Looking through the storms...

  Ok, so being limited in where and when I can go is about as bad as being fully quarantined, as far as I can see.  I feel tethered to the Little Bayou House, and while I love my place, I am about to go stir crazy!  I want the freedom to roam the marshes, creek bed and woods.  I want to watch the sunrise from the pier.  I want to feed my heron friend.  I want to traipse the hillside.  But...that is not happening, at least for the next two months.  Folks, stop your whining about having your actions a bit curbed by the pandemic.  What freedoms you have can very quickly come to a halt.  

  At daybreak, I was in the kitchen making coffee when I noticed that it was not raining (yet).  Thinking that the sun might just be trying to give us a glorious horizon, I peeped out the back door.  Well, it was NOT raining...but the sun struggled amongst the clouds.  Then!  It peeped through just enough to set the world aglow!  And....I was stuck to the confines of the Small Gardens.  Well, there was nothing to do but make the best of it.  

  The pathway that wanders on the north side of the house was fully overgrown by the citrus trees, nandina bushes and a few errant wisteria vines.   Since all yard work has come to a screeching stop, everything is vastly different than just three weeks ago.  Still, this leafy bower was gorgeously lit with the sunbeams that filtered through the oak trees.  This gave even the darkest green leaves a golden hue.  I could not help but wander here.  (Yes, this is allowed in my list of rules.)  A slight rain started to drizzle down upon me but it mattered not.  I could not pry myself from the path.  Going back indoors seemed to be a horrible fate at the moment when such mystique was surrounding me!  I ventured onward and soon came to the deteriorating vegetable garden.  It saddened me to see it in such condition.  Had I only the strength...

  From the southern most corner of the vegetable plot, I was able to peep over the grapevines to view a small portion of the Bayou.  The sun was doing its best to provide me with my much sought after sunrise.  The golden glow from the citrus trees had spilled over onto the calm waters.  My mind drifted off to other sunrises...other morns...seemingly eons ago.  Will I ever be able to return to those days?  Hopefully, hopefully.  In the meantime, I shall continue to find happiness wherever it may be.  

Simply Thankful

   As usual, many things battle for space in the brain as I meander about the hillside.  Here lately, my hikes have become slow strolls due to the health of the old dog. He moves slow so I move slow.  There is no need to hurry if it causes him not to enjoy his time outside.  We spend time together purely because we like each other but, as of late, he never wants me out of his sight.  So, instead of fast-paced hikes where I would leave him far behind, we stroll, take time to see things and often stop to rest.  He needs our time together as a reassurance that I will always be here for him.  I need our time together simply because he has been so faithful.  But, as I said, many things have the chance to pop in and out of the thoughts on these long, slow walks.

  This afternoon being as tomorrow is Thanksgiving, it occurred to me that I am thankful for the chance to move slow.  I am thankful for life being slower paced than in the past.  I am thankful that, as a kid, I was able to lie on my back in the cool grass and watch the clouds float by overhead.  I am thankful that the old dog, Mr. PJ has given me the opportunity to do it again.  I am thankful that he came to the Bayou to be a part of the family.  I am just thankful for life and what all is here.