Island Life… by Clint Bennetsen

Archived in the category: Featured Writers, General Info, Island Life
Posted by Joyce Rhyne on 20 Apr 17 - 0 Comments

Blessed with Great Family and Friends

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope all of you are doing well and enjoyed a wonderful Easter with family and friends. For the first time, I attended the POC Sunrise Service on front beach, venturing across the bay in the early morning darkness, and I’m so glad that I did. I enjoyed the company of friends and we sat and listened to the Word and watched the beautiful sunrise over Matagorda Bay. I’ll definitely be making this service an annual event.

Several weeks ago the family had our yearly little get together at the small family farm in Yoakum, having the relatives over and frying fish, oysters, shrimp puppies and all the sides. It was nice seeing everyone and spending time with mom and dad. It was also pretty seeing everything so green and the huge field of bluebonnets. I’ll still take the salt water over the woods, but it was a nice little change of scenery.

All of my tomato plants are now in the ground and doing very well. I planted 26 total and nine different varieties. During the first week or so, I have to keep them covered during the heat of the day until they can acclimate to the outside conditions.

The seaweed (sargassum), has started washing ashore on the island beach. It’s not in full force just yet, only coming in a few days at a time, but I expect before too long it will be covering the beach, several feet deep in places. The seaweed is an unsightly and smelly occurrence, but it does serve a purpose, eventually settling into the sand and helping with erosion. It’s also fun to see what treasures might become entangled in the seaweed and wash ashore.

Last week the hummingbirds started showing up on the island. I have two feeders out, and enjoy sitting on the porch and watching them buzz around and battle over the sugar water. There is always a dominant one that sits in wait to dive-bomb the others when they try to feed.

With the warm weather and Spring rains, the grass is really starting to grow out here. For extra income, I mow twelve places out here, so the two John Deere riders I have are starting to work overtime. But that’s ok, we can always use the rain on the island to replenish our underground water well systems. The beautiful yellow cactus flowers have also started blooming on the island.

I want to thank Don and Lori for the invite to their crawfish boil a few weeks ago. I had a great time and the mud bugs were delicious. We then ended the night at Britt and Susan’s place, sitting around the fire pit and relaxing. I’ve come to realize that there are special friends worth leaving the island for occasionally.
Thank all of you.

Well that’s it from the island for now. Everyone take care and have a great day.

Clint’s mom and dad, Leona and Henry

Clint’s mom and dad,
Leona and Henry

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