Distracted by life

   Late this afternoon, I had to escape the confines of the Little Bayou House.  I am good with being inside for a while but then I have to heed the calls of the Bayou.  Not all of us are bemoaning the social distancing recommendations.  Some of us were born to be that way so solitude suits us.  We find adventure where it falls and do not depend on others to create our happiness.  That said, I did, indeed, escape.  For a few hours, I wandered the hillside, woods and creek bed.  I was tempted to go to the far side of the creek and spend time there but got distracted by Friend Osprey.

 The shriek of the osprey drew my attention upward to the top of the barren gum trees.  The bird was perched with something held tightly in its talons.  The osprey had made a catch and it appeared to be quite large.  At first, the bird eyed me.  I suppose I was no threat as soon it started ripping shreds of meat from the fish.  I stood in awe as I watched the bird eat.  Holding onto the tree limb with one foot and grasping the fish in the talons of the other, the bird was able to maneuver its meal to its advantage.  The large, curved beak easily tore long strips from the fish's side.  Then, throwing its head upward, the osprey swallowed the tidbit.  Nary a piece was dropped.  

  Once it stripped the fish clean, it dropped the carcass to the ground. The osprey will sleep well this chilly night with its belly full.  Some other critter, perhaps a raccoon, will finish off the remains of the fish.  It, too, will sleep well.  That one fish satisfied at least two animals.  Life goes on for those adept at survival.

Suits Me To A "T"

  Sorry, folks, but I am not ready to end that social distancing or self isolation thing just yet.  No, I never feared for my life nor felt that I was going to get some dreaded illness.  I just prefer to be alone and away from all of the drama being stirred up and spread around by "Oh, so wonderful people!"  Sorry...not sorry.  As far as I am concerned, the Bayou is still off-limits.  Since I have had plenty of time to do soul-searching and reevaluating, I find I am much happier!  This blog is enough social interacting for me.  Perhaps I truly am becoming a hermitess...or I am truly just tired of peopling.

  Today as I was out investigating what Tropical Storm Cristobal left behind, I had to laugh when I came across a "T".  It is quite apparent that this was not some accident that the storm created but rather something that was made by human hands.  Why?  I have no idea other than perhaps someone was cleaning and did a bit of a balancing act.  A cutoff chunk of wood was laid neatly across the top of  a stump.  Twined partially around it was some sort of aluminum strip.  The whole thing made me think of a crude monument perhaps akin to stone balancing!  What had I happened upon? 

  This "T" is in the middle of a small clearing on property next to ours.  There is no mysterious tale behind it other than how much it reminds me of me.  Here is a somewhat quirky item out in the middle of nowhere that is fully happy (as happy as a tree stump can be) being by itself. It just fit.  So much so that I wish my "T" was on our property.  Perhaps I should start erecting some bizarre monuments here and there just to confuse anyone traipsing around the place. It could be interesting!

A Smile To Brighten The Day

  Back when this whole quarantine thing started, I noticed on social media that a lot of folks were having a hard time coping with the idea that they had to stay home.  It seems that, even though we should be thankful we have a home, it is a struggle to be there for days on end.  I do not have that problem as the Bayou is where I prefer to be and I prefer to be there without other people.  But, back to those folks grappling with the prospect of being home-bound for a length of time.  When I realized they were only seeing the downside of things, I decided to post one photograph each day of something to hopefully lift their spirits.  I created "Thing of Beauty" posts and asked my friends to do the same.  It went over well with several following suit.  That, in itself, is a thing of beauty.

  Today, I posted a photograph of an Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus.  The image was particularly interesting to me as I managed to catch the first sun rays of the morning illuminating the bloom.  It was almost as if the yellow flower was glowing.  So, I used that idea to make a point about how each day is a gift and we should try our best to "glow" in appreciation.   That idea got me to thinking about how it is totally up to us how we start our days.  Yes, things do often go awry but our outlook determines how we deal with whatever is thrown at us.  Beginning the day with a positive attitude goes a long way in determining the path we will follow.  Going back to the quarantine, I refuse to look at it as a bad thing.  Folks are being forced to become family again.  Folks are being made to realize that not everything they "had to have" a few months back is even pertinent now.  Folks are sharing, caring and being generally nice folks.  Yes, there are those "people" (some people are just not folks) who are taking the wrong road and going off the deep end.  But those are the few....the many are being decent human beings.  They are glowing...something folks have not done for some time now.

