Sunsets, Woods Fires and Peach Switches!

   Yesterday evening, the sky was ablaze with brilliance.  The setting sun had cast an eerie glow between the pines and I almost missed the opportunity to witness it.  On a whim, I decided on one last stroll through the Small Gardens.  Again, I was thankful for the camera giving me the chance to get ONE photograph before it had enough for the day.  (It seems that one is its limit for the day.)  

  The fiery glow brought back memories of "fire watch".  Whenever Pop would get word from a neighbor that a woods fire was nearby, we were all "put on guard".  As kids, we knew we had better be alert and let Pop know if we smelled or saw smoke.  It was of high importance because, not only would the house be in danger, but the barns, as well.  The farm animals needed protection, too.  With no fire department anywhere near, it was up to each of us to do our part.  

  There was one time that my brother and I disobeyed the rules about setting fires.  Before we were even school age, he and I decided to "boil" some chicken eggs that we found while searching for an errant hen.  Her nest was found near an upturned washing machine drum that had been used as a feed bin at some point.  We gathered pine straw and a few sticks to start our fire UNDER the tub.  Our eggs were in an old metal coffee can heating on the top (which was actually the bottom of the overturned tub).  Brilliant!   We were going to feast on those eggs!  Well, that did not happen.  We did not take into consideration that the eggs were rotten, that we needed water to boil them and that Pop would smell the smoke.    You can imagine the outcome.  Without water, the rotten eggs exploded and covered us with the most awful stench then...Pop came on the scene.  Oops!  Whew!  Were we ever in trouble!  For any city folks who have never had to suffer a whipping with a green peach branch, trust me when I say "IT HURTS!"  Was that child abuse?  Nope!  THAT, my friends, was discipline (which is something that is sorely lacking in the world today).  Our stupid act could have had a dire outcome for the entire family, the farm animals and our neighbors.  Thankfully, Pop caught us!  My brother and I never....NEVER lit another fire in the woods!  (We, also, learned the proper way to boil eggs.)  Crazy to think a simple sunset can evoke memories from back in the dusty corners of the brain.  

Rhymes Cannot Be Trusted

 So now that we are all tucked in tightly in preparation for Hurricane Sally's visit, I am pondering just what to do next.  There is always this feeling of angst...not fear....just uneasiness that something has been forgotten.  I try to go down the mental list of hurricane preparations and I have done this so many years that it should be second nature but the feeling still comes.  So...I go over that list again and again.  Hopefully, the brain is not dulling with age to the point that a major thing has been overlooked.  Hurricane Sally is a force to be reckoned with as it is now a Category 2 storm and strengthening.  If it lingers over the warm Gulf waters too long, we are going to be in a bit of a fix as the longer it dilly-dallies,the stronger and more organized it can become. Not good.  Not good at all.  We shall just have to wait and see.

  There is an old saying that goes something like "Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.  Red skies at night, sailors delight."  Well, our sailors would be in a bit of confusion this evening.  The skies put on the most glorious display of reds, oranges and purples.  If a ship went to sea solely on that horizon, the sailors would probably find themselves ruing the fact that they ever quoted the rhyme.  Keep a weather eye on the horizon, folks, and do not let nursery rhymes direct your paths.  Stay strong and keep safe if you are in the path of this entity.  Sally is getting ready to pack a wallop.

The Night Before

   Sitting and waiting is one of the hardest things for me to do.  The day was busy with hurricane preparations that must be done when you live on the water but now that the chores are completed, the waiting has started.  Is Hurricane Marco going to come our way?  Is Tropical Storm (maybe Hurricane) Laura going to follow the same path?  That, my friends, is anybody's guess and that is what makes the waiting so difficult.  What if all the preparations were done without purpose?  If the storms decide to go elsewhere, my hard day was for naught.

