There Is A Reason

   There is a reason that I do not use harmful chemicals in the garden.  I will go so far as to handpick caterpillars from the tomatoes or broccoli if it means I can do without killing the "good" insects.  Dousing everything with pesticides is foolishness and anyone who does is just asking for trouble.  Personally, chemical laden fruit and vegetables are not something I care to eat either.  If you are ok with that, so be it but you won't find anything that is not natural in my garden.  Just my preference...not something I push on others.

  This morning as I was picking yet another bucket of squash from the dozen plants, I received a reminder of just why I am so adamant about the "no-spray" deal.  A bumblebee was almost completely covered with pollen as it went from blossom to blossom.  That bee was pollinating the squash!  This, my friends, is how squash are formed.  Had I put poison on the plants, the bee would have died along with those pesky, plant-munching caterpillars.  Nope.  It is not happening here.  I prefer to have my bees alive and well and busy as...well, bees!  

The Loving Couple

  For any of you going through life's trials, sometimes it pays to take a look outside.  As Pop used to say, "People could learn a lot from nature if they would only take the time to really study what is going on around them."  Pop was a smart man.  Nature does give life lessons for free on a daily basis.  All that is required is that you show up for class and pay attention.  You won't be tested, you won't be graded and you will not get a "degree" but I guarantee that you will learn a lot.  Personally, I find that a solution of how to handle most "problems" can be handed to me simply by taking a stroll around the hillside.  That "Bayou Magic" always has an answer.

  This morning's sunrise was completely blocked by fog once again.  While most folks fuss about the weather, I find fog to be to my liking.  Of course, if I had to drive in it, my attitude would surely change to where I do NOT like it.  But, I don't so I do...nuff said.  The morning meanderings took me through woods to the swamp.  Even though, I could hear my bird friends, nary a one could be seen through the drippiness of the fog.  It took me to come back between the grape arbor and the greenhouse before any critters consented to be seen.  A pair of mourning doves sat in the black gum tree.  Both were huddled against the pea-soup thick fog.  The male watched my every move while she preened.  He was guarding his ladylove as she flicked droplets of water from her feathers. Their closeness warmed the heart and blocked out the chill that was starting to envelop me.  This is how each loving couple should be.  The male bird is protective of his ladylove and she is steadfast in her devotion to him.  

  Most mourning doves mate for life.  They both make the (weak and wobbly) nest, both brood the eggs and both feed the hatchlings.  The chicks are called squabs and are fed "pigeon's milk" or "crop milk".  Both parents are capable of producing this as it is created in the crop from the digested food of the parents. Even though it is called "milk", it more resembles yellowish cottage cheese. Mourning doves are the epitome of how a family should be.  They start as a loving couple, raise their broods and remain a loving couple!  Folks, if there is any question, this is how it should be!

On The Hunt...

  Some folks go their whole lives without really being aware of what is around them.  Not too long ago, I had a nephew tell me that the largest bird in this area is the Osprey.  "Have you ever seen one of those?" he queried.  Yep, well, I sort of live in the midst of them.  "They are huge!  They are the biggest birds around here!" he remarked.  He was so excited about his find that I almost did not have the heart to tell him that we have Bald Eagles which are much, much larger than the Osprey.  As fate one have it, right at that moment, an eagle flew over the Little Bayou House.  Enough said...he is now in awe that he has seen a "real, live eagle"!  This young man has lived here all of his life and is just now noticing eagles?  Wow!  But...it does not surprise me as his sister was so happy when she found that I had blue "pigeons" in my yard a few years back.  Surprisingly enough, she was referring to the blue buntings that were migrating through the area.  Those tiny birds are long stretch from a pigeon.  The sweet girl had never been told that there were other birds besides the pigeons she had seen on the streets in town.  What a shame.  I guess parents are not teaching their kids about nature.  I did.  Our kids loved being able to roam about the Bayou and woods and paddle the waters of Back Bay.  By being outside, they learned to love nature.

