LAKE CADDO

Finally I was able to take a few pictures of Potters Point Campground. It is a fishing camp but is like a community. There are four permanent residence families but two of them have been on vacation. I met Peachy today. She and Gary help take care of the place. The owner and his wife live on site but he has an outside job so isn't around that much. Did a swap with Peachy for  tree riped plums. Everything she grows is organic. I gave her a package of fresh shrimp and she gave me all the plums I wanted. Shrimp is frozen up here and it cost a lot. They live on social security and can't afford it. So, I was happy to share. We were invited to the community crawfish boil. Hopefully, we will be here.

I really like the peacefulness of this camp. I've seen what I think is an eagle twice and heard it calling once. It landed in a tree on the next property.  There is an old dilapidated pier that is going to make a nice painting. Will post the pictures of it later.

Phil checked out the town of Vivian, Louisiana this morning. It has a small Walmart with not much in way of groceries. But the town has a IGA supermarket. So we are stocked back up except for a couple of items. We didn't do much grocery shopping on the island because everything except seafood is imported in and outrageously priced. Here it is seafood that is imported lol.

I walked out into the road with my camera and took a couple of pictures. In the first one our campsite is the second trailer with the white truck...

Then I turned around and took this next picture...

Next I walked down to the end of the pier in the upper picture to get this next picture...

Today was gray and not a good day for taking pictures so I will wait until this next storm system passes before taking more pictures. With the water lilies and huge cypress trees I can tell you this lake is gorgeous. I love the feel here.

I found walking from the pier up the hill to our camp  to be hard for me. So that is my daily goal... to walk the hill. Tomorrow I will walk down to the water's edge with my grabber and pick up the cans and trash left by the ramp users. Walking the hill is a big thing for me because last summer I could barely move because of back injury. It was all I could do to get out of bed. I refused surgery and chose to heal myself... so watch out hill here I come lol.

It is that time again and I must close this for the night. But before I do I would like to share something that happened on the road while traveling here to this camp. We were on the other side of Shreveport and it was starting to get dark. Phil asked me if I smelled the gas. I rolled down my window and there was no doubt there was gas. We thought somewhere there must be a gas leak maybe from a gas well or pipeline. Farther down the road we smelled it again and stronger. Then it dawn on me... marsh, bogs, mud flats, and swamps are know for their will-of-the-wisp methane gas. The lights went on upstairs lol. There for awhile the gas sure had us wondering what was up, should we report it or not. Glad we didn't lol.

Well off I go... Angel Wings Around You and May You Dance To The Tune Of A Blessed Life.

ANGELS WATCH OVER US

We arrived here at Caddo Lake last night. All is well. We spent most of this day finishing setting up the inside and outside of the camp.

This morning I received an email from Jim telling us that two waterspouts hit the island a couple of hours after we left. I knew that a storm was going to hit the island and there would be heavy rain. Told Phil that a storm was coming a few days in advance. Fatima (my Angel) let me know about the storm coming. So we got off the island in time. Sometimes I can hear Fatima, sometimes she gives me mind pictures, and sometimes she puts the information into my mind. When Angels watch over us we are blessed. Everyone is born with a Guardian Angel. When we are little children we are open to them but as we grow we tend to quit listening to them for various reasons. But they are always there to help, guide, and protect you. I am blessed with five Angels. To know of your own Angel just ask them and then have faith that they will communicate with you.

But back to the waterspouts at Grand Island. One of the waterspouts turned into a tornado that was a quarter of a mile long and 400 feet wide. There was significant damage from them. They formed in the Gulf of Mexico and came inland...

The store in the below photo was about five blocks from where we were staying.

Here are a few more pictures...

Please note that I did not take any of the pictures shown.

When I awoke this morning I felt a large release of energy in the area of my back where I am injured. Immediately I was relieved of pain. I raked the yard area and didn't feel pain. Raking, sweeping, and things like that are things that I avoid because of back pain. I am still amazed at this event.

Well it is late so I am going to close this and get ready to call it a day...

May Angel Wings Surround You With Love And Peace...