  This evening, I made one last run to the pier to check on the small skiff.  The boat has been pulled up into the yard but with the incoming tidal surge, it will need to be checked often.  It was on the final run before dark that the sky was ablaze with color.  Yep...the Night Before.  Those brilliant colors were the sun's rays bouncing off the gathering storm clouds.  Within a few hours, our weather can change dramatically...and for the worse.  Still, I am sitting here safe and sound in the Little Bayou House.  It has taken care of us through far worse storms and we are depending upon it to do the same with Marco and Laura.  The show on the horizon tonight was a bit deceiving for what is to come.  By morning light, the Bayou should  be rockin' and rollin' with Marco.  Stay safe, folks, stay safe.

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.  

Sunrise...Sunset...And A Whole Lot Of Feelings In Between

  A long, long time ago, I sat on a step weeping over the passing of my grandmother. While the adults were discussing important things, I was sort of left to deal with this blow by myself.  To be honest, I had no idea of how to cope with such a loss.  Never before had anyone close to me died.  I was shocked, saddened and, to be honest, scared.  Sure, growing up on the farm, we saw our share of death but this was different.  THIS was my grandmother...the lady who told me sweet stories about the flowers in her gardens....the lady who soothed my bedtime fears with a cup of milk and a couple of cookies served in her finest teacups....the lady who was the epitome of the perfect Southern grandmother.  She could not leave this world without me.  Her passing was such a shock.  I knew she was ill but no one told me that it had come to this.  When we arrived at my grandparents' home, I was told to "Go sit outside.  Grandmother has died and we (meaning the adults) need to talk."  So, I went to the steps to grieve in my own confused way.

  After being there for a short time, my Aunt Marie (who lived next door) came to console me.  She talked with me a great while as we sat together on the steps.  Aunt Marie explained a lot of things that had never been discussed before.  She explained death in a beautiful way and helped me to accept what had happened.  Then, she just sat beside me and let me grieve.  Her presence was so comforting.

  One of the things Aunt Marie told me has stuck with me for a lifetime.  She compared life to the sunrises and sunsets that we observe here on the Bayou.  The sunrises are the start of a new day.  We go about our business during the day and make life the best it can be.  Then comes the sunset and we are given rest from our daily trials and frustrations.  We always have the idea that morning will come anew and we will have a fresh start. Sunrise gives us hope for eternal life...that our lives will begin again.  Sunsets are compared to the end of our earthly life.  Just like a day ending being a time for rest, death is the ending of our time here and we are to be given peace.  At the time, I was listening to words...words spilling from the mouth of someone who cared that this kid was confused and hurting.   Aunt Marie took the time to try to explain life and death the best she could under the circumstances.  She did good.  I felt better knowing that Grandmother was not in pain any longer and that there was a great possibility that I would see her again some day.  It felt good knowing that someone recognized the fact that, even though I was just a kid, I had feelings.  

  This morning's sunrise was particularly beautiful and it brought back the memory of Aunt Marie helping me through a difficult time.  I miss her even after all of these years after her death.  Even though the sunrise brought a memory of a sad time, I looked at it as a beautiful time in my life.  So, Aunt Marie, if you are up there listening to me ramble, this sunrise is for you and all of the guidance you proffered so many years ago.  Hopefully, we will meet again some day, too.

Never Rely On Shadows!

  The old dog and I try to make several short hikes throughout the day.  He is just not up to taking long hikes any more.  Our last walk of the day is always just as the sun is setting.  The trees cast long shadows about the place and make it sort of ethereal!  I enjoy these strolls just about as much as the early morning ones.

  This afternoon, we made it back to the steps just in time for the sun to cast shadows of old Mr. PJ.  While he was waiting patiently for me to open the screen door, I had to giggle at what the sun was doing to his shadow.  Mr. PJ is all dog.  He a big, gruff old dog that definitely shows his "bulldog" side.  (He is a mixed breed animal which are the best kind ever, if you ask me!)  Anyway, even though the old dog is massive and very "dog-like", his shadow resembled a cat!  Yep.  A CAT! Or, at least, my imagination says it is a cat!

