Swamp Friends

   For years now, I have said that I have more critter friends than human friends.   People, in general, bother me.  No matter how much you do for them, how nice you try to be or how you try to avoid conflict, invariably, people bring it to you.  I am over it.  I am tired, folks.  I am just pure tired.  That said, I seek out the solace that only the swamps can bring.  There, I find peace as not many dare to traverse the marshes.  There, I am people-free.

  That said, I was pleased to find that an old friend came to visit.  The large, mama gator gently slid into the waters of the Bayou.  She floated just yards away as the darkness of the early morn almost shrouded her from view.  I was not frightened but rather strengthened by her presence.  I poured out my troubles to this unlikely listener.  Her unwavering attention gave me comfort.  While most would have been a mite uneasy with the huge alligator so near, I felt at peace.  My attitude was much better after our one-sided conversation as the visit made me able to face the world outside of the swamp. Sometimes confiding in someone...anyone...really helps.  I will go on.

Molting Assassin Bug

   It seems that I post a good bit about the insects around here.  We have plenty.  Some wreak havoc.  Termites and eastern lubber grasshoppers are both on my "bad" list.  I am not a fan of either.  Also on that list are yellow jackets but I have not come in contact with any of those yet this year...yet.  I hope I do not.  They have nasty tempers!   We do, however, have some "good" insects and I have found myself fully appreciating those.  Just a couple of days ago, I found that assassin bug creepy-crawling on the turmeric leaves.  I was elated to see more of them today.  A lot of folks think I am nuts loving these bugs since they can give a painful bite.  The assassin bug has one large fang that it is not afraid to use when it feels it is in danger.  That piercing fang hurts!  Still, I am always excited to find the critters and never dream of killing them.

  Today, one assassin nymph was in the process of molting.  I found it on the fox grape vines.  Later, I found one living up to its name.  Back in the herb garden, one had caught a fly and was sucking the life from it.  Let's return to that one molting, though.  I always find it fascinating to watch how insects can actually climb out of their exoskeleton and become a larger critter.  I suppose not many folks take the time to view this but it is quite the undertaking for the critter and puts it in danger.  While molting, an insect is rather soft and vulnerable to any larger predators.  It has absolutely no defense at this stage and cannot even make a run for it.  The critter is literally "stuck" there until it manages to wiggle free and then "harden".  

  Most likely, others would purely see the critters as "just another pest" and try to eradicate them.  Not me!  I figure to let these predators live and flourish in the gardens.  They are free pest control and eat a lot of insects that would love to dine upon my cabbages!

Happy To See You, My Old Friend!

  Before daybreak, an owl could be heard off in the distance.  Stepping on the back deck, it was evident that the bird was down in the creek in one of the old pines.  Thinking it was far too dark to go traipsing down there in search of an elusive bird, I took my mug of coffee out to the front steps.  There, I sat in the dark under the shaded arbor.  Bat, the cat, sat nearby as if he even thought it was still too early to be out and about. The owl, kept hooting but nothing else could be heard.

  Along about daybreak, the cat scooted down to the marsh edge to patrol his territory and the owl came closer to the house.  Hmmm....that owl sounded large enough to tote off the cat, if it so desired.  Bat had better be careful!  Suddenly, the hooting was so very close!  Turning, I spied the owl just above my head!  It had come into the garden and was on a low limb of the old oak tree. I slowly picked up the camera and aimed at the bird.  Well, that beat all!  A single twig sat between the two of us.  There would be no photographs unless one of us moved and that old owl seemed to be mighty comfortable where it was.  Yep, I got up and moved closer.

  The owl had no problems with me being only about 15 feet from it.  The bird stared at me a few moments then when right back to hooting!  As I took picture after picture, memories came back of an owl that would often visit the garden and sit on that very limb or on the fence post.  I pondered if this could be the same one.  It has been several years since the bird visited the gardens.  Friend Owl, as long as you leave the cat alone, you are more than welcome to visit any time you choose.  I am honored!

Beautiful Music!

