Same day...two seasons?

   You hear a lot about the crazy weather, as of late.  While it appears that the whole world has been having its share of weird weather related occurrences, it has really has not changed.  Weather has always happened.  What changed is that we are now bombarded with up-to-the-minute "news" about everything.  In other words, we have media overload.  Years back, weather happened everywhere on this old globe but there was not this instantaneous barrage of sensational news headlines to keep us "informed" or rather over informed.  I am not sure it is going to make my day any different if I hear of a rainstorm halfway around the world just as it will not be of importance to anyone on a different continent that the Bayou had an ice storm.  Media overload does nothing but create panic and raises the stress levels.  It is not needed.

  Still...closer to home...as matter of fact...IN my home, it appears that we have had two seasons in one day!  (Now isn't that of the utmost importance?)  I was in the kitchen baking up a batch of Bayou Cheesy Crackers when I noticed the view outside of the kitchen window.  Ahh, lovely!  It was nice to see the deep green leaves of the citrus trees as they are finally looking better after our winter.  Then there were the bright green leaves and red blooms of the Buckeye tree!  Those blooms looked fiery in the bright sunshine!  Springtime was definitely in full swing!  How lovely!  My eyes turned to the other window in the kitchen.  Uh, oh!  The view from that window appeared to be in the dead of winter!  How can that be?  The windows are only about two feet apart yet the views were in such contrast!  The left window showed a happy springtime view where the right one showed browns and grays of winter. 

  Actually, the left window overlooks a part of the yard that was quite dismal just a few weeks ago, the citrus trees had taken a beating but with a lot of trimming and hard work, they are now making a comeback.  The yard is alive again...well, some of it.  The right window overlooks the small Frog Pond backed by the canebrake.  The cane did not fare as well as the other plants and trees.  It is still brown and quite dead looking.  The 500+ canes will need to be cut back and ground for mulch.  Hopefully, new shoots will sprout from the rootstock.  The cutting is something that should have been done weeks ago but other things got in the way.  Now, I hate to do it.  Several birds have nested in the dead canes and small critters have dens among the roots.  All are raising their young and I do not have the heart to disturb that.  The canebrake will have to wait for a more opportune time to be thinned.  

  Still, I found the contrast interesting...on the left, the life only spring can bring and on the right, the death left behind by an unusual ice storm.  Perhaps, I am the only one to view things in this skewed way but, in all fairness, I was not feeling the best today so maybe it is just the brain that is skewed and not the view.  Oh, and yes, I do have hardware cloth on the window (and soon the others).  There are a few of the critters that live around here that stop at nothing to raid a kitchen.  Mere window screens are no match for them!

Not Spring Yet!

   I am pushing it.  I am pushing it far too early.  Three days ago, I had the grand idea of taking all of the plants out of the greenhouse.  It was warm!  We were expecting rain!  I had loads of hope and lots of energy!  Then...only after I took every last plant out of its toasty-warm setting, did I look at the weather forecast.  Uh, oh!  So much for the arrival of spring.  That afternoon, I put every last plant back into the greenhouse.  The rains came, the temperatures dropped and the plants were in their happy place under the heat lamps.

  This morning, I still felt the need to wander about the place before daybreak.  My usual hike to the pier was a no-go since a thick layer of frost made it a bit treacherous.  Being the only one awake at that time, I knew better than to go slippin' and slidin' on the pier boards.  If I went headfirst over the edge into that bayou mud, no one would ever know.  My rescue would have been late-coming so I played it safe and puttered around the Small Gardens.  

  While I knew it was cold out, imagine my surprise in finding ice in the birdbath!  Just twenty-four hours earlier, I was cleaning it while wearing a t-shirt.  No, the whole thing was frozen!  At least, it looked pretty!  Now, as our fickle weather mandates, we are to be in a "warming trend" and by midweek have our low temps near seventy degrees....yep, low temps!  Personally, I wish it would hang in the forties for a bit longer but weather is one of those things that does just the opposite of what we wish.  