  So, folks.  Do not trust shadows to ever be truthful!  Sometimes what you see as one thing is simply not so.  In fact, what you see may be just the opposite of what is actually there.  Poor, old Mr. PJ would probably be distraught to know he has a shadow of a kitty cat following him.  I won't mention it and let him be the fine fellow he truly is.

By The End Of The Day

  My day begins before the sun rises in the east and ends long after it slides behind the pines in the west.  For my way of thinking, there are just not enough hours in the day to do all of the things that need doing.  I have no complaints about this other than it would be nice just one day to think that I accomplished all I set out to do that day.   Nope, it will never happen.  In a way, it is for the best.  Folks who loll about all day seem to have far too much time on their hands and that old saying "Idle minds are the Devil's workshop" may just come into play.  Nah, not always.  My busyness comes from having a work ethic pounded in the brain at a young age but a good hike to refresh the body and soul is always welcome.  On the farm, there was little time to sit idle even for toddlers.  As soon as we were able to be up and about, there was a number of chores assigned to us.  Shelling peas, snapping green beans, feeding the hundreds of chickens and picking the eggs, bundling turnip greens for the market, weeding the rows of vegetables, gathering firewood or what have you, kept us quite on our toes.  What little time we did have for play was spent running around the yard, woods or fields.  There was no sitting inside "twiddling our thumbs" as Pop used to say.  

  Lately, I find refreshment of the mind while on the slow hikes with the old dog.  His legs do not carry him like they once did so we, more or less, meander the hillside with him stopping to rest often.  It is then that I am able to do a bit of photography without the worry of the dog wandering off on some daring escapade.  This is my relaxation time.  The time at sunrise and then again at sunset.  The leisurely stroll is good for the both of us and, by the end of the day, I am ready to wind down and settle in for the night.  

 

Like a Shiny Coin!

  You often hear about the sun slipping down the horizon or slipping down behind the trees but never "slipping through the clouds".  I suppose this would be impossible on the most part since that big ball of fire is a bit too far away to slip through any clouds that we can see.  Still, while on the pier the other evening, the sun seemed to be doing just that. From what we could see, the sun looked a lot like a bright shiny coin being slipped down through a slot in the dark clouds.  Even the rounded top of the orb could be seen above the "front" clouds.

  In reality, the sun is not passing through the clouds at all.  This "phenomenon" is due to the camera settings and not the sun.  Most cameras cannot handle the brightness of the sun so it appears flat and any thing that is transparent enough to let a lot of light through sort of fades into that brightness.  It makes the cloud appear behind the sun.  Other clouds (those that are lower or are more dense) seem to stay in front of the sun by blocking out the light.  While this is not a camera "trick" like forced perspective, it is purely due to the camera and lighting.

  Even though my wonderful view of the sun slipping through the clouds was a bit deceiving, it was fun to observe.  Watching the sunsets and sunrises on the Bayou give me a bit of peaceful time.  In the mornings, I plan the day while watching the sun rise above the pines. In the evening, I reflect and unwind before retiring for the evening as I watch the sun slip "through" the clouds.  

One and the Same...Yet, Entirely Different

  I take a lot of photographs.  In fact, I have been told that I take far too many photographs.  I think not.  Each picture is something personal even if it is of the Bayou Cats, a bug or even merely a photograph of the horizon.  Each means something to me.  I especially like to peruse each picture with "a fine-toothed comb".  While doing this, I sometimes find things that "accidentally" become part of the picture.  In the past, eagles have made their way in pictures of sunsets, snakes in photos of waterlilies and raccoons in photographs of persimmons.  Sometimes the unintentional picture is better than what I thought I was taking.  Then there are the photographs that are just thought provoking.  Ones where you can get lost in the depth of the surroundings.  

  A recent photograph of the sun setting in the west was one of the more thought provoking ones that I have come across in a long time.  The almost spiritual depth of the scene sent me in to deep contemplation. With the layers upon layers of clouds in front of the fast sinking sun, the few pine trees seem almost desolate.  How many millions of miles can be viewed in that one picture?  How many layers of clouds float between that last bit of blue and the viewer?  How amazing is the Creator to have granted me the vision?  Ponderings upon ponderings flitted through my brain.

