Tricks That The Eyes Play

  I will be the first to admit that my eyesight sure isn't what it used to be.  For the past ten years or so I have had to wear reading glasses.  Then as the insurance people required, I had an eye exam and was told that I needed bifocals.  Well, that was purely a waste of money!  Not only could I not read with those glasses but I felt nauseous when I walked while wearing them.  Nope.  No way!  I refused to wear the glasses.  A year later, I was required to go to the eye doctor once again.  This doctor said that my eyes were ok and I did not need prescription glasses.  She took my reading glasses, wrote down the "prescription" and sent me back to the dollar store to get another pair just to keep on hand.  Now, sitting in the desk drawer is a nigh on $300 pair of useless spectacles and I am back to wearing a $1 pair of reading glasses full time.  Perhaps some day the others may come in handy but, for now, they are just clutter.

  The eyes can, however, play tricks on the mind. You are always seeing the infamous "dress" or "shoes" on social media asking "What color do you see?"  Or a weird photo of a cat looking upwards with the caption of "Is it a bird or cat?"  In the real world, things are about the same.  For instance, a few days ago, I was on the pier and photographed what appeared to be a jet-black dragonfly.  This amazing find would have thrilled me had I not already known the identity of the critter.  This was a Slaty Skimmer and is not actually all black!   The male dragonfly is actually blue with a black head.  The overcast skies made the critter appear black.  It is a common mistake folks make when trying to find the identity of the Slaty.  "I found a solid black dragonfly!  What kind is it?" is a common question presented to entomologists.  Then, it is often hard to convince the discoverers of the "black dragonfly" that they were merely being tricked by the lighting.  On bright, sunshiny days, the male Slaty is a powdery blue and not even that dark! (Females are sort of brown with a dark stripe and black head.)

  The Slaty Skimmer is one of the most common of all dragonflies and can often be seen sunning themselves in marshes, near ponds or even pastures.  The male and female will mate in flight then she will lay her eggs in a nearby bit of fresh water by skimming and dotting the surface.  Be on the lookout for Slaty Skimmers and try to view them in both sunshine and shade to get this crazy coloring effect!  You eyes may deceive you!

Just Vines!

  Sometimes, it seems as if my eyesight is waning just enough to make me ponder things.  Perhaps this is a good thing as it does make me use the brain a bit.  I figure that anything that causes me to think cannot be all bad or, maybe, I am just looking for that proverbial silver lining here.  My kids keep telling me that exercising the brain is just as important as exercising the rest of the body.  That would be all fine and dandy but at some point, things just get tired!   Both the brain and the body are getting old!

  This afternoon, the old dog actually wanted to walk a bit.  The sun was shining, the weather was warm and the hike was slow...very slow but still we hiked.   It has been a while since he has had the energy so it felt good to see him enjoying the hillside once again. Our hike took us down near the marsh edge on the east side of the property.  This side of the shore is lined mostly with old oak trees, bay trees and a few hickories but the other side has a lot of pines and black gum trees. Several of the trees across the marsh are dead as they were struck by lightning a few years back.  One black gum is the favorite perch for the ospreys.  From the tiptop of the tree, the ospreys can observe the whole twisting runs of the Bayou and all of the critters that call it home.  The birds can see when mullet or redfish are running through the shallows making them prime targets.  

  Today, one of the ospreys sat high in the tree all the while screaming for its mate.  When I first glanced, I was taken aback as it appeared that the bird was entangled in some bit of wire or rope.  I always hate when I observe my critter friends in need and try to help them.  This would not be the first time that one of them became entangled in some discarded fishing gear.  Try as I might, I could not clearly see just what was twisting and turning in the wind but I had the bright idea of photographing the bird.  By enlarging a picture, it would give me that clear view that I needed.  

  Once inside, the photograph revealed that my concern was all for naught.  What I thought was cord was actually vines that had climbed all the way to the top of the tree.  The osprey was not ensnared!  What a relief!  Have you ever tried to capture an osprey?  It is not easy.  It is a lot like tangling with a flying bobcat! Those talons are razor sharp!  I am sure glad that this bird was healthy and free!

Flying High!!

