But first....!

  Several years ago, the Grand Princess was excited to see her first snow.  She and her mommy were looking out the window when she was asked if she wanted to go out and play.  She excitedly said "Yes!" then added "But first!  We have to get our boots!"  Her emphasis on the "But first!" struck a cord with her PawPaw and MawMaw.  We still have to start some sentences with that excited phrase albeit not nearly as cute as hers was.

  Today, I asked the grandlittles what they would like to do right after breakfast.  Oh!  They wanted to ride the horses, play with Mr. PJ. play with the cars, go to the pier and even pick up "firesticks" for the wood-burning stoves....BUT FIRST!  Lets pick peaches! (Peaches is another name for satsumas obviously.)  So as soon as the dew dried on the grass, we grabbed a basket and headed out the front door to make our way to the citrus trees.  I have never seen two people so happy to do "farm work" as sweet Mary Ruth called our harvesting.

  The kiddos learned to twist the satsumas until they became free of the stems and soon filled the basket full of the fruits.  Once it was filled, they brought it inside and proceeded to wash the satsumas.  Some were put on a platter for us to enjoy, some were boxed and brought to "Uncle Jimmy" (my brother) and, well, some were eaten on the spot!  Best of all, we had a great time making happy memories of being on the Bayou.  I am blessed!   

Old Mr. PJ and the Daily Photograph

  Social Media is a wild place.  It can be a good way to keep in touch with friends and family.  Folks post photos of kids, vacations, meals and pets.  I mainly post pictures of the Bayou, critter friends and fish.  I also post a daily photo of the old dog, PJ.  Mr. PJ was left in my care by my son, daughter-in-law and my grandlittles.  Just before they left to go to live on the island, my little granddaughter asked me to send her a daily photo of her doggy.  "I am sure going to miss PJ." she said.  That brought tears to my eyes as I was just having the same feelings about her.  "I am sure going to miss my sweet Mary Ruth and Mark Charles."  I promised, then and there, that I would send her a photograph of her beloved friend, Mr. PJ, EVERY DAY and I have since that day.

  Social Media can also be a cruel place at times.  There are those who post far too much personal junk which they instantly regret.  There are bullies, fake friends and those who just straight up are mean.  But, then, those folks are the same way anywhere and everywhere so I try to not let it get to me.  I did, however, take exception to one rude remark.  While I am not offended as they have every right to say what they please, I admit that it did take me aback a bit.  Someone told me that I was posting "way too many photos of PJ."  They thought I should stop since it did not please them.  Ha!  Nope.  I made a promise and it is one I intend to keep as long as I am able.  They can overlook the photos, close their eyes or even "unfriend" me. Who cares?  Not me, that is for sure!

  I would drop the whole Social Media scene if it were not the only contact that I have with my grandlittles.  I miss them so very much and cling to every photograph that is sent my way.  It is hard to be a half a world away from family.  I guess I grew up in a time where family stayed together and I had dreams of having my kids nearby.  It did not happen but at least with technology, we still have a connection.  Mary Ruth and Mark Charles,  MawMaw will always send you pictures of your doggy.  He and I miss you terribly!

He Remembers

  There are folks who claim that animals have very limited, if any, memory.  Being around animals a good bit for a long time, I can attest that sometimes it does seem that way.  With several pets in the past, trying to teach basic commands seemed to fly right out the window.  Just when you think they've got it...they do just the opposite.  Perhaps that has nothing to do with memory and a lot to do with being obstinate but, at least, there seems to be hope with dogs.  Dogs seem to have long-term memory, if nothing else.  I cannot say whether this is true with all dogs but most of the canines that have lived at the Little Bayou House have great long-term memories.

  Since my son and daughter-in-law moved their little family to an island far, far away and since I am keeping their dog, PJ, I have been sending them a daily photograph of him.  This was a request from my little granddaughter, Mary Ruth.  She said she was going to miss her dog and asked for the pictures.  I am trying hard to live up to my word and not miss a day.  After she received today's photo, she made a video (with the help of her sweet mom, Joanna!) and sent it "for PJ".  

  Mr. PJ was sound asleep when I played the video.  As soon as he heard that little girl, he jerked awake and turned toward the sound.  He had the happiest look on his face as he intently watched the screen of my computer.  HIS little girl was talking to him!  HIS little girl said "I love you, PJ!"  The old dog seemed young again, even if it was just for a few moments.  I replayed the video several times for him and, finally, he climbed back on his bed.  He was content.  HIS little girl still loved him!  He misses Mary Ruth and my grandson, Mark Charles.