  The cactus will keep on growing and blooming.  Hopefully, folks will keep on growing, blooming and glowing right along with the plant.  Life is only as good as you make it regardless of the situation.  No, a smile is not going to make the virus go away.  It is not going to repair financial problems.  Nor will it keep you from going stir crazy because you cannot be with your friends.  It will, however, make the day brighter...for you and anyone who is on the receiving end of your friendly gesture.  Be happy, folks.  Glow!

But I AM Social Distancing!

  Social media is a funny thing.  People who would ordinarily never seem crass can come out with some of the most unbelievable statements.  The other day, I was reprimanded for going fishing.  "You are supposed to be social distancing!  Too many people just do not listen.  Stop going out."  Well, to put it bluntly, I was shocked.  I thought I was social distancing as no one comes to the Bayou since this whole mess started.  In fact, very few folks venture down here, in the first place.  Social distancing has never been a problem for me from the git-go.    Of course, I have to give the person the benefit of the doubt as perhaps there was a misconception of where I live.  Granted, I do have neighbors but not "near" neighbors.  Other than a brother whose property adjoins ours on the west and some people I do not know on the east (on the other side of the Bayou), my only neighbors are critters.

  It tickled me to think that my friend refused to believe that by going fishing, I was actually following rules.  Not only was I far from anyone while fishing, it kept me from going to the grocery store!  The pier is my happy place.  It is one of the things that keeps me sane..at least somewhat! When there, I can literally feel miles away from everyone.   I find peace, happiness and occasionally a redfish for supper.  As for my "social media" friend, it is all good.  It would take something far worse to cause me anger.  In any case where folks do provoke me enough, I simply remove myself from any and all correspondence and call it a day.  Bam!  Problem solved.  It is far easier and better for the mind.

Visiting the Frogs!

  While being quarantined due to the virus, I have been taking full advantage of my time being alone.  The yard is being completely redone..gardens, arbors, Frog Pond...everything.  It appears that I have been quite slack on the upkeep of things around here so now is the perfect time to get it ship-shape!  Yesterday, I cleaned the Frog Pond and did some trimming of bushes near it.  As I was pulling out a lot of the water hyacinths, tiny froglets were trying to scoot out of my way.  I knew there were a ton of tadpoles but did not realize that they were already at the stage of morphing into frogs!  Hundreds of different froggies were hiding under the hyacinths and waterlilies!

 Since we literally did not have a winter, the frogs stayed active all year.  There were eggs in the pond in February!  The tadpoles stayed a long while before becoming metamorphlings but once they started changing, it happened quickly for all of them.  While clearing the pond of the overgrowth of hyacinths, I had to be extremely careful not to toss out the tadpoles.  Some had their little arms but no back legs while others had all four legs but still had the tadpole tails.  

  This evening with the cloudy overcast, the   froggy serenade is going strong.  Toads, green tree frogs, leopard frogs, chorus frogs, pickerel frogs and an occasional bullfrog can be heard adding their voices to the cacophony.  This means one thing...the freshly cleaned pond will be filled with eggs in a few days.  More tadpoles are on the way! 

The Perfect Visitor!

  In view of the current social distancing order, I fully discourage any visitors to the Bayou.  I live here.  You don't.  There is no need for you to come.  After all this is over and the virus has been defeated...you are welcome.  Not now, however.  I have stuck with the idea that without a host, the virus will die.  Mark, on the other hand, still comes and goes as he pleases.  It bothers me but nothing can be done so I do not even attempt.  I spend a good bit of time outside deep-breathing our fresh air, getting plenty of sunshine and doing yard work.  Great progress is happening in the garden!  

  Today, that social distancing put me to installing some gravel guards for the roof drain.  The way our house is shaped, rain pours down with a vengeance and washes gullies as it does.  I have tried everything but it seems as if this gravel drain some forty feet long is the only surefire way of coping with the destructive power of water!  The gravel guards will keep the gravel, itself, from being strewn into the lawn and then flung about by the mower.  I was on my hands and knees when a visitor showed up.  Surprisingly...this one I welcomed!  In fact, I was overjoyed to stop work, sit a spell and enjoy a bit of company.  It was delightful!

