Wind, Bees and Flowers!

  The area was supposed to get a lot of rain last night and today.  Areas around us did...we did not.  We got wind. Tonight, thankfully, thunder rolls and showers come and go.  I am ready for a good soaking rain on the gardens.  If this happens, a couple of hundred little plants will be set in their "growing" spots in the morning.  The cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli plants really need to be spaced a bit further apart than I had sowed the seeds but it would have been pointless to transplant them during the drought.  So...we (the plants and I) wait on the rain.

  This morning, I headed to the pier to check the skiff and any fishing gear.  The winds were picking up a bit so it is better to take care of things before it gets too rough.  It was on that quick dash that I had to stop and watch a bee.  Yep, even during iffy weather, I watch the critters.  At the end of the pier, there is a lovely groundsel bush with its poofy white blossoms.  Right in the midst of the bush, there was a single goldenrod branch. I had stopped to admire the beautiful "floral arrangement" when I noticed another goldenrod branch had tilted over the end of the pier.  That was where I found my lovely, little friend.  The bee was hunkered down among the flowers to escape the wind.  While the blooms gave the bee something to grasp, it was still having a wild ride.  The whole thing was bouncing around with each gust.  At one point, the wind lulled and I was able to photograph the bee.  The bee, however, had a different idea.  After just one picture, it up and flew to the oak tree and nestled in among the lichens.  There, it would be safe from the whipping winds.  And I headed back up the hill to the Little Bayou House.

Bad Girl Ida

   It was a busy day here on the Bayou.  Hurricane preparations are in full swing and it could not be done sooner.  Ida is projected to become at least a Category 4 storm before making landfall so everyone in the general area of Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast should be doing the same.  This storm, wherever it decides to hit, is not going to play nicely.  For all of you that are not in the path of this monster, please take a moment to pray for those who are.  

  This morning, I did manage to sneak to the pier for a bit.  Most likely, I will have one more chance to visit before the pier is wiped out by the hurricane.  My happy place will have to be rebuilt or repaired along with a lot of other things.  It was a sort of dreary morn with lots of heavy clouds that soon gave way to thunderstorms.  Still, the morning sky brought an inner peace.  I will always cherish my times spent gazing at the horizon awaiting the sun to rise.  There is tranquility to be found then.  Folks, stay safe.  Find your inner peace.  Be happy.  

Enough Board Hunting!

   It seems that 2021 took lessons from 2020 in what weather to throw at us.  Just two days ago, Son struggled to haul the massive pier joists up out of the marsh where a storm tossed them.  These things are a couple of hundred pounds bone dry but let them become waterlogged and they are easily twice that.  The lifting was bad enough but to do that lifting in sloppy mud and sinking up to your knees in the muck and the job becomes an ordeal.  He managed to retrieve the planks and even toted a few more to the pier thinking surely there would be a few days of clear.  There was...a few days...but other duties called and the pier boards sat in place without being nailed.  Now, another storm is on the horizon.  This one will, once again, push the tide high enough to float the joists off the stringers.  

  Thinking ahead this time, Son went down and temporarily bolted the joists to the stringers.  They are not in the exact places but, hopefully, will stay in place.  He does not need to be tromping about in the marsh to retrieve them for the eighth time within as many months.  Our poor, little Bayou has been pummeled recently.  

  The storm that is to hit tonight and tomorrow is predicted to come in on high tide just as the last one did. That means the pier will be underwater and anything on top will be gone.  Thankfully, we had a bit of warning this time.  Everything is secure.

  To top it off, just last night, I heard that the 2021 Hurricane Season is expected to be another busy one.  In fact, some meteorologists are calling for a more severe season than last.  Not good...not good at all.  We do not need it.  No one on the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida needs it.  The good folks in Louisiana are still reeling from the damage done there.  Mississippi is much the same.  We need a break.