  PJ definitely remembered that tiny girl and her sweet message was just what he needed.  Tonight, he will sleep soundly and have happy dreams of Mary Ruth and Mark Charles, I am sure.  Dogs do have long-term memories...this proves it.  It did my heart good to see the old dog so happy.

Things Seem A Bit Dimmer

  First, let me say that it felt really weird last night.  We lost Internet and for the first time since I started this blog way back in 2010, I missed writing a post.  I waited until midnight and still no connections so I finally gave up and went to sleep.  It did not feel right.  It still feels strange as I look back on the posts and see one missing.  Hopefully, that will not occur again even though I doubt too many folks even noticed.  

  Now, another strange feeling.  I have a great emptiness inside me.  After a full week of having my son, daughter-in-law and grandlittles here on the Bayou with us, they have headed back to their home in Georgia.  The place seems too quiet...too empty.  My heart is breaking.  Mark and I have been wandering around in a bit of a daze.  We miss the hubbub of family.  The chattering, laughing and even the baby fussing made the Little Bayou House seem alive. Not now.  It just seems empty.

  Earlier today (before our daily thunderstorm), I wandered through the living room to see the sunlight streaming through the east window. This window was a favorite of the grandlittles as there are a dozen or so crystals hanging by tiny chains and threads.  When the sunbeams pass through the crystals, thousands of rainbows fill the room.  During their visit, I showed the tots how to gently touch the prisms to set them swinging.  This caused the colors to dance about the room.  Each morning Mary Ruth and Mark Charles would rush to the window to make their rainbows dance.  It delighted them which delighted me.  

  Today, however, the rainbows did not dance.  In fact, they did not even seem as bright as they were this entire past week.  They made their mandatory appearance thanks to the sunshine but did not bounce around the walls, floor and ceiling.  If possible, I think even the crystals missed the tiny fingers reaching up so lovingly to touch them.  Strange how things change.  I sure miss my family.  Things around here seem a whole lot dimmer without them here.

A Friendship Waiting To Happen

  Back during December, the grandlittles came to visit for a few days.  I was happy to see that they loved being on the pier as much as I do and my sweet granddaughter took to naming the critters she found.  A pair of Brown Pelicans seemed to adore her and came to beg a meal from her.  I showed her how she could toss minnows to the birds.  After that, the bait bucket thinned rapidly as she fed the two hungry birds every minnow she could catch.  These two pelicans were dubbed "Gus and Cinderella".  Well, Miss Mary Ruth needs to come up with a few more names as we seem to have gained a few youngsters to our clan of pelicans.  

  One bird in particular seems to be a good candidate as a friend for Miss Mary Ruth and Master Mark Charles.  This youngster already knows that a free meal is for the taking if he just begs a bit.  Whenever I am on the pier and throwing the net, this pelican flies around and around the pier just to see if anything will be tossed his way.  And...as teenage boys always seem to be...this guy is always hungry!  You cannot fill up this bird's belly!  As long as you toss fish, he feeds.

  Miss Mary Ruth is to be here in August so I sure hope the pelican hangs around for her visit.  She can name this one, as well!  I am sure this will be a friendship in the making.  It sure makes me happy to know that the grandlittles are being raised to love all critters and to respect nature.  

The Naming

  Take one tiny girl fishing and introduce her to critters that she has never seen and she will name them all.  For the past few days, we have been able to share the Bayou with our granddaughter, Mary Ruth and grandson, Mark Charles.   While he loves being outside and seeing everything, the little fellow is still to young to fully appreciate what is around him.  He is all about playing and exploring his newfound freedom of toddling.  Mary Ruth, on the other hand, is at that perfect age of learning about nature and she loves it.  

  One of the highlights was the feeding of the two pelicans.  It did not take long before Mary Ruth decided to name them. The Brown Pelicans of the Bayou have always been called "Old Gus" for as long as I can remember but Mary Ruth decided that the two needed individual names so the second of the pair became known as "Cinderella".  Hey, this worked for me.  Gus and Cinderella now reign as King and Queen of the Bayou.  It is great but being as both male and female pelicans look the same, I can only hope that they are named correctly.

