Take A Few Minutes To Be Kind

   With the summer's heat kicking it in high gear, most outdoor chores are attempted at daylight.  This morning saw me doing some trimming around the little Frog Pond and down around the blackberry vines.  It took nigh on three hours of cutting to finish the task that I had in mind to do but I was determined to keep at it.  While trimming near the little pond, I had to push deep into the ruby lilies.  Once there, I had to linger just a bit to converse with a sweet friend.  On one of the large lily leaves sat the cutest frog ever found!  Even though I was pushing that weedwhacker right up under the critter, it never moved.  It was a good ten minutes beforeI realized the poor thing was there. Once I did, I slowly moved back a bit as to not frighten it any more than I already had.  I felt bad as this must have been a pretty terrifying thing for the froggy!

  Turning off the machine and setting it aside, I decided to "apologize" for the disturbance.  Actually, that apology was more like a photo session but I did calmly talk to the frog.  Hopefully, it understood that I was after the weeds and not it!  Sometimes we all need to be reminded to check our surroundings before just plowing in.  I have a tendency to not do this.  In reality, however, it could save a life...a critter's...or even your own.  Had there been a cottonmouth hiding there instead of a frog, this might have been a different story altogether.  Folks, be careful and simply be aware of your surroundings.  That is always a good thing.  Happily, Froggy was none the worse for wear after this incident!

Strange Things Are Happening

   Today has been blustery to say the least.  The high winds kicked the waters up a bit putting the pier almost underwater.  The marshes are flooded!  This causes me sadness because there are several species of birds that nest in the marshes and their nests are now completely submerged.  The same goes for the rabbits, lizards, mice and any other critters that normally nest even in the dry edges of the marsh line.  Some of these may have been alright had the tide rose then receded quickly but it has been unusually high all day.  Weather is crazy sometimes.

  Earlier while on the pier checking the mooring of the skiff, something odd was found.  A green tree frog was perched upon one of the stringer boards off the edge of the pier.  Little Froggy looked lost and I so wanted to reach down to rescue it.  Son had more logical ideas and convinced me that Froggy was perfectly fine where it was.  We checked the boat and on our way back up to the Little Bayou House, I once again commented that I needed to help Froggy.  At that very moment, Froggy did a flying leap into the water and swam to the marsh!  Oops!  Froggy must have overheard the conversation and was having no part of my "help".

  The frog population in the Bayou and marshes seems to have exploded.  Normally, the frogs were more apt to be found in the fresh water creeks and ponds but lately thousands have spread into the brackish waters.  This is not only tree frogs but bullfrogs, leopard frogs, green frogs, bronze frogs, Cajun frogs and just about any sort of frog or toad you wish to find can be heard at night.  Their songs are deafening now that there are so many.  This population explosion is strange, to say the least.

The Standoff!

  The yard work continues!  Since Son is putting a loft in the shed and is busy from sunup to sundown, I have had to do my own construction for the gardens.  Yep, this old lady put in the fence!  I am happy with the results but have made a huge discovery.  Old ladies and post hole diggers are not compatible.   Never in my life have my arms felt so much like dead weight as they do this evening!  But...like I said, the fence is installed and I am happy with it (and all its imperfections).  

  I did have one encounter while clearing the area for the new garden fence.  A folded tarp had been set aside about a week ago and needed to be moved yet again.  No problem.  I would just grab the thing and move it myself.  As Pop used to say, "A little work never hurt anyone."  So, I grabbed but then felt something wiggling.  I dropped the tarp and pondered if I had inadvertently grabbed up a snake in the process.  The tarp was slowly unfolded to reveal my critter.  A frog stared at me with huge eyes.  Froggy was nervous about the giant (me) but was also refusing to budge.  I suppose the tarp had served as a warm spot for a few days and Froggy was not happy being disturbed. 

  Since a frog is not on my list of "no likes", I told it that the Frog Pond would be a much better place for it.  Obviously, Froggy agreed as it allowed me to catch it, tote it around back and rehome it with any further ado.  I am not sure why Froggy had decided the garden spot was a good home but do hope it will pay a visit now and again to eat the bugs that munch the plants.