"Best Kind of Gift"

   A couple of years ago, I was talking with my brother and he made the comment that he did not want gifts of "things I have to put in the house" for Christmas.  It seems that he is in about the same boat I am in with the house filled to the max.  There IS no room for anything else.  I keep telling folks to stop giving me things that take up space.  Don't buy me some cutesy knickknack because you have no idea what to bring...bring yourself.  That is it.  Both my brother and I have come to realize that "things" are not what are needed.  Kindness is.  So, I vowed to not get him anything that needed to be put "in" the house.  Instead, I found a way to let him know that my heart wishes him well but without the needless buying of things.  It has become a custom for me to give him hurricane debris!  Yep, hurricane debris!

  Storms have a tendency to wash just about everything imaginable up in the yard on the tidal surge.  That stuff gets stuck and it is a chore to clear it.  So, I hit upon the idea of giving it as a gift!  Now before you think I merely haul a wheelbarrow of garbage to his house, let me explain.  My brother loves all things to do with our Coastal living especially the overlooked things.  So, I have taken to salvaging driftwood from the storm surge lines and creating some oddity to give him.  We get a good laugh and then, if the whim strikes him, he can use the piece as firewood.  (I always remind him of that option!)  As an example, last year I created a life sized Great Blue Heron out of driftwood.  Life sized as in 4ft tall!   He loved it!  The crazy bird still stands on his deck with its head stretched high as it looks over the Bay.  In fact, he claims that everyone that visits loves his bird.  Aww...now I feel pretty good about that debris!

  This year, in keeping with the theme, I decided to get in the holiday spirit and make a Christmas Tree of sorts for him.  Again, that hurricane debris driftwood came into play.  The tree was put together with screws and jute string, strung with some mini lights and draped with Spanish moss.  I topped it with a rubber starfish that has been "floating" around here for years and tied on some shells as ornaments.  Once finished, I hauled the 3ft tall tree over to his place.  Yep...he loved it and immediately hung it on the wall of his porch.  Each evening, those little lights twinkle brightly as the glorified sticks of driftwood hold the decorations. 

  All of this just goes to show that Christmas is in the heart not in your hand.  Give something that shows you care.  Hurricane debris gifts?  Yep, I care enough to get creative with the "firewood" I give to him.  We both get a good laugh and lots of hugs.  You might be wondering what he gave to me?  Well, my gift is a bunch of really neat pieces of an antique chandelier that he found.  He handed me a box of the dismantled light parts and I was thrilled.  He knows how much I like to repurpose old things in my creations!  My head is already spinning with ideas of how to use the treasures!  Merry Christmas, folks.  Don't give cluttering gifts...give time...give love...give from the heart...or....give hurricane debris!  It is great to have a brother who can find the love behind a gift of driftwood.

The Making of a "Herodactyl"!

   After any storm that pushes the tide up in the yard, I sort through the debris.  Anything such as bottles, cans and plastics are bagged and put to the end of the lane for roadside pickup.  Large pieces of wood and boards are pulled and stacked for reuse.  The marsh grass, leaves and small twigs are mulched for the gardens and pathways.  Through all of the cleanup, I am searching...searching for anything that can be reused, recycled or repurposed.  It takes a bit of imagination sometimes but it does put an interesting spin on an otherwise tedious chore.  Lately, driftwood has been deemed a "find"!

  Back in December, I had the bright idea to create a driftwood heron sculpture as a gift for my brother.  He had made the statement that he did not "need" anything to put in his house as there was already too much stuff in it.  I can fully understand his plight as I feel the same way about the Little Bayou House.  Well, that statement got me to thinking about creating something he could leave outside.  So...the driftwood heron popped into the brain.  Admittedly, my attempt was feeble in comparison to the fine works of true driftwood artists but my brother seemed tickled over his odd critter sculpture.  Son said it looked more like a pterodactyl so he smashed the two names together and said I created the very first "herodactyl"   Heron and pterodactyl are names that need to be smashed, I guess.  So Herodactyl became a thing.

