Another Tempest

  With the way things look at the moment, the Gulf of Mexico has received another slap in the face.  Just nine years ago, we had to endure the oil spill that, not only killed off so many marine creatures, it also killed off so many lifelines of the Coastal families.  We are a seafood based industry down here.  Fishing is a way life.  The shrimpers, oystermen, fishermen, crabbers, seafood factories, charterboat captains...you name it...were all out of jobs.  Their boats and gear lay idle while the oil killed most everything within its reach.  Many lost their boats.  Others lost their homes.  All lost their way of life.  It was a hard time for the Coast.  It was years before things began to return to any semblance of normality.  Finally, the seafood returned and was deemed fit to eat.   It took years after that for the industry to return to its profitable self but many folks had already moved on to be able to support their families.

  Now, the Gulf of Mexico faces another tempest.  While all Coastians are ready and eager to help those in the flooded zones of the country, opening the spillways has, once again, created a mess for the fishermen. The marine creatures are dying at a great rate.  Countless dead dolphins, sea turtles and fish are washing ashore.  Entire oyster reefs have died.  Crabs have literally suffocated.  Shorebirds are not to be found. Schools of fish and shrimp have moved further out in an attempt to escape the water pouring into the Gulf. Many folks do not seem to see the harm in what has been done.  "It is just fresh river water so it cannot be doing any harm." is said over and over again.  Sorry, that fresh river water wreaks havoc on saltwater marine life.  They do not have time to acclimate before it kills them.  That "fresh" river water is also polluted from runoff.  Whatever has been flooded up north of us has now spilled into the Gulf.  Fertilizer, sewage, any number of chemicals and...yes...oil is making a mess down here.  

  Don't get me wrong.  We are not blaming anyone.  We are not pointing fingers.  We are not begrudging those who are trying to save their places and livelihoods that are flooded.  We understand THAT whole scenario as we are subjected to hurricanes that flood our area and we are sympathetic to those that are suffering.  We understand that something had to be done to provide some relief.  However, there has to be another answer.  Opening the spillways has done nothing but spread the devastation to another area.  

  All of that said, the fishermen down here are working frenetically to catch what they can before the waters get any worse.  The boats are going out further to make catches of "clean" shrimp and fish.  (The crabbers and oystermen do not have that option.)  This plan is working as far as catches but puts a new strain on the fishermen.  Fuel prices, boat upkeep and extra time spent are making it a struggle to "stay afloat".  The fact stands that the wages they earn has not kept up with the current state of affairs.   Many cannot afford to keep running as their expense outweigh their profits.  It is a sad situation.  

  Mark and I were able to get shrimp today from one of our longtime suppliers.  This shrimper had to go outside of the "dirty" zone to get a good catch.  The shrimp are beautiful and we are thankful he made the decision to keep trying.  It is our plan to buy as many pounds of shrimp as we can to help those struggling.  We have been there and done that ourselves.  It is also our plan to stock up on the seafood so that, if worse comes to worse, we will have a good supply on hand to ride us over until the Gulf cleanses itself.  Our freezers will be filled to capacity within the next few weeks.  To those in the flooded zones and to those struggling with the situation in the Gulf, we hope and pray that this is soon over for all of us.  To those with the ability to help any in need, please do.  There are so many out there that have been affected that need help.  We are all in this together.

 

Floods, 'shrooms and old dogs

  Mississippi is flooding!  Most of the middle and southern part of the state seems to have acquired enough rain to fill our rivers and creeks to over flood stage. They are spilling out of their banks and turning the once dry land into one big lake.  Houses are under, camp grounds are under, railroad tracks are undermined causing derailments and major highways seemingly just plain do not exist anymore.  While all of this is happening around us, being on the Bayou has actually helped us.  The copious amounts of rainfall did not harm our hillside in any way, shape or form.  The water simply ran down the hill and into the Bayou and Bay.  We may be the target of tidal surges with hurricanes but rainfall fueled flooding is not a worry.  My heart breaks for those targeted by the storms, however, and will step up to help in any way.

  All of this rain has made me a bit more cautious as I am out and about with the old dog.   As with any dog, Mr. PJ has a tendency to sniff and taste just about anything in his path and that includes mushrooms.  The rains caused mushrooms to pop out overnight so this morning, I had to be vigilant in my watch over him.  He definitely does not need to take a nip of a poisonous 'shroom!  

  These mushrooms almost seemed to "glow" in the darkness of the early morn.  The heavily overcast skies kept it dark until mid morning.  This was especially noticeable at daybreak when I ushered the old dog out the door for his morning business.  As I wandered around behind the dog on mushroom watch, I noticed bright white blobs in the distance.  Yep, it was time to steer Mr. PJ in the opposite direction!  I am not up on my fungi so deciphering which are toxic and which are safe is not a strong point and not something I trust myself in doing.  Avoiding a potential harmful situation is the best way I know how to handle it.  I do have to admit that the mushrooms were quite pretty, however, in their own 'shroomy way.

And we have a BABY!

  The Bayou is still being hammered by the outer bands of Tropical Storm Cindy.  While she is not a terrible storm, as far as storms go, she is doing a grand job of messing up the area.  All eyes are focused on where this storm is making landfall and not where the damage is actually being done.  Here flooding is a major issue.  My rain gauge overflowed sometime last night at seven inches.  This afternoon, it showed another four.  It is still raining. Thunderstorms are rolling in from the Gulf and bringing waterspouts with them.  I spotted two in the Bay directly out from the pier.  Many more and much larger ones were filmed moving along in the Gulf.  Tornado sirens have been belting out their frantic tones since late last night.  Today, I counted eight different times that the warnings sounded.  Much more of the same type weather is expected overnight and into tomorrow.