   After spending the morning in the kitchen making plum jam and the afternoon in the laundry room painting the trim work, I figured it was about time to make my escape from the confines of the Little Bayou House.  While I love my little house, I also love the freedom to roam the Bayou.  So, out I went, camera in hand and a need to feel the breeze on my face.  

  My hike did not get too far before I heard a weird "buzzing" or "rattling" sound.  The noise was quite loud.  It stopped me in my tracks.  What was that?  I slowly searched the ground which was rather difficult since I was on a mulched pathway in dappled light.  Ok, so something was in distress here and I could not find it.  Stop, listen...find.  Sure enough, I found.  A hapless cicada had fallen on the pathway and its wings were buzzing against the dry mulch.  The sound echoed making it much louder than I would have expected.  Reaching down, I scooped up the critter and attempted to put it on the arbor frame.  The cicada struggled to stay put.  Kerplop!  Down it went again.  Ok, so perhaps something was amiss with my friend.  Time to check the welfare of this fine creature.

  Sure enough, a fine silken web was wrapped around one wing.  Poor critter!  Bug in hand, I carefully removed the spiderweb from the wing and legs.  The cicada sat calmly in my hand while I worked.  Once it was clear, I held it back against the arbor and the creature climbed carefully up for a few inches before resting.  Goodness, it felt good to help!  This evening, the cicadas are calling loudly and I cannot help but smile thinking that one is surely my friend.  What beautiful music that is to hear!

A New One!

   Since I cannot sleep past 4am any longer, I find I am in the gardens earlier and earlier.  Sometimes, the coffee is sipped in pure darkness.  The cool morning air, the soft chirping of frogs and crickets and the smell of a fresh new day (yes, it really does smell fresh just before dawn), all make for sensory overload.   As soon as the sun starts to peep over the pines, I wander the gardens.  Plans are made for the day's work and visits are made with my critter friends.

  Today, I made a new friend.  When a flower pot was moved, an unusual spider skittered out from beneath.  Well, now!  I have never seen you before!  This called for a bit of studying of the critter (and photos) before it slipped beneath the mulch.  The spider was gorgeous! 

  After a bit of research of Mississippi spiders, the critter has been identified as a Two Lined Stealthy Ground Spider.  Like all spiders, this one uses venom to kill its prey but unlike most of the others, this one does not spin a web as a trap.  The spider actually stalks its prey and is so fast that the other critter never knows what got it.  Also, unlike most other spiders, this one is extremely shy which is why I have never seen one before.  The critter will swiftly scamper away from any disturbances and seek shelter under some form of cover (like my garden mulch).  *Its venom does not cause problems for humans as it is prey specific.

  I am actually very pleased at finding a new spider in the garden and hope that the excessive amount of mulch will encourage it to stay.  With it guarding the ground level and the orchard and orb weavers guarding the upper levels, the pest numbers will be greatly reduced.  Besides, this one is such a pretty thing and I adore having pretty things in my gardens.

Just "Hanging" With Gilbert

  It seems that the green tree frogs love the place.  I have never seen quite so many as there have been for the past few years.  The numbers are growing quickly, too.  It also seems that we have a good number of other frogs calling the place home.  The back of the Bayou and the creek are filled with their nightly symphony making the yard a loud place after dark.  I do not mind as the frogs are free pest control.  However, it is a bit concerning just where some of the critters are starting to claim squatter's rights.   Under the eaves of the house is fine.  In the orange trees is fine.  The greenhouse is fine.   In the walls of the Little Bayou House??  I am concerned.  In the outdoor light fixtures???  Has me worried.  Under the hood of my lawnmower?  Ok, enough is enough!  (That, only because I have to check before cranking the mower. Sure do not want to hurt one.)

  This afternoon, Gilbert, the frog living in a light fixture, came out to visit for a spell. (Just a note of interest here. Gilbert is what I have named all green tree frogs.)  I was cleaning the outside area around the front steps when I first noticed that Gilbert had climbed out of the globe light.  In fact, he had hopped onto the top step to watch me work.  Gilbert and I have a quirky relationship.  He likes me to talk with him while I work and will allow me to pet him occasionally.  So, I talked then reached over stroked his little, green head and went back to work.  I am not sure what startled Gilbert but he jumped from the top step to my shoulder then leapt to the arbor post.  There, he sat in the most hilarious position!  Ok, so froggy, you just keep clinging to that post and I will be through here in a bit!  Gilbert did, I was and all was well.