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Well the time has come to bid this beautiful island in the sun goodbye. We have enjoyed our stay but it is time to get on the road again. I bought a couple of souvenirs to remember our stay here. Picked up a new fishing hat for both of us. Mine has two mosquitoes embroidered on it with the words "Bite Me" lol. Phil's is a cap with the Grand Isle, La logo on it. Has a zip pocket and places for his fish hooks... Here he is wearing it...

Phil told me that I needed to take a photo of myself so just for the heck of it I did.

I will miss this island. The beautiful birds..

The marshes  and the Gulf of Mexico

But there are so many more places to visit. From here we are headed up to the top of Louisiana and will then cut over to Caddo Lake.  I have always heard that it is very pretty there with large cypress trees and spanish moss. We will be staying at a fishing campgrounds four miles across the border into Texas. It will not be as fancy as the state parks but there isn't much in way of parks around that area. From the looks of the area we may have problems with phone and internet.... we will just have to wait and see. If I can't get on line then I can't post on here until we move again.

It has been a long day of cleaning, packing, washing clothes, and getting ready for the move in the morning... so I will say "goodnight" and "May Angels Dance With You In The Light."

BLUE CRAB MYSTERY SOLVED

Gosh, where did the time go? Seems like ages since I put something into the blog. I've been concentrating on research, setting up my computer, finding lost items, checking out the town and fishing.

About the research... when we were at the Grand Isle State Park I took a photo of a handicapped blue crab. Here is the photo...

I feel sorry for the little crab with no claws to defend itself or to use to bring it's food to it's mouth. But there was something else that was bothering me and that was the why didn't it have claws. Well, my research finally paid off in an article that ran about the mutated crabs born with no claws, shrimp with no eyes, fish with tumors and open sores  around the Barataria Bay. Grand Isle is between Barataria Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This area was hard hit by the Gulf Oil Spill that shocked the world.  I read in the article that the mutations and sickness was not caused by the oil itself but by the chemicals used to clean up the oil. This poor little crab was not tortured but was born with it's claws.

What the article brought to the forefront of my mind is that this area has not healed yet. Will it ever? Will this mutation be passed on through the altered genes into it's offspring? I wonder.

Then there is the issue of the shrimp in this area. This area is one of the major seafood suppliers of the world. Not all of the shrimp are mutated or sick but enough to worry about if they are toxic to humans. I wonder about those that we ate. I am going to start with a detox program using green tea and milk thistle. There is also another issue with the shrimp and that is that there is an aggressive Asian Tiger shrimp invading the Gulf waters. This Tiger shrimp is three times the size of the Gulf shrimp. It will eat the young of the Gulf shrimp. I was told by my spiritual guide that I would see the extinction of many species. So that leaves me with the guestion are we seeing the dying off of the Gulf species?

I spoke with a local lady today about the area and the Gulf is still sick. The economy is still suffering here. She said that at this time of year the tourist and fishermen used to pack the island on weekends but not now. They are hoping that memorial day things will pick up. She said that sometimes it took a car two hours to drive from one end of town to the other because of the traffic and people. But that they have not seen it that way since the oil spill.

I also noted on the beach that there were a lot of dead pelicans, gulls and fish. There is a crew that keeps the beaches clean so it is not so noticeable. But when I was going out on the long pier daily I could see them.

We are staying at the cheapest RV park on the island. Being that the speckled trout are biting right now this park should have been packed full over the weekend but it wasn't. They still had empty spaces for rent.

What this is leaving me to believe is that there is trouble in paradise...

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

This is an email that I received and found very touching. I am sharing it with you.
Birds are fragile and vulnerable. The amazing photos captured a drama with two of these little creatures that is every bit as poignant and heart wrenching as any human story. Kudus to the photographer.

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

A female bluebird was hit by a car as she scooped low across the road, and the condition soon proved to be fatal.

Her male mate brought her food and attended to her with love and compassion.

He brought her food again but was shocked to find her dead

 He tried to move her... a rarely seen effort.

Aware his mate was dead and would never come back to him again, he cried out with his pain and sorrow as he grieved his beloved mate.

Many people believe that animals and birds do not have brains and and feelings. Here you are witness to the love and sorrow felt by one of God's little creatures.