  Earlier today, I headed down to the pier to pull the old skiff a bit closer to shore.  I did make my way down the pier part way but decided that going to the end was not the brightest idea.  About a foot or more water was over top and quite a number of the pier planks were missing.  One misstep and I would have wound up in the churning waters.  I played it safe and headed back to shore.  Once there, I checked on Mama Skink and her brood of eggs.  Surprise!  One feisty little baby was bursting out of its eggshell!  What perfect timing!  Mama Skink did not seem to mind me taking a few photographs of her little one before I eased the old plank back down upon the little family in the making.  I eyed the ever nearing flood waters.  Mama Skink was brave.  Her family came first and she was not going to give them up easily.  I said a little prayer that the waters would recede and she would be safe.

  Back in the Little Bayou House, I checked the tide charts and found that high tide was within the hour so perhaps Mama Skink had gained another day.  At least one little one had hatched and may be able to make a dash to the palmetto clump just beyond the nest if necessary. Tomorrow morning, the tide may be higher and that escape may be pertinent.  Just in case, though, I gathered a basket and brought the shovel around near the door.  If the surge hits the nest, I would at least make an attempt at a rescue.  I had come this far with the little family and would do whatever was in my power to help them during their time of need.  The remaining eggs, one little tyke and Mama would take a ride in the basket to the greenhouse.  It may not be the perfect solution but, at least, it is a solution.  I hope.

  In the meantime, to all those in the path of the storm, hunker down, stay dry and safe and be thankful that this one is coming in as a tropical storm and not a hurricane!  Happy times on the Bayou!.........And, yes, I have been writing a lot about Mama Skink.  It helps to think about something other than storms.  Besides, sometimes I think critter friends are the best type to have.

And It Rained....Elsewhere

  Although this has been perhaps the rainiest summer that we have had on the Bayou in quite some time, things dry out here quickly.  Living on such a high hill overlooking the creek, Bayou and Bay, rainwater simply washes down the hillside and leaves things high and dry in the garden.   That dryness and the high heat (triple digits once again today) make it hard on the plants.  My poor tomato plants are struggling to live long enough to bring the last few tomatoes to maturity.  I may have to pick them green if things do not change.  My daily watering does little to combat the scorching heat.  Poor little garden does not look too well.

  Early this morning, thunder started rumbling to the south of us.  I was itching for that rain to come our way.  Nope.  It stayed across the Bay this time and did not even make the effort to give us a sprinkling.  Then, late this afternoon, there was grumbling to the north.  I peered through the woods to see dark clouds forming!  Yep, this looked more promising! The thunder kept getting closer and closer.  Soon, we were having a good old thunderstorm complete with wind and lightning...but no rain.  We stayed dry...too dry.  I should not complain, though, as things could be far worse.

  Now, hours later, I can hear the thunder rolling out over the Gulf to our south.  Once again, it appears that the storm will miss us completely.  It seems as if we are in that small strip of land that storms are avoiding at the moment.  I am sure that, eventually, it will change course and we will be on the receiving end of the torrential downpours that are wreaking havoc on the surrounding areas.  I am sure, also, that thousands of folks who are dealing with floods will be happy to see the rains shift our way. Our good neighbors in Louisiana have had a hard go of it.  Please keep these fine folks in your prayers and, if possible, lend them a helping hand.  Rain or shine, we are all in this together, folks.

Enough Already!

  I say "Enough already with this nonstop raining!"  If, indeed, it does not cease soon, I do believe that I shall have to put pontoons under the Little Bayou House!  It would be so grand if we could redirect some of this moisture to areas that are in dire need of a bit of water but, since we cannot, it seems as if we shall have to deal the best we can.  Today, once again, it rained..not a shower but a deluge, gully washer, downpour or whatever you wish to call it.  In just over an hour, we received a little over two inches.  While this does not seem to be a lot, add another two for today and then over five from yesterday. In the past four days, the rains have been virtually nonstop.  We have taken to doing outdoor chores "when it is just a drizzle".   Enough already!

  Mark and I did manage to head to the pier late this evening for a final check on his skiff.  The pump was working fine so there was little to do but it just felt good to get out of the house.  I am going a bit stir crazy! While there, we pulled up the crab traps and noticed that the otters have feasted on our bait.  The thought of fishing for more was squelched by one look at the water, though.  The runoff caused by flooding north of us muddied the Bay beyond belief!  Red clay washed from construction sites ran to the flooded creek into the Bayou and finally out into the Bay itself.  What a mess!  I am not used to seeing reddish colored water around the pier.  I am quite sure that the salinity of the water is nil and all saltwater fish have made a hasty retreat out into the Gulf.  Mark made the comment that come next week we will have to start fishing for freshwater catfish and bass.  Green trout will be replacing our redfish and speckled trout!  I am good with that as all are tasty.

  The muddying of the waters, though, is not without a price.  The crabs will move out as well and may not return to the Bayous for quite some time.  I was hoping for a good season this year as I need to replenish the freezers.  Well, one just has to take whatever comes and deal with it. Things could be far worse as a lot of roads are covered with water and even some folks' home are in danger of being flooded. The Little Bayou House sits high and dry and we have plenty to eat so all is well.  I will count my blessings and be happy!