Frying Goldfish

Yep, that's me!  The girl in a dress (oh, the horror! Where are my overalls?) with Mr. and Mrs. German.  I'm guessing we've been fishing.

Dad worked road construction. Sometimes we traveled with him.  We would rent a house or a cabin and stay until Dad's job was done. We always came home to the farm but summers were extra special.

I was very lucky.  Our neighbors raised goldfish in long metal aerated tanks. Part of my "job" when I came to visit was picking out the floating goldfish. I was allowed to feed them to Mrs.German's cat.  During all this fun I decided it just wasn't right to feed the cat RAW goldfish. I presented my idea to Mrs. German. She was happy to comply.  She gave me a big jar lid and a fork and allowed me to stir and cook to my heart's content on their heating stove in their living room!  Of course the fish never got hot.  I tip toed to reach the top of the stove then I would politely and properly serve the cat his "cooked" meal.  The cat seems to enjoy the special service.

Mrs. German just smiled. Mr. German seemed to enjoy pulling my braid.    I was in trouble many times for slipping away to visit the neighbors without asking permission first. Mother taught me that lesson well.

What Grows On Your Catalpa?

In the Spring of this year we rescued the Catalpa tree so it could grow tall and unbound by undergrowth in hopes that it would host the great Catalpa worm that we LOVE for fish bait.

I checked for fish bait and they were there!!!

 I discovered this Assassin Beetle having a meal.

He posed and continued his meal as I picked a few caterpillars for fish bait.

We went fishing in the Top Pond

We caught a pair of bass (male and female)

 and a pair of sun perch to move to the spring pond.

I guess, in a round about way, our Catalpa Tree grows fish.

Me and My Feet in October

My feet and I made friends with a tarantula.

 Found Beggar Lice seeds

Did a little fishing

 Got down and dirty in the mud

and washed my feet in cool spring water.

My days with my flip flops are growing shorter..

Fishing With Me

Retrieved my fish bait from my worm pit/compost pile, grabbed my purple rod and reel as Hubby gathered his little tackle box with all his lures etc.  Headed off in the Gator to the top pond with out the dogs that can't stay outta the water.  Lizzy got to go because you know she doesn't care too much for swimming.

Hubby starts reeling the bass in before I even get my bucket of worms unloaded.  My first cast I hang on a log and have to break the line.  Hubby says they're feeding deep so I trudge back to the Gator to get a float to hold my hook at the right depth.  I cast again.  

Oops!  Tangled up in a Button Willow in the edge of the pond and I'm NOT losing another hook, much less a floater.  After I retrieved the clippers from the Gator, off with my shoes and jacket. Pushed my pants legs up as far as they would go and stepped carefully into the mucky bottomed pond to save my float. Success.  Muddy feet are happy feet.

Contemplating which worm would be prime bait I wondered if they could feel that hook as I strung their little bodies on it.  Fished all my life and, believe me, the way they wiggle, they feel it! My line is still not in the water.

I was distracted by a rock.  Who, me??

I found another rock that fit my pocket.

Then decided to change fishing spots since I had no bites...

remember my line is not in the water.

Lizzy finds her spot

and I find mine far across from Hubby

where he continues to notify me with glee of how many he's caught!

My mess of fish is growing too!

Final tally...Hubby six, me twelve...but who's counting.

His stringer may be bigger but we all know size doesn't matter.

Mine were released into the spring pond

and

we're having Bass for supper.

Fishing Rocky Bayou

Our favorite place to go when the girls were young was Rocky Bayou that joins White River on the Stone county side.  If you were to back track this creek it would pass in front of kinfolks' houses from the ancient past.  We would wade through the section where I learned to "grabble" fish, where I caught crawdads for bait.  Blue Hole, where we swam and even where Hubby's kinfolk lived (and oh, the stories I have!)  Mother used to warn me and my daughters to be careful who we dated, they might be kin to us.

Back on track to the adventure of the week...Rocky Bayou is a gravel creek  When the river is up you can motor in easily. Other times there is a small channel of only a few inches depth that you must fly over...Hubby can do that.

The waves ripple from our landing.

 This is a honey hole for bass.

The fishing begins while I take pictures

 thinking I am in heaven.

The bass are biting!

These wonderful rock ledges shelter many fish

but not from Toni and Hubby.

Yep, that's my Dr Pepper.

Toni shed his shoes early.

I kept mine on but I was connected 

through the water and the rocks...paradise!

We jumped ship leaving Hubby behind catching fish.

Toni and Andrew headed to the place they used to swim.

Low but still beautiful.

Hanging ferns grew on limestone cliffs.

See all the rocks?

I found just a few to bring home.

Every one needs a day like this now and then.

The fish were released

and we motored toward home.

Before...

our collective family had cattle, horses, cancer, Alzheimer's, and heart trouble we did much river playing. Today we went again to some old favorite spots.  We caught a few fish but released them.  It was beautiful.

The boat that has set unused met White River today in Guion Arkansas, still a sand mining town and the place where Hubby grew up. 

