to reduce my carbon footprint so that my country may in turn reduce its dependence on oil, both domestic and foreign, but especially that found in and coming from the inland marshes of south Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.
Bayou Woman
My super-busy season has begun, and I’m so busy trying to keep up with everything that I’ve just not had time to write. However, today it’s raining, and now that I have some time to sit at my desk and write, my creative mojo is hiding from me. Not one single interesting or inspirational topic to…
These photos were just sent to me by a friend in Placquemine, LA. His family owns Dupont’s Nursery, and his grandfather is the man who developed the gorgeous Cajun Hibiscus you have seen featured in some of my photographs. His name is Rob, and he did me a huge favor by forwarding these photos to me this morning.
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.
Have you ever wondered about those prehistoric creatures called gar fish and what they could possibly be good for? Read on and see what tale Bayou Woman has to tell about the amazing alligator gar.
Bayou Woman and her family have been building their storm recovery house above the flood plain and are bringing in the first and very special piece of furniture. Read more . . . .
You know, sometimes you just have to take time out to smell the roses or help a friend. That’s exactly what I did last Thursday when my friend, Kay, asked me to take a ride with her to Dulac to pick up some fresh shrimp from a boat docked behind Schmoopy’s, our favorite local restaurant….
Can you believe it? I’ve been sitting here doing blog chores for the past hour, listening over and over again to Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds!
This is the very best video of the song ever. EVER!
Betcha it’ll make you feel better, too!
And your birds are beautiful.
So, I’ll have to wait until my techno-son gets home from school tomorrow and hooks up speakers to my desktop before I can hear this audio/video song; but isn’t it more than just a tiny co-inky-dink that you were listening to Three Little Birds while I was blogging about them. I mean, are we THAT connected already?
The Owl I recognize, but I need “ejucatin” about the other two. The second one, I’ve seen in photos but have no idea what it’s called.
All you need do is “scroll over” and the text tells you what they are . . . . and these were all three seen in the same swamp, which is on my tour route for the luckiest who get to go there.
Beautiful!
Steffi, BW put the names under the last photo I think. Blue Heron and Night Heron??
Right you are, Cammy!
Love the pictures. You do have an eye for capturing nature’s beauty.
Thanks for your time and efforts
Soooooo, it’s getting very hot down here. I almost got sun stroke today on a fishing trip. When are coming for your tour?
Up to my neck in work now thru middle of July. Maybe I’ll bring an umbrella and cold watermelon for you so we can take the tour.
😉
Bayou Woman is having trouble sleeping at night when she should be and having trouble staying awake in the daytime when she should be. Any advice?
Uh-huh. Tell the rest of the world it has to adjust itself to your schedule.
My mom’s done it with me, and it works great for her!
Go wit de flow.
Blu sleeps when he sleeps.
Out to local pond tonight and Great Horned Owl picked a couple fish out of the water. No Bat sightings tonight.
If you figure out the answer to the sleeping problem, let us all know please. For some reason, everyone down this way is having trouble sleeping. My son came by this evening and he was dragging. Said he woke up at 1:30am this morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. Hope he sleeps tonight. He gets really cranky when he is tired. I think it is the humidity that is the problem here.
Thank you for your comment, though I’ve had more gloom and doom today than I can stand. With BP finally releasing the videos of the oil leak, and now posting a live feed, it’s just more than I can bear to look at. I am literally sick over this tonight. Now, I’m just hoping I can put this all out of my mind enough to go to sleep. Please don’t be offended if tomorrow, I delete your comment, just because I simply can’t handle the bad, bad news. Sorry.
Beautiful, Wendy.
Thanks, Carrie, but I fear you’ve caught me at my worst. I had no clue you were a “lurker” here, but I’m honored that you are!