  This afternoon as Son was working on the pier, I spied some odd driftwood pieces near the shore.  Knowing I cannot get down along the shoreline to retrieve them, I had to use a bit of ingenuity involving a long pole and a broken scoop net.  It worked!  I now have the makings of a new sculpture!  Perhaps since arthritis is dulling the use of my hands for fine work, these larger pieces will satisfy the craving to create.  I am not sure what the driftwood pieces will become but I am sure it will have a fine name from Son!  Create, folks!  Don't fret if it is not museum worthy...just create!  It is good for the brain.

The View Through The Muddy Waters Of The Bayou

   My oldest son and daughter-in-law live somewhere out there in the middle of the ocean on a tiny island.  The photographs they send show the clear, clear waters.  They and the two grandlittles swim, snorkel and dive in that lovely water!  In fact, they say that a lot of the time, you cannot really tell just how deep the water actually is because you can see the bottom most of the time!  Wow!  I cannot imagine how interesting that must be!  I so wish to see what is on the bottom under the pier in two feet of water.  The waters of the Bay and Bayou are so muddy that it has to be a calm day and six inches of water before you can see the first thing.  Such a dismal thought!

  With the north wind shoving the tide far out from the marsh, it is my grand opportunity to gaze at what lies beneath the surface.  Not much...unless you love a bunch of odd pieces of driftwood or some muddy clam shells discarded by the otters.  The driftwood has to be pulled out so we will not catch our lines on it as we fish but it is not nearly as exciting as finds out there on the island!

  I did peer down into the water, yesterday, during a break in the rains.  My whole thought was how I was going to gather that driftwood.  I did not even see a fish, a shrimp nor crab.  Our water critters must have moved elsewhere.  But..oh, that driftwood!  Perhaps another sculpture will be in the works if I can figure out how to get the pieces without sinking up to my hips in that mud!  How glorious is the muck and yuck beneath the waters of the Bayou!

The Tempest And The Tree

   What you find in the debris during a hurricane can pretty much tell the severity of the blow.  Usually, we find a "wake-line" of dead marsh mats, boards, trash and small pieces of driftwood.  If a storm of a Category 4 or 5 comes, the tidal surge brings heartbreaking stories in the form of people's homes, businesses and the possibility of finding one not so fortunate.  Thankfully, the only deaths on the Bayou have been critters and not humans.  The stronger the storm, the greater the chance of others' belongings being washed ashore here or in the shallows of the Bayou.  After Hurricane Katrina, boats, sides of houses, furniture and even a refrigerator truck came into the yard.  Sofas were hung in the tops of trees and whole decks were laid against the house.  We were fortunate that Hurricane Zeta came in as a Category 2 and whipped itself right out of here with great speed.  The wake line contains the marsh mats and boards but very few other items.  

  One of the more interesting (and beautiful) items to sit in the front yard compliments of Hurricane Zeta is a very large piece of driftwood.  The thing is about five feet in length and perhaps has a diameter of almost fifteen inches.  It has beautiful knot holes and stubby limbs.  The driftwood piece is hollow and has been smoothed by the tide waters.  The wood is remarkably clean so the grain can be easily seen.  

  One thing that interested me was how many hurricanes this once massive tree had seen.  It is obvious to note that the winds were not easy on it.  The entire piece was once twisted mercilessly by the winds.  The woodgrain wraps around the tree instead of being straight. It is a beautiful piece and should have a place to show its glory.  Either this piece will find its way up the hill to the Little Bayou House or will be carted to my brother's place across the way.  We both find the piece interesting.  Either way, the driftwood will finally find a home after so many years being tossed and turned by a tempest.

Something Different

  Most of my photographs are strictly of the flora and fauna of the Bayou.  Mother Nature provides the settings and I just point the camera.  Until recently, nothing has been staged.  If my photograph had a grasshopper sitting atop a frog, it truly happened.  (Yes, there is that actual photo on the blog and if you wish to see it, go to this link.  https://msbayoulady.blogspot.com/2016/09/in-real-world-frogs-eat-insects.html )  But like I said, recently, I have "staged" a few experimental photographs.  