  Yesterday, Mark and I watched as a large bird flew overhead.  This bird was huge!  Ok, so as you probably already guessed, the camera was ever ready.  Our bird made a huge circle and then swooped low, low above us.  The only thought going through my head was the sheer magnificence of the sight before me.  Wow!  What beauty!

  The bird was a Red-tailed Hawk and was one of a pair that was circling overhead and then moved to over the Bayou.  This pair was on the hunt.  Watching them, started me thinking about hawks and other raptors.  Red-tailed Hawks have exceptional eyesight and can spy a tiny, field mouse from about 100 feet above ground.  They can swoop down, catch the mouse and be out of there in the blink of an eye.  Like all other raptors, even though they have excellent vision, they cannot move their eyes.  Raptors have to move their heads from side to side if they wish to see something other than what is in their immediate line of vision.  This is most obvious in owls who can turn their heads a full 270 degrees.  It makes me ponder if turning the head actually helps to focus???

  The Red-tailed hawk pair circled the Bayou and hillside for most of the afternoon. They were riding on the stiff south winds while hunting for their supper.  Hopefully, this pair will nest on the property and help with thinning the massive Grey Squirrel population that has been dumped in our laps by the clearing of nearby property.  

Not a Cottonmouth!

  I am first to admit that my vision is far from what it used to be even with the glasses that are always with me.  Not that it is terrible but sometimes, I do have trouble.  Couple that declining vision with a bunch of shadows and things can get downright befuddled.  Take this morning, for instance.  I was out at dawn with the old dog.  He had another rough night so I wanted to get him fed, out and back to his bed as quickly as possible. He needed his rest.  So, as we were slowly meandering down to his "spot", I had time to scan the marsh line for critters.  The tide was high and there was a bit of a south wind.  Suddenly, I spied something in the shallows where the water had come above the marsh line and was puddling in the underbrush.  A undulating movement of something...long, round, dark and wiggly.  Uh, oh.  Perhaps this was that large cottonmouth that I had seen earlier in the spring.  I was sure glad the old dog was not nearby.

  After I got him back safely inside, I ventured out to find my "snake".  I wanted to make sure the thing did not decide to make itself at home on the path to Mr. PJ's loo.  By now, the sun was starting to brighten things a bit which gave me a much better view.  To my surprise, that "snake" was still in the same spot...still undulating. 

  Whew!  I breathed a sigh of relief.  That "snake" was no snake, at all!  Some storm must have washed an old bike inner tube into the marsh and the high tide of this morning pushed it further ashore.  My "snake" was completely harmless.  There was no need to worry about Mr. PJ this morning.  Still, I will scan the path each time he walks.  With his vision and sense of smell going the wayside, I have to be extra vigilant....even to the point of watching for those "dangerous" bike tubes!

A Better View of a Gorgeous Bird!

  I will be the first to admit that my eyesight is extremely poor.  While I used to be able to see things far across the Bayou and beyond, that range is sorely declining.  Even with prescription spectacles, things are blurry at best.  So, this afternoon while on the pier, I could not identify a large, black blob that was in the top of a dead black gum tree on the far side of the Bayou.  What in the world was that thing??  It seemed large, was very black (dark) and showed a good bit of movement.  I knew it was a critter of some sort but to be that far up in a tree was something else again.  My first thought was a bird...perhaps the bald eagle.  As far as I could see, there was nothing else to do but make my way along the marsh edge to get a closer view of the mystery critter.

  The old dog and I eased our way along the marsh until we reached the wild persimmon trees on the east side of the property.  Here, I could get a better view if I slipped between the palmetto clumps close to the water's edge.  Sure enough, the critter was much easier to identify from this vantage point.  Instead of an eagle, my friend was an osprey!  The confusion was caused by the bird preening itself which hid the white underparts.  With wings outspread and head tucked, the bird hunched over like some menacing vulture!  Once the bird saw me, it took as much interest in me as I did in it.  The osprey tried to get a better view of who was hiding in the palmettos.  Once it decided that I was not a threat, it perched upright in its majestic position and let out a loud screech!

  Satisfied that I had positively identified my critter, I eased my way back out of the palmettos and up the hillside.  That bad eyesight might not serve too well in spotting a cottonmouth that may be lurking down beneath those brambles!  It was best to get myself out of the midst of things unseen!