One Day...Four Seasons

   Sometimes, Mother Nature just cannot make up her mind.  She, like so many of us, can be described as downright fickle!  Frosty one day, hot the next seems to be the norm now.  I am ok with that but, my goodness, Mother Nature, don't go smacking the seasons totally together!  That just gets far too confusing for everyone!

  Early this morning, I wandered through the gardens only to wind up behind the greenhouses.  Being as this area is sheltered from the north wind, I had left the potted lemon trees on the little back deck with good intentions of finally getting them transplanted in the ground.  Since the other citrus trees fare well during our winters, I figured there was not much use in lugging the huge pots into the greenhouse.  The trees did well and I was fully surprised to see new growth and large buds on the branches!  Whoa!  Hold on, Lemon Trees!  It is not spring yet!  The trees begged to differ, however.  As I looked, I began to notice more and more buds on all four lemon trees.  Well, if a late freeze does come, I suppose I shall be hauling the trees into the greenhouse after all just to try to save the blooms.  Mother Nature!  You sure are pushing it!  I shook my head in disbelief.

  Turning back toward the garden, a flash of red caught my eye.  Oh, my!  Just a few steps before, it was spring!  Now, it is fall!  Yep, one of the Sweetgum trees was in its glory with red leaves!  The bright red leaves brought some much needed color to the yard but that poor tree must totally be confused!  The small tree stuck out like a sore thumb among all the drab of winter.  

 Huh?  Wait!  It IS supposed to be winter!  Fall was several months ago!  Come on, Mother Nature!  Really?  Spring and fall right in the middle of winter?  My thoughts were jumbled.  I was trying to wrap my head around what was happening here as I slapped a mosquito that was buzzing around my ear.  Mosquito???  Oh, no....summer, too?  Mother Nature!  This is too much!  Stop it!  *Just as an added note...our temperatures reached nigh on 80 degrees this afternoon but are supposed to plummet into the 30s tonight.  Crazy!

Basking in the Sun

   After another cold night, more firewood was needed.  The old wood-burning stoves can put out lots of heat but only if you constantly feed them their favorite food...wood.  I was happy that what I had hauled in last night did carry me through the cold morning.  While our "cold" may not seem like much to others, it does seem bitterly cold to us down here in the Deep South.  We are so accustomed to winter being more like a late fall than anything else that when the temperature does drop into the 20s, we are COLD!  Like I said, though, I had enough wood to see me through until almost 9am.  Then, it was out to cut more wood.  This is all working out well since it cleans the yard.  After the last few tropical systems blew through, there are enough stacks of logs needing cut to see us through the entire winter.  So...out to the stacks, I went.

  At one point, I stopped to stare at the Bay.  The sun was out beaming with brilliance making me want to be on the pier instead of cutting firewood.  Pier??  What is that on the pier??  Down toward the outer end of the pier was a dark blob.  From the distance, I could not make out any distinguishing marks to tell if this was a bird, an otter or just some debris that blew onto the planks.  There was only one thing to do.  Time to take a break, grab the camera and stroll down the hill.

  With the first step on the pier, my mystery blob came to life!  A long neck stretched up and wings flared out.  Ahh, Gus, the brown pelican was basking in the warm sunshine!  He had his head tucked beneath his wing when I first noticed him so there was no way of telling just who was there!  Ole Gus was probably just like me.  We want to be warm!  At least, I have the Little Bayou House and the cast iron stoves to keep me warm at night.  Gus sits on the pier with the north wind making things miserable.  Thinking of this, I eased back off the pier and let Ole Gus bask in the sunshine undisturbed.

Hunting for Bright Spots

   It has been a sort of mopey week for me.  Mark has been sick with a particularly rough cold, the week started with nasty weather and the grandkids were not able to be here for Christmas yet again.  Today, the decorations came down and are stowed away for another year.  This is so unlike me as I usually love the holidays and all the trappings that go along with them.  But....it is done.  Things around the Little Bayou House look "back to normal" and I can now go about my days without fretting over lights going out on the tree or pine cones bouncing off the stairway garland.  