  The storm tonight is not going to be near the strength of a tropical system but will bounce things around a bit.  It just gets a bit frustrating to keep having to find our pier!  After Hurricane Zeta, we salvaged over 3000 boards...ours, our neighbors' and some from parts unknown.  That was enough salvaging!  Time now to finish the rebuilding without mucking in the marsh!  Stay safe, folks, stay safe.

The New Book!

   So we are winding up this old year and are preparing to welcome in the new.  Hopefully, this next go round will be far better than the past.  While we all have vivid memories of a myriad of calamities and dire moments, good things happened.  They were just overshadowed by folks' panic-attacks, bad thoughts and lack of commonsense.  It is my wish that folks will wake up and gather their wits about them enough to MAKE it a good year.  Singer/songwriter, Brad Paisley said "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.  Write a good one."  The man is brilliant.  That is the best thing I have heard in decades.  Folks, Make it a good year.  Write a good book. 

  We are welcoming in the New Year with a storm.  Tropical storm force winds, torrential rains and heavy lightning are battering the bayou, once again.  Why not?  Why not close out the year with an atypical storm?  Hurricane Season (thus, tropical storm season) was over last month!  So I figure this storm is just blowing all the strife and turmoil of 2020 out the door before the New Year comes in all bright and shiny. Wouldn't that be a happy thought?

  Folks, hang in there.  Granddad always used to compare life and times to a huge clock pendulum.  We enjoy good times while the pendulum rides high.  Then, we sort of ignore the small problems that occur while the pendulum is on the downswing.  Kapow!  It hits rock bottom and panic spreads like wildfire.  Things appear dire and folks are dismayed at the state of everyday life.  You know what?  Once that pendulum is at its lowest point, there is no place to go but up.  So, keep the faith that the coming year will see us making that slow ascent back up to good times.  It can happen.  It will happen.  It will if we all work at it.  Happy New Year!

Hurricane Zeta Left A Lot Of Critters Homeless

   If ever you are on the Bayou and are out on the pier before daybreak, do not be fearful if you hear some mighty strange noises.  The Bayou is not haunted...well, maybe it is but the noises are not ghosts.  It is not unusual to hear clicks, yips, squeaks and crunches near the marshes.  These are all sounds that a natural to the area.

  A family of otters lived in a wallowed out den under the marsh mats before Hurricane Zeta came ashore.  Now their home sits tumbled up in the yard.  The otters were left homeless by the storm surge but being the resourceful critters they are, it did not seem to bother them.  In fact, the family is taking full advantage of the damaged pier and our inability to be on it.  They are happy campers that we are not there to interrupt their dining.  

  Hurricane Zeta left the fish in a turmoil as well as all of the other critters.  The Bay is teeming with all sorts of swimmy things and the otters are being well fed.  Yesterday morning, I managed to catch a couple of photos as the family feasted upon little mullet.  The happy squeaks of the pups and the gurgles of the adults makes me believe that the family is thriving regardless of having their home ripped from them.  Most likely, they have already created a new living space and, hopefully, that is not far from the pier.  I so enjoy their antics (even though they raid the crab traps!).

A Welcome Distraction

   Earlier this afternoon, Son and I headed down the hill to secure the boat a bit more before Hurricane Zeta pays a visit.  While walking down the path behind him, I had to laugh as he stepped right on a snake!  Granted it was only a rough green snake but it was still a snake.  The poor little thing froze!  It was not moving in case the next huge monster (me) decided to step on it, too.  Well, I saw it so, instead of stepping on it, I picked it up to admire its beauty.  The little rascal was nervous at first and actually musked me but that is normal.  I had no problems with it.  After a bit, the snake settled down and was soon enjoying the attention.  Son snapped a few photographs of his old mom playing with the tiny snake.  

