The water in the spillway came up a bit but is now falling once more.

I believe the price of crawfish has gone up to $1.50, which tells you that fishermen aren’t catching much.

Since I’m at the landing every day, I can tell you that the fishing business has slacked off seriously. I think some people are still catching a lot of crawfish, but mostly it’s the small fishermen bringing in small quantities – people who aren’t “big” fishermen or don’t have the expensive rigs. I’m seeing a lot of Go-Devils now also. I believe that’s due to the lowering water level.

We can use some rain here. It thundered today, grey clouds moved overhead and then everything passed with not a drop of water falling.

My friend Jackie and I have managed to return to our weekly Skyping, which is always enjoyable. I’m actually excited about visiting my sisters in Michigan this summer so I can help them both set up Skype on their computers. I’m excited about seeing them regardless, but it would be so nice to be able to video chat with them when we’re so far apart.

I grew a few new white hairs the other day when I used the wood duck box pole to steady myself when I tried to stand up after pulling weeds along my seawall. My head was just about even with the bird hole when a duck flew out, brushing against my face and heading out into the river. My heart did a flip flop, but I was really happy to find the box inhabited, when I’d thought it was not.

The Martin babies are either flying or getting ready to, because there is a lot of commotion at the two houses every day.

I try to sit on my front deck every evening, and the birds are swooping over pretty close. They don’t seem to find me a threat, but do fly close overhead.

Memorial Day weekend was a busy one over here. The river was buzzing with jet skis and lots of party barges. Fortunately, the river level is low so the waves aren’t causing damage to seawalls. If they were, I’d let you know.

The Food for Seniors distribution went smoothly last time. The Stephensville Fire Station meeting room is being remodeled, so we sat in the truck bay to give out the food boxes, which was no problem.

I’m so glad all the end-of-year closing school programs are over. I tried to cover as many as possible for the newspapers, and that kept me busy every single day one week.

I know this sounds like an old fuddy-duddy thing to say, but some of you older folks must remember, as I do, when the only ‘graduation’ ceremony was the one from 12th grade. Now the kids ‘graduate’ from Head Start, from pre-kindergarten, from kindergarten, from primary grades, middle school grades and then high school. Things seem to get a bit anti-climactic after all those ceremonies!

I’m finishing this another day and as I type, the wind is picking up, I hear thunder and if we’re lucky here, we’ll get some badly needed rain. Before it comes, I need to get out and do some tree trimming.

My neighbor and I have discovered that neither of us can see clearly as we exit our yards thanks to an overgrown bush in my yard. I will eventually cut the entire offending bush down, but for now just lop off a bunch of branches street side.

Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be e-mailed at lcooke9417@bellsouth.net.