Oh, to be a Forest Elf!

  Have you ever had one of those nights where the brain just would not stop working?  Last night, mine was in overdrive and with all that active thinking going one inside my head, there was no chance of the body resting.  Had I been here by myself, I would have gotten up and worked on one of the million or so projects that seemed so simple at 2 am.  Today, those very same projects seemed far more difficult.  Whether the simplicity of last night was a figment of the overactive brain or whether the lack of sleep made doing anything much harder today is yet to be seen.  No sleep makes for a long, long day.  I say "if I was here by myself", because if I start major chores in the middle of the night, those poor,  "sleep-deprived" menfolk are liable to complain. (A bit of pure sarcasm there, folks, as men can sleep through a freight train thundering through the living room. The complaining might be a real thing, however.) So, I suffer in silence until I see the eastern horizon starting to get that faint glow.  Morning is on its way!  Yep, about 4:30 am, I was on the pier.  The billion things that were in a frenetic state in the brain during the night suddenly flew away on the gentle breeze.  Peace, at last.  

  A fine, sliver of a moon hung in the sky just above where the sun would soon be rising.  That moon was shining brightly even though it was tiny.  It made me realize that my insignificant self could actually be pretty important.  Life has a way of battering folks in the head and making them lose all reality of their self-worth.  Lately, with all of the hullabaloo happening in the world, I felt about as tiny as a forest elf.  Now as much as I would love to be a forest elf and live amongst the mosses and ferns, they are a wee folk and I have great things to do!  It is better that I try to be like that moon and "shine on"!  Oh, wait a cotton-pickin' minute!  The moon is in its waning stage.  Not good!  In a couple of days, I would just fade away. I would be nothing but darkness!  I would not be here! There wouldn't be much shining then. Hmmm...I wonder how hard it is to become a forest elf?  I could be an elf and still do great things, right?  Plus, it might be pretty fun!

  

I AM worth it!

  Every now and again, we all need to be reminded that we ARE good enough.  Sometimes we get hammered down by the brutal reality of life and it seems that our inner feelings start to lag.  We ARE good enough.  In fact, we are beyond good enough.  We are perfect.  That perfection may be different with each of us but we are perfect in our own ways. 

  With everything that has been happening on the Bayou over the past year, my confidence was beginning to take a beating.  Stress from caring for ill family members and for ill and aging pets just about took its toll.  I was beginning to doubt my own self-worth.  Trust me when I say that is a hard thing to handle.  My remedy was to work myself into a frenzy with home renovations and yard work.  Then, that too, started to take a toll on this old body.  Something had to give.  While I could not take a break from the care-giving responsibilities, there had to be some easier way of stress relief other than my tried and true method of hard work.  It took the idea of a very dear friend to "plant" a bit of happiness.

  One day, this sweet friend mentioned that we should buy ourselves flowers.  While it was nice to receive flowers from others occasionally, buying them for ourselves could reconfirm our confidence.   I do not buy flowers so, instead, I picked.  I picked a bouquet of gardenias and stuck them in a vase. Well, that was done so why did I not feel better?  After doing a few chores, I walked back into the living room where the bouquet sat and immediately noticed how nice the room smelled.  That was nice.  Later, I returned to the room and noticed that the sun beaming through the window was highlighting the blooms.  That was nice.  Still later as I sat editing photographs, the flowers, once again, caught my attention and I thought of Tina, my sweet friend.  Yep, THAT was nice!  

  Those three things lifted my spirits even without much effort on my part.  While I did not buy my flowers, I had followed Tina's advice and had some just for me.  I was worth it!  The effect was pretty special so, today, I went out and picked another handful of gardenias.  If one bouquet lifted the spirits to any extent, perhaps I needed to repeat the process.  I think Tina is on to something here, folks.  Doing one small thing just for ourselves can make all the difference in the world.  It is important to take care of ourselves not only physically but also emotionally.  Tina, thanks for the advice!  A vase of flowers  each week can bring a lot of smiles.

Mother Nature Knows How To Relieve Stress

  We do not get much "fall color" down here in the Deep South.  Oh, we have color but it is mainly green..and..brown.  The beautiful show of leaves changing through the color spectrum before they drop from trees is not a thing we often observe so when we do see an orange leaf, we rejoice!  This fall color change receives the same emotion as a snowflake here..even though, our "snowflakes" are usually in the form of sleet so are actually ice...not snow.  Still, we are overjoyed with whatever tiny bit of season change we are granted.