The bridge that connects Izard County with Stone County was not here when we were residents.  If you wanted to cross the river you had to drive onto a state owned and operated ferry.  If the river was too high or too low you didn't cross. The citizens liked the isolation but things always change.

The boat unloaded was tested by Hubby while we readied things to be loaded.  The sun was warm but it was late afternoon so the weather was not as intense as it has been.

We flew up the river in the inboard motor boat that Hubby had considered selling.  Glad he didn't but it is difficult to take pictures when the speed does not allow you to open your eyes.

I risked a picture over my shoulder as we flew up the river.  Toni's hair will show you the speed along with the wake we left behind us.

Even the backwards shots showed the idea conditions for water reflections on the river.  

We fished on a creek off the river until sundown brought the fog with it.  It was time to head to the ramp.

Sundown, fog and speed...another shot over my shoulder told me I should have my life jacket on.

We beat the fog and the dark to the loading ramp.

A Blue Heron patiently waited for dinner in the river weeds. 

As we landed a gentleman greeted us seeking help. He had started to launch his boat and had some engine trouble.  He removed the cover, found an active wasp nest and in his hurry to retreat he had lost his motor cap in the water. Hubby motored over.  The men shined lights in the water as Andrew dived under to retrieve the man's motor cover.  My heroes.

Loaded, tired, happy with darkness and fog dropping their curtains we headed home.  On that ride we saw four large Buck White Tail Deer, one doe and a rattlesnake almost big enough to swallow a fawn. Pulling the boat, we could not go back to retrieve the snake...big monster.  He not only would have made a good hat band but I'm guessing maybe a belt too.

It was a good day and a good time to reacquaint ourselves with White River.

The MAG 108...Fishing?

is dedicated to the enjoyment of poets and writers, for the purpose of honing their craft, sharing it with like-minded bloggers, and keeping their muses alive and well.

1) Write a poem or short vignette using the picture featured in this post as your inspiration. Feel free to take the photo to use for your post.

2) Link back to Magpie Tales from your post.

3) Sign up in the Mr. Linky list, linking directly to your post, AFTER you've posted.

A delightful fun way to stretch your imagination and let your fingers do the talking.  This is the picture posted to let our imaginations run wild.

Quietly, she stood, making sure no more bubbles surfaced.  It had been a difficult venture but she was up for it, tough person that she was.

Those beautiful eyes looked at her as she lowered him into the water, holding him under, waiting...she took her time.  She wanted this to be done right.

When he could be seen no more, receding into the deep waters, she stood...and she wondered.

Why did she fish, if she only sets them free?

It Was A Double Poopy Monday...

I felt gray and dreary 

but the skies were blue despite how I felt.

Spring is closer than it has been all year and I seem to get further and further behind on projects that should have long been finished. 

The house is getting emptier. Currently my office chair is sitting on five sheets of plywood in the computer room floor waiting for repair jobs.  I get out of my chair and it rolls a way but don't want to leave the wood out in case it rains.  These are for repairs within the house...when I get around to it.  I need a whole bucket full of round tuits...then maybe I could get some things done.

Replacement parts for the tractor auger cost over two hundred dollars, the lumber past a hundred and a half.  It's discouraging but we have the parts and materials for different projects so maybe, just maybe, before the snow flies again, we can finish up some repairs.

My followers are increasing on both of my blogs so that is a pure delight.  I am always honored and amazed that people want to read what I write.

Weather wise, we are dry as a bone, the dirt roads boil dust as we travel but the green still battles to reach the light.  I do believe spring has almost arrived, dressed in flowery undergarments and filling the air with an exotic perfume.

Oh, the repairs and projects we have to do far out number the times we can find to do them.  I am bound and determined before the deep heat of summer we will have the stock corral finished with the head gate so cattle working will be much easier.  The home repairs will be done as we continue to thin, thin, thin.  Old pieces of family history will find a permanent home here and other pieces will find new happy homes with some one else. The tornado damaged barn may actually get completely repaired this year and tools will find their way back to the shop.

I have a magic wand, you know, and like Merlin in the Sword and The Stone, I will wave my wand and things will dance into their proper places.  Hey, I can dream, can't I?

Mondays at work are always hectic and this Monday was no exception.  I go in early to catch up, work through lunch to catch up and find myself further behind at the end of the day than I was at the beginning.  My customers are happy, I think,  I help them with paperwork, wrap their packages and just lend an ear  and they seem to appreciate it. 

The old big F the doctor assigned me makes my muscles cry out and my bones ache but I go on...smiling and helping the best I can.

Our biggest disaster today was Lil, the lead butt Border Collie stepped on Andrew's tv remote and that no longer works...one more thing on hubb's list to pick up tomorrow.  This disaster has shut down Andrew's music, his games and his movies.

Hubby presented his present to Marcy...new fishing line and some fishing lures...the crappie will be biting and fresh fish to catch here At The Farm.  Marcy does love to fish!

I dragged my aches and complaints to bed and know tomorrow is another day.  Oh, the promise it holds!!!