Snug Little Home

  Today saw us preparing for the upcoming "winter".  So far, the worst we have had was a "near freeze" and a couple of "maybe freezes".  Supposedly, that is all to end with a "severe freeze".  My garden is not going to be happy.  The day started with rain so it was rather miserable work to split and stack the firewood that would see us through this next week.  The work had to be done, however, so Son and I set to it.  We managed to get enough for at least a week's burning in both wood-burning stoves so we turned our attention elsewhere.  Plants and pipes are covered but the in ground garden will have to wait.  Most likely, the 30 or so cabbages will have to be harvested and the rest will just have to suffer.  I am in hopes that the system will not swing down this far but it is a "wait and see" game, at this point.

  While doing chores, Son called my attention to yet another tiny tree frog.  This time, the little squirt decided to make its home in a hole in a brick.  Luckily for the frog, the brick is in the chimney which will provide some warmth for the critter.  Once the old stove is cranking out the heat, the bricks will warm and the froggy will be quite snug.  The metal stovepipe extends up inside the brick chimney so the smoke will not harm the froggy.

  It is probably sad by others' standards but I fret over my wild critter friends during times like this.  Extra food will be put out for any that need a bite to eat, the greenhouse will still have the eave vents left open so birds can seek shelter and the brush piles will not be cleared so other critters can be protected from the ice.  Most will snuggle down in their nests or dens but the steady rains will still cause a lot of problems.  Folks, be kind to the critters in inclement weather.  They deserve some sort of protection just as we do.

Froggy Sat

   While folks in other households were preparing to watch the football game, I was sitting on the steps conversing with a frog.  I figure I was doing something even more important than sitting for hours stuffing my gut with junk food and my brain with insignificant happenings.  At least, the frog is a lot more entertaining and a bunch cuter.

  This afternoon when the sun decided to warm up the place, I found that sitting on the front steps was delightful.  It did not take long before a friend joined me in the "sun-soaking".   A tiny green tree frog came out of its hiding place and sat on the weird moon lamp.  The lamp was right at my elbow so the frog was only a few inches from me.  This gave me the opportunity to study the entirety of the critter.  I was enthralled by the beauty of its eyes!  My goodness!  The eye was the color of polished copper but had the most unique bunch of squiggles throughout.  I promise...sometimes I thought I was seeing words or pictures in those squiggles!  Well, you know me.  I had to get a photograph of the froggy's eye.  I NEEDED an up close and personal photograph!  

  Never without the camera, I slipped on the macro lens and started work.  Froggy sat still.  The camera lens was literally about an inch and a half from the frog when I finally focused.   Froggy sat still.  Twenty three pictures later, I noticed that Froggy was dozing!  My little critter friend had complete trust that I would never harm him.  (In case it can be a learning tool, the bottom photograph shows the nictitating membrane (basically eyelid) that frogs have to protect their eyes.)

  After a bit, the sun started sliding down behind the pines and the air started chilling a bit.  It was time for me to head back inside and stoke the fire.  I reached over, stroked Froggy's little head and thanked him for the time spent.  I also told him to snuggle down in the hanging plant so he would be warm tonight.  (It is never a bad thing to show concern for your friends.)  I do believe my afternoon was far more interesting than being glued to a television set.  Froggy and I just sat still...and enjoyed each other's company.

Only Ms. Nellie

   Today was drizzly, cold and gray which is typical for February.  Although it may not be cold by the standard of others, since my health has decided to be iffy, I feel the cold.  This is the first year that I can honestly say "I am chilled to the bone".  Even so, I braved the chill to make a late afternoon jaunt around the hillside.  My goal was to gather a few bits and pieces of felled branches to stoke the old cast iron stove when I was back inside.  That old burner has been chugging nonstop for over a month now.  As I was gathering the twigs, my path took me down to where I can usually find a few of my critter friends.  Nope.  No one was there.  So, I headed around back of the greenhouse.  Nope.  No one was home.  Ok, so I dropped my bundle of scrappy firewood on the front step and meandered down to the pier.  Aha!  The one and only critter to brave the elements along with me was sitting on a pier post!