  A Southern Black Racer decided to investigate what I was doing in the garden.  While I was working, a movement caught my eye and I turned to see the snake making its way to me.  I was quite sure that it would veer off course to avoid me but, nope, it came straight in to visit!  The snake slithered up to the pile of large rocks that I had removed from the edge of the drain and then proceeded to inch closer.  Once it was about two feet from me, it stopped, started flicking its tongue and stared.  Oh, sweet thing!  Even when I slowly reached over to get the camera, the snake kept its place.  For a good half hour, my new friend and I shared some quality time.  I welcomed it to the garden and told it that I would prefer it chose the area as its permanent residence.  How sweet would that be???

  Even though I have taken to talking to critters, I promise that this whole isolation thing has not twisted the brain.  It has always been this way.  To be totally honest, I am fully enjoying my "alone time" as I am getting so much accomplished!  And...I am meeting new friends along the way. 

Keeping My Distance!

  With all of the mess that the world is in nowadays, it is best to heed the advice of the experts and do a bit of "social distancing".   There is no earthly reason that you "have" to go anywhere.  Make life a wee bit easier on our health care workers and STAY HOME!  It is that simple.  Stay home...let this virus die out due to a lack of hosts.  I don't want it.  You don't want it.  Nobody wants it.  So...stop sharing it.  Today, several folks called and wanted to come here.  Nope!  I rarely leave the Bayou as it is so social distancing is easy for me but, folks, stop trying to "un-distance" me!  I have advised folks to not venture down the lane to the Little Bayou House.  Let me stay in isolation.

  In fact, my social distancing is now an art form in its own right.  I can avoid people with ease.  Early this morning, I was on the pier thinking that I had actually distanced myself from my own house!  I am out before daybreak and tend to stay outside until late, late afternoon.  As I sat on the bench looking back toward the house, it almost made me giggle.  With the new growth of leaves this spring, the Little Bayou House seemed to disappear!  Looking back up that long pier, the house was quite hidden.  It was as if the place had decided to go into hiding with the rest of us.  

  Folks, it is simple.  To end the virus, we have all got to keep our distance, take precautions and stay well.  Best advice is to stay away from everybody.  I have several family members in the medical profession and they are stressed beyond belief.  They are out of supplies, they are physically and mentally exhausted and, yet, they continue to work hard to keep everybody well.  Why is it so hard to do our part?  Stay home.

Just Stay Home!

  Perhaps it is time to put something out there that may make a point hit home.  At least, if folks really think, it may make this whole "self isolation" or "social distancing" seem a little clearer since there are those who either simply do not understand or who do not care what happens to others.  

  A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of the Groundsel Bush Beetle larva.  This is a pretty, little thing that munches happily on the bushes near the pier.  The critter grows and turns into a small yellow beetle.  The main diet for the larva is the Groundsel Bush hence the name.  It does not venture into the garden to eat my turnip greens nor tomato plants.  It does not infest oak trees nor hickory trees.  It simply stays put on the Groundsel Bush and eats to its heart's content.   Now if that host plant is removed, the larva dies.  

  Trying to explain the importance of social distancing or isolation to some folks is nigh on impossible but it can be compared to the larva and the Groundsel Bush.  If  we remove the host, the virus will die.  It is as simple as that.  Remove ourselves from mass meetings, crowded public places and unnecessary groupings and...wham!...the virus will not have a bunch of hosts in which to live.  These social gatherings of any sort puts us all at danger but also puts everyone else who we interact with in danger as well.  The virus WILL DIE if it has no host...simple as that.

  So, that said, folks, it really boils down to a bit of commonsense and a lot of respect.  Would you want someone bringing the virus to your house?  To infect you?  To infect your loved ones?  Then why do you insist on doing the same?  Stay home!  If you are not an essential person needed to keep this country running...stay home.   If you are not a health care worker of any sort..stay home.  If your services are not direly needed for the safety of others...stay home.  If you are not someone directly helping in some form...stay home!  By getting out, you are putting so many in danger and are making the jobs of those out there trying their best to keep things safe and keep the country rolling much more difficult.  Just STAY HOME!