Pelican Showers and Good Deeds

    Each morning just about daybreak, Mark and I have a habit of heading to the pier.  Most of the time, we fish but occasionally we just sit and watch the sunrise.  It is a great way to start the day.  A bit of meditation before plunging headlong into the day is good for body and soul.  Our routine has been such for so long that I doubt we change.  I am glad. 

  While on the pier, we have a front row seat for the antics of wildlife in the Bayou.  This morning, it was the brown pelicans that held court and put on the show.  We watched as they dove after mullet and menhaden.  The large birds would fly just over the water's surface then rise high only to plunge head first into a school of fish.  They were getting their fair share!  Their show also included squabbles over the most coveted pier posts.  One would land on a post only to have another come plowing in on top.  Both birds would then be toppled into flight again.  

  One thing that amused us is what we were calling pelican showers.  Occasionally, one pelican would dive into a school of fish then instead of scooping up breakfast, the bird would start splashing in the water with its wings.  Water droplets would fly everywhere!  This is a method of fishing but, instead of a solitary fishing technique, the splashing was for the benefit of all the other pelicans.  The constant splashing of the bird's large wings would totally confuse the small fish.  The fish would swim willy-nilly in a wild state of confusion.  Then all of the pelicans could feast.  Brown pelicans work for the good of the community.  It is the neighborly thing to do.

  On that note, today was a day of neighborly deeds.  The pelicans were not the only ones helping their clan!  Mark and Son spent the morning working on my cousin's hurricane ravaged pier.  Her pier seemed to have caught the brunt of the recent storm.  While they were gone, one of Son's longtime friends came to visit.  He pitched right in with helping me in the garden.  We took down the east gate that was broken by the storm and then cleared some more debris.  Once my menfolk returned home, I baked cookies for them while Mark headed to an elderly couple's home.  The older gentleman had broken his hip and was in the hospital.  The sweet lady called Mark to go discard dozens of persimmons that she had picked and would not be able to use.  Mark returned with a nice bucket of the golden fruit so another good deed was in the works.  Mark headed to the hospital to visit the couple and I made beautiful jars of persimmon jam for the sweet couple.  Now, when they get back home, the chore will already have been done and they can sit back to enjoy some jam and biscuits!  Its the neighborly thing to do.  

  I mention all of this merely because this is the way folks should be.  If everyone lent a helping hand regardless of the situation, the world would be a better place.  A simple small act can go a long way.  The pelican seemingly just playing in the water started an entire string of good deeds today.  Once the day was ending, we all felt good about ourselves and others reaped the benefits of a helping hand.  Not that any of them were looking for handouts but that help was not only offered but the deed was completed. Just one good deed a day...one kind act....one bit of help given lovingly can mean the world of difference.  So many folks are eager to "preach" but slow to act.  I have one sister-in-law who nails it down perfectly.  "If you cannot help with your hands, do not "help" with your mouth."  Makes sense to me.  Instead of giving unsolicited advice, it is far better to do something...just one small act.  Its the neighborly thing to do.

The Yellow Watering Can

  I fully believe that God gives us days just to think.  I find my "thinking" days are those where I work alone on some project.  Both of the menfolk of the Little Bayou House had a full day of reconstructing a side of the house that had been ripped off in search of termites.  (Trust me, Folks, if you think you have termites......you do.  Do something immediately!  Do not stick your head in the sand and deny the critters are eating you out of house and home.  They are.  Take action!)  Anyway, while the guys were hard at work rebuilding the house, I decided to do my best to stay out of their way.  This made them happy and gave me an entire day to garden and, thus, think.

  One of my gardening chores was to sow a bunch of the herb seeds. More Basil, Oregano, Fennel and Chive seeds were bedded.  After getting them all in their nice little pots, I reached for the watering can to give them a sprinkling.  As soon as my hand grasped the yellow can, a smile spread across my face.  Ahh, Sweet Daughter-in-law, Joanna, gave me the watering can several years ago. Granted, it is just a run of the mill can but it is mighty special to me.  It reminds me of her kindness as much as anything can.  You see, Joanna takes time to search for gifts that will be used by the recipient.  She cared enough to find out that I love gardening and would much rather be outside piddling in the plants, digging in the dirt or sowing the seeds than anywhere else on earth. With every sprinkle, that can literally sings of the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law!  Our love flourishes like a well-tended garden!

  The yellow watering can hangs on a hook on the garden fence.  There, it makes me think of Joanna every time I wander through.  Wouldn't it be grand if we could all find memories in most unusual and surprising places?  It does not take a lot to bring a smile if we only allow ourselves to be pleased in the moment.  Small pleasures are sometimes so much more delightful than the well-plotted event.  That said, it occurred to me that perhaps we should try each day to create a small pleasure for someone.  A handful of hastily picked posies for an elderly neighbor, a pan of fresh-baked cookies for the kid down the road or just a hand-written note to some friend faraway.  Take time to spread a smile.  And that, my friends, reminds me of another gift from Sweet Joanna.  She once gave me a lovely, little picture with the quote "Happiness is like jam. You cannot spread it around without getting some on yourself." That makes a lot of sense.  And there you go...make jam for the neighbors that are down on their luck.  You will not only give them a lift but you will spread a little of that good feeling on yourself.  The memories of these good deeds are like that yellow watering can.  They are bright, useful and just downright cheery.  Smile, be happy, share that happiness and get a bit of jam on yourself!  It will feel great!