  This afternoon, Mark and I sat on the pier just enjoying the view.  A few pelicans were diving for mullet when suddenly Mark made the comment that the eagle had just caught a fish.  Sure enough, a bald eagle had a quite large fish in its talons and was heading back to the nest site.  Seeing the eagles dive for fish is a sight like none other.  They are powerful birds that can haul a huge fish out of the water, take flight and carry that fish for quite a distance without ever struggling.  With their excellent vision and accurate aim, the eagles rarely miss their mark.  With the Bay so full of fish at the moment, nary a predator should go hungry and that eagle had enough food to feed itself and perhaps its young.  Mark and I are truly blessed to have a front row seat to observe nature at its finest.

Just As Important As A Woodpecker

  For all I know, others may not stop in their tracks to inspect the little things on a hiking trail or in the garden.  Maybe it is just me.  Maybe I find too many things interesting.  Maybe I have found enough peace in my life that other folks' drama is not to my liking.  Whatever the case, I have such a natural curiosity about the happenings around me that most things require noticing.  Just today while in the garden, a small feather suddenly drifted down from the treetops.  That feather demanded a good ten minutes of my time for no other reason than to admire its beauty.  The feather was recognized as being from one of the red-belly woodpeckers that frequent the area.  A pair nested in the nearby dead pine but the nest was raided by a rat snake before the little ones fledged.  Now, they are eyeing the black gum tree in hopes that their next brood will survive.  As I flipped the feather between my fingers, I thought of the terror that the parent birds must have felt knowing that there was not much they could do to fend off the four foot long snake.  But life goes on and they are, once again, pondering having a family.  My thoughts then drifted to how much I appreciate the woodpeckers that inhabit the woods and yard.  They have done their part in ridding the area of many insects especially those that bore into the trees.  Ahh, yes.  I put the feather back in place and continued with the clearing of the garden.

  There is a lot of time to think while pulling out old tomato plants and it occurred to me that folks just do not get outside enough.  Perhaps if they did, the world would be a lot nicer.  While out in nature pondering all of the beauty it has to offer, it is hard to condemn others and hard to think you are all important.  In nature, you are no more important than the woodpecker who lost the aforementioned feather. In nature, your opinions are just that...opinions and no one gives a flip about them.  (In reality, that is the way it is anywhere.  No one really changes because you think your opinion should rule.  Nope...doesn't happen.)  Critters don't have opinions and surely don't expect others to bow down to them.  They just accept what life gives them, don't pretend to be better than anyone else and sure don't get miffed about any of it.  That is the way it is here on the Bayou.  That is the way it should be everywhere.  Folks, to put it nicely, get up off your...umm...sofa and go outside.  Observe what is around you.  Examine things.  Ponder things.  And, for goodness sakes, stop thinking the world revolves around you and you alone.  Mother Nature could teach you a thing or two.  It would do you the world of good.

My Little Photographer

  Photographing the Bayou and the wildlife found there is a passion of mine.  With the area quickly changing due to "progress" (which is questionable), I want to preserve as much as this way of life even if it only in pictures.  I do not have fancy or even new equipment.  My camera is a twelve year old camera that has seen better days, still, given the opportunity, it works.  The only problem that is starting to stand in the way of decent photographs is age...mine.  The hands are getting shaky, eyesight is getting blurry and the old legs find it difficult to get to some areas.  Oh, to be young again.

  This afternoon, my sweet granddaughter asked if she could use my old camera to take a photograph.  Well, that is all it took.  She and I started a hike!  Armed with the camera and a pocketful of batteries I was determined to take her to the back part of the property where earlier I had seen a bright red mushroom.  I figured that would be a good place to start looking for subjects.  Once she saw the mushroom, she was eager to find other "natures" to shoot.  We walked for almost an hour and she took over one hundred photographs before the sun started setting.  Back inside, I was impressed with how well she had done.  This tiny tot is only five years old and was able to grasp just how to use a lot of the camera's features.  She listened well when I would give her pointers and soon was taking photos from different angles to get the best picture. A lesson in lighting will be in the followup hike tomorrow if the rains hold off for a bit.