  This morning as I was meandering through the gardens, I noticed a handful of stones in the birdbath.  It is my habit to place pretty stones there as I find them.  The water washes them clean and causes the stones to sparkle.  The birds do not seem to mind the extra perches in the bath so all is good.  It was those stones, the rising sun and an old piece of driftwood that gave me a bright idea.  I placed the driftwood on the ledge of the arbor and balanced one of the stones on top.  Shoving the wood over to where a tiny sunbeam came through a small nail hole in the arbor wall, I, then, positioned myself behind the stone.  Wow!!  The pink stone was gorgeous! The sunbeam flowed through the nail hole and lit up the stone!  I tried another.  Yep, same results.  Absolutely stunning!  

  Who knew a couple of dirty rocks, an old piece of wood and a bit of light could create something like this?  Not me.  (Keep in mind that these are no special stones but are just finds in the gravel of our pathway.)  I have always taken the "lazy" approach to photography and let things just fall into place as they may but, now, ideas are flowing!   Then again, maybe this is a "sign of the times" that I am getting too old to be traipsing about in the marshes and mires of the Bayou in search of things willing to be photographed.

Art In The Making?

    Every now and again, I find something that strikes a notion in my brain..."I can use that!"  Although, I have no earthly idea just how the item will be used, it is toted home and stuck aside while those wheels in the brain turn and turn.  Eventually, some creative notion shapes and the "thing" is put to good use.  Usually.  Occasionally, the item either goes back where I found it (if it a natural occurring thing), I give it to someone who will use it or I discard it.  Those choices are easy.  The hard part is to never pick it up in the first place.

  This morning, there was not much going on in the way of a sunrise nor were there any critters doing spectacular things to divert my attention.  A lone piece of driftwood was the only thing that caught my eye.  "I NEED that!" my brain told me.  "Get it!"....so I did.  A knot of pine was fished out of the mud and rinsed clean.  After sitting in the sun for a while, the piece of wood dried out nicely and appears in much better condition than I originally thought.  It has a very attractive shape and some interesting worm holes and barnacles for added flair.  Now, to figure out just how to use this fine piece!  Perhaps some bauble could be framed in that center hole????

 

If a Tree Falls.....

  Several years ago, Son and I scavenged the shoreline for large pieces of driftwood.  Our idea was to line the board path with the "dead trees" before first Clue Hunt on the Bayou.  The ten foot long logs were "planted" along either side of the path and were used as lantern hangers.  The logs worked out so well that we decided to leave them.  Our "Dead Tree Forest" (as Son labeled it) was converted to holding bird feeders and wind chimes.  Son told everyone that he was planting dead trees so we would not have to cut live ones for firewood. "We have a dead tree farm." he deadpanned.  Visitors to the Bayou were a tad confused to say the least but the row of driftwood trees added a bit of character to the yard.

  This afternoon as Mr. PJ and I went for our last walk of the day, he noticed something was amiss and went to investigate.  The old dog had noticed that one of my "trees" was flat on the ground.  The last storm that hit the Bayou must have broken the driftwood and knocked it flat.  While Mr. PJ sniffed the hole in the ground, I checked the log to see if it could be salvaged.  Nope.  It was to far gone.  The wood had rotted beyond use.   Ever so gently, I pushed on the next "tree" in the row.  Crack!  Yep, it was rotted as well.   Dead trees have a tendency to do that, I guess.

  Well, that does it.  Tomorrow, the "Dead Tree Forest" will be demolished and the driftwood hauled to the trash pile.  It served its purpose and beyond.  I sort of hate to see it go but, on the bright side, mowing the grass will be a lot easier without  having to trim around a bunch of dead trees!

Hiding Out!

  Sometimes, you just have to find a secret spot and hide out for a while.  It is a good way to collect your thoughts, find inner peace and do a bit of meditation.  It is, also, a good way to escape the heat!  While I had no idea of hiding out today, a sweet friend decided it was the best way to spend the day.