Be a lantern.

Well, it is that time of year again.  That one day a year where we make all sorts of resolutions to better ourselves in the coming three hundred and sixty-five days.  At least most of us attempt it for about three days before falling back into our safe, "feel-good" zone where we have resided for our entire lives.  Not many folks can set goals for the new year and actually stick with them.  I have been pondering just what my resolutions for this upcoming year should be.  It occurred to me that perhaps there is just one resolution that any of us need to make.  A single promise from each of us would solve multitudes of problems in this old world.  Each of us should vow to become a lantern.

It would be fantastic if each of us would vow to become a lantern, a light unto the world.  Each of us could strive to bring light, bring hope to those who need it most.  No matter how small or simple of a deed it is, if it brings a smile to someone, it is well worth the effort.  Even just a kind word or a warm smile can make a positive difference in someone's life.  A friendly handshake, a hug, a few kind words might just be all it takes to turn someone in a different direction. For those who can afford it, financial help for those who are down on their luck might just be the turning point.  A visit to an elderly neighbor who spends days at a time by themselves, a heartfelt thank you said to a veteran, a donation made to your favorite charity or merely a random kind note on a social network might be all it takes.  None of these would be that difficult to achieve and the rewards would be phenomenal!

Sometimes a bit of hope is all it takes. Hope can open paths where darkness once blocked the way.  Hope can give strength where weakness once reigned.  Hope, in itself, can mend all that was broken beyond repair.  Being a beacon of light in times of darkness not only helps those who seek help but also helps the person providing the glimmer of hope. To become that light in bleak hours not only benefits those in despair but also the light itself.  Given fuel, a lantern burns brighter thus may illuminate further into the darkness.  That fuel, in this case, is the good feeling that one gets from helping in whatever way possible.

Be a beacon, lend a hand, give a kind word or share your wealth.  Do whatever it takes to ease just one person's life and with that, the world will seem a bit brighter.  All it takes is one person..all it takes is you..me..each of us.  It cannot be that difficult.  One resolution...do one kind act a day for three hundred and sixty-five consecutive days.  Be a lantern.  I hope to be.

May each of you find opportunity knocking at your door, happiness at your doorstep and a warm heart and true love on your hearth. May God bless each of you.  Have a most prosperous and healthy coming year.  Happy New Year's Day from all of us at Little Bayou House!

Good deeds...warts and all....

Sometimes Ms. Ez worries me.  Lately, she has not been acting like her old self.  Usually, she is spot on when it comes to chasing critters about the hillside. I never had to worry about squirrels in the bird feeders or rabbits in the gardens.  Coons never stood a chance!  No matter where she saw one, she would race to chase them far into the marsh.  Now..either she has decided it is far too hot to do all that running or her senses are starting to wane.  I am a tad bit worried that her eyesight might be failing.  Each day sees her chasing a nonexistent critter up the same tree while the real deal simply ambles off to enjoy afternoon free from torment.  The dog also has problems with stepping on birds and small reptiles that might happen to be caught in the path to that old tree.  More than once a dove, turtle or frog has been literally flattened by the heavy feet of the seventy-plus pound dog that barrels out the front door.  Thank goodness for all of the rains this summer as the ground is soft.  When she smashes a critter, they usually survive!

One toad almost did not make it, though.  As Ms. Ez stormed out of the door, down the steps and out the gate to chase that nowhere-to-be-seen squirrel, she stepped right on top of the poor critter!  I rushed over to see if perhaps the poor thing needed some assistance but was fully relieved that no resuscitation was necessary!  (Thank goodness for (huge) blessings!  I do not think I could have even attempted resuscitating a toad!  Still, it is one of God's creatures and perhaps I could have just pressed its tummy or something!)  As I stared at the toad, I realized that it had received the full impact of the humongous dog paw while sitting on an old beam that forms the steps to the board path.  There was no soft, squishy dirt beneath the toad.  Poor little fellow!  He was still somewhat flat!  Squished!  And, not to mention, dazed!  I poked the toad and it gave me the most pathetic look.  "Are you going to smash me, too?" was what I imagined the toad would have said had it been able to speak to me.  Nope, Little Toad, I am not nearly as clumsy as Ms. Ez!  That was when I noticed that the lumbering dog was on her way back up the hill!  Oh, no!  That poor toad was going to be right in line for a second smashing if I did not do something quick!  Telling Ezzy to stop mid-run is like trying to stop a freight train heading down the tracks!  It ain't happenin'!  Not knowing what else to do, I reached down and scooped up the toad!  This frightened the poor critter as much as Ms. Ez's gigantic paw!  The toad, being totally incapacitated with pain and fear, did what came natural...it peed on me!  Ugh!  Little Toad, I was trying to help you!!!!  Well, so much for being kind!  So much for doing good deeds!  So much for saving nature!  No..I did not toss the toad away like some icky monster.  I merely (gently, I might add) placed it among the day lilies and wished it well.  Ugh...toad pee stinks!  Eww!  At least, contrary to all of the Old Wive's Tales, I should not be getting any warts from this toad....I hope!