Sunday, June 11, 2023

Chit Chat

 I have been a little sick today and I guess I've been a little sick for a few days which would explain a lot. Sometimes it's hard to determine if you're just having "one of those days" or if the body is indeed going through a viral thing or something like that. But when I woke up I felt truly shitty. I have felt better and better as the day has gone on but I haven't done much to speak of. So let's just have a little chat, okay? 

First, shall we discuss the gator at the Wacissa the other day? I didn't answer comments on that post so let me address the topic now. There have always and will forever be, I think, alligators and sometimes crocodiles, in rivers and in lakes and in ponds in Florida. And guess what? Sometimes they take it upon themselves to swim in the ocean! And no, I am not kidding. 
This is something I have never seen nor do I ever want to. 
But, I have seen many, many alligators in rivers and lakes and ponds and once even in the woods on a trail I was walking on, and I've never seen a gator attack man nor beast nor child either but I know that it does happen. Hell, a child was taken by a gator at Disney World at the beach of the Grand Floridian Hotel seven years ago. Which is shocking, even to me. 
However, I have never once heard of a gator menacing a human at the Wacissa. I have no doubt that over the ages, it has happened but not since I've lived in this area. They do occasionally remove a nuisance gator if it is making a habit of hanging out too close to the swimmers. I saw that this happened just a few weeks ago. I am of mixed emotions about this. Yes. We are in their habitat. However, so many people swim and play there at the headwaters of the river, many of them very small children, and if a child got taken or injured, it would be a tragedy and that's all there is to it. Not to mention the fact that Jefferson County would be sued out the wazoo and good luck with that because Jefferson County is probably one of the poorest counties in the state. 

There are a jillion alligators in the Wakulla River and it is forbidden to swim in most of that river although probably tens of thousands of visitors a year swim at the swimming area at the headwaters. The rangers do a good job of keeping that area clear of gators. Some years ago a guy who was snorkeling refused to listen to the rangers who instructed him not to swim down the river away from the swimming area and sure enough, he was eaten. He was a fool. I've seen a passel of alligators dining on a deer on the banks of the Wakulla River when I was on the Jungle Boat tour there and it was not a joke or a tourist attraction. It was nature, bloody in tooth and claw. 

And having said all of this, we are rather used to alligators here. They are part of our lives and we respect them mightily. They are ancient apex predators. On the other hand, we know that humans are not really on the alligator diet plan although I'm not sure how good their eyesight is. They are especially notorious for snatching small dogs walking by lakes or rivers or ponds. There are no dogs allowed at the Wacissa swimming beach although some idiots disregard that rule and in doing so, risk their pets' lives and probably the lives of small children. 

On to another subject. 


Do you know what this is? 
It's a bowl of super-fresh tiny shrimps that were bought for bait and not used. They were kept on ice the entire afternoon yesterday and when Mr. Moon bought them, they'd been swimming. I just hate to waste shrimp, even if they are classified as bait. So last night, when I cooked the regular, large, eating-sized shrimp we'd bought on the way home, I threw those tiny ones in at the last moment because a few seconds in the boiling seasoned water is all they need. 


Can you see them in there with their big brothers and sisters? They are easily deheaded and peeled and about four of them make a decent bite of deliciousness. I'm about to make a shrimp salad with the leftover shrimps and they will be part of it. 

In more fresh food news, Mr. Moon offered to go pick green beans for me this morning, knowing that I was not feeling well. I was about three days behind, picking them. Here's what he brought in from the garden. 


That was enough beans to fill a 2.5 gallon ziplock and aren't those tomatoes lovely? He got four cucumbers too. 
Now I had a feeling that he did not get all the beans, despite the great number of them that he did get. So later on I went out myself and this is what I came in with. 


It may not look like it, but that's probably almost another gallon of beans plus a few more regular sized tomatoes plus the cherries. Don't they look like gorgeously plump little orbs of deliciousness? Well, they are. There are also some fine looking peppers out there too of different varieties. 

Let's see. What else is there to talk about? Not much. I haven't seen Sheba around in the last few days. Not since I saw both Jack and Maurice chasing her across the back yard. I am not sure why they suddenly got all concerned about her. They've been lying here on the back porch watching her lounge and eat ten feet away for months. 
Cats. 