  The little green snake was a welcome distraction from the day's work and from what is to come tonight.  As I write this, the winds are picking up tremendously and we are having torrential rains.  (This will have to be posted early since we are about to lose power.)  It is going to be a rough night on the Bayou.  Please say a prayer for all those in the path of this powerful hurricane.  It is not one to take lightly.  Hang tight, folks!  Hunker down and be safe!  We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Why, Hello, Good Friend!

   With the storm, Beta, moving to the north of us, our tides are a bit elevated.  The weather is not bad but, since the Gulf was in turmoil for a while, a lot of birds have taken refuge in our bay.  The calm waters offer peace from the storm and plentiful foodstuffs for the birds to gorge themselves during their stay.  Their chosen resting spots are the piers and posts in our bend.  There is nothing unusual about this as we normally shelter many critters when a tempest is near.  They know to come here.  They know that we welcome them and wish them well.

  With the birds seeking safe shelter, the photography opportunities are endless.  To my way of thinking, the birds are beautiful, in their own right, but add in their comical ways, and the show is entertaining, also.  This morning, dozens of birds of all types were sheltering on my brother's pier.  Cormorants, several different types of gulls and, of course, the brown pelicans.  The pelicans are the comedians of the group.  Sometimes, I think their antics are merely an attention getting ploy.  If they humor us, they will get fed.  The birds know this.  

  This morning, one pelican seemed bent on getting my attention.  Whether it was intentional or not, the pelican seemed to be waving at me.  Each photo found it with one wing raised high in salutation!  Sorry, Gus.  The net is still in storage from the hurricane preparations of last week.  I promise to get it out tomorrow.  

Cristobal, you can leave now!

  Well, Tropical Storm Cristobal came to visit the Bayou and is stirring up a tad bit of trouble before he makes his exit.  Yes, I do know that the storm "officially" made landfall in Louisiana but, like I said before, that put us on that right side...the side you do not want to be on during any tropical system.  Why?  Because in any typical storm, that upper right quadrant (our side in this case just like in Hurricane Katrina) is the side that catches the brunt of the wind, tidal surge and rain.  The area that is impacted by the right side of a tropical system in the Atlantic Basin, is in for trouble.  We got trouble by the buckets!  Rain...lots and lots of rain fell on the area and that created flooding and wind..sometimes gusting nigh on to hurricane force, pushed even more water into our area.  In fact, as of this writing, the rain gauge reads a little over 8 inches. This flooding is not going to go away for a while.  Here on the Bayou, we are lucky.  We live on a hill that overlooks the Bay and Bayou.  While the tidal surge came and is slowly receding at this time, the rain filling the creek that empties into the back of the Bayou is causing trouble for those behind us.  Here, the rain slides off into the Bay.  Others are not so fortunate.  The water from rivers, creeks, ponds and any low spots just pools and then floods into houses.  Not good.  

  The pier seems to have taken a beating and planks have wandered off to parts unknown.  Those will have to be replaced.  Hopefully, (I cannot tell yet as water is still covering it) the base structure of the pier is still intact.  Planks can be replaced with a little hard work.  The gardens look a whole lot worse for wear.  The wind has pretty much tattered the plants.  Again, with a little hard work, those can be replaced.  Son and I worked throughout the storm to keep things together.  Several times, we had to brave the pelting rains and high winds to hoist the skiffs a bit further up the hill until we finally just chained the boats to a sturdy oak tree.  Enough of that!  

  Tomorrow will find us with more rain and occasional fierce winds but hopefully the storm surge will be down.  Cleaning up the debris line across the front and side yards will have to wait until Cristobal decides to make a full exit.  As I am writing, the winds are still rapping at the windows and rain is continually pelting the rooftop.   Some of these storms just refuse to leave!

Strong Winds and Mudflats!