  Slipping out the back door, I eased my way around to the Frog Pond.  The citrus trees are almost bare of their fruit now and the leaves have dropped from the peach and plum trees.  Well, this looks a mite drab! I was thinking I should just head back indoors but, then, I spied the small white blooms of the Paperwhite Narcissus.  Each and every time I see the plants in bloom, I think of Mom. She loved the blooms and would often pick a nice bouquet for the table.  While I think they are pretty, I prefer to leave them outdoors.  Mom loved the scent.  I find it....umm....well, not to my liking.   

  Not only did Mom like the blooms for their scent, she claimed that they were a sign that winter would not last forever.  I suppose?  But, to be honest, I really would like some "winter".  When it is Christmas week and the ACs are running full blast, it makes me wonder if the Paperwhites are a wee bit confused.  

  Finding the Paperwhites in bloom did lift my spirits even if only for a few moments.  They brought a flood of happy memories of my childhood and being with Mom.  Goodness, I miss those days.  Life was so much easier.  

The Drear Continues

   Our usual weather pattern of fog and rain has set in upon us with a vengeance.  We have not seen the sun in almost a week.  I mean...literally...we have not seen the sun.  That old rascal does not even attempt to show his face!  So, we live in drear.  There is the constant sound of water dripping on the rooftop.  At least, the garden appreciates the moisture but too bad it is not cold along with this.  Caterpillars also love this type weather.

  My hikes are often cut short as I am generally soaked to the bone after about twenty minutes of being outside.  Then, regardless of the temperature, I am chilled.  Age does that.  So...I come in and huddle around the old cast iron wood-burning stove for a bit.  That and a mug of tisane from whatever I managed to gather on the hike are my warming agents.  Drear....aging.....so goes life on the Bayou.

"Fall"ing into Winter

   This far south, we rarely get the beautiful "fall colors" that our neighbors to the north do.  The cypress trees turn a golden brown but with emphasis on the brown.  Tallow trees and gum trees do change but they start that in late summer and most of the leaves drop as soon as they turn.  Hickories, on the other hand, are our bit of color even though it comes in December.  It would be grand if the leaves changed to a lovely shade of red in keeping with the seasonal spirit but they turn orange...bright orange...then drop.  They drop everywhere.  By tomorrow, I will be knee-deep in orange.  This drop will happen with the coming rain and wind that is expected overnight.  The rains will last for the next four to five days.  While I am grateful for the rain on the garden, I am not looking forward to dealing with a ton of soggy leaves.

  To be honest, I was not even fully aware that the hickory trees were in their glory until my brother commented on the huge tree that stands in my front yard.  "Boy!  That hickory tree is pretty!"  I had to agree when I looked up.  Yep, that thing was literally glowing in the rays of the late afternoon sun.  Wow!  I am glad he called my attention to it because with the incoming foul weather, it would have come and gone without my noticing.  Hickory trees!  Our fall color makers that wait until December.

Bayou Weather....Foggy with gnats!

   We are back into our winter "cycle" of rain, cold, warm and fog.   The cycle has its good points and a few bad.  Just when you think you are all settled in for a nice bit of cold weather, the winds shift, temperatures rise and heavy fog lays in across the Bay.  The fog lingers for most of the day keeping things damp and muggy.  A good side to all of this fog and warmth, the garden is doing well.  Cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower and mustard greens are filling the rows nicely.  One of the bad sides, is gnats and mosquitoes never leave.  Just about the time you think they should be gone due to the chill, you are attacked!  Those are the days you find yourself wishing for a lovely freeze!

  This morning, a light fog shrouded the Bay and Bayou.  It blocked enough of the view to make things appear a bit spooky.  The "Bayou Creature" would love just such a morning to make an appearance!  But...he did not show.  Our Bayou Creature is just about as elusive as Big Foot!  The name is applied to any unusual wail or moan that can be heard coming from the bowels of the Bayou.  Far back where the Bayou meets a creek and turns into a swamp, any number of critters can let out yells that can run chills up your spine especially if you are roaming about in the predawn fog. 