Where are my glasses?

  There is something to be said for failing eyesight.  No, it is not fun by any means but you deal with it as it seems to be a common part of aging. Without my glasses, things seem blurry and out of focus so I depend upon those things.  But...without them, things are brought into a different perspective.  Objects that appear to be one thing can prove to be something quite totally different.  This has actually made a difference in my days here on the Bayou.  

  This time of year, snakes are out and on the prowl (or crawl, as it may be).  One has to watch every step as an old cottonmouth moccasin might just be underfoot in any given area.  I have found them as far from the house as the marsh edge but as near as the front step.  They are hard to see.  I do not depend on my eyesight to find these critters.  I go back to that fine skill that Pop taught me so long ago.  He always said that it was easier to smell a moccasin than to see one and he was right.  Still, any snake is not fun to come across on a daily hike.  Even a nonvenomous one can scare the bejeebies out of you if it is stepped on unawares.  It is best to be wary...which brings me to today and my poor eyesight.

  I was out pushing that lawnmower again when I noticed my brother waving at me.   Stopping my machine, I had a nice chat with him before cutting the conversation short with "I need to get back to work."  As he turned to walk back down the lane, he gave a bit of a start and then said "Uh, oh!"  That did not seem to good so I held off cranking my mower.  He was pointing up under the azalea bush at what appeared to be a rather large snake.  Well, now!  I figured it could not be anything too dangerous unless the sweet aroma of the orange blossoms was masking the stench of a moccasin.  We drew a bit closer to check out just what type our slithery visitor was.  At this point, we both had a good laugh.  Our snake turned out to be a perfectly snake-shaped stick!  It even had its "head" raised about six inches off the ground.  Wow!  What a good impostor! 

  After another round of chatting (this time about our "snake"), he headed home and I went back to work.  My cutting took me far down behind the peach orchard and into an area dotted with palmetto clumps.  These are a favorite hiding place for snakes  and being as I was only wearing leather moccasins, I needed to watch my every step.  The recent "scare" of the stick snake might have been a good thing.  My wariness was already on edge.  I was alert.  I was careful.  Sometimes we can become so caught up in our thoughts and chores that we become careless.  Perhaps that stick was put there as a reminder that I need to watch my step.  Had I been wearing my glasses, I would have surely seen that it was just a stick and had never made me more cautious. Sometimes, we have to see things a bit blurred to see them more clearly.

Blurred Vision

  I will be the first to admit that my vision is far from what it used to be. Age has a sneaky way of catching up with you.  The past few years have seen me getting stronger and stronger strength spectacles in hopes of at least keeping myself functioning.  Some days seem to be worse than others and lighting plays a huge role in how clearly I view things.  I just want to maintain healthy enough vision to enjoy my surroundings.

  This morning, what with the time change and all, I was on the pier bright and early.  I wanted to catch the sunrise as that always seems to start my day on a positive note.  The Master Artist did not disappoint. As usual, the horizon was a fantastic display of colors and patterns.  It was with these patterns that I soon was questioning the strength of my eyesight once again.  Something seemed amiss.  Although the water was calm, the lower part or reflected part of the sunrise appeared awfully blurry.  Still, I photographed the sunrise in all its glory.  I would investigate later.

  Sure enough, even when I put the photographs on my computer, the reflection seemed far more blurred than ever before.  What was up with that?  My glasses did not even help!  Obviously, there was some bit of haze lingering just over the water's surface which was making things seem distorted. The reflection actually reminded me of how I see without my eyeglasses!  It then occurred to me that the difference in the top part of the photograph (skyline) and the bottom (reflection) could be compared to the difference that my spectacles make in my vision.  The top...with glasses, the reflection...without glasses.  Now at least I have a definite way to describe to some unknowing person just how bad the eyesight is becoming!  Yep, I guess it is time for another visit to the eye doctor for another vision test.

I can see clearly now....nope, not really!

 As I age, I have found that the eyesight is something that starts to fade without warning.  I do rather fine seeing things in a distance but the vision nearby is slowing becoming quite blurry. The reading glasses that I use increasingly more each day are just not enough.  My artwork will come to a screeching halt if something is not remedied quickly. Like I said, I can see pretty good if something is at a distance. Sometimes, I need a bit of help if what I see is, say, across the Bayou or on the other side of the Bay but overall, that has not presented a problem.  It is that stuff within arm's reach that gives me trouble!