  The sunset in question also allowed me to take another almost eerie photo.  In this one ethereal rays reflect off of the camera lens fabricating fantastical "beings" that dance on the water.  Orbs float mystically off to one side while irises glisten among the upper clouds.  This is the type photograph that bounces the imagination into gear and lets me form wild tales in my head. Otherworldly images can be seen in the mind's eye with the least bit of effort and the sudden dots of color amidst the dark shadows call the  mind into the inkiness of the night.
  
 One sunset, two photographs....yet a million ideas.  This is how my brain works.  Do I take too many photographs?  No...it keeps my brain jolting at a mile a minute.  I need that.  Sometimes, we all need that.

It is all in how you look at things

  I was out and about a bit late this evening when I noticed how the August heat was taking its toll on all living things.  Birds and squirrels are flocking to the birdbath, rabbits are hanging close to the shade trees and, speaking of trees, the trees are suffering.  Instead of the pretty reds, yellows and oranges of fall, this year we are going to be graced with brown.  Brown and crunchy will be the theme of treeland this year.  Unless, we get a bit of early cooling, things are not likely to change.  The trees seem sad which, in turn, makes me sad.  The Black Gum trees are laced with dead or dying leaves...brown and crunchy.

  Then again, it is all in how one looks at things.  While brown leaves may not be quite as attractive as the brightly-hued ones, the trees are still just as lovely...given the right light.  As the sun started to set in the west, it cast a golden glow on the eastern sky.  It was not the fiery red of some nights but more of a soft aura.  The same tree that I was inspecting earlier, once again, caught my attention.  Now, instead of being brown and sad-looking, the tree was in its glory!  Backlit by the golden sky, a silhouette stood out in perfect beauty.

  Sometimes in life, things or people are a lot like that tree.  We often cannot see the glorious sight of what is before us because the crustiness of wear and tear are hiding it.  It is times like this that we need to change our perspective.  With all of its ups and downs, life is good.  Look for beauty in all things.

Waiting for that yet to come.

  And the heat drags on and on making summer miserable for a lot of folks.  I was thinking it was hot but not unbearable until I read something the other day about how cold most folks keep their houses and businesses.  Modern buildings are overheated in the winter and over-cooled in the summer.  This is not good in my view of things.  It is no wonder folks cannot tolerate normal temperatures...summer or winter. The Little Bayou House never stays too warm in the colder months.  I have had visitors complain that it, in fact, was downright cold!  My advice?  Put on a sweater.  Those same folks complain in the summertime that the house is hot.  Yep, it is pretty warmish in here but at least it is cooler than outside.  I prefer it this way.  Why?  Well, it comes down to the fact that I do not like going in and out of the house when there is a drastic change in temperatures.  Plus, when we do have power outages, I have no problem acclimating myself to the lack of either heat or air conditioning.  Simply put, I do not feel the change like most folks.  While others are complaining of unbearable heat, I sit back in my 86 degree kitchen and thank the Good Lord for all seasons.  This does not seem bad.

  This week, I spent a good deal of time inside.  The kitchen cabinets were in dire need of a good purging so I literally cut my belongings in half.  Everything now fits nicely in the cabinets and there are no avalanches of pans when the door is opened.  The outside world sort of was forgotten for a few days and when I finally had a chance to wander down to the pier, I was amazed at how different things looked in this short span of time. 

  Summer sunsets. as a rule, are not as pretty as those of fall and winter.  I was pleasantly surprised at the color show being presented this evening.  I did not stick around for the full spectacle as a thunderstorm was quickly building in the east.  I yearn for the cooler weather that comes with the change of seasons.  This sunset is just a small harbinger of what is to come.  Cooler weather can bring out all the complaints of how cold it is!

A little bit of "Bayou Magic"!