  Years ago, the kids and I loved to hike through the swamps during foggy evenings.  Because our footsteps were muffled by the wet leaves, it was not uncommon for us to stumble upon critters out on the hunt.  Bobcats, coyotes, fox, coons and rabbits were often seen before they noticed us.  To my way of thinking, this was one of the best learning situations the kids could have ever experienced.  They grew up knowing how to react or how to "not act" when encountering wild animals.  Never once did we feel threatened and we respected the critters enough to back off and let them continue on their way. 

  No critters were found on this morning's hike.  It was short and sweet but I had work to do.  It was a fine morning to mulch more of the hurricane debris pile!  The weather was warm enough to work in short sleeves...until those pesky gnats found me!  Weather....Southern Weather....Bayou Weather!  When is that next cold snap??

It Is NOT Spring!

  Our winter has not been.  We are sitting at about 70 degrees here tonight and each day has been much the same.  We do have the occasional dip in the temperatures which puts us down into the 30s but those times have been far apart.  This unusually warm time has most of the critters around the Bayou in a state of confusion.  Birds are nesting, fur bearing critters are shedding their winter coats and snakes are out and about.  Today, I saw evidence of another bit of wannabe spring.  

  I opened the front door to be engulfed in a huge swarm of flying ants.  Ugh!  I immediately stepped back indoors, shut the doors tightly and raced to get the bug spray.  As much as I hate to use chemicals around the place, sometimes it is a necessity.  This was one of those times.  The ants were swarming on the east side of the house and were being wafted by the breeze right onto the french doors.  I do not need a swarm of ants inside the house!  My efforts killed a few but Mother Nature came to the rescue after a short while.

  Ants swarm during mating season and that should be anywhere from late spring until mid summer.  It should not be in January!  The ants supposedly need bright sunshine, little wind and warm temperatures.  They also prefer to swarm after several days of rain.  Well, that pretty much describes what has been happening around here lately.  That sunshine was a short lived thing, however.  Soon after I found the ants, a thunderstorm rolled through and then a heavy fog set in for the evening.  The ants may have been sorry that they were so hasty about swarming.  That rainstorm probably killed a good many of those wanting to start a new colony.  Way to go, Mother Nature!  Good job!  While we did not need more rain, that rainstorm was perfect timing!   

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.  

Poor, Sad Flowers

  Fall was here!  Fall came.  Fall went.  Winter pushed it away.  That is ok.  I am good with winter but I do not like the idea of Old Man Winter killing my plants!  He just has no right to do that, if you ask me.  Actually, I was tickled to see that my struggling marigolds took off into a wild growth spurt in October.  The gardens look at least somewhat presentable for the clue hunt teams that trotted themselves about the yard.  Each plant shot out dozens and dozens of blossoms giving that perfect "Halloween" orange to brighten the otherwise drab garden.  Splotches of orange dotted not only the gardens but wherever the seeds decided to grow.  It made me happy.  Then winter happened in just one night.  ONE NIGHT!!!

 Now the pretty blossoms have bowed their heads and look dismal.  The marigolds, along with my once thriving bell peppers, are wilted and dying.  I knew this was inevitable but had high hopes that fall would be prolonged into more than a week!  Oh, fall, where did you go?  

  Nah, I am ok with it.  The gardens will be cleared and readied for a winter garden.   I was just pondering the planting of broccoli, cabbage and mustard greens.  I suppose this plan will be put into effect a lot sooner than I had expected.  Oh, well...broccoli is good...cabbage and mustard greens...good.  So long peppers and marigolds!

Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

  With another cool spell descending upon the Bayou, it was quite pertinent that I gather a bit of kindling for the old cast iron stove.  There are, in fact, two wood-burning stoves in the Little Bayou House that need to be fed when the weather takes a turn on the cooler side.  These early stages of winter just beg for a bit of warmth and the stoves provide just that.  The cat, old dog and I will huddle near the crackling embers and while away the evening hours.  Ms. Nycto will be on my lap and Mr. PJ will rest near my feet.  All in all, it makes for a perfect evening but only if I gather enough sticks to stoke the fire a bit.

