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Alma mater

I went to school in this building some years ago. I lived and learned, loved and lost, worked and played, sang and suffered here. It’s pleasant to get a glimpse of the place, but I have not been able to go inside for more than twenty years because of the terrible mold- allergy they gave me. However, I still feel a fondness and recall the warmth of friendships there.

First cast

Here’s a Christmas memory from long, long ago. This picture is from Stanford Avenue, near the turnoff to LSU. The area looks much different, now. The road is a 4- laned highway instead of gravel, there are large buildings to my back, and this is now a park with landfill, parking lots, lights. sidewalks, etc. But I stood at this spot on the lake a half- century ago and made my first cast with the brand- new, shiny, big- boy fly rod that Santa had brought me. We had hit the floor early that Christmas morning and I begged and badgered and dragged Daddy across town to try my new rod. Patient and proud, he brought me, and I’m sure it was against his better judgment. I hopped out of the warm car and the northwest wind was howling, across the lake, into my face. We rigged up, and I cast, quartering to the wind. The water was unusually clear for that shallow lake. Despite the wind- rippled surface, I could see my brand- new, shiny, hand- tied- in- India trout fly working beneath the surface. Of course, there were no fish. And I only lasted for a few casts in that miserable weather. But, wow, this was my very own fly rod. I had played a few fish and learned some rudimentary casting technique on my dad’s rod, but it ain’t the same. Much has changed since that distant Christmas, but those memories remain sharp; I’ve made many casts since then. Thanks, Daddy.

Red sky at morning…

It had cooled a little overnight. By Saturday morning it had faired and a few stars showed. As they winked out and finally disappeared, the sky turned a blaze of red. Deer were not moving that morning, but the weather was pleasant and birds were singing. I found some fungi the size of saucers! I prowled around, walked some trails, but still didn’t find any buck- rubs. There were a few scrapes, and one had been freshly worked. I did some chores and rested at midday. When I grabbed my gear and headed out for another hunt in the early afternoon, it had begun misting rain. It stopped in a few minutes, so I checked that the poncho was in my daypack and started out again. I made it about a hundred yards before the rain started, a little more earnestly this time. When the rain stopped again I made it across the creek, then it really socked in. Back in the cabin, I found that my new stove installation had some problems. Water was blowing down the flu- pipe and was seeping under the window- panel I had rigged for the pipe to exit. A hastily- built fire in the stove helped to evaporate the water that was coming in, and some judicious stuffing of aluminum- foil helped to minimize water intrusion. I’ll have to do a real fix after it all dries out a bit. It rained several more times that evening, heavy downpours but they didn’t last long. The old saying is “sailor take warning”. By Sunday morning it was cold, with a steady wind blowing. Fortunately, I had committed to go to church with my cousins, and didn’t face the slipping and sliding of hunting those wet, cold hills.

Shore was a purty evenin'

Rocky Raccoon has been hiking the boardwalks, too. Yesterday provided a very pleasant visit to the swamp. It was still, quiet, the sky had cleared, and the temperature was about perfect. There were a few squirrels and birds around. The surrounding environment is taking on the shades of winter now. The green splashes of leaves and the occasional red or black berries make quite a show against the drab background.

Misty- moisty swamp

Yesterday was overcast and damp, but nice enough for a walk through the swamp. It was quiet and still, with only a few birds and squirrels moving. I took a picture and saw a fiery streak in my view- finder, so I turned off the flash and repeated the picture. Compare these shots: the later picture showed a quiet swamp scent, but the flash had set off that brown twig like a lightning bolt across the view. Interesting phenomenon.

This week in the woods

Well, I did get away for an over- night in the cabin; hunted an evening and next morning but the deer didn’t seem to be moving. There were a few small scrapes in the woods, but they were not freshly- worked. Surprisingly, I still have not found any rubbings. Squirrels and chipmunks are still busy and a few birds were hopping about.
I was hoping to glimpse some of the meteor shower … it’s Geminid time. Unfortunately, the clouds and fog obscured the sky views. I built a small fire to test the new stove setup and it worked fine… draw was good, not smoky. There’s a forecast for some cold weather, so maybe I can actually use the stove soon.

Awfully warm for December

Well, I finally got the sheepherders- stove hooked up in my cabin. My only experience with them has been in tents; they are fun to use and efficient (hope it doesn't put out too much heat). I never could figure a good fireplace design for such a small cabin, but have been wanting to listen to the wood crackle. So I got a stove, got the flu- pipe, and it’s been sitting for a while. I built a sheet- metal insert for the pipe exit, and finally got it all assembled. But it turned into summer again! And it’s too hot to try it out; too hot to hunt, too. I did manage to get some chores done and spent some time in the woods. There are a few birds around, and lots of squirrels, and a few armadillos have broken hibernation (I guess they hibernate). As I predicted, I have been seeing some bright leaf color. And here’s a picture of some holly; it’s an understory tree in my neck of the woods, much shaded, and seeing berries on one is a rarity.

Aflame in the swamp

A pleasant visit to the swamp; yesterday was another shirtsleeve day in December. Sunset cast light at a low angle. No breeze was stirring, so the quiet of the swamp was broken only by birds and squirrels scratching for their living. As the sun sank beyond the River, the last rays lit up the autumn colors in the treetops.

A warm December day

We certainly are not having a harsh winter, yet. Today’s high was 84 and breezy; nice for a visit to the swamp. The critters were not very active during my mid- day trek, but I was amply entertained just being outdoors. This warm weather seems to have convinced some plants to flower again; note the red blooms of the cardinal flower and the white- flower umbrels of the elderberry. The tree frog had occupied his winter home but was still porch- sitting, watching passers- by on the trail. There seems to be a heavy crop of seeds/ pods/ fruits/ whatever (?) from the tupelo. The forest floor has a carpet of leaves and more are continuously raining down. The muscadine leaf was a colorful stand- out against the drab background litter.

Just imagine: me, a birdwatcher!

Well, I had fun in the Bluebonnet Swamp this morning. They hold a semi- organized event on the first Saturday of the month, a birding walk led by a member of the staff. I had to be at work by 10 am and the birdwatching group started out at 7am. It was a win, win situation: travel- time and gas- costs were free; my park membership got me in for free. The group was small and knowledgeable (except me). There were lots of birds, and they were busy feeding, hopping around, singing. I’m familiar with most of our birds and can connect sounds to many, but I don’t know their names. Those folks did, and it was very enlightening. They also were interested in shrubs and trees, chatting about leaf shapes, berries, and such. I hope to play this game often, when my schedule allows. I dug out some binoculars and now I may need a field guide, maybe a cute pith- helmet. It was very nice visiting the park in the morning; it was cool and the light quality was nice. I’m usually there midday or afternoon and the critters are hiding. I took a picture of some mistletoe; I was amazed to see it in a low bush. That stuff is usually high in an oak tree and I have to do some first- class shooting with a .22 to cut a sprig for hanging at Christmas. We spotted a ‘coon peeking from a high tree- cavity. I made some squeaks, sucking the back of my hand, and that piqued his interest; gave us a better view.