The cherry sauce was beyond my use but instead of tossing it in the garbage, it was stuck on the back porch to be toted to the compost in this morning.  I was not about to traipse out in the cold to empty that dish!  Well, by the looks of it, a raccoon decided that the cherry sauce was far too tasty to be wasted. The raccoon helped itself to the dish.  By the looks of things, the cherry sauce may have been even a bit fermented and the coon may have gotten a bit tipsy.  The bowl, itself, was flung under the nearby pear tree and cherry sauce was smeared on every step!  Silly, drunk raccoon!  He murdered that stuff!

 

A Nice Cool Spell

  Finally, we have a taste of winter.  Not winter as compared to our neighbors to the north but at least winter on the Bayou.  I was cold all day...I loved it. With both woodstoves chugging along, the wood bins needed to be refilled often.  On one trek out to the woodpile, I noticed that it was actually sleeting.  The cold pellets of ice stung when they hit my face and made the fire wood almost too cold to handle.  I made quick work of the chore and got myself back inside!  This evening, I did make a quick hike down to the pier to check the boat but, other than that, the day was spent inside. 

  While I was on the pier, I noticed that the north wind had blown the water far out from the marsh edge.  Once again, I was hesitant to stay out in this wet, cold weather so I was quick about my business.  I did find one other friend out and about.  The north wind was actually helping one of the Bayou critters.  A small raccoon was digging for clams, tiny crabs and minnows that might be in the mud between the marsh and water's edge.  The low tide had actually given the little coon larger hunting grounds.  In the few minutes that I watched, the critter actually managed to find several tidbits to crunch.  I am thinking that these were small crabs since I could actually hear his crunching!  The fact that the young coon was finding a meal on this dreary day made me happy.  At least this little guy would have a full belly this evening!

  Tonight, I have my leg/foot warmer working full time. The cat,  Ms. Nycto, has chosen my ankles as her bed for the evening and the warmth she provides with her long fur sure feels good!  Just another reason I am glad I rescued her.