  Where did all of the water go?  The walk to the pier this morning was not only a tad difficult due to frost coating each plank but was disappointing since there was no water!  The storm system that hit the Bayou for the past few days did a fine job of pushing water in to the Bay and Bayou when the wind was coming from the south but, once that direction changed, it pushed it right back out into the Gulf.  Yesterday's winds were from the west and, then last night, the winds turned from the north.  The winds were blowing a gale and coming from either of those directions pushes the water far from our pier.  The pier sat high and dry.  The large boats moored at my brother's pier were sitting on bottom.  Son and I were smart!  Yesterday while the tide was high (before wind direction changed), we pulled the small skiff well up into the yard and tied it off to a tree.  Now there is no strain on the lines and we have no worries about it breaking free.  Since it is just a small skiff, it will be easy to put back into the water if needed.

  With the tide being far from shore, there was a clear view of what is normally hidden by water.  We try to keep the area around our pier clear of trash, logs or anything that may snag our lines.  It always amazes me how much stuff is washed in without us seeing it until it has settled into the mud.  Within a few months, more PVC piping, bottles, cans, tree limbs and other debris have wound up next to the pier.  Once the boat is returned to the water, a good cleanup is in order.  This is other people's trash but Son and I are the ones to dispose of it properly.  At least today, I got a good idea of how much is there.  If nothing changes, this should be a quick and easy job!

 

It's Coming!

  The day started off on a perfectly decent note.  The predicted rains had not started yet and a visit with Darling Daughter was the happiest way to begin the day.  Occasionally, she comes before work to share a cup of coffee with her mom!  My day is always better when she is around regardless of the weather.  Along about 10am, she headed to work and shortly after, the skies darkened.  Twenty minutes later, it poured...and poured.  Torrential rains hit the Bayou for nigh on two hours.  

  During a short break between that and the next rainstorm, Son and I rushed to the pier to tend to the small skiff.  There had been so much rain that the boat was nearly full of water.  The pump was stuck and no water had been emptied.  He repaired the pump then started bailing.  I stood and watched helplessly since two of us in the tiny boat would have been too difficult.  I kept watch on the Bay and incoming storm.  The thunder was drawing nearer and I could see a wall of rain inching closer and closer across the water.  "Hurry!  We have got to get back to the house!" was met with "I have to finish."  So, I waited in the drizzling rain with him.  Finally, he jumped from the skiff and said, "I am just going to pull the boat ashore then pull the plug."  That sounded like a grand idea so the two of us hauled the boat up the bank.  It was heavy and hard work but we finally situated it in a safe place, tied it to a tree and he pulled the plug.  "Let's go!" I said! 

  We made it to the door when another storm let loose.  The winds were terrific with this one.  Limbs were being ripped from the trees and tossed about the yard.  Suddenly, there was a loud clattering on the rooftop.  "Uh, oh!  Hail!"  Some of the largest hail that I have ever seen pelted the house.  Son spoke..."I am glad we made it inside.  That may have hurt a bit."  Yep.  It may have.  

  All said and done, we received over four inches of rain in less than three hours and there is more on the way.  We will stay snug and safe in the Little Bayou House and not worry about what is happening outside.  The boat is secure, the cat is inside and all is well.  Stay safe, folks, stay safe.

Happy Grey Days!

  Weather on the Bayou is never short on surprises.  A hurricane can whip in from the Gulf and give us a beating or a cold front can surprise us from the north and make things dreary.  Either way, the cloud formations never cease to astound.  The recent cold front (which never got overly cold), brought its share of wind.  Last night, gusts reached upwards of 60mph and had a fun time blowing things around.  Lawn furniture, tarps covering firewood and fishing gear all took flight!  Then a short shower, more wind and finally a bit of cooler temperatures settled for the night.  By morning, things had eased a bit but the skies still appeared ominous.  I took advantage of the misting rain to do a bit of indoor work before heading to the pier just after noon.  

  The "cold front" squalls had moved south of us with a dark line of clouds right on the horizon.  Above, a sort of eerie swirl of blotchy clouds blocked out most of the sun.  At one point, the Mr. Sun tried his best to burn off the clouds but had no such luck.  The entire Bayou appeared to be cloaked by some entity that would wreak havoc on any who dared to oppose it.  Instead of taking issue with this entity, I embraced it and sat back to enjoy the weirdness of the day.  I have been told that I am one of a few that can find peace in storms.  

