Progressive Decorating!

   Back in September, I decorated an odd, little niche in our bathroom.  Since it was fall, the theme had to fit.  So...a split gourd, some dried flowers (plus a couple of silk ones) and a lantern filled the space perfectly.  Then came along October with Halloween and November with Thanksgiving.  Everything stayed the same except I added a couple of tiny pumpkins.  I was beginning to like this idea of progressive decorating!  Now, Christmas has sneaked in and caught my pumpkins by surprise!  It was time to change.

  It took a grand total of about two minutes to transition into a different holiday!  Out came the fall leaves and orange flowers.  Away went the pumpkins!  Those would never do for Christmas!  A nice bow in red and black plaid topped the lantern, pinecones replaced the pumpkins and a wooden cardinal came to visit.  Greenery was poked into the gourd and a crocheted doily made by my grandmother provided the perfect base.  It is nothing fancy but neither am I nor is the Little Bayou House. I am sure others would have much better ideas of how to deal with this weird spot but this suits me fine.  Progressive home decorating is the way to go!  

Tiny Bits of Magic!

   Most folks who know me have serious doubts about my sanity, I am sure.  I tend to live in "my own little world" and block out the woes of the world.  People take things far too seriously and never allow themselves to cut loose and dwell in a fantasy land for a while.  Maybe I am totally wrong on this.  Perhaps others live in a fantasy world full of strife, conspiracy theories and unrest.  Maybe...just maybe...my Bayou is the "real world" and here is where real life takes place.  Then again...there are those who have doubts....which is fine by me because I do not have to be bothered with inane problems that can never be solved.  Mysteries...on the other hand...do not NEED to be solved!  They need to be enjoyed for what they are and that is it.  Mysteries and magic of the Bayou are all it takes.

  On my hikes about the place, I can find endless mysteries and copious amounts of pure magic.  (That is another fallacy being spread about.  Most say that magic has to be made.  Nope...it happens.  It just happens and is there for the fortunate to find and enjoy.)  This morning led me far down behind the canebrake where I was in hopes of finding mosses and ferns still intact after our bout of freezing weather.  The mosses were fine but the fern fronds were brown and withered.  This saddened me as the creek bed is one of the few places left wild.  It is full of magical happenings there!

  One point of beauty simply was found underfoot.  Fairy Footprints!  Yep, those tiny, white flowers were popping up everywhere!  These are some of the first wildflowers to bloom each year after winter starts to wane.  They do not seem to mind overnight frost as long as the days warm.  In fact, they do not even mind the shady nooks of the creek bed...those places overshadowed by underbrush or leafy oaks.  This groundcover is also often called Roundleaf Bluets or simply Innocence.  I call it magic for no other reason than the smile the blooms can bring to the face and the joy to the heart.  Find your magic, folks.  Find it...I promise, it is not something that needs to be made...it is already there.

Inconspicuous!

   Most folks have a tendency to overlook things simply because something a bit showier is catching their attention.   Expensive clothes, loud music, the huge house are all of the things that draw attention away from a sensibly dressed person, a bird song or a cottage.  It is just human nature.  Speaking of nature, the same holds true there, as well.  For instance, the bright red cardinal will stand out against the tiny brown wren, a rose will overshadow a wee bluet and a dolphin will surely garner more attention than a bull minnow!  That said, I tend to shy away from the elaborate things in life purely because of the attention.  I am a person that lives a much simpler life than most so it is understandable that I cherish what others deem as mundane.  I see the beauty in most everything...simple or elaborate...plain or gaudy.  Everything has its place.