  A ring-billed gull was resting a bit before searching the waters for her supper.  She eyed me curiously.  Ms. Nellie, as I dubbed her, was a newcomer to the Bayou.  Hopefully, she will decide she likes it here and make it her home.  She seemed placid enough around me making me think that we might become fast friends.  Perhaps I shall attempt to bring the net on my next pier visit.  Hopefully, my strength will be enough that I can still throw the thing.  Ms. Nellie shall feast upon little mullet if all goes well.

  It was good to see at least one other living creature out on this raw day but Ms. Nellie will have to go it alone.  I needed to get back to the Little Bayou House and that wood-burning stove.  It was too chilly for me on that pier!  Stay warm, Ms. Nellie!

Toad Hole Hotel

   Each morning, my hike takes me down the board path to the water's edge.  From there, I can either go to the pier or hike around to back part of the property following the marsh line.  It is on that board path that I have recently had to watch my step.  I came nigh on stepping on one of my critter friends!

  About halfway down the path, just past the bottle tree, a small toad has burrowed out a nice home under one of the planks.  The little toad, of course, is nocturnal and is making its way back to is home when I am starting my sunrise hike.  For the past week, I have had to be careful not to step on the sweet critter.  When I first found it, the toad was frightened and darted back into is nook but each day, I would stop to visit and, now, it is much more at ease.  

  This afternoon, I made one last trip to the pier and had a happy surprise.  As I neared the Toad Hole, my little friend came crawling out to greet me.  Sweet!!  If only people could be as kind as critters, this old world would be a far better place.  

Alligator Friend

   Mark and I headed to the pier just about daybreak to see if we could catch another mess of fish for supper.  We had no such luck as the only thing biting was catfish.  We caught more than our share of those rascals but I refuse to even think about eating one.  Still, the time was well spent as I got to visit with an old friend and take a lot of photos of the gorgeous sunrise. 

 

   Just before we got chased off the pier by a surprise rain shower, a huge alligator came near the pier.  This gator has been coming around for years and is considered to be a friend.  Not once has it shown any aggression to any of us or the pets.  The gator sticks to its own territory and leaves us to ours.  In fact, this particular alligator has a wide range and makes its rounds to visit "friends".  This is not one of our resident gators.

  

  This gator was quite large.  In fact, I estimated it to be nigh on nine to ten feet in length in comparison to surrounding objects.  This was definitely not our usual little six footer nor one of the "babies" of around three feet.  This is the large bull gator (that big snout identifies it) paying a visit to our local female.  She usually nests in the back of the Bayou and surprises us with little ones now and again.  A few years back, there were several little tots wandering about the hillside!   

  The gators are just as welcome as any of the other wild critters that roam the Bayou and woods.  This was their place long before anyone every stepped foot here and, as far as I am concerned, it is still their place.  People who cannot deal with that are less welcome than the critters.  It was good to see my friend.

Watching A Spider

   Well, one storm is behind us without ever making itself noticeable.  The weather was beautiful today with only one late rain shower providing us with some much needed moisture for the gardens.  I had hoped for a bit more rain but the "tropical system once known as Marco" played itself out without much ado.  Now we await the other which is predicted to be a tad (or a lot depending on who is forecasting) stronger.  We shall see.

  While out and about, I noticed a large spider in her web on the back of the shed.  I decided to pay her a visit.  As I watched her carefully remove a leaf that had become caught in her web, I had to think of how the spider had to be happy that a hurricane did not come.  If a small leaf could rip a hole in her web, imagine if a hurricane had whipped debris in on her.  As it was, she meticulously removed the silk from each part of the leaf then, literally, tossed the leaf free from the web.  It was amazing to watch.  Then, Ms. Spider went about her business of repairing the damage much like we would repair the Little Bayou House if it had received hurricane damage. 

