Just Because

   Have you ever pondered the use of some things?  If you look hard enough, there is a purpose for every natural thing on this earth.  Even the things we deem as "not good" have a reason for being here.  Nothing was created simply to take up space.  Things have a purpose.  

  I was in the midst of a "deep thinking" when it occurred to me that occasionally that all-important reason was just to be.  At this point, I am beginning to think that is my purpose...just to be.  Still, there has to be more.  While on my last stroll for the evening, my thoughts ricocheted around in the dark corners of my brain.  Other than knocking out a few cobwebs, not much was accomplished until just before I was back at the front steps.  The sun was sliding down behind the oak trees and was shooting a few, feeble beams through the garden.  One ray of light dappled upon the water hyacinths in Puddle Pond.  It was a lovely sight to behold. 

  It was then that a thought of wonder struck me. "The water hyacinths are not much good for anything other than looking pretty."  It is true.  The plants are highly invasive and can clog waterways in a matter of months.  Let one rogue plant be dumped free and chaos begins.  These plants can even grow in brackish waters such as the Bayou or even the Bay.  Nothing eats them other than a few bugs that, in desperation, will nibble a few bites.  (At one time, the plants were choking waterways so bad, there was a thought of importing hippos to remedy the problem.  Look it up.  1910..Hippo Bill.  Crazy.)  So, the plants are not useful as foodstuffs.  Other than being pretty, I have only found that they make good fertilizer for the garden.  And, therein, lies another problem because, if you are not careful, they can acclimate to being ground plants especially if you have a particularly wet season.  Obviously, some things are meant to just be pretty and serve no other apparent purpose.  (I am sure there is a use but it escapes my feeble thoughts.) 

  All of this brought one thought...if you feel your purpose on this old earth is not important.  Just be...be the best YOU there is.  That is enough.  

Just Amblin'

  Yesterday, Mr. PJ (the old dog) and I meandered in the azaleas.  He loved nosing around in a "new" territory.  He is not often allowed to wander down the lane as I do not wish to have him near the main road.  His instincts and reaction times would not serve him well in the path of an oncoming automobile.  So we normally stay far from the lane.  However, I figured that as long as I was with him (which, lately, is always), it would not hurt to give him a new place to explore.  He and I, both, loved being in our little hidden world.  For a while we were completely surrounded by the ten foot tall azaleas.  I think the escapade did him good as he slept soundly during the night following our short, amble.

  This afternoon, the wind was blowing something fierce.  Mr. PJ decided that he wished to stay on the southeast side of the house since it is obvious that he loves wind.  Our walk (which is no longer a vigorous hike due to his health) took us through the east arbor which has a rambling Cherokee Rose sprawling across the top.  This rose was planted here by Son a few years back and I love the thing.  He and I were on a hike far back in the creek bed when I spied a few of the rose vines.  I made mention that I had always wanted one for the yard even though they are considered to be an invasive species.  (Perhaps this is true as the woods are filled with the rambling roses.)   It was only a few hours later that Son called me out to see my new rose!  I am still thrilled with this beauty and, today, it proved to be a bright spot in the midst of a storm.  The top of the arbor is filled with the heavily scented white blooms.  

  The Cherokee Rose is one of the first roses to bloom in the rose garden each spring, although its history is a bit sketchy.  It was brought to the United States in 1780 and soon became naturalized.  It acclimated to the Deep South so well that it soon became invasive and now fills the wooded areas with its brambles.  Early spring, however, those thorny brambles put for a glorious show of white blooms.  From a distance, a lot of folks tend to believe that these roses are dogwood blooms but they are far from the same.  The dogwood is actually on a decline on the Coast and in recent years, there are few to be found.  Not so with the Cherokee Rose.  It is everywhere...and it is also in my yard!  I love it!

  While Mr. PJ sat with his nose to the wind, I pushed my nose in the center of several of the roses!  Our short walks are beginning to be a tad more interesting than those during the gray days of winter.  There is a lot more to see now and the old dog does not have to amble far for me to find something mesmerizing.  There is a lot of magic on this old Bayou of mine!  Hopefully, this wind will not tear up all of the azalea and rose blooms and there were still be plenty to enjoy for a few days.