  I took the long way around the property to gather an armload of "fire sticks" as my sweet granddaughter calls them.  The old stoves do not need large logs to put out a nice heat.  An armload or two of small branches will burn for hours.  The path took me around back to the canebrake.  This path heads due north and is, more or less, a tunnel like feature with large trees making a canopy overhead and thick underbrush lining the sides.  Sometimes, it can seem quite dark even during the bright of day.  This afternoon, the "tunnel' was cast in gloom from the overcast skies and a brisk north wind made it feel icy cold.  I was ever so thankful to feel my canvas log tote weighted as it meant my hike was about complete. At this same time, the sun shone through just enough to give me that "light at the end of the tunnel" feeling.   It was time to head back to the Little Bayou House and get warm.  A mug of hot ginger tea and some warm pumpkin bread fresh from the oven awaited my return!  All is well.

The Change

  Well, now!  That is a change!  I was recently bemoaning the fact that we had no winter, so to speak, then last night, Mother Nature decided to intervene on my behalf.  I awoke to nigh on freezing temperatures!  This did, indeed, pleased me...for the most part.  Other than the fact that I had to make multiple trips out to the woodpile to stoke the old stove, I thoroughly enjoyed the coziness of the Little Bayou House.  The old wood-burning stoves both chugged along happily and kept the place toasty warm.

  This morning, sitting in the comfy rocking chair while sipping my mug of hot coffee, it occurred to me that I would probably not enjoy having the "luxury" of central heating.  I NEED that comfort of watching the flames in the fireplace regardless of the extra work of gathering, splitting and hauling the firewood.  There is something mighty soothing about watching the flames flicker and hearing the fire crackle.  

  Of the two wood-burning stoves in the Little Bayou House, the parlor stove is my favorite.  This tiny cast iron stove was made in Florence, Alabama way back in 1871 and is still in perfect shape!  This stove allows me to remove the front grate so I can enjoy viewing the flames.  The other is enclosed. It warms but the visual aesthetics are missing.  My uncle gave us the stove before he moved from the Coast to live near his daughter in Missouri.  My oldest son was helping Uncle Alfred move some stuff around before his move when they came across the old stove.   It had been stored under the house for years and when Mark found it, Uncle  Alfred said  "Ooooh!  Get that thing out from under there and take it home!  That thing is still good!"  Piece by piece the iron stove was hauled to our house.   My uncle then came to tell us how to put it all back together again.  As a gift, this was amazing.  I cherish it even more since it came from my uncle!  Each time I light the fire, thoughts of our visits and, later, our phone calls, come to mind.  

  All of these happy thoughts and sweet memories came flooding in all due to a change in the weather.  Yep.  This kind of change is good!

Maybe Too Soon

  One of the first signs of spring in the Deep South is the blooming of the azaleas.  These bushes will be covered with the hot pink, pale pink, white or red flowers as soon as the temperatures warm the least bit.  Most lanes, driveways and fences are lined with the shrubs on longtime estates.  Azaleas are the epitome of the beauty of the place and are the harbingers of springtime.

  This year, at least on the Bayou, the azaleas have few blooms even though it has been warm for some time.  And it is a good thing.  For the next few nights, we are to have freezing temperatures.  The tight-closed buds should fare out well but the few open blooms will suffer.  By morning, the flowers will be droopy and sad looking.  Then, after this three day cool spell, the temperatures will warm again and the azaleas will show their true colors!

  Usually, the bridalwreath shrub blooms at the same time as the azaleas but, while the azaleas are late, the bridalwreath flowered early.  The tiny rose-shaped flowers burst open a week ago making the front yard glorious!  These clustering flowers that are on long draping branches were at one time used during weddings (hence the name).  The long, willowy branches were often twisted into tiaras for the bride and her maids to wear in their hair.  They were also roped into garlands to decorate the church for weddings.  The snow-white blooms are quite showy and provided beautiful, yet cost free decorating.  My shrub is from a cutting from the old farm.  It has been through so much with a fire, hurricanes and droughts but keeps surprising me with beauty year after year.

  Although this cold spell will put a damper on the blooming shrubs, I say it is not long enough nor cold enough.  I yearn for a good cold winter since it has been years since we have had one.  While others wish for spring, I would love for some winter.  The plants, however, really want no part of this!