The spider's five foot in diameter web was so intricately woven that it reminded me of the netting we use in catching fish.  How in the world did a spider have that much patience and finesse to spin such a creation?  It is funny how as humans, we tend to think we are so much smarter than any other creature.  Here, this spider with her eight legs created a web by using "building material" she formed in her own body.  Who of us can do that?  Each leg of the web is incredibly strong and has thousands of cross bands to create the mesh.  Even with multiple repairs, the web is beautifully made and functions remarkably well.  While I was watching her, a horsefly became ensnared and the spider left her work to go bundle it in silk.  Doing that kept the fly from damaging her web even more and also kept it in a safe place until she had the time to dine upon it.  Watching the spider almost made me feel insignificant and pathetically inept.  I stand in awe of her ability.

Just A Friendly Spider!

   Oh, the things we find!  Son has been doing a huge cleanup of the yard this past week.  With most of the termite-damage reconstruction of the Little Bayou House completed, it was time to regain the yard.  This has gone on for too long.  I had started the cleanup and relandscaping back before falling ill but that all came to a standstill during my recuperation period.  When he finished rebuilding the pier, Son took over the cleanup.  He has done most of the "heavy" work but has no clue how I want to "pretty" up the place.  His idea of the perfect yard would have no gardens, no ponds, no fences and definitely no decorations of any kind.  A clean, clear lawn would suit him fine.  Me?  I need the mystery that outdoor "rooms" create.  Winding pathways, dark, shady nooks, babbling water features (snakes and frogs included) and funky gates.  All of those things are up to me.  He does, however, call me whenever he finds some odd critter during his work.  Today, a spider put a halt to the chores.

  Son called me as he was clearing a pile of lumber.  "Hey, there is a bug."  I knew to grab the camera because it had to be something out of the ordinary if he brought attention to it.  Sure enough, it was an odd looking critter.  When I told him it was a Long-jawed Spider, he shrugged and muttered something about it had long legs not a long jaw.  Well, he had a point but the spider's name would have to stay.

  Long-jawed Spiders are pretty neat critters.  They have figured out that nighttime provides for the best hunting and so they while away the daytime hours in hiding (like this one).  In the evening, the spider will crawl out of its nook and spin a large web usually over water.  They depend on the morphing of water bound larvae to adults as a food source.  Mosquitoes, mayflies and midges all lay eggs in water. When the larvae develop into adults and leave the water, they become ensnared in the spider's web.  Spider is happy....I am happy....a lot less bugs.  

  Since Son wanted to complete his chore, I gently moved our friendly spider to a spot closer to the little Puddle Pond.  She can have lots of hiding places and will be able to catch any flying critters tonight.  Happy hunting, Long-jawed Spider!  You are welcome to stay here!

Pretty Little Visitor

  Early this morning, the garden was in dire need of a bit of water.  As I was doing my best to save the plants, I caught sight of something in the window of the living room. Well, now this needed to be investigated.  The hose was attached to the sprinkler and I dragged the ladder to the window.  Since our house sits about three feet above the ground and I am quite short, that ladder is used often.  Once I was up almost to the top rung of the step ladder, I realized that it was a moot point.  What I thought was a critter stuck between the window screen and the actual window was really inside the house!  Down the ladder I went.

  Inside, I gently pulled back the curtain to find a beautiful adult antlion!  These thing always give me a thrill as I rarely see them.  "Oh, my!  Little one, you cannot stay in here."  After a few photos, I eased my hand next to the antlion and it readily climbed aboard.  Well, that was easy.  Slowly, ever so slowly, I made my way to the door.  I surely did not want to frighten the poor thing so it took flight.  Adult antlions are rather delicate creatures and catching it while the creature fluttered about could injure it.  Still, it needed to be outside.  So..the door was opened and I stepped outside.  The critter stayed put on my hand.  "Ok, you can go now!  Fly away!  You are free!"  Nope.  The bug did not want to leave my hand.  Finally, after much coaxing and a gentle nudge, the sweet antlion took off in its whirlygig type flight.  It flew to the eaves of the house and landed.  

