Friday, October 19, 2012

hey, pilgrim! you forgot your pop-gun!


Thursday was Man Day.

The day I rolled up my short sleeves to tackle the duties of a pioneer on the frontier.


Around here, that means pulling water cabbage and water hyacinth out of the laguna.  The chore has been neglected for some time.

First, it was the crocodiles babies.  I was reluctant to disturb the nursery.  And, as you may recall, MaMa Croc was far more intent on me not disturbing the nursery.

Then I wandered off for two months.  In my absence, the laguna was emptied twice.  When I got back, it was a plain of wet mud covered with water plants -- hanging onto life in the few puddles that survived the drainage.

For the past three weeks, my inlet has been filing with water.  And just like income tax rate cuts, all boats (or, in this case, plants) are rising.

Having put off what needed to be done for too long,  I started gathering up my tools.  Well, tool.  I only have one.  The four-prong hook that I toss into the pond and then pull out with a rope.  If all works well, a carpet of plants will come along with it.

But, if you look carefully at the photograph, my two-part tool has been reduced to a single piece of re-bar.  Without the rope, it would be as futile as a governmental program to toss the hook into the pond.

I am considering driving to Manzanillo on Saturday -- for a day in the Little Apple.  If I do not buy a rope locally (and there are plenty of local retailers), I will pick up one there.

Then I can return to my John Wayne impression.


18 comments:

Cdubee said...

What about all those teen-age alligators?

Steve Cotton said...

When the water went out, everyone moved.  Mama was back two nights ago.  But that is the reason for the rope instead of simply using the rake.

Cineguy said...

I have a feeling in this case at least, the government could muster up something far more practical than a rope and hook! 

Cdubee said...

Two hooks, two ropes!

Felipe Zapata said...

Your obsession with cabbage, etc., in this pond, plus toying with crocs, never fails to mystify me. You are a very odd man.

tancho said...

Wouldn't a gallon or two of Roundup do the same job?
 Just kidding.....

NW said...

..........and entertaining!
Cant wait to hear what shenanigans might go on at the future Cotton compound .

Cineguy said...

Indeed!  I was thinking helicopters and a bigger crew. 

Shannon Casey said...

There may be a slight preoccupation with that little swamp, but it is nice that you are maintaining a nice home for the next alligator clutch. 

Andean said...

The laguna is truly a wonderland of beauty, flora and fauna, but many things have to be seen and experienced first hand to know it, sometimes hard to explain...

Do you think that was the the mama croc captured by the ocean, when you were away? How many are back now? 

It does amaze me how they manage to regroup.

Steve Cotton said...

I have only seen the small croc.  But the vegetation is too thick to see anything else.

Steve Cotton said...

It is one of the most fascinating patches of nature I have ever seen.  If I move, I will sorely miss it.

Steve Cotton said...

Or a nice swamp fire.

Steve Cotton said...

Undoubtedly, the eight-year old in me has never died.  It is as if I am still capturing tadpoles to sell to the high school biology teacher.

Steve Cotton said...

I will have to find something else over there to enjoy.  The crocodiles are a bit further from that house.  But not much.

Steve Cotton said...

And charge taxes to the detriment of other people's lives for my amusement.  Hardly my brand of politics.  I will leave that type of corporatism to the current administration.

Andean said...

They seem to pop up unexpectedly as I learned from the neighborhood kids, who pointed them out to me, very quiet waders. 

Cineguy said...

Who said taxes are involved?  Well, not your administration either way!