"Seeing the light?"

   Being back on doctor's orders to "be lazy" (to let a torn muscle heal), I feel rather useless.  I tinker around trying to prove to myself that I am still active. There is not a lot I can do.  So...at sunup, I pretend to "work" in the garden which usually amounts to picking a few tomatoes.  I "tend" to the flower gardens which means I spend more time talking with the plants than actually doing anything.  I mosey around acting like the farm girl.  Finally after all that "work" is done, I head inside to home can the fruits and veggies that Son helps me pick.  THAT...I can do!  Canning is not strenuous so, at least, I have that!

  This morning's early morning escapades took me to Puddle Pond in the Small Gardens.  I had intentions of picking the last few blueberries but the birds had beaten me to them.  Well, since there was not much else to be done here, I decided it was in my best interest to "sit a spell" on the tiny footpath bridge that spans Pebble Creek.  (For those who do not know, both Puddle Pond and Pebble Creek are parts of a glorified drainage ditch that runs down the edge of the Little Bayou House and catches the rain runoff.  This was my way of "beautifying" an otherwise ugly, washed out place.)  As I sat listening to the the water sliding over the pebbles, the sun started shooting beams through the tree limbs.  One beam settled nicely on a water hyacinth bloom and totally enthralled me. 

  While thoughts of being useless rattled around in the brain, the sight before me set things straight.  If a lowly invasive plant bloom could bring joy, then surely I could find some purpose in my day.  That thought set the wheels twirling!  What would be my goal for today...other than letting the body heal?  I felt immensely better.  I WOULD find something and go from there!  Thank you, Mr. Sun, for letting me see a clear path!

Every Thing Has A Purpose

   Late yesterday afternoon, I headed to the pier to check Son's progress on the repairs.  My gardening was finished for the day so I was ready to help him.  He assured me that I was not needed at the moment so, I sat and watched.  I think he was happier without me getting in the way.  While watching, I noticed jellyfish bobbing around in the water.  Oh, my!  I was sure glad I thought to bring the camera!  So, I plopped down on my stomach to see if I could get a decent picture.  It took a while because, as slow as they are, the jellies have a unique way of slowly sinking at the most inopportune time.  It took about twenty shots before I was satisfied.  Plus, dearie jelly decided to move out of sight.

  These are some of the jellies that have the long tentacles that will sting if touched.  We always were taught to call them sea nettles.  This was a small white one but usually we have pink ones mixed with the bunch.  Some of those are as large as a saucer with two feet of tentacles.  You really do not want to mess with those!  Catching one in the net is quite bothersome!

  As I watched the jellyfish, I pondered their use.  I know that they are a food source for things like sea turtles and that they also provide protection for certain small fish that are immune to the stings but what other purpose do they have?  That was research for the day! 

  I finally found a marine study website that talked of the jellyfish and their ability to help cleanse the waters.  Son had mentioned this a couple of years ago but I never thought much about it.  According to this study, the jellyfish appear to show promise in helping clear oil spills.  It was quite technical but, somehow, the jellyfish help the bacteria that eats the crude.  So, by encouraging an jellyfish "bloom", the residue that sinks after a spill could be cleared more rapidly. (I am assuming that I understood it correctly).  The same site stated that a bloom of jellyfish in shallow water seems to occur after heavy rains so it was thought that fresh water encourages a bloom.  (Yep, bloom.)

  So, with all of that new info in my brain, I feel quite certain that the lovely creature bobbing around under the pier was doing a grand job of clearing up our water...hopefully.  The bayou seems to be really muddy lately as you can tell by the photo.  Carry on, Jelly, carry on!

