LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Minor and Major Frustrations

Sipping our morning coffee and still talking, my friend and I watched the dawn. Both of us saw something on the deck in the early light. It was climbing near the closed umbrella.

We have a large umbrella on a rolling plant stand. We use it when we are grilling in the rain. Otherwise, it stands idly in the corner. I grabbed the camera hoping to capture the small critter. Yep! It was another flying squirrel. Dang those little rascals. We are doing everything we properly can to discourage them, but we do live in the woods you know.

The squirrel had plans to climb inside the umbrella, perhaps to rest for the day.






He began to crawl inside, totally unaware of my presence.


He saw me and began to climb the outside of the umbrella.



He couldn't quite make it, and I photographed him in the act of falling down.



He landed on a footstool and scampered away before I could re-focus for a clear shot.

He quickly climbed to the deck railing and soared gracefully to a tree. Drat those things! They are really frustrating.


So, you might ask, what is the major frustration? It's the senseless and disastrous oil spill from the offshore rig in the Gulf of Mexico. While I am pleased that the incident is being widely reported, my blood boils every time I see or hear any details about the spill and the havoc it is creating for the environment and for the economy. (You don't think for a moment the oil company is going to absorb the financial loss, do you?) And what about the destruction of the marine life? And the people whose very livelihoods depend on the marine life? And the birds who will be stuck in the sticky goo? And the people along the Gulf coast whose beaches will be covered? And the air pollution from the planned burn? I could go on and on.

Photograph from the Associated Press


Hey! Congress and President Obama...could you possibly re-think the expansion of offshore drilling? Oh, and you had better re-define the phrase "fail safe." Especially as used in the fail-safe robotic method of immediately capping these oil rigs at the source.

18 comments:

Cheryl said...

Lovely captures......the flying squirrel is a very pretty creature.

The oil spill is a disaster, to say the least. The UK coast frequently gets spillages sadly.
Like you I cringe each time it is reported, thinking of the damage to the environment etc.

I love that you speak out on such issues.....

Busy Bee Suz said...

The oil spill hurts my heart. (and our planet!!!)

From the look of things, that squirrel needs a stunt double.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I agree about the oil spill and thought the same thing as I saw that they've approved some more off shore sites...

Karin said...

So sad and frustrating about the oil spills. We still have a case before the courts about an oil spill.
Cute little squirrel!

Vicki Lane said...

I think some politicians -- especially along the Gulf Coast -- will be rethinking their positions on drilling. It's a disaster.

But the squirrel is cute!

Leedra said...

I must have had my head in the sand...now you have me wondering about my St Pete vacation in a few weeks.

amarkonmywall said...

The oil spill is a nightmare that was just waiting to happen. What a disaster. But the flying squirrel? He's hopelessly cute! What does he do to annoy?

Jayne said...

I had a little wren sort of roosting up inside our deck umbrella. Thankfully, when spring arrived, she didn't decide to nest there! Those flying squirrels are so cool to see.

That oil spill hurts my heart too, and I am flummoxed as well that they can't seem to cap that well. Uh, isn't there a manual somewhere telling you HOW to do that in case the rig sinks?????

KGMom said...

Awww--I'll take a couple of flying squirrels. Very cute. (Um, on second thought, we have a bunch of regular eastern squirrels...whatever...) But your little guy sure is cute.

Don't even get me started on oil spills--I boycotted Exxon for years and years after the Alaska spill.

Rudee said...

I've only seen a flying squirrel on nature shows, and now here. Nice action shots!

I'm in agreement with you on the off shore drilling. I love the Gulf of Mexico. This is a terrible disaster. You're right, the cost of this disaster will be ours collectively and in more ways than one.

George said...

We were told that our drilling technology was the finest and safest in the world. This spill may bring about a re-evaluation of that belief.
Fortunately we haven't seen any flying squirrels around here.

robin andrea said...

Great shots of that flying squirrel.

If only that oil spill would make people of the "drill, baby, drill" mindset rethink their disastrous obsession. It's a nightmare that is about to get much worse; early morning news reports the spill is probably five times larger than originally reported. Truly a disaster.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh how I detest the squirrels also, Carolyn. We also live in the woods --and we have a TON of squirrels and Chipmunks. Keeping them off the deck is near to impossible!!!! Fun Fun !!!!

Funny post about the 'elderly'woman...... Mercy --since I'm almost 68, I am REALLY elderly now!!! ha

Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

I'm with you. When I look at a map of the NC coast and our fragile Outer Banks, it gives me chills to think what could happen. Since MONEY seems to be the impetus for everything, are they forgetting that tourism dollars don't go to oily beaches?

Spills don't seem to be a matter of IF, just WHEN.

JeanMac said...

I'm with you re: squirrels and oil spills.Every winter I have a squirrel(s) have comfortably waiting out the season. They even chewed the plastic end of a goalie stick!

Tina said...

Lol..I can see how these little guys could get on your nerves. You caught some great shots of him, tho..guess he had to find another place to take a nap!
Yea I hear you about that oil spill..grrr and other words!

Folkways Note Book said...

The ecology of the area will take years, if ever, to heal off the coast of Louisiana. It is a monumental disaster!!! I hope the people will write, email or call Congress and the Obama administration and say, "no more." -- barbara

How Sam Sees It said...

The pictures are great! The oil spill is a great disaster for our country - I hope it gets people's attentions.

Sma