Grey Skies of December

  Today was forecast to be our first sunny day in a while.  Sunny and warm!  Nope.  Dreary and chilly.  Which was ok by me but the old dog's arthritis did not care for it at all.  This turned our hike into a hobbling walk just far enough to do his morning deed.  I promised him that once the sun popped out, we would do the same and "pop out" for another try at a hike.  It never did so we never did.  Poor old pup. He was miserable.

  The greyness of the day did make for an interesting sky.  The sun should have been far above the horizon by the time we exited the Little Bayou House but, by the looks of it, one would have thought it was before dawn.   Mr. PJ was edgy as he could still pick up the scent of several deer that had meandered about the yard during the night and a few wild pigs that had visited earlier.  He was trying his best to "protect" me but I so wanted to venture out and do a bit of photography.  My only subject within range was the tallow tree better known as a popcorn tree.  The seed pods made an interesting effect against the grey, grey sky.

  The opportunity of more pictures came to a halt when the dog decided it was time to get back inside.  Perhaps I should have let him get settled on his bed and gone back out but I knew that would make him antsy.  My time for exploring, photographing and simply enjoying the early morn Bayou has come to a halt.  The old dog's needs come first. 

Oh, the humidity!

  I have found it chilly for the past few days.  The temperatures  are not bad but the humidity is definitely trying to make us feel winter here.  We have had a good solid rain for two days now our next step of winter, fog, has arrived.  In the mornings, I cannot see the pier from the front steps.  It is almost as if the world ends about seventy-five feet in front of me.  A solid white wall blocks out anything beyond that point.  It is that fog that chills me to the bone.  At night, it creeps into the Little Bayou House like some thief ready to rob us blind but instead of taking anything, it leaves a certain stickiness on everything.  There is not much we can do about it other than deal with it.  Dehumidifiers cringe, shake and cower when meeting our type humidity.

 Early this morning, I took the old dog out for his morning stroll.  Since the pace has slowed to that of an elderly snail, I have plenty of time to photograph oddities along the way.  Once we neared the pier, a Great Blue Heron caught my eye.  Moe had come back to the pier expecting breakfast but none was proffered.  Not only did he go hungry, he had to hunker down against the fog. Poor Moe!  He looked downright miserable!

  Winter mornings complete with fog should be a boon to the herons.  The north wind exposes the mudflats and the fog shields the bird from being seen by its prey.  They can catch plenty of little mullet by just waiting.  This same fog does present its share of problems, however.  The drippy mess muffles all footsteps so larger predators can stalk the herons without a problem.  Coyotes and bobcats would love to dine upon a sizable bird like a heron.  

  Moe was either being lazy by staying on the pier or was being wary of his surroundings.  Either way, he was not catching any breakfast by sitting on the pier.  The old dog and I merely passed him by as we were ready to get out of the fog.  No handouts for the herons today.

The Return of Winter Friends

  In a matter of a few days, the Bay went from being almost barren of waterfowl to being dotted with hundreds of birds.  While the "locals" are still here, newcomers are flying in quickly.  Our locals being the herons, pelicans, egrets, geese, terns and gulls  are joined by the cormorants, ducks (quite the variety!), loons and mergansers.  I love them all but have to admit being rather partial to the little mergansers...especially the Hooded Mergansers.  These birds are beautiful!  Although, the hoodies are a smallish bird compared to other ducks, they have lots of character!

  This evening, one hoodie stayed close to shore while all of the other birds were far out in the middle of the Bay.  At first, I wondered if the little one was ill or maybe hurt but those fears were soon laid to rest.  My little friend was merely feeding in the shallows.  With the north wind blowing the tide far out from the shoreline, minnows and shrimp that normally stay in the marsh and bayou cuts were an easy target for the hoodie.  He was happily filling his belly!

  Welcome back, my little, winter friends.  You are always welcome here on the Bayou.  I hope your stay is pleasant!