  I thought of this while out back behind the canebrake.  The rains had stopped just enough for me to slip out for a few moments.  It was there that I spied the American Beautyberry bush.  Normally, this is something that most only recognize in the fall when the lengthy canes are dotted with clumps of magenta colored berries.  The bush is truly a showstopper and can be found wild just about everywhere.  Like I said...it is a showstopper in the fall.  During the rest of the year, it goes unnoticed even though there are lovely pinkish lavender blooms that precede those berries.  The blooms are so tiny and so pale that most folks never notice them.  I do!  In fact, that was the one reason I dared to sneak to the back even under the threat of being caught in a thunderstorm.  The blooms always make me smile.  American Beautyberry is truly lovely year round...often overlooked during the spring but beautiful just the same.

The Lost "City" Beneath the Murky Waters?

  I have never denied that I have a very vivid imagination.  One  would have thought that with age, that sense would have dulled but, sometimes, I think it is just the opposite.  It appears to be getting stronger or perhaps the brain just feels freer about letting loose, nowadays.  Whatever the case may be, it has occurred to me lately that we all truly do live in a fantasy world if we would only admit it.  Weird and wonderful things abound but most folks have had their minds jaded into thinking that seeing things in a magical way is not "adult" enough.  It is foolishness.  Nope.  I feel differently.  It is foolish to close the imagination and not absorb what is placed out there for us to enjoy.

  Down near the pier where the mudflats can often be found, algae grows with wild abandon.  While this is repulsive to highfalutin folks,  it can be downright interesting if you truly observe what is happening with the stuff.  With the hot sunshine and high tide, the green, slimy stuff rises to the surface of the stagnant water and just about chokes out any living thing but let sunshine go away for a few days and things are different.  The sheet of green sinks to the bottom and merely provides a grazing ground for any critter that is inclined to dine upon it.  Low tide finds the sheet dried and brittle.  The mudflats are coated with a thin, papery substance that cracks when touched.  It is that dried sheeting that can create some pretty amazing designs whenever it becomes submerged once again.

  Yesterday, it was scorching hot.  The algae sheet became dried and stiff but this morning, the story was quite different.  The rising tide lifted parts of the sheeting causing the algae to look like domed houses.  Tiny fish came into the still waters.  Their movements tore "doorways" and "windows" into the dome homes.  This was met with delight as now, the fish had hiding places.  They darted in and out of their new-found homes.  The mudflats had turned into a place much like a tiny city bustling with activity!  Ahh, yes!  The imagination could fully see this.  You know, it is not about algae, imaginations, or people.  It is about taking the time to fully enjoy the simplicity of life and the beauty found in every living thing.

Simplicity

  Sometimes the hubbub of the holidays can catch one off-guard.  The stress can become overwhelming and all of the glitz and glitter just adds to that feeling of being smashed to pieces.  It is times like those that it is best to back off a bit and simplify things.  This is what I did this Christmas.  While I am usually one who goes all out for the holidays (any holiday!), I was just not "feeling it" this Christmas.  So...I simplified things.  I pared the decorations down to a minimum, chopped that gift-giving list down to rock bottom,  baked only a small portion of the usual thousands of cookies and just let go of the feeling of obligation that comes with all of the trappings of the season.  A mostly unadorned tree stands in the living room with just a few special gifts beneath its softly lighted limbs, a few sprigs of fresh pine and some paper snowflakes grace the windows and the scent of anise cookies wafts from the kitchen.  Yep, a nice, simple, down-to-earth Christmas.

  I feel relieved to say the least.  Not that I am in any sort of "Christmasy Spirit" but at least I am not feeling bombarded with additional chores. Since Son and I are the only ones at home this Eve before Christmas, there is no need for last minute preparations.  He is good with whatever comes and I am sitting here with my feet propped up while sipping on a cup of tea.  Not bad...not bad at all.

  While I admit that next Christmas might see me bedecking the entire house, yard and pier again, it is sort of nice to have had a relaxing holiday season this year.  The paring down of all the stress of the holidays does not mean that I do not still love the meaning behind the day! My wish to you may be simple but it is heartfelt.  May the Peace, Love and Joy of Christmas be with you, not only for the one day but for each day of the coming year.  Merry Christmas, my friends, Merry Christmas.