I finally finished the state park stamps puzzle. It's missing about three pieces and there's an extra piece that sure as shit looks like it belongs in it but absolutely does not. I bet I spent at least a half hour of my life trying to figure out where that little sucker fit in. It fits in the trash can, that's where it fits in. And now I can start my chicken and pottery and lavender and butterfly puzzle. I'm sort of excited. 
My Lord but I lead a tame life. 

And here's the thing. I just want to keep living a tame life. I'm not going to say a boring life because it isn't boring to me. But yes, it is tame. It is sweet and it is full and at this point it is just what I want. If we could only stay right here in this sweet spot of being healthy enough and sharp enough and strong enough, I think it would be sort of a heaven on earth. 
I know that we will not be able to maintain this level of ability forever but while it lasts, I intend to soak up every goddam drop of sweet syrup of it and sop up the very dregs of it with a hot, buttered, buttermilk biscuit. 

I guess that's about it for me. Anybody have anything they'd like to discuss? Or like me to discuss? 
Let me know. 

Love...Ms. Moon





28 comments:

  1. Back in your post about swimming, I said to myself that you must be used to their presence and knew how to behave. I did not consider the "apex predictor" bit, though. I thought you must be used to watching out like we are for rattle snakes and cotton mouths. I also knew they could eat a child, but wasn't permitting that fact to register. Although dead is dead in any case, a rattle snake or cotton mouth cannot eat a child!. Well, far past enough of that!
    I'm glad you're feeling better. I wish I could remember what my grandmother called feeling bad in the summer.
    Keep feeling better.

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    1. Yes! As with snakes you have to always be on the lookout. And honestly, I think I'm more afraid of coming up on a cottonmouth or a rattler than I am an alligator. Because of course WE HAVE THOSE TOO! And in the Everglades we have the pythons due to people releasing their pets which can not only eat a child but an entire full-grown deer. And they are slowly making their way north.

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  2. I too hope to stay in that sweet spot and worry about leaving it.

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  3. We have salt water crocs up north and they are nasty beasties that will happily take a person if said person is stupid enough to venture where they shouldn't.
    I don't think your life is boring or tame. It is sweet and gentle and oozes contentment with just enough of a frisson of angst to keep a sparkle there. I want what you have and hope our move will result in a sweet, gentle life.

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    1. I hope so too, Ms. Merlot. I really hope that you will be content and healthy and happy in your new life.

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  4. 37paddington: we’ll you know I love doing puzzles. It is a lovely meditation for me, as close as I get to quieting my mind, and slowing my heart to a gentle trot, so there a part of me that loves that you are enjoying doing puzzles too. Thanks for the nature talk on Florida gators. I admire how you coexist and would that the world could take a page from that book, but we’re mostly illiterate where coexistence is concerned but we keep on. Sorry you’ve been under the weather; sounds like you’re on the mend now. I hope you are. Hugs.

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    1. I think I need some of your recommendations of puzzles. I'm just going to thrift stores and buying the ones I hate the least. I seriously lose track of time when I'm doing puzzles but I will admit that I also listen to books or podcasts while I do them.
      Co-existing with gators can be a trip. There are so many people who move to Florida and buy a condo on a golf course or a lake and next thing you know, they're walking their precious little doggie and suddenly have an empty leash. And alligators just stroll right through golf courses. Some of the biggest ones I've ever seen pictures of.

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  5. Well, Father's Day is coming up. You certainly know some good fathers. My dad could do anything. Living through the Depression I guess you had to. I don't think fathers get enough credit.

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    1. I do know some good fathers! Absolutely! My father was not a good one. I didn't see him from the time I was five until I was thirty. And then only once. And my stepfather was worse so- there you go. One of the greatest things I ever did was to make sure that my kids had good dads.

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  6. Well, I suppose it is all what you are used to. I live in black bear territory, and the kids gleefully recount how I sailed off the deck with a broom to chase one away. It was my own fault. I'd forgotten to take down the feeders. The one he was after had sentimental value. He ran off right away, and I walked up into the house, never knowing there was a second bear tucked away in the jing weeds watching the commotion. I will also say that on another day, I went out on the back deck to chase away a black bear. He growled at me. I decided not to argue with him.