Looking On The Bright Side

  We had several hard freezes this past winter.  Not many but enough that it caused problems and is still causing problems.  In the Deep South, it is not uncommon to see citrus trees growing in our yards.  Usually, the lack of winter cold makes for fine growing for these trees but that one cold snap that sees the temperatures drop in the teens for a few days harms the trees.  This year, we had a few of those hard freezes that damaged the citrus trees.  In spite of my efforts to protect the trees, a good many of the limbs were killed.  My citrus grove looks terrible but there is nothing to do but trim back the limbs and hope for the best.

  Recently, I was out wandering behind the house when a delightful aroma wafted through the air.  Ahh, citrus blossoms!  Yep, the satsuma trees were blooming on the few branches that remained green! This sight gave me hope that at least the trees would attempt regrowth!

  The blooms that I inspected looked good and had the tiny oranges intact.  No, we will not have a bumper crop this year.  No, the grapefruit trees do not have blooms nor do the navel oranges and lime trees but the satsumas and lemons are bursting forth with new leaves and blooms!  Somehow, that makes things all better.  

  There is nothing like a tiny leaf or blossom to make you realize that life goes on regardless of hardships.  That one step forward is all it takes to make things better.  I figure if a rag-tag tree that has been put through the mill can grace the yard with its heavenly scent, then I can face whatever is thrown at me.  Here's to looking on the bright side!

Fickle Mother Nature!

  Our spurt of springlike weather has taken a turn toward winter again.  Not that it can compare to the weather of our neighbors to the north but this is a tad worrisome.  A freeze just might damage the citrus blossoms enough to make them not set the fruit.  Not to mention the peach trees, pear trees and plum trees that are in full bloom.  A late freeze is rough on the gardens.  At least, I am late in getting the tomatoes and such set in the garden boxes.  There are no worries there.  

  However, while meandering in the gardens this morning before the rain chased me inside, I came across one sleepy, little fellow who had better take heed of the warnings.  It is going to be a tad chilly for the little toad to be out and about tonight!  This morning, the little one had ventured out from its cozy bed beneath the herb boxes.  It was enjoying a bit of fresh air and the fleeting sunshine.  Within the hour, though, clouds darkened and the rains came.  

  With the coming chill, I thought about that little toad and all of my critter friends that normally hide away during the cold.  With our thermometers jumping from heat waves to cold spells, you have to wonder just how confusing it must be.  Along with the emerging toads, lots of the birds have already had a first nest of eggs hatching.  Those little ones with no feathers better hide under Mama for warmth for the next few nights and I better get on the ball and haul the plants back into the greenhouse!  Mother Nature always has a few surprises up her sleeve.

Soaking Up The Sunshine!

  So winter in the Deep South is doing its fickle best to keep us confused.  For the past few days, it has been feeling a lot more like summer than winter.  Two days of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70s makes me feel like doing yard work!  I pulled all of the plants out of the greenhouse and let them feel "spring" only to shove them back inside so they would not have to feel "winter" again tonight.  I am not the only one dealing with the moody Old Man Winter.  The critters of the Bayou are baffled, as well.  

  This afternoon's walk to the pier brought me face to face with a lovely, little lizard.  The little critter was sunning itself on the warm pier boards and had no intentions of vacating its comfy spot because I wanted to pass.  This lizard seems to live on the pier and has done little to protect itself from winter save going beneath the boards and down into the marsh.  There, it can burrow under some of the dead reeds and be quite snug.  Unlike its "landlubber" cousins up the hill, this little lizard can take full advantage of the warm sunshine.  The open area around the pier allows the sun to warm the place much faster than the mulch-filled areas of the shady woods.  There, the ground is still rather cold and the lizards are all still snug in their dens.  Several times, I have been cleaning the yard only to uncover a poor, cold lizard.  Whatever I moved is gently returned to its resting spot on top of the lizard that chose that place as its overwintering spot.  In contrast, my friend on the pier has been active almost all winter.

  One has to wonder if the pier-dwelling lizard had any idea how brilliant it was to choose the marsh as its habitat.  Other than an occasional high tide, this smart, little guy can live the good life.  There is plenty to eat, nice snug places to sleep and its on "tanning bed" also known as the pier.  Smart critter!