  So, I hope you enjoy the sampling of photographic works of my Grand Princess, Mary Ruth.   I see great promise not only in her photography skills but, also, in her love of nature.  

Simply Perfect

  It is simply extraordinary to think of how perfectly made each and everything on this world is made.  I have yet to find anything that needs improvement. True, some things are not as aesthetically pleasing as others but, if you truly look at the detail, you can see the precision involved in the creation.  It is that detail that makes things perfect.

  This morning, I found a tiny lizard that had obviously been trapped for some time between the window and window screen.  The poor thing was malnourished and dehydrated.  I knew just what needed to be done as the lizard would soon die if not helped.  My new found friend would reside in the greenhouse for the winter.  There, it could find plenty to eat and drink plus be warm and snug.  I caught the little fellow and headed out the back door.  With my hands tightly cupped around the lizard, I was in no position to brush off a leaf that dropped from the tree and plastered itself on my face.  I just had to "wear" the thing until the lizard was safely delivered into its new home.  Once I was lizard free, the leaf was removed from my cheek.  Wow!  Perfection!  Maybe I should have just left the leaf be and worn it for the entire day.  It was gorgeous!

  When you think about all of the wonders that surround us each day, it is astounding.  A leaf...simple yet intricately designed just like every other bit of nature...flora and fauna alike.  Folks, stop being in such a rush and take the time to admire...truly study...what is around you.  Don't take any of nature for granted for tomorrow...it may be gone.  One never knows.  

Now, we're talking!

  The old dog had enough energy to walk with me to the back part of the property.  His wobbly legs made this a slow-paced walk but it gave me plenty of time to photograph things along the way.  Near the small pump shed, there is a scraggly (for most of the year) shrub that always brightens my day during this time of year.  The American Beautyberry is one of my favorites!  During the winter months, the stalks sit bare and dry but come spring, it burst forth with bright green leaves.  In the beginning of summer, those stalks start showing some nondescript clusters of tiny flowers.  Being as they are the palest of pinks and well hidden beneath the large leaves, the blooms often go unnoticed.  Later, those tiny blooms drop and the brightest violet berries take their place.  It is those berries that claim all the glory for the shrub!  Also, it is those berries that bring my smiles.

  Although the calendar says that fall has not arrived as of yet, I do believe it is here!  The American Beautyberry says it is so it must be true.  The shrub would not lie!  By all accounts, the shrub's berries ripen in the fall so fall it is.  I am ready!  These berries are an important food source for many of the birds on the Bayou.  Back when I was just a tyke running barefoot on the farm, Pop told me the bush was a "Turkey Berry" bush so the name stuck.  It makes sense.  Turkeys love the berries and Pop would often scout out the heaviest laden shrub.  Then, just about Thanksgiving, he would quietly sit near the bush and wait.  If a turkey happened to come dine upon the berries, we had a grand Thanksgiving dinner!  

  Now, however, the shrubs are left as landscape beauties.  Turkeys can freely dine upon them along with the many other birds.  My happiness lies purely in the fact that summer is coming to an end and fall is on its way....according to the American Beautyberry shrub.  Now, we're talking!  Fall...yes, please!

In Distress

  Sometimes watching nature on the Bayou can make me extremely sad.  A turn of events can create dire circumstances for some of my critter friends.  Just a few days ago, one such thing was observed and it has left a nagging feeling inside of me.  While Mark and I were on the pier, my brother called out to us.  He brought to our attention a bottlenose dolphin that was breaching nearby. "That poor fellow doesn't have his fin!"  He yelled at us.  Sure enough, with the next breach, we noticed that the dorsal fin had been severed.  The dolphin was trying its best to catch mullet but was having difficulty in diving correctly.  With each breach, it became more and more apparent that the dolphin was in great distress. My heart started breaking as I knew there was nothing we could do to help this poor creature.