  By nightfall, the clouds had moved on and a clear sky with a nigh on full moon graced the Bayou.  About an hour after dark, Son and I headed to the pier to secure the small skiff a bit more before the next weather system approaches.  The bright moon left little need for flashlights as we did our work.  Tomorrow will see more rain but a lot less wind.  Grey days of winter are here and all is good on the Bayou.  

Stranger Things...

  There are times that the Bayou presents me with things.  These items come from parts unknown and are washed in on high tides.  Let a tropical storm or hurricane whip in here and the trove is quite unbelievable.  One never knows what will be found in the yard.  These "treasures" are often mostly trash that needs to be discarded but occasionally a true "treasure" is found.  After hurricanes, I have found furniture, household items and tools strewn about the property.  A lot of it is beyond repair but there are pieces that can be restored to be useful. Trust me when I say, I am not so high and mighty that I will not use the stuff.  I have.  We were always taught that it is purely wasteful to not at least try to repair and reuse items.  

  The past week has brought some odd weather to the Bayou.  A tropical storm hurried through only to meet up with a cold front coming down.  Mother Nature's whims sent things into a bit of a turmoil.  Not much was hurt in the wake of this but a few things were tossed around.  No biggy.  Then, we were bombarded by the system that sits on top of us now.  This one is "no biggy" either but it gave a bit of wind and copious amounts of rain...and is still giving us rain.  Last night, one squall gave up a "treasure".

  Early this morning, I carried the old dog out to do his business.  While I was headed to his favorite spot, I noticed something strange.  A beach ball had obviously flown in on the wind.  While this is not overly unusual, the spot where it landed and became lodged was.  Son built a "brig" or jail (of sorts) for the clue hunt.  Since the hunt takes place on an uninhabited (almost) spot, the pirates that were shipwrecked supposedly had to use what material was on hand.  The brig is created out of reed fencing and canes from our huge canebrake.  Somehow, that beach ball was tossed inside of the brig!  Now, the only thing that remains locked in our jail is a faded beach ball that came in on a storm.  

  Strange tides bring strange things.  The treasure trove of oddities continues to grow with each storm that surges across the Bay.  For now, the ball will remain in the brig.  There is one team left to compete in the annual hunt so we shall see their reaction to something so out of place it is hilarious.  Will they think this is some odd clue?  Or will they realize that Mother Nature played yet another trick on us all?

 

The Making of Marsh Mats

  A couple of days ago, Tropical Storm Olga decided that we need a bit of stirring up.  Perhaps we were getting complacent and she thought it best to visit.  Yes, I know the storm supposedly went in west of here but tell that to the Bayou.  Things were rockin' and rollin' for a short while.  Other than ripping boards from the pier and bringing a few limbs down, the storm did little damage .  What it did do was clean the marsh.

  The nutria rats adore munching marsh roots.  So much so that they eat entire flats.  The marsh grass, itself, is laid to the wayside.  Since no one is going to go rake the marsh, the dead reeds become entangled in the live plants and start getting things totally clogged.  It takes a bit of high tide and gusty winds to clean the place a bit.  This is good as it also brings in any trash that thoughtless people toss in the water.  It is a bad thing as that all winds up in my front yard.  

  This afternoon while I was on the pier checking how many planks were lost, I noticed the huge mounds of dead marsh grass that had been tossed and turned by the storm.  These "mats" will house a lot of critters this winter.  The thatched roofs will provide protection and warmth for snakes, otters, spiders, shorebirds, nutrias and, of course, mice and rats.  A myriad of other critters will call the mats home, as well. What the nutrias started by trimming the marsh, the storm finished by transforming the chaff into tightly woven mats.  Rather neat when you think about it.  Mother Nature's got this!