  This afternoon, Mark and I took a leisurely stroll about the property.  We ended up on the pier (as usual) and sat to just enjoy our time.  When I panned the area, my heart fluttered a bit when I noticed COLOR!  On the western shore, just beyond my brother's pier, the cypress trees were about to lose their needles.  The trees were a rather rusty orange and contrasted well against the green of the pines. (Yes, we have the type of deciduous cypress trees that lose their needles during the late fall/early winter.)  To boot, there were a few black gum trees showing their deep maroon colors. This color change was an exciting event!  Ok, maybe not but it did brighten the day a bit.

  The changing colors gives us a lift emotionally whether we wish to admit it or not.  While the visual impact can be stimulating, just being outside to enjoy the beauty gives us the fresh air to cleanse the mind.  Our brains need the clearing of clutter especially during stressful times.  We need the stimulus to break free from the survival mode that we pull around ourselves as we cope with whatever life throws at us.  Letting the brain rejuvenate allows us to "live" our lives and not just survive our daily hardships.  With that in mind, go out and find your own "colors" whether they come in the form of leaves, flowers or even a pretty sunset.  Free the mind of troubles and live.  Mother Nature is there to help.

Rollie Pollies Are Smart!

  I was pondering something today.  With all of the stress that has been suddenly added to my life (ailing family member and aging dog being the most prevalent), I figure I should seek some sort of refuge where I can escape now and again.  It does not necessarily have to be some exotic place or even some faraway place.  It just needs to be a "me" place where I can close myself off from the worries of the world for a few hours.  This would allow me to regroup and face dilemmas with a renewed energy.  I need the proverbial "she shed".  I really, really need this!  A place like that would be ideal as I could literally run and hide. The shed could come equipped with a sign that says something to the manner of "No One Allowed!"  It then occurred to me that some critters have built in "she sheds" where they escape from the reality facing them.

  Armadillos were the first critter that I thought of when I was thinking "portable she shed".  These critters can roll up in a little ball and escape whatever is not to their liking.  Of course, my mind wanders a lot so I started thinking how pill bugs are so like armadillos.  The ones around here even have reference to that in their big, ole fancy name Armadillidium Vulgare!  I have always (like most folks) just called them Rollie Pollies!  It is a much easier name to remember and, well, I need easy things to remember at my age.

  Rollie Pollies are actually crustaceans that have made the trek to land and decided that it suited them fine.  So..there they stayed.  They feast upon rotting vegetation and roam about the place unnoticed...at least until something wants to eat them.  Then, they roll up in a tiny ball hoping the predator will either lose interest and go away or have trouble eating them.  When things start to get a bit rough, I am going to roll up and hide! Sounds good.  Real good. 

Calming the Mind

  Sometimes, even the most messed up shambles can become a safe haven for those in troubled times.  There is no rule, that I am aware of, that states that peace can only be found in pristine places.  I, for one, prefer a bit of "clutter" (yes, that all despised word) around me as I work.  I draw creative inspiration from things within my view rather than a cold, barren place.  I have no problem with those who desire that as it is their choice, just like it is mine to fill my life with whatever I deem unique and/or useful.  It is my habit to let folks live their lives the way they want just as I do mine.  It is among my weird and wonderful things that I find solace...and protection from the evils of the world...or, at least, those playing in my brain.  

  Things have been a bit stressful, as of late.  Things have been trying my "peace" making life quite miserable.  Things were out of my control.  The feeling that I was losing it began to pull at me from all angles.  I needed respite so I started wandering about the Little Bayou House.  There, I started drawing strength from the things (yes, things) around me.  Instead of a memory, I was able to hold the necklace that Mom loved.  I had tea from my grandmother's favorite teacup.  I felt the strength merely by holding embroidered handkerchief that my great grandmother always carried.  Yep, some may deem this as clutter but I deem them as treasures that hold the power to calm the nerves.  It is all in how you look at things.

 

Zombie Earwigs

  Earwigs!  Have you ever stopped to wonder about these little critters?  Nope? Well, don't feel bad.  Most folks don't.  I do, however, as I ponder most critters.  I ponder about the whys and wherefores of each thing that creepy-crawls, flies or swims around the Bayou.  Why?  I don't know but maybe it is just because they are there.  The earwig just happened to be crawling around under a bag of potting soil and begged to be pondered.

  First, where in the world did this thing get its name?  Break that word down and you have ear and wig.  The bug does not have ears like ours (has tympanal organs but not ears) and it definitely does not wear a wig.  That procedure was no help, whatsoever.  So pondering the name became a moot point and was soon abandoned.  The critter was not.  I watched the little one scurry about as it searched for a place to hide.  I already knew that the earwigs eat other insects and sometimes a bit of plant matter so that pondering was out.  I knew that they are mostly nocturnal as it provides some protection...another no go.  Aha!  The folklore!  There is a pondering point!

