This is my post for #freewriters 2609 prompt decrease the stress hosted by
Here are some of the things I like to do to decrease the stress, I love to sit and watch the river on calm days. I can see things others do not notice, like which way the tide is running, a small school of fish "working the water," and a large fish striking into them. I can see fish "pushing water" this is when they are bunched and traveling. I can see fish "milling", this is when they are happy and maybe feeding in one place.
I can tell if a pelican is diving on a big fish or it is catching minnows. when they dive from high up, they are catching bigger fish, when they do a shallow dive and turn their head sideways before hitting the water, and then strain their beak of the water, they are eating small fish like minnows.
I used to enjoy picking up Indian pottery along the shoreline by the bridge but we are no longer allowed to be there. Some rich guy bought the land next to the bridge and complained about people going down there to the owners of the land who are the Department of Transportation and they put up no trespassing signs. It was a favorite fishing and swimming place for many people. It was the last place that people could enjoy the river.
So now when I want to decrease the stress I have to go to one of our islands and look for shark teeth and fossils.
I found this petrified gator jaw by the bridge.
This is one of the biggest pieces of bone I have found on an island.
I have found several of these over the years. I think they are fish mouth plates.
I am not sure why finding these things seems to calm my soul but I love to find them. Is it the hunt or the finding them? I enjoy both and now I want to go to an island and find more, but it is too cold to go so I will do my other stress reliever, pulling weeds (when it warms up outside).
photos are mine