  A bit later, I asked a marine biologist friend if the dolphin had even the slightest chance of survival without this all important fin.  "No, the dolphin will most likely die a slow death." was his answer.  I wanted to cry.  He did reassure me that he would pass along the information I had given him to the proper rescue folks.  "Perhaps, they can capture the dolphin and try to help."  It was all the hope I had for my critter friend. 

  This morning, there was an entire pod of bottlenose dolphins in the Bay.  The injured one stayed in the far corner of the inlet so I was not able to get photographs of it.  Mark and I watched the healthy dolphins corral the mullet and seemingly steer them toward the hurt one.  It appeared that the healthy ones were trying to help their injured pod mate.  If this is true, then these creatures are some of the most understanding and caring beings on this old earth.

  Hopefully in the morning, I will have a front row seat on our pier to watch the rescue team at work.  It would make me elated to know that someone is trying to amend what has happened to the poor creature.  Also, hopefully, the rescue team will find that this was just an accident and not an intentional act of brutality.  As I said, my heart aches.

Bedazzling the Bayou!

  Mother Nature throws a lot of neat things at us if we only take a few moments to really see what is around us.  So many times, we traipse around with our sights set on only what our ultimate goal is and not even notice our surroundings.  Here lately, that problem has become much worse as folks have a tendency to tote their phones with them.  Their eyes stay glued to the screen which causes them to miss the world.  Being "connected" causes us to lose out on so many things which is exactly why my phone stays inside on the desk.  Good place for something that I deem rather useless.

  That said, a couple of days ago, Mother Nature decided that the world needed a good washing.  What started as a heavy fog in the morning turned to a torrential downpour by mid afternoon and stayed through the night.  That early morning fog decorated the Bayou and woods with some of the most beautiful jewels on earth. Water droplets had settled on each spiderweb that had been spun the night before.  A lot of them were so heavily laden that they were starting to droop and even break but the stronger ones decorated the branches like lovely necklaces.  Mother Nature had cast her jewelry about in a most haphazardly way!  She had bedazzled the Bayou!

  I read once where spider silk is stronger than steel.  This seems strange being as a web is easily broken but the strength is judged by the weight of the silk versus the weight of steel.  Given the same weight of each, the silk is supposedly five times stronger than steel. After seeing the water droplets that had accumulated on a single strand of the fine spider silk, it is easy to understand.  

 Spiders, in general, fascinate me.  I am doubly fascinated by their ability to build such sturdy, yet, intricate webs.  Add to that the beauty that each strand holds after a foggy night and a spider becomes quite the amazing creature.  Folks, take the time to look around you at all of the exquisite works of art out in nature.  Really see what is out there. You will not be disappointed.

Follow Your Heart!

  Mother Nature does indeed have a big heart!  Or, maybe she has a lot of hearts.  While out and about the hillside, I started finding hearts...everywhere.  Isn't it funny how when you notice one small thing, others seem to just jump out at you?  This all started with an idea.  Perhaps, I could start a game with the Grandlittles where they search for different things in nature.  Back when they had visited the Bayou, we did scavenger hunts where I would draw a simple sketch list and they would find the items.  Things such as pine cones, leaves, shells, etc. were on that list.  Well, since they are now thousands of miles away from the Bayou, those little lists might be difficult to do but what if...what if, I sent them on searches for shapes?  They could scour the island for shapes in nature!  I decided that I better try it out first so I went on the search for the first thing that popped into my head...a heart.  I found hearts...everywhere!  While these may not be the most perfect shaped hearts, if the imagination is used, at least, the resemblance is there.

  First, I found a leaf.  A single mistletoe leaf had been blown down from the tall oak tree.  It was a heart...sort of...maybe?  Then another leaf!  This was the leaf of the smilax vine. While it is not my favorite vine, it did have a great heart!  Perhaps leaves were the only heart-shaped thing I could hope to find?  I went a bit further and found two oyster shell pieces beside each other.  The haphazard position gave the impression that this, too, could be considered a heart shape.  My walk continued until I found one more heart.  Although, this heart was, in a sense, leaf related, it was not a single leaf.  The leaves of some lilies were twisted by the wind into a heart shape position. 