Give Us A Purpose

  It happens to all of us.  Old age creeps up like a spider on a fly.  Slowly at first, stealthily, then pounce and it is on us.  We never know what hits us until it smacks us right up side the head.  Sure, we feel the little things.  The eyesight starts to dim a bit, the hearing gets a little dull and the joints begin to feel slightly rusty but, in our minds, we are still young and healthy.  It isn't easy to accept that things are not what they used to be.  I am at the point of denial.  I keep pushing this old body beyond the limits that should have been set several years ago but the brain does not want to admit that there should even be limits.  I hop out of bed before dawn as if I am some sort of spring chicken but by the end of the day, the body reminds me that is more of an "old gray mare" and I ain't what I used to be.

 This aging process that plays havoc on our bodies leaves the brain a tad confused.  This afternoon after I broke loose of working with the grinder, a hike was in order.  These tromps about the hillside soothe the soul.  Mr. PJ (the old dog) and I explored a couple of new paths which elated him.  He found more new scents to invigorate his senses.  At first, his steps were slow and encouragement was needed to keep him moving but, once he picked up on the scent of the bobcat that recently visited the compost pile, he forgot all of his aches and pains.  The instinct of protecting the place and me, kicked in and he stood strong and alert.  Each sound pricked his ears, each slight movement caught his eye.  The old dog was young once again.  

  Late this evening after four hours of being back inside the Little Bayou House, Mr. PJ awoke from a sound sleep to edge his way over to my side.  He looked at me with concern, laid his head on my knee and I gently rubbed his ears.  We had a mutual understanding.  He had done good.  Even though he is advanced in years, he still was needed.  Natural instinct had given the old dog a purpose and that was to protect me from any danger.  Growing old may not be to our liking but, given a purpose, we can still be important.  This old dog and I....we will do alright.

The "Joy" Flower

  Has it ever struck you that most every plant on this good earth has a use other than what we normally consider?  Think about it for a moment.  It is a daily occurrence that science discovers that some plant has wondrous properties that can be most useful in one way or another.  Of course, there are those that probably should not be ingested or tinkered with in any form but somewhere down the line, I guarantee, a helpful purpose will be discovered.  We just need to look long and hard.  Some plants have healing properties while others can be used in production of handy goods but all start out as that ordinary old plant.  It has only been a few decades ago that the lowly soybean was looked upon as a weed.  Then it graduated into the use as fodder for livestock.  Wow!  Look at it now!  Soybeans!  The wonder plant! That said, there just has to be alternative uses for every plant...EVERY plant.

  Down in the marsh, there is a small plant called the Salt Marsh Aster. As a plant, it is more or less nondescript but it does have an adorable little bloom.  The plant sits unnoticed until the buds start to open. Then, wham! Everyone takes notice.  (Or, at least I do!)  I like the Salt Marsh Asters.  They brighten up an otherwise drab bit of marsh.  Still, is that the sole purpose of this little plant?  To look sweet and draw butterflies? 

  I pondered that fact as I peeped over the edge of the boards of the pier.  A single bloom braved the winter's bite.  The last few days have been muggy hot thus causing the plant to push out a bloom.  Come two days from now, the cold will shorten the life of the flower.  But, my question was, why?  Why do these plants struggle to grow in the harsh environment of salty mud?  There has to be a reason other than to provide a minute amount of nectar for a passing butterfly.  

  Then it hit me.  Perhaps I am over-thinking the value of things here. Perhaps, just perhaps, this is one of those things that was put on this earth for pure joy.  (You do realize, of course, there ARE things like that!)  After all...in midst of the drear of this gray day, the little white aster beaming up from the marsh, did, indeed, make me smile!  Perhaps that was the sole purpose of the plant's existence.  To bring a smile....to brighten the day.  Not bad, Little Aster, not bad at all.  You have done your job well.  Now if we could all take a clue from that overlooked plant and bring a smile to someone's face...for no purpose whatsoever...just purely for the joy of it.  What a delightful objective that would be!  So....go out and be a Salt Marsh Aster!  Cause someone to smile!  It will do you good and spread a bit of joy in this downtrodden, old world and that, my friend, is a beautiful thing.