  There is a bit of folklore that still lingers in some folks' brains.  "Earwigs seek out human ears and bore holes through the eardrum to infest the human brain."  What??  Well, that is ridiculous!  Where did that bit of hogwash originate and why?  Well, it seems that recorded history of the 1700s relates people were sure that the critters had a fondness for human ears and eventually brains.   Their gnawing away at the brain gave great pain and potentially death.  This was a common way that doctors of the day explained migraines.  An occasional discovery of an earwig actually being in the ear did nothing more than keep the myth alive.  Why would an earwig ever seek out a human ear?  Commonsense would tell us that the critter was seeking refuge from an otherwise terrifying situation of finding itself on a human in the first place.  Most reports of an earwig even being near an ear come from those camping out in the earwigs' territory.  The poor, hapless critter was lost and scared and, well, here was this handy dark hole in which to hide.  The earwig had no intention of being trapped in earwax and surely did not wish to eat a brain.  (Leave that for the zombies.  Earwigs are not zombies.)  

  Yeah, my ponderings take weird turns at time but, after long nights with an frail dog and even longer days cleaning up after him, I need some sort of distraction.  The earwig provided that so I happily accepted.  

The Workout!

  Life has a way of throwing a whole bunch of trouble at you all at the same time.  It never seems to fail that if one thing is going to be troublesome, everything is going to start trying to get in on the action.  Frustration can often build until a person is nigh on a breaking point.  That is the way it has been here on the Bayou as of late.  It seems as if the stress is bound and determined to get to me.  It had gotten to the point that this morning, I had enough and something had to give.  It was me.  

  Along about 7am, I figured that if I was going to have all of this pent up aggravation, I may as well put the energy to good use.  There was certainly no way I was going to wallow in the mire of a bad mood any longer.  Time to get things in gear.  So I did.  My trusty lawnmower got the workout of its days today.  For almost a total of seven hours, I pushed and pulled that thing.  At first, I was getting the best workout of my life!  I went at it with such gusto that doing the lawn was not enough.  My lawnmower was pushed to the woods where I trimmed out things that no mower should be expected to cut.  With the mood I was in, the mower probably had second thoughts about balking being afraid that I might just hum it to the back of the Bayou and leave it.  Along about an hour later, I felt freer.  The frustration was beginning to lift and I started actually feeling good about what I was doing.  So...I pushed some more.  Four times, the gas tank had to be refilled just to keep me going.  Mark and Son kept asking if I was sure I wanted to keep cutting.  Yep.  You two get on back to work on those termites and leave the grass to me.

  Seven hours later, close to 4 acres had been cut.  Parts of the woods now became parts of the yard.  The overgrowth by the marsh has been trimmed back to help prevent snakes from encroaching on the path.  Leaves have been mulched to prevent that dreaded chore of raking.  And I saved a bundle of money.  There was no need to buy a gym membership when I can get this kind of exercise and there was no need to pay a therapist to sort my problems.  The mower and seven hours did it for me.  Putting all of that stress into a productive task did the trick.  Tonight, I am sore...I am exhausted...I feel better...oh, so much better.

Calling on the Bayou Magic

  A friend called me last night and made an unusual request.  "Man, I don't feel well.  Can I come find some peace on the Bayou?"   It seems that her jobs (she works three), her family and her physical health are all wreaking havoc on her mental state at the moment.  She needs a break from it all and knows that the Bayou can bring peace to even the most stressful situations.  "You need the Magic of the Bayou to heal the emotional wounds and some herbal concoctions to heal the sickness of your body." I told her.  

  I have often felt that the Bayou offers peace to those who need it most.  There is something that draws those who are weak, stressed or merely confused.  Once here, the magic starts to infiltrate their minds and, by the time they are ready to depart, all is well once again.  No one can see it.  No one can hear it.  But all can feel it.  It sneaks in to push out all troubles.

  So, she will come to the Bayou.  She will receive a few tisanes to heal the body and then will soak up a heapin' helpin' of Bayou Magic to soothe the mind.  Life is good here.  The Bayou Magic can always wash way the troubles.

Stress Relief at its Best!

   Meandering around the hillside and back in the woods behind the Little Bayou House, one can find any number of interesting plants.  One of my favorites is the albizia or silk tree.  The blooms have the sweetest scent and can be white to deep pink.  Most folks around here call the trees mimosas but that is not quite accurate.  There is a family of plants of the genus mimosa that are not the same thing at all!   But, mention the mimosa and everyone knows which tree.  They are favorites here in the Deep South and have earned their place alongside the magnolias. wisteria and confederate jasmine.  There is nothing better than sitting in the old rocking chair late in the evening and catching the scent of these blooms wafting on the cool night air. 