  I just a matter of five minutes, I had found four hearts!  There were more but chores did not allow me to search longer.  Things such as twigs being bent by the recent ice, scars on tree trunks, the small lichens that grow on bark, the whorls caused by the wisping of cane leaves in the sand all have the possibility of being heart shaped.  I shall search!  Or...maybe a new shape for each hike?  Then, maybe I shall suggest this to the Grandlittles or one of the tiny visitors to the Bayou.  Sounds like fun to me.  Yeah, I sure miss those Grandlittles.....

When Nature Calls

  There is one fact about wildlife photography that no one ever records.  Or, at least, they never record it intentionally.  Or, at least, I never do intentionally.  Today was different.  I photographed a bird intentionally but caught an action quite unexpected.  While I admit that these are not the nicest photographs, the series does capture just one of the hazards of dealing with nature.  Things happen.  Sometimes not to our liking!

  Mark and I were out on our early morning stroll about the hillside when I noticed an osprey perched almost directly above our heads.  (Boy, am I glad it was not and was just a slight distance away!)  Since I was so close to the bird, I figured it was a good time for a few more osprey photos.  One can never have too many!  So, I snapped picture after picture all the while Mark stood patiently waiting.  He even acted as a makeshift tripod for me when I could not get a good balance in the soft sand.  All was going well with my picture taking until I noticed that the bird was not looking so spiffy.  Perhaps it was just the wind ruffling its feathers but the bird appeared a bit ragged.  I pondered if the bird did not feel too well.  At this, Mark said perhaps it had eaten a bad fish and had a tummy ache.  We let it go at that.

  We wandered past the bird's roosting tree.  Ok...another angle...another series of photographs!  Remember...never too many!  While peering through a camera lens, you do not have the full effect of your surroundings.  In the short instance that it takes for the shutter to snap, things can change dramatically.  They did.  I was unaware and kept snapping pictures.  I did notice that the bird was shifting positions but actually thought it was preparing to take flight. The bird did not take flight.  It decided to defecate and I caught it all on camera.  Ugh! At least it was not literally on my camera...just in the pictures.  Thank goodness for huge favors!  That would have been terrible!  I am also delighted that we had meandered a bit further away from the roosting tree than we had previously been, otherwise, things could have been drastically different! Bird poop on my head would not have been a happy way to start my morning!

  Mark, nor I, have yet to figure out if our friend was feeling poorly or if it was trying to make a point about our presence.  Either way, we are thankful that we were out of line of aim for that bird's projectile poop!

Early Morning Friend!

  Nature never ceases to amaze me.  I am the type person who can see a bird every day and, yet, be just as awed by its beauty the thousandth time as the first.  It is this way with all of nature from the tiniest moss spore to the vastness of the starry night sky but birds hold a special place with me for some reason.  It is not just their outward beauty that attracts me.  They also pique an interest with their intelligence.  I have never met a stupid (or insolent) bird.  Hmmm...to bad I cannot say the same for humans.

  Near the pier, there can usually be found any number of waterfowl or shorebirds.  One of the most interesting birds (and perhaps smartest!) is the Green Heron.  The bird's fishing techniques rivals even the best of human anglers.  And...indeed...they DO fish.  The Green Heron has perfected a fishing technique of using bait to catch larger fish.  It works every time and, more oft than not, the bird can catch a bellyful of fish and still have the bait to eat as dessert!  It is just that smart. The Green Heron is one of the few critters that have mastered the art of tool usage! But with all of that brilliance comes beauty.  The Green Heron usually just looks dark or almost black.  Then, in the perfect light, the back shows a gorgeous iridescent green   The feathers actually shimmer in the sunlight!