It Came...It Went

  It had been the perfect night for sleeping.  The old dog was snoring on his bed, the cat was snoozing near my feet and it was raining.  The soft thunder in the distance and the pelting of raindrops on the rooftop helped me to drift off into a deep slumber.  A good storm can always relax me so I got some much needed rest.

  Then along about 4am, a loud crash woke me.  Something had smacked the side of the house!  It was then that I realized that the wind was literally howling at the french doors.  Whoa!  The tropical system that was stirring about in the Gulf had decided to move ashore.  Even though, Olga went in to our west, we got a bit of the high tides and strong winds. 

  The storm did some slight damage to the pier but, other than the limb hitting the house, everything is good.  This one just sort of caught us off guard.  Son and I had pulled up the small skiff and had hauled the fishing gear up from the pier so there were no worries.  At daybreak, he and I headed down to retrieve the pier boards that were being ripped off.  Some we found.  Others floated off to parts unknown.  

  Storms like these keep us on our toes and make us realize just how small and insignificant we really are.  Things can change in a heartbeat with no warning,  It is best to use time wisely.

Not A Dragonfly!

  The threat of a tropical storm hitting the Bayou has come and gone.  Things got a bit squally but that was about it which was good for us.  Others to our west are not faring so well.  Our damage was nothing more than losing a few boards off the pier and sustaining a bad case of cabin fever.  I took advantage of every break in the torrential rains to slip outside to "breathe" and poke around a bit.  All of this staying inside has my brain in a constant state of perplexity.  I needed to roam...so I did.  I, also, got soaking wet and had to change clothes six times today but it was well worth all of the laundry! 

  Down along the marsh edge, the waters flooded in and kept things interesting.  Critters of all sorts kept surprising me by scurrying out of my way.  At one point, what appeared to be a small dragonfly of some sort landed on my arm.  It fluttered haplessly against the wind so I figured the poor thing needed the resting spot.  It is in my nature to help critters of all kinds so I  tried to shelter it from the rain and wind.  Once we (the critter and I) made it to the greenhouse, things were a bit calmer and I actually had a chance to look at my hitchhiker.  This was not a dragonfly nor a damselfly!  I had picked up the adult version of an antlion!

  Antlions spend most of their time in the larvae state.  Around here, they can be found in sandy areas.  It is easy to recognize their presence as they make "funnel" traps to catch prey.  The larva creates a funnel-shaped divot in the sand and when an ant wanders in, the antlion flicks sand up the side to create an avalanche.  The sliding sand sends the ant right into the jaws of the antlion!  Once the larva turns into an adult, it is rarely seen since it is a nocturnal creature.  I happened upon this one in the late evening.  

  After admiring the critter, I released it under the edge of the Little Bayou House where it could be sheltered until its wings gained strength and the weather settled down a bit.  Tonight, the antlion adult will take flight in search of a mate.  

 

Tossing and Turning!

  The weather was a bit stormy all day here on the Bayou.  This suited me fine as it kept me inside.  Normally, I do not like being confined to the Little Bayou House but there were baskets of plums that needed to be made into jam.  Once again, Son and I chopped and jammed!  Another three days of this and we should be finished.  The two plum trees were loaded this year and, even though we had to pick the fruit early to prevent the coons from ruining them, we will have more than enough jam to restock the pantry shelves.  

  There was one time when Mark and I slipped out to check the small skiff moored at the end of the pier.  Being stuck inside, I had no idea the severity of the storm that was pounding the Bayou.  My goodness!  This was not unlike a tropical storm!  Waves smashed against the pier and sent water flying over the top.  Our pier, being a bit higher than the others nearby, was still usable.  The others were completely under with the high tide.  The small skiff bounced fiercely with the waves but the moorings were holding fast.  Our normally calm bay was being churned by the winds.