  But albizia is supposedly pretty amazing plant besides being so sweetly scented and so prettily adorned.  Just about all parts of it have purported medicinal uses when used properly.  One of the most touted uses is to help with relieving stress.  Sounds wonderful but, at the same time, sounds a bit scary because so little is known about the side effects.  Trust me on this, don't just run out there and grab a handful of leaves, flowers or bark and start munching it unless you want to pretend to be a rabbit.  Misusing any herb can cause more problems than it helps.  Get a bit of expert advice first.

  That said, I figure the best way to use albizia to treat stress is to find a front porch, pull up a rocking chair, watch the lightning on the horizon and breathe.  Breathe in that heavenly aroma from the mimosa tree that hangs over the rooftop.  Yep!  After about a half hour of that, I find things seem to be a whole lot better.  Or get out of bed at daybreak while the dew is still heavy laden and take a hike back under the mimosa trees.  My goodness!  I have nary a care in the world when I am there!  Maybe that albizia does work after all!

Seeking Solitude

  Solitude is a weird thing.  It is often confused with loneliness but, in reality, it is far different.  While the two seem similar due to the fact that in both, one is alone, the likeness ends there.  Loneliness is almost an intense sadness marked by the feeling of isolation. It can be stressful and negative.  Oftentimes, loneliness can feel like a harsh punishment. Solitude, on the other hand, is just being by oneself and can actually be a positive state.  During solitude, one can find an inner peace, creativity and replenishment.  One can be alone in the world, yet, be at peace with that world.  

  I ponder these things often as I spend a lot of time by myself.  I prefer it that way.  Others seem to think that life is not fulfilling unless days are jammed full of people and activities.  It is just the opposite. Those are the stress-inducing times.  Finding a peace with one's surroundings is the most fulfilling state of mind.

  As strange as it may seem, a good, heavy fog can make the world feel so far away.  `There are times on the Bayou that the fog is so thick that I feel cut off from the entire world. This solitude is refreshing.  There are no demands from the busy, outside world.  The solitude refreshes me and allows me to regain my perspective on life.  Loneliness is destructive....Solitude is replenishing.

"Hit It With A Hammer!"

  I have always said that I have far more critter friends than I do people friends.  This is by choice as I find the critters far more amiable than most folks.  Even wild critters seem to appreciate all you do for them and are willing to just be friends without asking for a thing in return.  With the recent holiday season behind us, I find that, more than ever, folks are irritating, to say the least.  No matter how much you do for some folks, they always want more.  They take until you are just bone dry and then come back to rattle those bones.  It is times like this that I feel that I could fully do without ever seeing anyone.  That is one of the main reasons that I rarely leave the Bayou.  This is my peace.  Whenever I get a bit unnerved, I seek the solace that only the water can bring.

  There is a young man that has been visiting the Bayou since he was just a wee lad.  He spent many a days (and nights) here as a youngster and has sort of come to be an "adopted" son.   Chris is a good natured sort who is always ready to give a helping hand when needed..which is not something I can say about a lot of folks that come here.  I thought about Chris, today, and one of his bits of "advice".  Whenever something is rattling those old bones of mine, he simply advises "Hit it with a hammer!"  I have never tried it before but I have to admit that it sounded pretty enticing today.  I truly considered that smacking a few folks with that hammer might knock a bit of sense in their heads.  So, short of doing something that was totally out of character and that might just cause me to wind up in jail, I hunted for another means of "beating the tar" out of something.  

  I picked up the axe and started whacking at the pile of wood that needed splitting.  While I used to be quite adept at splitting a load of firewood without taking a breather, age is catching up with me.  As good as it felt to release a bit of stress by smacking that axe down on the logs, I did not really make that much progress.  The pile did not get a lot smaller although the stress level sure did.  After about forty minutes of swinging that axe, I only had enough firewood for the day. Only nine logs were split and I was exhausted!  The axe went back to the shed, the firewood was toted inside to the fire bin and I collapsed in the old rocking chair.  

  Yep, hitting it with a hammer is good advice.  Smacking it with an axe wears you out but it did have a good final effect.  Instead of sitting and brooding about the situation at hand, I worked it out of my system and got enough firewood to warm myself for a bit.  Thanks, Chris.  You are pretty wise for such a young man.  Tomorrow, however, will find me sore from this new exercise, I am sure!