    I just don't see myself getting used to alligators. PS I have seen them in the ocean. Two of them. There was a park ranger standing between the people and the crocs. Some asked, "Are you here to protect the people?" and he said, "No. I'm here to protect the crocodiles. He said that people liked to throw lit cigarettes on them. We were in South Carolina at the time.

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    1. We have bears here too but I've never seen one in Lloyd. I have seen them on the way to coast in the backwoods of the backroads. You are brave to face them with a broom! Not sure I'd do that.
      People sure can suck, can't they? Why would anyone want to torment a huge reptile?

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  7. I'm a big fan of living the tame life myself.

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    1. It's funny I used that word- tame- seeing as how I'm surrounded by so much wildlife.

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  8. I do hope you feel better and better soon. Your Garden's bounty is always impressive. I'm glad you explained about Gators, they just terrify me becoz I've never lived anywhere that is their domain and so I think I'd be one very cautious Tourist they'd never get a chance to eat. *LOL* I didn't know you had Crocs too, those scare me more and I knew they often venture into Salt Water and eat Humans, since, in some Countries they grow enormous and people are on their Menu. That said, all of Nature is being encroached upon by us pesky Humans and we tend to be the more dangerous ones to all of them, so, they're the ones usually in need of Protection.

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    1. You're right. An alligator or a crocodile might be able to kill and eat a human but humans can destroy an entire planet. We are indeed the dangerous ones.

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  9. I am so glad that we don't get crocs here on the local river! The fiercest wild creatures we get are probably foxes, and they usually just run away if you see them!
    I am only growing tomatoes this year after several extremely poor years of runner beans. I have 12 plants and they aren't even in flower yet. Hope that you feel better today.

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    1. Yes- foxes are considered bold if they just pause and watch you for a second. They are elusive critters, aren't they?
      I hope your tomatoes take hold and grow you some beauties!

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    2. When I was watering last night I could see some tiny yellow flowers coming!

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  10. We don't have alligators or crocodiles, but we have baby 200lb black bears at this time of year! That said, you learn how to coexist. Especially since they were here first.

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    1. They were indeed here first. We have black bears as well but like I said in another comment above, I have never seen one in Lloyd. I've seen suspicious scat and prints on my walks. I honestly hope I never do see one. At least not on a walk when I'm all alone.

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  11. That sweet spot is indeed the goal.

    I think of gators the same way I think of sharks. Part of nature, unlikely to ever cause harm, but worthy of respect and distance. When I was a kid we lived on a lake and there were gators in it, and sometimes when we were swimming we'd see them out in the middle of the lake, just hanging out. But they never got close and if they seemed like they were going to, we got out.

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    1. You put it exactly right- that is the correct attitude for gators and sharks. If gators and sharks were as apt to attack as we often think there are, there would be a whole hell of a lot less people in Florida.

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  12. I am a scaredy-cat so I could probably not swim in a river with an alligator or crocodile but that is my loss and your gain!
    Our gardens are just beginning to grow here in Illinois and I am on watering detail for my brother while he and his wife go to Boca Grande, Florida for 2 weeks. I hope we get a LOT of rain because it takes about 30 gal. to water his garden plots according to his instructions and we have to carry it in buckets! Shit!

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    1. Oh good Lord. That's ridiculous! Buckets? Really? Has he not heard of irrigation? You are a good sister and I sure hope it rains. A lot.

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    2. No, it's city garden plots so each plot has to go to a central water pump to fill there buckets or watering cans! :)

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  13. I saw and commented on the lagniappe first so now here, yes, you are using the bait. and why not. shrimp is shrimp. there are alligators in Buffalo Bayou that runs right through the center of the city. people get those cute little baby alligators and when the shine is off and the creature is growing they get dumped in the bayous. they liked to hang out on a sand bar across the bayou from a restaurant and the kitchen help would dump whatever left over meat in the bayou to feed them. well, they grew and grew and last time I paddled down that bayou those gators were at least 6' long. there is a condo complex next to the restaurant and the residents loved the gators. then the restaurant closed, no more free meals for the gators. I wonder how many people's little dogs and cats started disappearing and if they still love those gators.

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    1. Shrimp is indeed shrimp and you couldn't get fresher than this unless you caught some and ate them raw which I hear some fishermen do.
      People have no idea how much they are endangering not only other humans but also the alligators by feeding them. They start to think of humans as food sources which leads to nuisance behavior. You know this, of course.

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