  This antlion is known as a Glenurus gratus or Tree-dwelling Antlion.  The common name comes from the fact that the larvae live in nooks of trees instead of making funnel-shaped traps in sand.  The larvae eat ants and other critters that climb about in trees while the adults feast mainly on caterpillars and aphids.  This adult antlion is one of my favorites because I rarely get to see an insect with pink wing tips!  The pretty little visitor does need to stay outside, however!

I am here to help with my eight legs!

  The day consisted of a bit more preparations for the tropical storm that is supposed to visit the Bayou during the middle of the night.  We ran the tie-downs for the dormer windows, latched gates to prevent them from banging and secured the last pieces of lawn furniture.  Since there was not much left to do, I busied myself cleaning up a few odds and ends in the yard.  We have one of those hose reels that is supposed to make life easier but, for me, it is a nuisance.  Quality workmanship is obviously a thing of the past as the reel is shoddily made.  It is far too light to be of much use as it wobbles around like a drunk sailor whenever you wind the hose.  Yes, I do put my foot on the hold but that does little good.  The crank is weak, as well, making it feel as if it will break with the least bit of stress.  So...I pull the hose with my hands, turn the crank for a few rounds, pull more hose, turn again and so on until the hose is at least somewhat neater.  Then as soon as I let go, the reel turns freely releasing about six feet of hose!  Alas!  All that work was for naught!

  It was while I was struggling with the hose that I met a new friend!  I guess I startled the poor soul by fighting an inanimate object (the reel) so a nice sized garden spider ventured onto my shoulder.  Perhaps the kind critter was offering help!  Not wanting to squish the beauty, work was halted while I let her crawl onto my hand.  Yes, ma'am!  I appreciate the offer but you need to stay up here on the wall so I will not hurt you by accident!  The spider left my hand and crawled back to her web.  (Yes, I really did talk with a spider.  No, she did not respond verbally.)

  I am one of these weird people who try to avoid harming any creature.  I figure this is their world just as much as it is mine.  Like this spider today, a bit of gentle encouragement to scoot out of the way is met with cooperation.  Hopefully, she will make it through the storm ok.  I am assuming she will take refuge under the edge of the roof and then rebuild her web in the morning.  She is definitely a  beauty!

It has eyelids...Not a snake!

  Ok, folks.  It is NOT a snake!  Yesterday evening, I decided to head to the pier to haul in all of the fishing gear.  Once again, we were in the line of  some pretty bad weather and there was no need in letting the gear get ruined.  After everything was toted ashore, I figured that I may as well hike around the property edge before the storms set in for the evening.  Down along the east side near the marsh, I rounded a corner in the path to come nigh on stepping on a critter.  At first glance, I did, indeed, think this was a snake but, then, a closer look and I realized that I had made a mistake.  The critter blinked.  Snakes do not blink!  In fact, snakes do not have the ability to blink as they have no eyelids.  Snakes have a clear scale covering each eye (it is part of their skin).  This critter definitely blinked!  Well, if it was not a snake and not venomous, I needed to investigate.  Actually, at that point its identity was already clear to me but I still wanted to  check out my new found friend.  

  The critter was about two feet in length, light brown with a dark longitudinal stripe down each side and dark speckled markings near the face.  It also had ear holes!  Those ear holes were the definitive factors in identifying this as a lizard!  Yep. I had just stumbled upon a Slender Glass Lizard which is also known as a legless lizard.  To say I was ecstatic would be putting it mildly.  I have long wanted to find a glass lizard since I have not seen one in years.  What a beauty this one was, too!  It still had its original tail!  True to its name, Slender Glass Lizards are pretty fragile things when it comes to their tails.  Like most lizards, when they feel threatened, the lizards have the ability to drop their tails as decoys.  This tail-dropping is called shattering.  A detached tail will continue to thrash about so a predator is distracted allowing the lizard to escape.  

