Friday, December 26, 2014

OYSTER PICKING ADVENTURE

Packed up the RV and the Tzus and I went to the State Park in Grand Isle for a few days.  My friend Pat told me that he had a bucket of oyster shells for me that was given to him by a friend of his named Ronnie.  I was hoping they were the large shells which I like to decorate and gift wrap for selling.

It was really cold when we got to the beach but we enjoyed our first day there.  The second day it rained.  The third day was pretty nice. 

Cha Bu Khan trying to give me little wet doggie kisses.

Xi Shi Quan giving some love too.

Our usual spot number 29.

On the second day, Pat picked me up at the park and we went to Ronnie's house.  The plan was to go to a spot in the marsh where Ronnie goes fishing and had discovered an old Indian Mound that had lots of very old oyster shells that he claims are over 100 years old.   

He wore rubber boots and loaned a pair to Pat but I had on regular dress boots as that was all I had in the RV.  When we got to the spot and I saw how wet the ground was I didn't think I was going to be able to walk the distance necessary to get to the shells.  Ronnie said, "Just follow me," and took his first step into a ditch along side of the road.  

Well, I couldn't believe he expected me to walk into that ditch after the big rainfall we had the night before.  However, I took a couple of steps and began to sink into the mud.  Didn't take me but a second to realize that I was not willing to go any further with the boots I had on so I climbed out of the ditch and stayed near the truck with Ronnie's girlfriend Suzanne.  I got teased alot about that but didn't care.  I was not going to go into that marsh. 

After about a half hour, Pat and Ronnie came out of the marsh with 2 5 gallon buckets full of shells.  You can see their red shirts in the distance.



Now that's what I call going above and beyond the call of duty for a friend.  Ronnie's pants were wet up to mid calf but he was smiling.

Ronnie and Suzanne.  They met on Match.com and are now engaged.  Ronnie took us all out for lunch.  They shared a roast beef po-boy. 

Pat had a shrimp burger.

We all shared onion rings.

I had the hamburger steak with onions and mushrooms.  We all enjoyed a Coors Light.

We ate at the Starfish Restaurant.  

Here is Pat holding Ronnie's little dog.  He is so cute and very smart.  Performed all of his tricks for us.  Cool little dog.

Got back to the park and took the dogs for a walk.



Cha Bu is feeling a lot more confident about going into the water.

The beach was full of shells which is not usual for Grand Isle.  I picked a few nice ones.

The park is nearly empty.

There I am in the center.

One of my interesting neighbors.  He is from Garyville, LA.  He purchased an old school bus for $2500 and then invested another $60,000 to renovate it into this RV.

He had a cute little dog named Bandit.

Here is another doggie we met on our walk named Jake who is from Indiana.

When we left the park to return home we stopped at Pat's house and had lunch.  Then he took me to another friend's house named Norris who had a large pile of oyster shells in his back yard.  He said we could take all we wanted so we picked a large cardboard box full and thanked him.

Then we rode to the Wildlife and Fisheries Research Center and found some discarded shells near the bay.  We found some shells with both halves still connected and empty of oyster.  They will be fun to craft with.

Spoke to one of the researchers who shared some knowledge about their research with the oysters.

The $23 million, state-of-the-art lab supports resource sampling and research work performed by Office of Fisheries staff, which drives the decision making process for management of the resources within the entire state.  Biologists based in Grand Isle study a variety of marine species including finfish, crab, shrimp and oysters and their associated habitat, which are all vital to the economy of Louisiana.

Oyster culture research is conducted at the hatchery’s demonstration farm, located adjacent to a new operations center which opened in 2012 to replace a building lost during Hurricane Katrina. The operations center provides a farm service area downstairs, and upstairs living and office space for graduate students.


A diploid oyster (left) and a triploid oyster (right).

Triploid oysters have three sets of chromosomes – unlike normal (diploid) oysters that have two – and triploids are sexually sterile. From June through November when diploid oysters are expending energy to spawn and shedding fat stores, triploid oysters remain meaty – creating a possible summer crop for Louisiana oyster growers.

Triploids can be created artificially in the lab by manipulating oyster chromosomes, which has been done, but that process is not 100 percent. However, chromosome manipulation can also be used to create tetraploid oysters, which have four sets of chromosomes and can sexually reproduce. When bred with diploid oysters, tetraploid oysters produce 100 percent triploid offspring. The goal is to create a broodstock line for annual triploid production.


I'm learning so much about oysters.  However, I have my own observations made during the process of crafting the shells.  They are indeed primitive but are coming from a layperson's point of view.  There are some oyster shells that I refer to as skirts, some as half moons, some as flat heads, some as blues, some as blacks, some as wines as they are red and are wild oysters, some as striations which are age lines used to tell how old they are, some as flats for holding candles, some as deeps for holding designer soaps, some as piggy backs, and some as clusters - my favorite.  

Now that I have made contacts with people who can supply me with shells, I will concentrate on making my cement and shell sculptures.  This is exciting and I can't wait to get started.



Thursday, December 18, 2014

MY PLEASURE WAY'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

It's been a year since I brought home my beautiful blue and white motorhome from Florida.  It was heartbreaking to trade in my Class C Freedom Express but I felt that I needed to downsize - however, I do still miss it.




I haven't done much camping in the new motorhome this year.  Starting a new business has kept me home a lot as well as some health issues.  I'm hoping that I will be able to get out on the road much more in 2015.

I am enjoying providing my K-Nine Sitting Services in my home and have cared for some beautiful dogs in the last 8 months.  It's an easy job that allows me time to also continue creating my art in my studio.  I never dreamed I'd ever have a place and time in the day to creat art.  It would have been wonderful to have started this trend when I was young.  Who knows where that would have led on my career path.  Creating is my one true passion and I look forward to it every day.