Every now and again, you just have to sit back and look at things from a new perspective.  Not that it will physically change one iota of the world around us but more the fact that we change the way we feel.  Stress and confusion can add far too many years to our age and not accomplish a single thing.  My sweet sister-in-law tries to help everyone.  She feels the need to rush here and there to lend a helping hand whether it is tending to the elderly, volunteering with the Red Cross or just being that proverbial shoulder that so many of us need occasionally.  If you need her..she is there.  When it is her that needs to be consoled or just vent, she usually heads to the Bayou.  She, like most folks, finds a certain peace being on the water.  I have always maintained that being on the pier "washes" the worries away with the tide.  Makes sense to me...

Today, she came to visit.  She was not particularly stressed although there was a number of things on her mind..we talked about them all.  I was a sounding board for all of the little things that for some reason loomed large during her day. We chatted over some crocheting as a thunderstorm rattled the Little Bayou House.  Afterwards, we headed to the pier.  I wanted her to be free of any remaining "cluttered" feelings and what better time and place.  After a rain, the Bayou, itself, feels clearer as if it has been washed free of any grime.  We sat on the pier long enough for the sky to start its magical transformation into a gorgeous sunset.  I could tell we were in for a treat far before the first tinges of orange hit the clouds.  "Just a few more minutes", I would say to her each time she felt she should head back to her house.  "Just a few more minutes..I want you to see something."  Then the beauty began to unfold.  Her eyes could behold the wonders that only God can unveil.  The oranges, pinks, purples and reds all started bouncing off the clouds in an array more vivid than any artist's paint palette.  It was breathtaking!  As I photographed the changing sky, I could see a change in her as well. She relaxed and really started watching the spectacle before us.  She was in awe..just as I am each time I watch this masterpiece take place.

The serenity of the Bayou once again worked its spell.  Is there any wonder that I love this place?  I think the Bayou has some special power within it that creates peace.  This therapeutic effect is far better than any known medicine.  Paradise is where we find it..mine is the Bayou.

After the Storm...

Just as I sat down to write this, we lost electrical power!  A powerful thunderstorm was just leaving the area and obviously was leaving quite a trail of destruction behind it.  From what I hear, power is out over much of the Coast and there is widespread flooding.   It is times like these that I appreciate the snugness of the Little Bayou House.  Although, it is far from being a fancy place, I always feel safe and secure within its walls.  Sometimes it takes the storms of life to make us appreciate the calm times.

One thing about thunderstorms in the late afternoon, you get beautiful sunsets!  With the remnant clouds still hanging low but breaking in spots, the sun peeps through and casts a most beautiful glow.  This, in itself, makes up for all of the gnashing and clashing of lightning and thunder!  On the pier, I have a front row seat for the spectacular show.  The sky is a kaleidoscope of colors and there is a certain peace that envelops the Bayou.  This is one of my favorite times to be alive.

Last night, Mark and I watched as another storm put on a fantastic light show.  This one was far enough out over the Gulf that it was safe for us to be on the pier.  We could see the large bolts of lightning striking one after another. The storm clouds hung around for over an hour creating havoc for any boaters still out on the water.  Again, I felt secure being here.  Afterwards, another gorgeous sunset.  Several dozen photographs later, he and I made our way to the Little Bayou House. While we walked we discussed the recent summer storms.  This summer has been filled with many such storms and most occurred after a day of blistering heat. Our temperatures today reached about 102 degrees.  That is hot but factor in our thick humidity and it is stifling!  Is this what is referred to as the Dog Days of Summer?  I have always heard that this is a period of time between July and September.  Whatever it is, I do hope that Fall is just around the corner!  I could sure use a bit of cooler weather!