  While out roaming about behind the canebrake, I spied something white across the Bayou.  At first glance, I thought perhaps an egret was roosting in one of the old Black Gum trees but then I realized that it would be one rather squatty egret!  The thing was short and wide!  I pushed back a few limbs to get a better view and then I had to start laughing at my huge mistake.  That was no egret!  Why, that was not even a bird at all!  Once all of the obstructions were pushed aside, I could clearly see that my "bird" was none other than a large shelf mushroom.  It was protruding from the tree at about twenty-five feet in the air.  The tree had been damaged years ago by a hurricane and now the fungus was hastening its demise.  It will not be long before the tree will crash down into the Bayou and become just another thing of the past.  Most of the trees in the back of the Bayou have been damaged and will soon be falling.  New ones are already springing up to take the old ones' places but it does make me sad.  I like my trees.  Every one of them is a part of the Bayou life and will be missed.  This one is so far on the other side of the marsh that it will lay where it falls.  If it was closer, we would use it for firewood come this winter.  As it is, there will be no retrieving it.

  My thinking the fungus was an egret makes me realize that something must be done about the eyesight.  Although I could see the fungus all away across the Bayou, it made me wonder just what I was missing up close.  Would I even see a moccasin underfoot while I was staring at the beautiful sight across the marsh?   I can see (pun intended) a visit to the eye doctor in my very near future!

Those Great Big, Beautiful Eyes...

I mentioned before how I was beginning to worry a tad about Ms. Ez.  She just has not been her usual old self.  As with most dogs, she loves to chase squirrels. Ms. Ez is a bird dog and being thus, she loves her birds.  I know this is not normal but, hey, whatever makes the old dog happy.  She has always chased the squirrels from the bird feeders so "her" birds had plenty to eat.  Lately, however, she has not been doing so well with her job.  She has grand intentions but once she bolts out the door towards the feeders, she loses sight of the squirrel.  Ez will then stand around looking confused as the squirrel scampers off to a nearby tree.  At first, I assumed that the summer heat was taking its toll on the old dog but now I am not so sure.  The other day, a fat raccoon was in the feeder.  I opened the door and let Ms. Ez have her fun.  She raced down the hillside to not ten feet from the feeder.  She stopped and stared at a tree.  The coon was still in the feeder and took its dear sweet time ambling down to the marsh.  Ok..that was a bit much!  Ez was becoming lazy!  Both the raccoon and the squirrels now realize that the dog is not that big of threat.  They go about their business of robbing the feeders and Ez does a grand job watching the oak tree.

The saddest discovery came yesterday morning when I was heading to the pier.  Ms. Ez raced down the hill to her assigned place to do her potty duty.  While she was gone, I hung the feeders on the branches of the Dead Tree Forest.  Once I finished, I slowly meandered down the board path to the pier.  After Ms. Ez finished her business, she raced back to the spot where she last saw me standing.  She became confused as I was not there.  Wild eyed, she looked around the hillside. It was then that I noticed the troubling fact that my dog could not see me.  Her vision must be waning fast.  Poor old Ez!  My heart sank a bit. Five minutes passed without her noticing me just thirty-five feet from her. She was about to panic!  I softly asked her if she was going with me.  Her head cocked as she listened to my voice.   Once she realized where I was, her whole demeanor changed.  Now she was happy! She barreled down the hillside to be with me.  We walked silently down to the pier.  Her happy to have found me..me in deep thought.

A bit later, we wound up at my favorite chair.  Again, I watched the old dog.  She knew squirrels were around somewhere..she could smell them!  Her head would tilt from one side to the other as she listened for the critters.  She tried hard to focus on the animals.  My old dog's eyesight was failing and there was not much I could do about it.  Now comes the hard part..how do I help her?  She is in great health otherwise but this bit of not being able to see too well, could present a problem.  Living on a Bayou, she is exposed to all sorts of dangers.  How do I protect her from the snakes, gators and coyotes?  She is so used to running free that it will definitely be a challenge.  Poor old dog..my heart aches.