  Mark and I watched the waves for a bit then headed back up the hillside.  We both pondered if this was some sort of harbinger of things to come.  Would this be the year of severe hurricanes?  Would there be many tropical systems hitting the Coast?  Would the Bayou see many storms raking over the marshes?  No one knows but we shall prepare just in case any of the scenarios come true.  In the meantime, those plums are calling me!  Back to work.

Just Amblin'

  Yesterday, Mr. PJ (the old dog) and I meandered in the azaleas.  He loved nosing around in a "new" territory.  He is not often allowed to wander down the lane as I do not wish to have him near the main road.  His instincts and reaction times would not serve him well in the path of an oncoming automobile.  So we normally stay far from the lane.  However, I figured that as long as I was with him (which, lately, is always), it would not hurt to give him a new place to explore.  He and I, both, loved being in our little hidden world.  For a while we were completely surrounded by the ten foot tall azaleas.  I think the escapade did him good as he slept soundly during the night following our short, amble.

  This afternoon, the wind was blowing something fierce.  Mr. PJ decided that he wished to stay on the southeast side of the house since it is obvious that he loves wind.  Our walk (which is no longer a vigorous hike due to his health) took us through the east arbor which has a rambling Cherokee Rose sprawling across the top.  This rose was planted here by Son a few years back and I love the thing.  He and I were on a hike far back in the creek bed when I spied a few of the rose vines.  I made mention that I had always wanted one for the yard even though they are considered to be an invasive species.  (Perhaps this is true as the woods are filled with the rambling roses.)   It was only a few hours later that Son called me out to see my new rose!  I am still thrilled with this beauty and, today, it proved to be a bright spot in the midst of a storm.  The top of the arbor is filled with the heavily scented white blooms.  

  The Cherokee Rose is one of the first roses to bloom in the rose garden each spring, although its history is a bit sketchy.  It was brought to the United States in 1780 and soon became naturalized.  It acclimated to the Deep South so well that it soon became invasive and now fills the wooded areas with its brambles.  Early spring, however, those thorny brambles put for a glorious show of white blooms.  From a distance, a lot of folks tend to believe that these roses are dogwood blooms but they are far from the same.  The dogwood is actually on a decline on the Coast and in recent years, there are few to be found.  Not so with the Cherokee Rose.  It is everywhere...and it is also in my yard!  I love it!

  While Mr. PJ sat with his nose to the wind, I pushed my nose in the center of several of the roses!  Our short walks are beginning to be a tad more interesting than those during the gray days of winter.  There is a lot more to see now and the old dog does not have to amble far for me to find something mesmerizing.  There is a lot of magic on this old Bayou of mine!  Hopefully, this wind will not tear up all of the azalea and rose blooms and there were still be plenty to enjoy for a few days.

Standing strong against the odds

  It is a well known fact that wind can do major damage.  Here on the Bayou, that is quite evident.  We get a lot of hurricanes passing through this way.  The straight line winds push the tides way up and also cause damage to buildings.  This can be devastating, to say the least.  Hurricane winds don't just come in one direction, however.  In fact, while the strongest winds usually are in a direct path, you never really know which direction the gusts will blow.   Plus, most hurricanes have tornadoes mixed in the mess so everything is topsy-turvy.  A hurricane is one big mess of wind coming from just about every direction in any given moment.  Pop always used to say that a hurricane had a mind of its own and you should never take its action as a given.  "Its always going to change and surprise you to the worst."  They do change so never take to the idea that you have one figured out.  You don't. Trust me on that.

  In 1985 a hurricane was playing in the Gulf of Mexico.  It was one of those unpredictable storms that left everyone confused.  The hurricane went this way and that.  It made many turns before setting its sites on a place to make landfall.  On September 2, Hurricane Elena paid us a visit.  The storm made landfall as a Category 3 and pretty much wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast.  Hurricane Elena spawned many, many tornadoes which decimated everything in their paths.   