  I was amazed at how docile (almost tame) the lizard was.  I knelt near it to get photographs and then had the bright idea to use the macro lens to get a nice up-close and personal photo.  The lizard did not mind that I was literally shoving the camera to two inches from its face!  Well, if it was that tame, I may as well try to pet it!  Yep!  I did.  The lizard had no qualms about being stroked on its head as I admired its beauty.  Oh, my goodness!  I so wanted to hold this beauty but, using my better judgement, I refrained.  There was no need to cause our meeting to be traumatic for the critter.  (I did not want to be responsible for its tail breaking!).  After about ten minutes, the Slender Glass Lizard eased its way to the nearby pile of oyster shells.  It turned once to look at me as if to say, "Thanks for not being mean!  See you next time!" or at least I hope that is what it was thinking!  


                                                   

Waylaid By A Snake!

  Early this afternoon, I ventured down to the pier to check the crab traps.  So far, we have not had any luck catching many but it was worth the walk to check.  This is my way of "social distancing"!  I have banned EVERYBODY from the Little Bayou House so hiking about the place chases away any boredom.  

  It was on that hike that I veered off course and wandered the marsh line for a bit before going to the pier.  Suddenly, something made me stop in my tracks!  Usually when this happens, there is something that needs investigating.  I was not sure just what was there or where it was but SOMETHING made me stop.  It is an instinctive thing with me to be curious and to sense when a critter is nearby. Sure enough, there was a slight movement near the bottom of an old, dead pine tree. Suddenly, a head popped up!  Aha! My friend, the Black Racer, had come to visit...or, perhaps, I came to visit the snake.  

  A Southern Black Racer has this odd habit of "periscoping" when it needs to get a better view.  It will raise up sometimes fifteen inches and stare at the "intruder" (me!).  A Black Racer is one of my favorite snakes.  It is curious, gentle and very docile.  As much as I am around them and even hold them, nary a one has tried to bite me.  The snake is a gardener's friend since it loves insects, a shed's protector as it eats mice and rats and a good listener as it is very patient (yes, I did talk to it!).  

  After about a half hour, I finally made my way to the pier to check the crab traps.  No crabs!  It did not matter as the walk was eventful.  I was thankful that i had been waylaid by the snake.

The Perfect Visitor!

  In view of the current social distancing order, I fully discourage any visitors to the Bayou.  I live here.  You don't.  There is no need for you to come.  After all this is over and the virus has been defeated...you are welcome.  Not now, however.  I have stuck with the idea that without a host, the virus will die.  Mark, on the other hand, still comes and goes as he pleases.  It bothers me but nothing can be done so I do not even attempt.  I spend a good bit of time outside deep-breathing our fresh air, getting plenty of sunshine and doing yard work.  Great progress is happening in the garden!  

  Today, that social distancing put me to installing some gravel guards for the roof drain.  The way our house is shaped, rain pours down with a vengeance and washes gullies as it does.  I have tried everything but it seems as if this gravel drain some forty feet long is the only surefire way of coping with the destructive power of water!  The gravel guards will keep the gravel, itself, from being strewn into the lawn and then flung about by the mower.  I was on my hands and knees when a visitor showed up.  Surprisingly...this one I welcomed!  In fact, I was overjoyed to stop work, sit a spell and enjoy a bit of company.  It was delightful!

  A Southern Black Racer decided to investigate what I was doing in the garden.  While I was working, a movement caught my eye and I turned to see the snake making its way to me.  I was quite sure that it would veer off course to avoid me but, nope, it came straight in to visit!  The snake slithered up to the pile of large rocks that I had removed from the edge of the drain and then proceeded to inch closer.  Once it was about two feet from me, it stopped, started flicking its tongue and stared.  Oh, sweet thing!  Even when I slowly reached over to get the camera, the snake kept its place.  For a good half hour, my new friend and I shared some quality time.  I welcomed it to the garden and told it that I would prefer it chose the area as its permanent residence.  How sweet would that be???

  Even though I have taken to talking to critters, I promise that this whole isolation thing has not twisted the brain.  It has always been this way.  To be totally honest, I am fully enjoying my "alone time" as I am getting so much accomplished!  And...I am meeting new friends along the way.