   This "winter" (and I use that term loosely here since it is still in the eighties.), a lone Green Heron stands guard at the pier.  In the early morn, the bird can be seen roosting on a dead trunk of a small tree but by sunup, it moves to the small tide pool.  There, the bird will feed on bull minnows and tiny crabs.  I love watching the bird and, here lately, it has no qualms about me being within a few feet of it while it feeds.  It still has not gotten as brave as some of the other herons about letting me hand feed it but perhaps that will come in time.  In the meantime, I shall be happy photographing my friend and being awed by another part of nature here on the Bayou.

Serene Bayou at Daybreak

  It is often a struggle in this world for any adult to escape from reality a bit.  With all of the "necessities" keeping us plugged into up-to-the-minute details of everyone and his brother, finding time to unwind is just about impossible.  This is exactly the reason that I do not carry a phone with me...ever!  This constant spate of information does nothing but create a stress that threatens to unravel our very nerves.  The struggle to find a small token of peace is becoming more and more difficult.  It has gotten to the point that it is almost scary to be separated from the very thing that is causing complete mental chaos but somehow we must take that first step.  It is important to find peace.  We need to pull away from the hubbub of the world around us and concentrate more on our own sense of being.  Take a step back from stress and the overwhelming rat race of the human world and reconnect with nature.  

  Personally, I have found my peace.  I have come to terms with my transience on this earth.  With such enlightenment, I am now at ease to accept what is around me as beauty.  I enjoy life.  I breathe life.  I live life. While I admit that it is not an easy task, it starts with one step.  Unplug yourself from the world for even just a few minutes each day.  Extend those minutes until you feel a serenity within your mind and body. Peace...

  My place of serenity is the Bayou.  I try to start my mornings with a bit of meditation at daybreak.  With the sun rising in the east, I am soon surrounded with the beauty of the morn.  This gives me the strength to face with a certain calmness whatever is thrown at me during the day. Then, each evening, I attempt to do the same with the sunset.  I dwell on blessings of the day and give thanks for all.  With this time, I can unwind from the turmoil of the busy day.  It all starts with one...one step toward calmness...one time of disconnecting from the needs and demands of the busy world...one minute of peace...and that peace is within us all if we only let it grow.  Reconnect with nature and the beauty that is meant to be. 

Don't Do It!

  Early yesterday evening, I sat on the pier watching the Brown Pelicans as they dove for fish.  As the weather cools, it should be about time for the White Pelicans to make their arrival in the Bay.  Soon, masses of pelicans, ducks and geese will crowd the Bay and Bayou as they search for food to carry them through the winter.  The sheer number of birds will make the pickings slim and the work hard for many of the birds.  As the water cools, most of the fish will leave the shorelines and head to deeper waters.  The smaller of the water fowl will have to search for their dinner while ones like the Brown Pelicans will be just as at home with the deep water dives.  Although they appear clumsy at times, these birds are extremely adept at their type fishing.

  Most folks who fish the area are responsible about nature.  True fishermen, whether they are the "catch and release" sort of the "wanting supper" sort, have enough respect for the water and its residents to not damage the Bay.  Nets, used fishing line and trash are not flung into the water or left on shores, this refuse is properly disposed.  Others do not care. I can speak with confidence of this. Several folks have been banned from the pier merely because they did not follow the rules.  Litter was tossed overboard, trash left on the pier and more dumped on the shore. My sister is always saying that "Only trash litters." In this, she is speaking of trashy people who have no respect for nature.  I agree with her. 

 Folks do not realize just how their litter can cause serious problems for the critters of an area.  More pelicans are killed by means of trash than any other means.  Nets and fishing lines tangle about their feet and necks making it impossible for them to feed. It is estimated that over a thousand pelicans die each year in the immediate area alone due to the entanglement of discarded fishing lines!  Plastic bags, bottles and cans resemble fish while underwater.  The bird can accidentally ingest these. A blockage forms and the bird dies.  Chemicals, oils and water pollution make the birds ill. These all cause a slow death for the birds. The sad part is that all of these things could be avoided with very little effort on our part.  We as humans make messes.  We as humans should have enough responsibility to clean them.  

