The day started off on a perfectly decent note. The predicted rains had not started yet and a visit with Darling Daughter was the happiest way to begin the day. Occasionally, she comes before work to share a cup of coffee with her mom! My day is always better when she is around regardless of the weather. Along about 10am, she headed to work and shortly after, the skies darkened. Twenty minutes later, it poured...and poured. Torrential rains hit the Bayou for nigh on two hours.
During a short break between that and the next rainstorm, Son and I rushed to the pier to tend to the small skiff. There had been so much rain that the boat was nearly full of water. The pump was stuck and no water had been emptied. He repaired the pump then started bailing. I stood and watched helplessly since two of us in the tiny boat would have been too difficult. I kept watch on the Bay and incoming storm. The thunder was drawing nearer and I could see a wall of rain inching closer and closer across the water. "Hurry! We have got to get back to the house!" was met with "I have to finish." So, I waited in the drizzling rain with him. Finally, he jumped from the skiff and said, "I am just going to pull the boat ashore then pull the plug." That sounded like a grand idea so the two of us hauled the boat up the bank. It was heavy and hard work but we finally situated it in a safe place, tied it to a tree and he pulled the plug. "Let's go!" I said!
We made it to the door when another storm let loose. The winds were terrific with this one. Limbs were being ripped from the trees and tossed about the yard. Suddenly, there was a loud clattering on the rooftop. "Uh, oh! Hail!" Some of the largest hail that I have ever seen pelted the house. Son spoke..."I am glad we made it inside. That may have hurt a bit." Yep. It may have.
All said and done, we received over four inches of rain in less than three hours and there is more on the way. We will stay snug and safe in the Little Bayou House and not worry about what is happening outside. The boat is secure, the cat is inside and all is well. Stay safe, folks, stay safe.
The storms just keep rolling in on the Bayou and the one today was a doozy! Not only did we have our usual inch or so of rain, spectacular lightning show and high winds, this storm decided to change things up a bit and pound us with hail. The hail, sometimes up to golf ball size, pelted the Little Bayou House for nigh on an hour before moving on to drive some other poor folks mad. The pounding on the rooftop was deafening at times but all's well that ends well and we suffered no lasting damage.
The morning before the storm was quite perfect, though. While heading down the pier, a large splashing on the shoreline made me think that the otters were at play. I readied the camera only to find an alligator instead of my frolicking otters. This gator was a small one of about four feet in length and was happy to be floating about in the water. It watched us warily but made no effort to vacate the vicinity. I watched a while before turning in the other direction. Ha! Another gator was eyeing us from the south! This was a much larger critter than the first. It, too, showed no fear but watched our every move. I do believe both were waiting for us to fill the crab traps with bait so they could have breakfast. Too bad, Gators! You tore the wire on the traps so no bait will be needed! You, my fine friends, will have to work for your meal today!
Now it is nightfall and, once again, thunder rumbles as another storm is approaching. These are all bringing moisture up from the Gulf and inundating us with rainfall. Thankfully, the hill dries quickly and there is no standing water. I do not mind these storms and I am pretty positive that the gators do not either. (Although, they may not have appreciated the hailstones!)
