Seeking Serenity

   Sometimes, you just have to slow down and take things as they come.  You can literally work yourself into a frenzy attempting to accomplish all that the brain tells you to do.  When that happens, it is time to step back, think if all of the hustle and bustle is worth the end result and then make a decision that deems itself worthy.  Mine, today, was to sit back and enjoy the jasmine and roses which are in full bloom just outside the front door.  I dragged the wicker chair from another part of the yard, poured myself a second mug of coffee and breathed deeply.  The coolness of the morning, the scent of jasmine and roses and total relaxation was good for the soul...not to mention the mind.

  Lately, I have been feeling that I have been slacking.  It seems that I am far behind where I should be by this season.  Perhaps that comes with not seeing a garden flourishing but it was my decision to not overplant the spot.  Five tomato plants and five pepper plants are all that were planted this season other than herbs.  It was my plan to dote on those herbs and replenish my waning stockpile.  Sure, I could just head to the store and buy the outrageously expensive stuff but, with all the recalls, as of late, I am hesitant to do that.  So, herbs it is!  Those shall be dried and stored for future use.  

  In the meantime, however, I shall continue to putter around in the garden spots if for no other reason than to enjoy the blooms and glorious aromas.  Gardens...they are good for you...sometimes simply by being. Bask in the serenity that only nature can bring.

Taking The Time

  I have not posted in a few days so please forgive me if you were a daily reader.  Things sort of got in the way.  Hopefully, there will be no lingering effects and I can be back for good.  There was also a lack of photographs during this lapse so we shall start anew on that, as well.  My hikes around the hillside and to the pier have been nixed and I am now confined to the small garden area unless I am "escorted" by Mark or Son.  This does put a damper on things as "sneaking" up on the critters to get the "perfect shot" is no longer an option.  My photography has now turned to basically "still lifes".   The flowers of the garden will have to suffice.

  This morning as I was sitting on my new "throne", also known as the front steps, the poor little potted Althea bush almost cried out to me to help it escape the strangling arms of the Jasmine vines.  In the few days that I have been absent from the garden, the Jasmine has decided to branch out in wild abandon.  That abandonment included the poor Althea.  The small shrub was loaded with fine, purple blooms but had the choking vines wrapped about it in a tangled mess.  

  I promised the little shrub that I would try to convince Son to either move it or at least give the Jasmine a good trimming....probably both.  There is so much that needs to be done but no energy to do much.  Time...yep, time...things take time.

Validation!

  Recently, I had someone tell me that I should start clearing out things to make life easier.  I admit that I am getting older and it is taking longer to accomplish anything so I had to mull over the idea.  "Declutter the house, purge unneeded items and clear the yard of plants." I was told.  The person then proceeded to tell me that I was too old to be dealing with "things"and gardens and such. It was her idea that I would be much happier (in an empty house and barren wasteland of a yard.)  "You will have so much free time!" Hogwash!  Well, it is not my nature to live in a barren place and, personally, what would I do with free time if there is nothing to fill it?  Later, I questioned Son about the whole craze of "purging" and why people tend to think I need to be doing it.  He answered by posing yet another question..."Are the folks trying to get you to convert to their ways or are they simply needing validation for theirs?"  Uh, oh....I had to ponder that long and hard.

  Years ago, Granddad told me that "If you ever run out of things to do, you might as well not be living."  I pondered that point as well.  I was trimming out the jasmine vines (and one knows that wielding snips does not take a lot of thought) when the mind wandered to Granddad's point.  That soon overlapped to the conversation with my well-meaning visitor who is after me to clear out everything. "If you purge everything, life will be so easy because you will have nothing to do!" I was told as if that was a good thing. It came to me that if life ever got too easy and I had nothing to do, why even get out of bed in the morning?  Oh, that would never work!  I would be slap miserable! This morning, I awoke with the urgent need to trim the jasmine vines before the rains set in for the next few days.  I HAD something to do!  Each and every morning is much the same.  There is always some chore, some creative endeavor, some duty to be fulfilled...there is always something to get me up each day even if it is to dust all of my so-called collectibles!  I want things to do.  I do not want to stagnate.  I do not want to live in a void.  I do not want an empty life. I want to have things to look forward to each and every day.  I want to live a life of fullness whether that be of people, critters, hobbies and, yes, things.  Keep in mind, I do not begrudge others of their mindset.  Some of the ideas are helpful. That is their business...and, perhaps, I am just "validating" mine.  I did, however, purge the jasmine vines of all of their excess growth! 

The Jasmine Wall Diner

  The jasmine vine is in full bloom and the yard smells divine!  With this aroma wafting on the cooling bay breeze, every critter for miles (it seems) has decided to come taste the nectar.  There is nothing more inviting to nectar drinking insects than to have an entire wall of flowers from which to choose.  Bumblebees, honeybees, milkweed bugs, moths, butterflies and ants are all visiting.  They are feasting alongside the hummingbirds so the entire fence line is a busy place.

  I headed out to trim back the wisteria that has decided to join the roses and jasmine on the fence.  This is a volunteer plant but mingles well as long as I can keep the wild vines from choking everything else.  My trimming came to a quick halt when I realized that, besides the insects and hummers, another bunch of critters were in the jasmine.  The tiny green tree frogs were hiding among the leaves.  I would have hated to accidentally snipped a froggy! These little frogs are smart.  They know that the blooms will attract millions of insects so they sit and wait for the opportune moment to catch a meal.  It seems that the jasmine wall is a feeding place for many.