Serendipity

I spend most (ok, all) of my time right here on the Bayou.  I rarely leave the place which some folks find a bit confusing.  "What do you do for entertainment?" is a question that I get asked all of the time.  To that, I merely answer that there are so many things happening around here that I do not need to seek entertainment..I just have to look outdoors!  This evening late, I was out and about the hillside just "looking".  I was not searching for anything in particular..just observing everything in general.  It is amazing how many things most of us pass by without ever noticing.  My hike lasted a good forty-five minutes or so and took me all around the area.  I was just about to head back in the door when I noticed a miracle happening right beneath my doorstep..the miracle of birth.

A Box Turtle had chosen that exact spot to dig a hole and lay her eggs!  Ok, so this was interesting!  I plopped down on the steps to watch.  Mama Turtle seemed oblivious to my presence and never once stopped digging her hole.  It was sort of fascinating to watch how she could dig such precise hole without seeing it!  Using her back feet to excavate the hole was not an easy job.  She was digging between the roots of a tall oak tree but those tough claws plowed right through the ground!  It took a good thirty minutes or so before she had the hole dug to her satisfaction.  Then the egg laying began in earnest.

Mama turtle filled that hole with at least eight white eggs.  I lost count when the mosquitoes decided to descend upon my face and arms!  I eased off the steps and down to the pier.  There I watched a most beautiful sunset and spectacular moon rise.  Figuring that I had waited long enough for Mama Turtle to finish the job at hand, I wandered back up the board path.  The path would be getting a mite dark and I was without a flashlight!  No need to step on a moccasin!

Slipping back through the front gate and up the steps, I noticed that Mama Turtle was in the process of covering those precious eggs.  This took another thirty minutes or so as she tamped the dirt down really well. Then she was off to hunt for her supper.  I sure hope a raccoon or 'possum does not wander into the Rose Garden tonight and dig up Mama Turtle's eggs.  It would be nice to have some wee turtles around the place!

Box Turtles and sunsets..now you tell me...why do I need to go anywhere else for entertainment?  ~Serendipity..the phenomenon of finding valuable things not sought.~  Yep, just about sums up my feelings about the Bayou!

Shadows and Irises....

Sometimes it is the simplest of things that can bring a tad of pleasure..a warm feeling..or even just a smile. Yesterday, while my cousin was here visiting, I smiled as I watched her take pictures around the place. She was able to find pleasure in the smallest of things. The Little Bayou House is far from elegant but it does have its interesting little nooks and crannies. It was these little out-of-the ordinary tidbits that were catching her eye..they piqued her interest and made her smile. I smiled because I saw that some of the same things brought a bit of pleasure to her that did me. She seemed particularly interested in catching the light that streamed through the open windows and doors. The shadows that played upon the floor and the irises or rainbows that were caused by the prisms and crystals hanging in the windows seemed to fascinate her just as they do me. We are two of a kind, I suppose..both enthralled by the fleeting beauty that only a fading day can bring.

I thought about her picture-taking today as I watched the sunset on the Bayou. I thought of how fleeting these sunsets and even the sunrises are. Their beauty is ever-changing but they soon lapse into the inkiness of the night or the glaring light of the day. I thought of how life is so like those moments..fleeting. It is the shadows and irises that make life interesting..the ups and downs of our time on Earth. My ups and downs..my shadows and irises have sort of melded into one..into a sort of serenity. (I tend to see beauty in most everything..a sure sign that I am aging!) Someone once told me that it is because I live on the Bayou that I feel this way but I feel that it the Bayou that lives in me..I have truly become a part of my surroundings and they..a part of me. We are one.

My cousin, Margaret, was here for just a few days and I miss her presence tremendously. Our time together was cut short by her need to return home to her family and her students. It is almost an eerie feeling to have someone so reflect yourself as she does me..we are two alike..almost one. She grew up just a few hundred feet from the Little Bayou House so it was like coming home for her even though her life now is elsewhere. She left the Bayou years ago to become well-traveled, highly educated and a very successful leader. I stayed. Yet, when we are together..back on the Bayou again..we are kindred spirits! We could very easily be running barefoot through the cool, dew-covered grass or climbing the Mimosa Tree in search of the sweet-scented blooms. You see..the Bayou lives within her, too.