Some would suggest that I am trying to put human emotions upon animals and birds. Maybe they would interrupt the above differently. But I have studied and observed animals and birds enough to know in my heart that they are just as capable of compassion and love as we humans. It is important to remember that God's eye is upon the sparrow as well as all creatures big and small. Remember to be kind to all living things.

But most of all be kind to yourself ... Live simply, love generously, care deeply, and laugh often. Enjoy life while it is yours....

                       

Angels wings around you ... Let their wisdom be your guidence.

Island House RV Park

We've moved to a new location here on the island. It is a small rv park one half block off the main road. We are here for nine days. Hopefully, the boat will be ready monday and we can test out the fishing.

I took a very interesting photo the other day and will share it with you. I was on the long pier at the State Park when I took the shot. My thoughts were about the UV rays and was wondering if it was possible to see them. I was quite surprised when I saw the photo.  I know that digital cameras can see what the naked eye cannot and truly believe this is what happened here... the sun's harmful ultra violet rays...

I also took a picture of a marsh hare or swamp rabbit that was out eating grass near the road. There were a lot of rabbits in the park. It is interesting to note that the island has no snakes, coyotes or foxes. The rabbit's only threat is from birds, dogs, or feral cats...

Besides gulls and pelicans there are a lot of redwing blackbirds.

When arriving at the Island House I noticed that by the steps was an angel. I take that as a good sign. So we will see what the week has to offer here.

Across the main road and over the big sand dune is the town's beach. The beaches are well maintained and clean. One thing I've noted since the move is we are out of the helicopter flight path and it is much quieter. The constant hum is gone also. And best of all the wind isn't beating up the awning. The park doesn't have much to call grass but the well tended yards beside and around it sure helps with the looks.

Guess I shall close this and get to bed as it is late... May Angel Wings Surround You.... Nite....

Saturday At The Park

The park is full  and people are everywhere.  Lots of tent campers as well as RVS. This morning I went to the long pier only to find it pack with sight seers and fishermen. So I didn't go all the way out. Instead I watched the children on the beach playing in the waves.

The winds were perfect for flying kites and there were many of them in the air. This photo is of a little boy's first time to fly a kite. I wish I could have recorded his joy when he finally got the kite up into the air...

Farther down the beach there were men standing out in the surf near the jetties fishing. The beach was fast filling up as people were taking advantage of the perfect weather for a beach outing. 

While coming back to the camp site I passed a splash of pink. So I turned around to check it out. I found a beautiful wild flower...

This island has many hidden flowers. I have found pink, blue, and white morning glories as well as the flowers above. Oleanders of white and pink grow wild, especially over on the Elmer's Island area. And there are many more flowers growing wild.

Tomorrow we make the move into town and are booked there for nine days. That will make the necessary change in our scheduling to allow us to get off the weekend traveling. During the week there is less traveling and better sites are available.

Monday Phil will get his boat and he will be able to go out into the bay for fishing. They are catching speckled trout in the bays and lagoons but not around the banks.

We found the local shrimp dealer. It is the place where the boats unload their haul of shrimp. The name of the place is Blanchard Wholesale and Retail Shrimp and is at the end of Oak Street. We purchased 15 pounds of 16/20 Jumbo & Large mix shrimp for $4.oo a pound. Needless to say, I spent the rest of the day deheading, peeling and deveining shrimp... but it was worth it. I put shrimp in the freezer and fixed a large batch for supper. Phil managed to put away 32 of them before he had to call it quits . There isn't anything better then shrimp caught and served up fresh unless it is fresh lobster.

In our walks on the beach we have gathered a nice little collection of sea shells and sand dollars.  All of the sand dollars were collected by Phil...

There are usually shrimp boats in the gulf everyday. This is the Island Ace bringing their nets onboard. The gulls are festing on the fish falling from the nets.

I will close this, fix supper and get ready to move out in the morning.  Jim is supposed to get his fifthwheel trailer Monday.  He will park it in an rv park in LaPlace while he gets stuff moved in and set up. Then he will move on down the coast line to Leeville. Which is between Golden Meadow and Grand Isle. He is supposed to come down and go out fishing with Phil on the boat sometime next week.

Well... off I go... Angel Wings Around You