  After lunch today, a trip to the compost was necessary.  The walk to the pile takes me past the Frog Pond which is where my sweet friend resides.  Yep, it is a frog.  Try as I might, I could not find my little buddy.  Just as I was beginning to think a coon or fox had caught the frog, a small croak made me realize otherwise.  The critter was merely hiding from the bright sunshine and heat of the day.  On one part of the bank, a rather large piece of driftwood has been strategically placed to create a ramp for turtles or any other stranded critters that cannot climb the steep incline.  Part of this driftwood sits about four inches above the pond edging and that is where the froggy was hiding.  He had found a nice shady spot to spend the midday!  Smart frog!

  It is a little known fact that frogs can breathe through their skin.  When the frog is completely underwater, all of its oxygen is absorbed through its skin but even when the frog is ashore, that process can take place.  It does however have to remain in a cool, moist spot to allow for this. This is the main reason frogs are more active at night and hide during the day.  When the night air cools and the humidity rises, the skin stays damp.  During the daytime, a frog will hide beneath a log (or driftwood, in Froggy's case), in some crevice or nestled deep in mulch.  Not only is Froggy staying cool, he is breathing!  Breathe in, breathe out (even if it through your skin! Find your peace, Froggy!

The "Dead Tree Forest"

What do you do with driftwood that keeps washing in to shore with every storm that hits the area?  I am hesitant to toss driftwood of any size on the burn pile simply because it is so very interesting.  Think about it...where does this stuff come from and how long has it been floating around out there in the water.  Or if it was laid up in the marsh, what storm put it there?  Each piece has a history whether we know it or not!  So, that said, tossing it is out of the question!  Still..what do you do with it all?  Some of the pieces that I have been saving, are quite lengthy.  These are more like downed trees instead of what is normally thought of as driftwood.  No little two foot pieces for me!  I love the gnarled and knobby trees!

Michael had put in a few pieces for me a few years ago.  He more or less "planted" the driftwood pieces along the board path so I could hang bird feeders and wind chimes on the knobs.  While he was planting the pieces of driftwood, a friend came over and asked "What are you doing, Michael?"  He deadpanned back simply.."Planting a Dead Tree Forest."  Chris looked at us like we were crazy!  "How do you expect those to grow?  They are dead!"   Michael looked at him and merely answered.."Exactly.  How else are you going to have a Dead Tree Forest?"  And that ended that! Son continued planting our  "dead trees".

Today, we added to our forest!  Michael and I dug holes and put in another six or seven "trees".  After getting the upright ones in place, we positioned a few shorter ones horizontally between the branches to add more "hanging" space.  Now I will be able to hang a couple of dozen more feeders for the birds.  Their dining possibilities just multiplied tremendously!  This was necessary as at any given time, there are usually thirty to fifty assorted birds hanging around the feeding stations.  I continuously fill feeders!  Perhaps with the added area, the seed will last at least through the day!

I like my "Dead Tree Forest"!  The driftwood pieces are being used in an unique way.  The lining of the board path adds a bit of interest to the yard.  What normally would be a wide couple of acres of grass, now has a Dead Tree Forest right in the middle!  And..that makes me happy! (Not to mention, it confuses a lot of people!)  Son and I will continue to add to the "Forest" every time a new piece of driftwood washes ashore!  The idea is to edge the entire hundred feet of the board path! Our Dead Tree Forest will get larger and larger with every storm!  And who says our Dead Trees Forest won't grow?

That's for the birds!

Once in a while something just strikes me as being interesting and I start pondering all sorts of uses for it.  As Michael and I were cleaning up a bit more of the hurricane debris, we uncovered  a log that once was a tall pine tree.  It had been killed during Hurricane Katrina but was hung up in another tree and finally came crashing down during Hurricane Isaac.  I was so happy to see this tree down and now when we uncovered the remnants of the tree, I was even happier!  The log had rotted down to be nothing but the heart pine center of the tree.  It had knobs and branches poking out at all sorts of weird angles!  It was great!  In my mind, the dead tree offered endless possibilities!  In Michael's mind, the tree looked like kindling wood for the fireplace.  I liked my vision much better!

