Go Where You Can Thrive

  Yesterday, I spent the afternoon photographing birds and critters down in the creek behind the Little Bayou House.  I had nothing better to do or, at least, I had nothing I would rather have done than tromp knee-deep in the ferns and spider lilies.  It is just a great way to escape from reality for a bit.  As I was trying to get a photograph of a Red-bellied Woodpecker, I noticed something a tad strange about the tree in front of me.  The bird had flown from a black gum tree to a longleaf pine and it was that pine that seemed unusual.  The limbs were gnarled and twisted into what almost seemed like knots.  Pondering this, I checked the other pines and saw that a few were in the same condition.  Others, however, had "normal" limbs.  What was up with the odd trees?

   Looking at the trees, I began to realize that they were all more or less in a "row" and other trees in that "row" were just as twisted. Perhaps these were all damaged by storm winds years ago.  Hurricanes spawn lots of tornadoes which could twist and tangle the limbs in such a manner.  Regardless of the force that was put on this tree, it stood fast.  While pines normally have a tendency to "top out" during hurricanes, this one held its ground. The winds twisted and turned the limbs as the storm ravaged the area.  After the hurricane passed, the tree continued to grow.  Instead of succumbing to the forces around it, the tree survived.  Its limbs now a tangled mess, strengthened as it grew. 

  Tromping about in the depths of the creek can bring a lot of things into a clearer perspective.  Life is short and you have to make do the best you can.  When life throws woes at you, it is best to use those to make yourself stronger.  Don't let others twist and turn you enough that you cannot thrive. What you do with your life does not matter diddlysquat to others in the long run, so I say, do what makes YOU happy.  Personally, the bog makes me happy so I am heading back tomorrow.  

A Wild Morning on the Bayou!

I was enjoying the morning..it was raining and I thought it was the perfect morning to sleep in..then the alarm went off and ruined that good feeling. Don't get me wrong here..I do not use an alarm clock as I never have a problem waking in the morning..this was the tornado alarm at the Air Base on the other side of the Bay. With the south wind, the siren was loud and clear. I jumped up and stared out the window..the sky was a lovely shade of green..lime green. Skies are not green...grass is green. I learned that when I was a toddler..grass is green and skies are blue..not so this morning. Things were slamming against the side of the house and pelting the rooftop. Uh-oh..this was not good! Ok now! Tornado mode! What to do?? Ahh yes! When I was a child, I was told to put my shoes by the door! I grabbed the only shoes that I could find..a pair of rubber garden clogs. I looked at them..this makes no sense whatsoever! Why??? Why would I want my shoes by the door??? Ok..ok..hmm..boil water! Gather towels! No..no..no!!!! No babies being born here. I hurried into the kitchen.."Son..get downstairs..NOW! " Son staggered down the stairs and flopped on the bed in his sister's vacant room. He immediately fell back to sleep..Hubby and I stared out the window at the weather..Ms. Put, the cat, raced down the stairs and hid under the table cloth and Ezzy, the Wonder Dog.....sat in the hall. Sit in the hall! That is it! Good dog! By that time, the tornado had passed and all was clear..for a few minutes until the alarm sounded again..this went on for the better part of the morning. After the fourth alarm, Son was back upstairs..sleeping.. Hubby and I were each enjoying our third cup of coffee, Ms Put wanted out and the Wonder Dog was staring out the window at a squirrel. Our little hill had been spared the brunt of storm. The neighbors to the west of us..not so fortunate. My cousin and Uncle both received damage to their places..nothing major..but still too close for comfort. And life goes on......

After all cleared and the sun was trying to break through the clouds, I had to escape the confines of these walls. I slipped into the gardens to breathe in the fresh air. There is something so refreshing right after a storm. The gardens had survived the severe winds and pelting rains. Nothing was damaged and for that matter..new life had begun. There in the mulch, thousands upon thousands of tiny Marigold seedlings had sprouted. They were everywhere!! I have never seen so many "volunteer" plants in all my life! I suppose I will have to transplant them into the beds as soon as they are big enough, I am just not sure that I will have that much space! A new garden might be in the works!

Also, I noticed that the Blueberry Bushes were in bloom! These bushes were planted several years ago but have never grown to their full potential. I am sad to say that in the five years that they have been in the garden, I have yet to get a cup full of berries. My dear sister-in-law has kindly offered me a start from her bushes and my brother has donated me a few of his. Now if I can only get mine to grow like theirs, I will be happy! I love blueberries! Yum..blueberry muffins..blueberry pie..blueberry jam..oh yeah..I love blueberries!

By the late evening, all was peaceful on the Bayou. The Bay was calm, the sun was setting and the gnats were horrible. Time to hurry back inside. Perfect timing..for as we were heading up the hill to the house, my oldest son was heading down the hill to greet us. He had just arrived for an overnight stay! This..the nicest end to an eventful day!