  It would be so easy just to avoid all of the issues that mar our waterways.  Simply ask "Will this cause problems for any part of nature?"  If the answer is yes, then "DON'T DO IT!"  Simple as that. Just don't do it. Think about my friend, Brown Pelican, the next time you think of tossing something in the water or on the ground.  He needs you to do your part to preserve his future.  

The Exciting World Through a Child's Eyes

I have always said that we as a human race could learn a lot by looking through a child's eyes. Kids have a way of seeing an amazing, beautiful, exciting world.  If we could only see the beautiful world before us instead of the mess we have created, then things would be a lot better. The other day, I had an awakening of my spirit merely because of a small person that came to visit the Bayou.  Evan is one of my favorite youngsters.  He is so interested in everything nature.  His parents, Eva and Erik, are raising him to not only be interested but also protect all things. This makes me happy. When he was here, he took a intense interest in the Frog Pond.  There, he was able to scoop around and catch tadpoles of all sizes.  I had given him an old canning jar to hold his catch.  This he proudly brought around to the garden to show his mother and grandmother.  They both oohed and ahhed over his prize!  Then Eva suggested he put them back into the pond so the tadpoles could turn into frogs.  Immediately, Evan did just that!  He did not fuss or balk about returning the tadpoles but rather understood that these needed to be in nature.  I am proud of Evan.  I am proud of Erik and Eva.  Mother Nature needs more caring folks like them to help her maintain the beautiful place in which we all live.

After a bit, Evan brought me a pine cone.  It was a fine specimen of a cone and had most likely produced many seeds at one time.  He asked if this was something that he could take home with him.  Ahh, yes, Evan. Pine cones are something that, although serve a remarkable purpose in nature, you can take home.  Their use  in the grand scheme of things has already been spent. The seeds that had been housed inside the cone not only grow into fine pine trees but, also, feed a lot of critters.  Birds, squirrels and even mice love to munch "pine nuts"!  Now, the cone is there as a thing of beauty.  Evan can see that beauty. I can see that beauty..through Evan's eyes.  He makes me see things in a different and intriguing way.

With the introduction of video games and indoor activities (or rather "inactivities"), it is refreshing to find a youngster that truly loves the outdoors and all that is in it.  I hope that Evan remains this way.  He will be a fine protector of all things nature.

The Healing Power of Nature

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." ~John Burroughs

Nature offers so many cures through the use herbs and plants that it boggles the mind. For every ailment that mankind can contract it so seems that someone has advice on a "natural" remedy that can be conjured up at a moment's notice. I am probably one of the worst! There is this inexplicable tendency in me to run to my herb and spice rack every time anyone mentions feeling ill. Out comes the mortar and pestle and jar after jar from the rack. I grind, blend and sprinkle all sorts of things into mounds of healing goodness. It is amazing how patient my family and friends are about this. They seem to understand (or at least tolerate) this innate need I have to poke something "natural" in them. This has landed me with an unofficial moniker of Bayou Woman/Witch Doctor/Herbalist. The first of these I suppose is the most accurate while the other two do make me smile!

One of the most powerful medicines that Mother Nature provides is a de-stressing potion. It is free for all that will partake of it, the timing just has to be right. Sunsets provide a perfectly calming antidote to the day's hectic pace. A good sunset takes upward of an hour and who can remain stressed while focusing on the incredible display of ever-changing color?! If your day is not conducive to evening relaxation, perhaps a sunrise, both have the same effect. Try it sometime!

Tonight's sunset was not the most spectacular in the way of color, we had very little cloud cover to act as a canvas for the artist. Still, trusty camera in hand, I ventured to the pier in hopes of a few pictures. What I got was two surprise blips in the photographs..two brilliant splats of color off to one side. Ahh, the romanticist in me decided these were some ethereal orbs, some otherworldly beings while the realist in me should have understood fully that it was merely light dancing on the camera lens. Reality is not nearly as fun as imagination! So, for all creative, imaginative purposes..these blips of brilliance were two faeries dancing among the waning sunbeams! Yes, that made me happy!

The amazing healing powers of Nature..I feel better already!