Double Trouble?

   Things are a bit up in the air around the Coast.  I am sitting here listening to the drone of the huge engines of our Hurricane Hunters as they are preparing to fly over the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding area.  These folks are true heroes that go above and beyond to keep us safe.  The uncertainty of whether we are to be in the path of the two hurricanes that are threatening back to back visits has folks not knowing just how to prepare.  Do we stockpile enough supplies to carry us through two storms or do we wait and hope the storms change their directions.  Those a bit inland can get by with minimal effort and laugh at our quandary but those living near the water have a different set of rules about facing hurricanes.  We do not have the buffer zone that others have.  If a hurricane takes aim at us, we catch the brunt of it.  The winds die quickly once the eye comes ashore.  Of course, those inland do not have to be concerned about the tidal surge either.  With back to back storms, the effects are of course doubled as is the time span of the overall battering.  Even back to back tropical storms can do major damage to those of us with waterfront homes.  So, we prepare as only we know how to do!  We have learned from experience what works and what does not.  "Prepare for the worst and pray for the best" is always a good mantra.  In other words, take the ultimate of precautions then leave the rest to the Good Lord.

  Today, as I was heading to the pier, a thought struck me.  Son just this past week finished the repairs on the pier.  The damage from Tropical Storm Cristobal was extensive.  The entire structure of the pier was in shambles.  Now, we face the possibility of more damage.  When I questioned him on his thoughts, his statement was "Hurricanes are not something we can control.  Pier repairs are."  That made a lot of sense.  We won't worry about what "might" happen but will focus on the job at hand..whatever that may be.  If any readers are in the path of either storm or both storms, as the case may be, be careful.  Prepare for what may come and think safety first. 

Only 190 Feet To Go!

  Son and I started doing the heavy repairs on the pier.  Of course, he is doing most of the work and I am there to simply lend a hand lifting the heavy planks or running back up the hillside to get a different tool.  First thing was to replace some of the long stringers on which the planks sit.  This is not an easy job as we have to first remove all of the planks, knock out the broken 3 x 12s then replace those and start anew with planking.  Needless to say, this is a time-consuming and now very hot job.  There is no shade and for the past few days, our temperatures have been in the mid 90s.   Hot and hard work, for sure!  It is times like this that make me want to put the pier completely off limits to those who wish to come  fishing.  All of the folks who have used the pier in the past are sure not coming around to lend a helping hand when it is needed.  But...we are used to that.  We will get it repaired.  After all, we only have about 190 feet left to rebuild!  Not too bad.

  Along about noontime, a loud splashing in the shallows alerted us to some critter making a quick escape.  We have yet to figure out just what darted, swam or fluttered through the small inlet cut and across the tidepool.  Whatever it was, it made a hasty retreat under the marsh mats left by the storm.  These mats are a good foot deep and some twenty to thirty feet across.  They are floating on about 10 inches of water making a nice covering for the critters.  During one water break, Son and I sat talking about those mats.  "You know, if we had some way of pouring resin on the mats, they would make a great outdoor rug." he said.  I stared at him and pondered if his musings were serious or simply a way of confusing his old mom.  He then went further..."We could actually put enough resin on them and make floating piers!"  Ok, with that, I knew that he was joking as I cannot imagine pouring that much resin on anything...but...maybe??  Floating piers may be easier to take care of during storms.  We could tie it off to the large oak trees in the yard and let it float right on up in the yard with the storm surge.  Getting it back out may be a problem but if the size of these mats is any indication, we could always just make new piers.  Whoa!  Ideas were flowing until Son started laughing and said "Back to work."

  The pier work started again and we finally got one section ripped up and the underparts repaired.  It is surprising how Cristobal, as a tropical storm, did so much damage to the piers in the area.  Ours has been racked from one side to the other, end platform broken loose and shattered and nigh on a hundred planks will need to be replaced.  We might as well be building a new pier.  (At least the posts are reasonably sound.) 

Suits Me To A "T"

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

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

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

Storms. Oarlocks and Strange Happenings

  This is a telling of how storms can create, not only havoc, but strange happenings.  If you recall, a dear friend brought a very unique garden sign to the Bayou.  I have known this lady since I was a mere tyke so the sign was much appreciated and much loved.  It was immediately hung at the entrance of the gardens where it could be fully enjoyed.  Since the sign was created from a huge piece of driftwood, it only seemed fitting to use oarlocks as the hanging brackets.  Two oarlocks were inserted into pipes and used as handy sign posts.  It worked like a charm and made for an easy removal of the sign for the storm event we just endured.  

  This morning, after a very rough night of wind and torrential rains, Son and I went to observe and take inventory of what needed repairing.  One of the first things he noted was that a huge oak limb had fallen and hit the roof of the house.  Then, he spied that one of my oarlocks had been yanked from the metal pipe.  The oarlock was nowhere to be seen.  Son decided that the tree limb must have bounced off the house and hit the pipe sending the oarlock into flight.  We searched and searched but to no avail.  Of course, debris was everywhere and could have been covering the  9 inch oarlock.  

  Finally, a triumphant "Aha!" sounded and Son held up the wayward oarlock.  It had been flung over 25 feet from its station in the pipe!  Imagine the force taken to sling a heavy, iron oarlock some twenty feet....INTO a 50 mph wind!  It sure made me glad that I was inside when this strange event happened!  First, the falling limb, itself, presented danger but, if I had been hit by the 1 lb iron oarlock being flung with that much force, my head may have been knocked asunder!  

  After storms of this sort, one finds all sorts of odd things.  Some are trash.  Some are treasures.  Some simply are purely strange.  Tomorrow begins cleanup and pier rebuilding.  We will have a busy two weeks of hard work.

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!

Storms, Gardens and Birds

  It is THAT time of year again and every eye around this area is watching the Gulf of Mexico.  While the storm, Cristobal, is supposed to not strengthen too much, it is still threatening to dump copious amounts of rain on us.  Yes, the landfall is supposed to be in Louisiana but that puts us on that east side.  Anyone who knows anything about hurricanes knows that is NOT where you want to be.  Of course, like other storms, our little area will cope even without the media attention.  Always have...always will.  We prepare.  We ride out the storm.  We carry on. 

  My one big beef with this storm is that it is coming so early in the season.  Why is that a problem?  Well, my garden is at its peak right now and any high winds, torrential downpours or flying debris will wreak havoc on the plants.  Seriously, I may as well call it a season and not worry about any more fresh veggies.  Thankfully, I was able to home can plenty for our winter stock already so we are good to go.  

  Today, as I was wandering about making a few minor storm preparations, I stopped to admire the healthy plants and thought how fortunate we are to be able to "uproot" ourselves and hunker down inside the Little Bayou House.  The plants and critters do not have that luxury.  They take the brunt of  the storm.  In fact, just outside the front door (south side), a little wren is sitting on five eggs in the hanging fern.  The tiny bird will not give up her nest if at all possible even if that old basket gets to banging around uncontrollably.  This fretted me something fierce so I secured her little home along with ours.  Armed with some strong wire, I reinforced the hanging chains and ran guy wires from the sides of the basket to the main posts.  The basket barely wiggled now so hopefully, my little friend will be safe.  Son and I have a difference in opinions about my efforts.  He says I am interfering with the course of nature.  I say I am trying to help a friend.  Either way, what is done..is done.  Stay safe, folks, stay safe. (Stay safe, Little Wren, stay safe!)