  That said, down the hill near where the property meets the marsh, an old oak tree stands.  It has been there for decades upon decades as have most of the other oak trees on the place.  This one particular oak, however, still shows the strength of hurricane winds in its limbs.  It was shortly after Hurricane Elena (and its many tornadoes) that we noticed the evidence that the oak had been caught up in the middle of a cyclone.  Several of its huge limbs were torqued into odd shapes.  The tree was strong and withstood the winds but, to this day, it still bears the evidence of the trauma.  The twisted branches are a reminder not to take the weather for granted.  Mother Nature can release her fury on the Bayou at any time (as in any place) so it makes sense just to be fully aware of what is happening and to be prepared.  

  As I stood looking at the oddly shaped branches today, it came to mind that, while we can prepare for storms, the trees just have to "hold their ground". They are battered by both wind and water but the old oaks do a fine job of being sturdy.  I pondered of how many storms these old trees must have witnessed.  How many times were they bent and broken only to recuperate and thrive again?  Hurricane Elena was bad but how many storms before and how many after were worse?  Hurricane Katrina came along some twenty years later and did her best to decimate the Gulf Coast. The oaks beat the odds against her, too.  Between these two storms many other hurricanes and tropical storms twisted and turned the trees.  The old oaks stood strong against those unpredictable winds that rip, tear, twist and ravage the place.  What mighty trees they are!  I put my hand against the rough bark and wished I could stand so strong against the odds.

Well, that was quick!

  Going to bed last night, I had no inkling that by morning, things would change.  About 3am, things did change.  The weather took a turn for the worse and I awoke to tornado sirens sounding on all sides of us.  I laid there thinking that storms sure take you by surprise.  After about ten minutes of listening to rain pound the rooftop and wind rattle the windows, I decided that a cup of coffee was calling my name.  I wandered into the kitchen.  Things did not sound quite so bad on that side of the house.  The wind was obviously out of the south.

  It was hours before the storm abated and also before it was light enough outside for me to see anything.  About 8am, the clouds thinned enough for the old dog and me to take a hike around the hillside.  With the wind still whipping, the tide was high...extremely high.  This sudden gale had obviously been as strong as any tropical storm that has hit the Bayou in the past.  We were just fortunate that it was relatively short lived as damage could have been much worse.  Tornadoes did do damage in the next community but, thankfully, there were no reported injuries.

  Our damage seems to be relatively slight in comparison to others. The pier is missing a half-dozen boards but, other than that, the storm patted us lightly.  Hopefully, this is the last hard gale that will pound us for this season.  I am ready for north wind and cold weather!

Critter Attack!

  The waiting for an approaching tropical system is sometimes the hardest part.  You scurry around all day preparing and then...wait.  You wait for what seems like eons before the first gust hits or the first torrential downpour.  You can either sit and wait or you can find things to fill the hours.  I prefer to occupy my time even if it means meandering about the hillside.

  Early this morning, I took the old dog out for an walk when I was bedazzled by the way the sun rays filtered through the trees.  The sight made me stop and stare for a bit and then I realized that there was also some sort of tiny critters flying about in those sunbeams.  Ok, so that meant I needed to investigate!  What was flying hither thither in the morning sun???  I wish I had not investigated so closely, however.  Those tiny dots of light in the photograph are mosquitoes!  Hundreds and hundreds of mosquitoes had obviously been pushed out of the marsh with the high tides.  They were up the hillside a bit playing in the sunlight but they sure did not like me interrupting them...or perhaps they did.  I was literally attacked!  Never get in the midst of a swarm of mosquitoes if you do not want dozens of bites.  The old dog and I had to race back up the hillside and into the house.

  So, one of the worst parts of waiting for the arrival of a hurricane is boredom.  That boredom can lead to trouble and a lot of mosquito bites!  The old dog and I have had to change our walking route to avoid the hoards of bugs down near the marsh.  For the time being, we will be happy in the citrus orchard.