  After feeding (and naming) the pelicans, her daddy showed her a baby shrimp that he caught in the minnow trap.  At first, she was having no part of holding that weird looking thing!  She soon warmed up to the idea and shyly put out her hand.  The shrimp laid quietly in the palm for just about two seconds before it flipped (as shrimp are prone to do) and slid between the pier boards.  This caused Mary Ruth to burst into a fit of giggles before settling down to the task of naming the critter.  "Tiny." she quietly murmured.  "Tiny."  Well, at least that was appropriate!

  Next came a baby crab.  Since she had held a shrimp, her dad thought she might like to hold the crab.  NOPE!  THAT WAS NOT HAPPENING!  I let the little critter crawl up on my finger to show her that the crab was not out to eat her but she still was not convinced.  The crab never made it to her hand before it, too, scooted between the pier boards back into the water.  Since she had named the other critters, I knew it was best to ask if this one to had a name.  I was not disappointed..."Yes, it was named Crabby!"  Alrighty then.  Crabby, it was.  

 So, Old Gus, Cinderella, Tiny and Crabby all live in the Bayou and all are probably back at home telling their friends about the cute little girl named Mary Ruth!  I know for a fact that the first two are going to miss their friend when she heads back to her home tomorrow.  This mawmaw is going to miss both tykes terribly.  The Bayou is going to feel so very lonely.

Mary Ruth and Old Gus

  Most of today was spent on the pier.  While adults fished, the grandlittles and I more or less played.  Mary Ruth and her daddy fed the seagulls a bunch of old bread and my sweet daughter-in-law caught a nice sized flounder.  After a bit, Old Gus came to visit.  The pelican was begging for a handout and he knew right where to come.  With a bucket full of little mullet and menhaden sitting on the pier and two sweet children waiting to share their catch, Old Gus had come to the right place.  He would eat good this evening.

  It all started with Mary Ruth tossing a menhaden at the bird.  Old Gus scooped up the minnow and swam in a circle.  This tickled the little girl causing her to beg for another minnow to feed Gus.  I fished a second minnow out of the bait bucket and handed it to her.  This time, I told her to wait before throwing the bait in the water.  "Call Gus.  He will come to you."  She started calling "Old Gus! Come here!"  Sure enough, the bird swam right up to the pier and opened his mouth.  He wanted the sweet little girl to feed him.  The minnow was thrown, he scooped and the little girl squealed with delight.  Instead of flying away, Old Gus made a tight circle and returned to beg for more.  Not to be outdone by his big sister, Mark Charles tossed several minnows to the bird. Old Gus was getting his belly filled tonight! After about a dozen menhaden, our stash was depleted but neither the little girl nor the pelican was finished with this game!  We started on the little mullet.  Six of those were soon in the gullet of the bird.  Mary Ruth squealed and giggled with delight over her newfound friend and the bird got his fill of minnows.  He has never had it so good!

  This pelican is one that hangs around the pier and has lost all fear of me.  I feed him an occasional minnow but never to the extent of today. What fun...one pelican, a bucket of bait and two tiny tots make for a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

The Little Prince has Arrived!

  Our trip out to Georgia was a dual purpose one.  We were here, of course, to visit with our son and family but, more importantly, be on "Baby Watch".  Our son and daughter-in-law were expecting a precious bundle on any day and needed someone to watch the Little Princess when they went to the hospital.  During times like these, you never know an exact date so we were assigned the first week and then Joanna's parents would pick up from there.  Joanna's actual due date was to be when her folk's were visiting which was sort of nice since her dad is a doctor.  In view of all the recent ice storms to hit this area, I breathed a sigh of relief that perhaps the Little Bundle of Joy would arrive when Dr. C was on "Baby Watch".  To quote a piece from the movie "Gone With The Wind".."I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies!"  I felt quite comfortable with the idea that Dr. C could handle this small detail!

  We arrived, all was well.  I had plans to spend this as a leisurely holiday spent playing with the Little Princess.  Then all of that went out the window.  The Little Prince changed everybody's plans.  Quite unexpectedly, the little fellow decided it was time to make his debut.  He took us all by surprise!

  I am happy to report that the entire little family is doing well.  Mama and Baby Boy are healthy and strong, Dad is exhausted and MawMaw and PawPaw are sure thankful that no ice storms were blasting through Georgia at the time.  Happy Blessings!  The Little Prince has arrived!