Another Wetland Tour!
It was my honor to run two tours for the folks from Midland, Michigan, who are down here doing recovery work. I think it’s their third time down? Not sure, but it’s at least that. These retired folks are quite amazing.
After working on projects all week, including our house on Friday, these folks threw about 300 old Christmas trees into a shoreline restoration project on one of their weekend days off. The other, some of them spent riding on my boat, seeing the sights, and learning a little more about how the Louisiana wetlands came to be disappearing so rapidly.
I’m sorry I didn’t have the foresight to have someone snap a group photo with my camera, but I will share some of the wildlife with you.
These are a few of the things they got to see on our excursion . . .
This beauty was perched near a small dam structure, where water was churning through with the falling tide. I’m sorry, but all these photos look very amateur because I was trying to keep the current from carrying us away, while trying to snap still shots–not an easy thing to do.
Nearby was this little Snowy Egret, wading for her lunch.
And this photo really does not do this osprey justice . . .
He really was much more handsome than this represents. He didn’t stay still long, though.
Nope, there he went.
We also managed to see the illusive nutria . . . actually we saw four of them swimming. I’m not sure anyone was able to snap a recognizable photo–not me for sure. Too busy driving the boat.
These folks from Midland make a couple trips a year to different disaster-stricken areas to help people recover their homes.
What a blessing, one for which my family and I are very, very thankful. A little tour around the wetlands is the least I could do for them in exchange for all they are doing for us.
Thanks, Team Midland!
Forever grateful,
BW
Love the photos! Beautiful!
I especially like the photo of the snowy egret among the Cypress(?) knees. They may seem amateurish to you, but those are some beautiful photos. And what good-hearted folks to come help restore the coast and the homes.
That was my favorite photo too! I love the polished look of those cypress stumps!
Hurray for t hose wonderful Midlanders who traveled south to help you and the LA wetlands!
Great photos, BW!
Wolfy
The osprey is such a handsome bird. I saw one on our tiny lake and it took my breath away. Fierce and beautiful.
I’m catching up on posts today and I saw the ones of your housebuilding project. What an adventure. What’s with the pink studs? Mighty bright?
somehow pink studs sounds like i’m talking dirty…
The pink indicates “pre-cut construction” studs, meaning they are a standard height for wall studs, no measuring, no cutting. Why pink? No clue!!! It’s good to hear from you, Sue. All that snow up there, are you able to get out now?
You’re too critical of yourself. The photos are great. Did your guest come away having had a good time and stay off the banks? If they did, you did a good job at multitasking. That’s what counts.
Ah, yes, well the current twirled us around in circles until we were drunk before I could pull us out of the tow, but other than that, I think we did okay!!! No, we didn’t hit the bank, thank goodness! I was snapping so fast, and grabbing the wheel and throttle that I didn’t get to focus any of the few I took, that’s all I was trying to say!!!
Feeling mighty puny today must be the bayou flu…
Sorry to hear that. Be sure and eat your spinach.
What a wonderful thing – to be able to take the Michiganders out to see a bit of your neighborhood.
The photos are great – my favorites are the osprey. When they arrive here in the fall it’s the most thrilling thing in the world – I always hear them calling first, and then have to watch and watch to see where they are. One’s come back to the same boat mast for three years – I’m sure it’s the same one. I think their call is the best of all the birds – with the kingfisher second.
and then I would have to say the pileated woodpecker third, hawk fourth, eagle fifth!!! And I’m glad you like the photos. You would have loved to have been on my boat the day the osprey swooped down, caught a fish, and then the eagle swooped down in hot pursuit of the osprey’s meal. They went up, down, around, in what seemed like a game of fish tag for a long time until the eagle peeled off and headed out to get his own fish! They were both screaming the whole time. It was a feast of sights and sounds, definitely.
read about them in the paper-very cool.
Yep, they are a great group of folks. I’m cooking white beans, rice, and fried speckled trout for them today. Yesterday, they had shrimp/crab meat stew, rice, and warm potato salad to plop in the middle! Oh, and warm, buttered French bread. Monday they had chicken and andouille gumbo with French bread. I hope they will stay forever!
You keep writing about meals like that and I’ll get my hammer and show up…..
You are mighty welcome to do that! The next major building project (which is not on my list of skills) is to do the drywall. That should be set to go in a couple of weeks after the electrician, plumber, and HVAC folks do their thing. I just sat on the master bedroom floor yesterday and daydreamed about being in the house. It’s just still really a dream . . . which is slowly coming true . . . with the help of amazing people . . . every step of the way . . .
Shrimp and crab meat stew? Oh my! That sounds heavenly! I sure wish this new house was closer to my apartment (or that I had my own house closer to yours!) so that I could mosy on over and beg for leftovers! Our cupboards are bare and *whine* I don’t wannnna go grocery shoppingggggg! I’m going to have to go tomorrow though. If not, it’s tomato soup and heels of bread for us.