The dead tree is now destined to be added to my Dead Tree Forest! This is actually just a row of driftwood trees on either side of the board path leading to the pier. The "trees" were found in the marsh and creekbed and I cajoled Michael into lugging them up the hill.  He then set to work "planting" them so I could hang my birdfeeders from the branches!  While planting the dead trees, Michael dubbed it the "Dead Tree Forest" and the name stuck.  The current tree will be added to this row!  My birds will be happy...almost as happy as me!

It seems funny how different people can things so differently.  My creative mind always sees items as potential artsy projects while Michael's logical thinking sees the same things as necessities such as firewood!  With this tree, he and I compromised.  I could have the "branchy" pieces as posts for windchimes and birdfeeders and he could have the straight pieces to split into kindling.  I can't wait to see what I find in the next debris pile!  Perhaps some other creative project in the making!

More Random Thoughts!

Every now and again, my brain cannot seem to hold all of the thoughts that are bouncing around in there! It seems that no sooner does one idea pop in than another is pushing it out! There just does not seem to be enough space! I thought today's post would be of some of these random thoughts..maybe you can ponder on them for me.

First..why oh, why can an artist never paint a rainbow? The vividness of the colors..the beauty of the spectrum would be a dream come true for anyone that could truly capture it on canvas. Try as I might, any attempt to paint such idyllic wonder would never compare to the real deal. I guess only the Master Artist can paint with light in the sky..it just makes the rest of us dream..imagine..keep trying.

Another ponderable, wasp's nests! These papery thin constructions are almost indestructible by weather! There has been a vacant nest in the palmetto bush for almost a year now and it is still in perfect condition. You would think by this time something so thin and fragile would have completely disintegrated! Another thought..how do the wasps create something so perfectly symmetrical? They do not go to engineering school to learn this. Ponder the thought..what if someone studied the methods of the paper wasp and could create a home or building that withstood the elements as well as these hives. Amazing!

Thought..how can the most fickle creature ever to live steal your heart? Take Ms. Put, for example, she is the most standoffish animal to ever walk the face of the Earth (or at least, the Hill on the Bayou) but can lower the blood pressure just by doing something adorable! She is demanding, contrary, intimidating and at times totally frustrating..I sure would not change a thing about her!

Does one little bright spot in a cold, grey winter day really make you feel warmer? Do the colors of red and yellow make the brain send warmth signals to the rest of the body? These two little leaves..one red, one yellow.. brightened up my day today. I spied them on a six inch tall sapling near the mulch pile as I was gathering kindling for the fire. The colors reminded me of flames.

Stare at this picture for a minute..or a few seconds..have you ever seen so many swirls in one piece of driftwood? Wouldn't you have loved to see the tree? I have been staring at this thing trying to figure out just what direction the limbs must have grown. What is the top..bottom?? What caused this tree to be so twisted? Perhaps a hurricane? Where does driftwood actually originate? How far does it travel?

Is it my imagination at work again or is there a perfectly formed "8" in the eye of this old oyster shell? Is this some strange omen? Or mere coincidence? If I was the superstitious sort, I am quite sure that I could read some sort of eerie meaning into the finding of said shell. Should I?? Or should I just let it go that this oyster was at one time a budding mathematician? Hmmm????

Speaking of eerie..the letter "e" jumped out at me today! Literally..jumped out at me! I was out gathering the kindling that I spoke of earlier and a vine flipped off the arbor for no apparent reason other than to make me ponder! The letter "e"! Now was this some divine sign? Hehe..the vine..divine..ok, ok....anyway..I suppose I could read something in the letter "e" dropping in on me like that but I think I am pondering way to much!!!

Last but not least..what is it??? I love this picture! Again, if too much emphasis is placed on the unearthlyness of the photograph, all sorts of things come to mind! Was there some ethereal meaning behind this or is merely a fluke? Is this something alien or some computer-generated image? To be honest..it is the moon. I was out taking shots of the moon the other night and Ezzy, the dog, bumped my leg at the perfect time to totally either mess up or create the best photograph! I have to admit..I do sort of like it! Perhaps I should be pondering why sometimes mistakes in photography are great shots!