  Watching the frog for a moment, I noticed that a weird black and orange beetle was also on the vines.  It took me a moment to realize that this beauty was a milkweed bug.  While these critters do not really hurt the plants, they do reproduce rapidly and can make the garden look quite infested.  Well, this one probably won't.  That sweet froggy was watching the bug's every move.  Buggy may have become Froggy's lunch!

A Near Miss....or A Diverted Critter Attack!

  Yesterday, I wrote about being attacked by the horde of mosquitoes that had sought refuge from the flooded marshes.  I was thankful that I only received a dozen or so bites after I intruded in their midst.  It was nigh on the same thing earlier in the day...only it could have been much worse.  Sometimes, there is just no explanation of a near miss but it sure makes you appreciate that thing called luck when it happens.

  In preparation for a storm that was supposed to hit the Bayou but then changed its mind, I decided to cut back the overgrowth of jasmine and rose canes.  The all summer long rains had sent the things into a humongous growth spurt and had them covering everything in sight including several potted cedar trees.  Well, it was time to do some severe trimming.  I have found it far easier to do clean up after a storm if you start it long before it ever hits.  Garden snips in hand, I started lopping vines.  While yanking on vines, several red paper wasps were noticed flying about my head.  The critters were shooed away and the lopping continued.  Once the potted cedar trees were untangled from the vines, the pots were pulled out from the spot so I could get "down and dirty" with the remaining vines.  Darn!  Those pesky wasps were back again!  Once again, they were shooed on their merry way.  There was no time to play with them as hurricane preps are far more important.

  Then fast forward to today.  Mark had just arrived home and we headed to the pier. Noticing that the wind had knocked over one of the cedar trees, I stopped and righted it.  Uh, oh!  There were those buzzing critters again.  Then I spied the problem.  I literally had moved their home!  In one of the potted cedar trees was a huge nest!  The thing was a good six or seven inches across and covered with wasps!  Wow!  How had I not gotten stung?  Yesterday when I was yanking on that tree and cutting those vines, the dozens of wasps calmly tried to warn me instead of attacking.  

  Well, to make a long story short, I was not as nice as the wasps.  They tried to warn me which I fully appreciate but the nest had to go.  Too many people walk through that part of the garden as it leads to the front steps of the Little Bayou House.  I could not take the chance that someone may be stung.  The nest was sprayed and knocked out of the tree.  Several dozen adult wasps were killed.  That, my friends, was a near miss and now a diverted critter attack!

Big and Scary vs Small and Beautiful!

  For the past few mornings, a critter seems to be waiting at the gate for my arrival.  Not that he is particularly waiting to visit but seems to want to keep tabs of where I am.  I am the big, scary monster that lurks just beyond his territory.  It is not my intention to be a monster but I guess with the difference our sizes, I do appear large, scary and could possibly be a predator.  If only he knew how wrong that idea is.

  A green anole lives in the jasmine vine that flanks either side of the gate that heads out to the board path.  I take this board path to the pier each morning and any other time I wish to head south from the house.  Lately, the lizard is waiting on the fence post.  The jasmine vines twirl gracefully above his head as the morning sun glistens on his dewlap making it a fiery red.  Just as he waits on the fence post each morning, I stand in awe of his beauty with each visit.  What a work of art this guy is!

  Have you ever pondered the use of that bright red flap of skin called a dewlap?  There is actually two purposes.  One, as most believe, is to attract a female anole.  While this is partially correct, it is not the entire purpose of the dewlap.  It does have to do with his ladylove in a round about way.  The male lizard extends his dewlap when he feels threatened or when he wishes TO threaten.  This makes it more appealing to a potential mate but, also, scares off other male lizards in the area.  He extends the dewlap to make himself seem more powerful...in other words, the larger the dewlap, the larger and stronger the lizard.  In my case, the lizard is letting me know that he will be willing to defend his territory even against a big, scary monster (me!).   But, instead of being intimidated by his threatening antics, I find him amusing.  My new, little buddy is rather adorable!

Friends in for breakfast!

  It just doesn't get much better than this morning.  First off, I awoke to the scent of roses and jasmine wafting through the open windows.  The heavy dew that had settled in on the arbors heightened the aroma so that the entire garden and house was permeated with the delightful mixture of scents. That, in itself, told me that it was going to be a grand day!  Then things just got better.  I had intentions of pushing that lawn mower for a few hours before the sun warmed things beyond a comfortable temperature and when I checked the thermometer at dawn, it was a cool sixty-eight degrees!  That would make the grass-cutting a lot easier.  Now to grab a mug of coffee before heading out the door.

  That was when the friends came to visit.  I had just settled down at the kitchen table when I saw a slight movement to my left.  Thinking that one of my furry friends was munching grass in the garden, I slowly turned toward the window.  Nope, it was not the rabbits who came to brighten my day this time.  Two adorable, little tree frogs were clinging to the window screen.  Aww!  How cute!  I reached my hand to the screen. Neither frog moved.  It seemed that they welcomed my company.  I actually found myself talking to the two of them.  "Good morning, Froggies!"  Neither responded to my greeting.  They just sat and stared at me through the mesh of the screen.

  After a bit, I realized that the frogs were not there for my pleasure.  They were having breakfast along side of me.  A good many gnats had accumulated on the window screen overnight and the frogs were snatching one after another.  Ahh, good friends do good deeds!  I knew I liked these critters for a reason!  

  Living on a Bayou means there are always hoards of insects of one kind or another trying to enter the Little Bayou House.  I have a steady job just trying to outsmart the six-legged critters (and some eight-legged ones as well).  It is nice to know that I have some allies in this battle. Froggies, you are welcome to live in my window as long as you wish..just continue with your buggy meals!