As this year comes to an end, I'm looking forward to a better year ahead.  I am hopeful that my artwork will receive some recognition in my community in the near future.  I will have my first showing in a museum this coming April.  Folk Art is not welcome at our local Art Guild and have had no luck in promoting it at other venues.  However, it is coming into it's own and I may receive more recognition this coming year. 


I have found several local Facebook pages that provide a place for a person to sell whatever they want and it is free.  You have to become a member and they are monitored closely.  One site has close to 40,000 members and others have between 2,000 and 5,000.  I have started posting some of my artwork and have had some interest shown. 

 
 As for my health, I'm holding my own but have some days when I really feel my age and my various illnesses.  I keep pushing on and am determined to improve my condition more so in the coming new year.


My little Shih Tzus are my constant companions and bring me much joy in life.  I'd be lost without them.   


Gotta go now.  Taking the Tzus for a ride in the RV.  We're going to get gas ($2.29 a gallon) for our trip next week to the Grand Isle State Park.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

A TRIP TO POINTE AUX CHENE MARINA FOR BLUE CRAB

Packed the doggies up into the RV and took off for a day trip.  I've lived in Terrebonne Parish most of my adult life but have yet to see all parts of it.  It's stretched out pretty far in all directions and I live in the northern part.  So today I decided to travel to the southern part to look for a place to go crabbing for the delicious blue crab.

Here is a little bit of info about the area.

Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area is located in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, approximately 15 miles southeast of Houma. This area, which is owned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, includes about 35,000 acres.

Access to the interior is typically limited to boat travel due to the lack of roads. Boat launches into the interior of the area are available on the Island Road and on Highway 665, south of the Headquarters area in Pointe-aux-Chene. 


The terrain is mostly marsh, varying from intermediate to brackish, interspersed with numerous ponds, bayous, and canals. The only timber stands are located on the Point Farm Unit of the area, or areas adjacent to natural bayous and older oil and gas canals.

Game species include waterfowl, deer, rabbit, squirrels, rails, gallinules, and snipe. Furbearing animals present are mink, nutria, muskrat, raccoon, opossum, and otter. The Department holds annual lottery hunts for waterfowl for the physically challenged hunters and for deer for youth hunters.

Inland saltwater fish species, crabs, and shrimp (shrimp may only be caught with cast net) are available to the recreational fisherman. Fishing is excellent due to the proximity to the Timbalier and Terrebonne Bay watersheds. Freshwater fish may be caught in the more northern portions of the area.




Although we are surrounded by water here in Terrebonne Parish, there are few places where you can park near water and enjoy some crabbing and fishing from shore.  In all my life, I have never done so.

I was really pleased to see how this area was situated so close to the Gulf.  It took me an hour to get here from my home, which surprised me.  It takes me an hour and a half to get to Grand Isle which is on the Gulf but in a different direction and in a different parish.  I thought this would be a place closer to my home but it's farther out than I figured.





Really nice camps here.

That's the marina on the right.  It was closed when I was there.  I was informed that it only opens in the morning.  Two boat launches also available.



The upstairs portion of the marina offers a nice view of the area.  It also has rooms to rent, a store, and a fish cleaning station.



There is a boardwalk all along this waterway.  Lots of places to sit and fish or put out crab nets.  There are lakes all around this area as well as bayous... all leading out to the Gulf.

It was hot on this day with bugs but as soon as it cools down I will be back with my crab nets and try to catch at least a dozen for my supper.  The prices at the local seafood market are outrageous.  It's $40.00 for a dozen boiled crabs.  I refuse to pay it.



Friday, October 31, 2014

OYSTER HUNT AND HALLOWEEN WITH FRIENDS

Packed the RV with drinks and some snacks and the Tzus and headed to my friend Sylvia's house in Golden Meadow.  She knew some oyster fishermen that would have shells I could ask for to do some more craft work.

While down there I placed some new flowers on the tomb of my parents and then we headed for the oyster shack.  There was a pickup truck filled with sacks of oysters and they said I could take what I wanted.  I looked at the truck and said that I only wanted shells and not oysters.  The guy told me that those were only shells and had already been shucked.  "Wow, what are you going to do with all those shells?" I asked.  He explained that they dump them on land that they own.

So I took the small trash can out of the RV and went to work filling it up.  We only looked in one of the many sacks and I found some nice ones.  Then another fellow walked up to me and handed me some really large shells from his yard and I was thrilled.  That is what I was hoping to find.  They are so much easier to work with.  So Sylvia and I thanked them for their generosity and we left.

They are pretty dirty and stink.  I usually soak them in bleach and detergent then prime them with white paint then use metallic paint of different colors.

That three cluster shell will be fun to work with.

This is what I do with them.  Some are perfect for holding small items like jewelry.  I've made over 30 decorative shells.  Some turned out so nice that I'm keeping them.  I'll sell the rest at my next sale.

This really large one is a keeper.  It sits on my desk with scented candles.

Here are some that are perfect for holding votive candles.

With the smaller ones I make wind chimes.

We arrived at her daughter's house where they were preparing for a Halloween party.  Sylvia enjoyed putting makeup on her grand daughter Bailey and I played with the dog Chili.  Chili was my first overnight client at my K-Nine Bungalow Pet Sitting Service.   She sure has grown.

Bailey and Sylvia.

This is what she looks like now.

This is what she looked like when I cared for her.  She was just a baby.

They were both dressed as lady bugs.

The poor little doggie's head gear kept falling onto her face.  It was so funny.

I really enjoyed my visit and hope to see them all again soon.