Today at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana, I saw some amazing things without going very far from our display tent.
Want to see them?
I saw . . .
a frog spraying water out of its mouth,
and a fish spraying water out of its mouth,
and many other frogs doing the same,
a mallard drake swimming around,
a dinosaur lurking in the trees,
and a pirate blowing a didgeridoo. A didgeri – who?
A pirate? Yes, can you guess who?
Back soon,
BW
It was a beautiful day watching the shrimp jump and the gulls dive. Only thing better than that was watching our Cantaloupe Pogeaux Pops go down, down, down. We ended the day with a box full of trout and tired arms!
This is the article that received a 3rd place award in the Coastal Restoration Category at the Louisiana Outdoor Writer’s Association Excellence in Craft competition-2009. “Tenacity over Tears” is a phrase I coined in reference to the repeated reaction of the residents of coastal Louisiana to the continued negative impact on their homes, culture, recreation,…
I wish I could report something positive to you, because I hate being the continual bearer of bad news.
But bad news is upon us, and the BP oi lspill is most likely to blame.
We most always see wading birds, and this trip was no different, except that one particular Great Blue Heron decided to entertain us. As we were leaving the swamp, this friendly bird escorted us out–literally. He flew a distance ahead of us and landed on the bank, stood long enough for us to snap his…
In the spring of 2010, my email box was inundated with writers looking for the softer side of the story of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and following oil spill disaster. These seekers of a different angle flocked to my bayou to interview my shrimping neighbors. As a wetland advocate, I wondered how I could use this man-made disaster as a platform to further the cause of education and awareness.
It became clear to me early on that most of the journalists who arrived at my door really had no clue about our culture and way of life. So, if they wanted a story about how the oil spill had impacted us, then they must humor me and allow me to educate them about this vanishing ecosystem and its people.
What these well-meaning journalists needed first was a foundational perspective from the standpoint of a population of coastal communities who were suffering yet one more blow to their way of life. As a woman who lives, works, and fishes here, I could give them that perspective, which was simply this:
This oil spill was not an isolated disaster for the people of coastal Louisiana. It was like being kicked when we were already down. And here’s why.
It’s that time again . . . The figs are ripe up at Camp Dularge and I am battling the birds for them. I’m sure the guests in the camp thought I was crazy this morning while I was picking figs. I was fussing at the birds to stay up in the top of the…
I know who but I won’t give it away! I hope you had a grand time!
It was a pretty day!
Wow, love the pirate; very cool! All the critters spraying water – that’s pretty neat too. Have a great weekend BW.
Thanks, Mamabug! You have a great one, too.
I would guess one of your sons. Nice looking pirate!
Ha!!! Gosh, do I seem old enough to be his mom! That is funny! No, he’s not my son. I just met him this day. He is a reader here . . . . I should go easy on you, though! Looking back at the photo, it is very hard to tell his age. All in good fun, Cammy!!!
LOL… NO… He is MY pyrate!!!
Hello Seika, and welcome to the bayou. So glad to know you’re keeping up! Hoping to meet you this coming weekend.
Clarification — Seika is not his MOTHER, but rather is significant other!
OOPS!
Sorry about that.
Don’t worry about me, I’m old enough to be his grandmother probably. But, he does cut a dashing figure in his pirate get-up.
Me, I like the dinosaur – probably because I are one!
I am so d%^@* jealous of you getting to travel around. I have got to figure out something to free myself up for a bit from my responsibilities here at home. We’ll see – I need my trip to the bayou!
And I need you to take your trip to the bayou!!!!!
Well, shiver me timbers! Might this be the Captain Swallow which follows your blog?
Yep, that he be, Matey!!! And he is the real deal, that’s fer sure! Next weekend, if I can work it all out on this end, I hope to meet his other half, Quarter Master Seika at the NOLA Pyrate Week Parade and celebration in Pirate’s Alley!
Is that a stop I need to add to my ever growing list of places to visit when we come to see you?
Where? Pirates’ Alley? Look it up. Very historical place!
I meant the zoo. But pirates alley sounds promising too.
Oh, the zoo is great!!! Must see the white alligators!