The Douglas Squirrel-Tamiasciurus douglasii

I didn't grow up with these little fellows, they are native Pacific North westerners. They are very talkative and too fast for my dog ever to notice them let alone chase them, he spots the slower grey variety.

I have spent a few afternoons chatting with them in what to me sounds like their voice but I am sure to them sounds a horrendous mockery.

They live from B.C down to Northern California and as the moniker Pine Squirrel suggests they live in forests of PIne.

This one was photographed in the loveliness of Hamlin Park.

The Douglas Squirrel aka Tamiasciurus douglasii

aka Pine Squirrel

aka Chickeree

Classification
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Tamiasciurus

John Muir said of them;

"by far the most interesting and influential of the California sciuridæ"

Indian Ridge Prison

Indian Ridge Prison 2012

Staircases of Fort Casey Whidby Island

Still life stairscapes of Fort Casey.

more sets to be viewed at This life in Ruins

Fort Casey LightHouse

Finally ...

It has been a year since my last visit to Northern State Hospital Farm.

Today kids were running around spraying plastic pellets from toy guns at one another.

Another woman seemed to be photographing families - mostly those whose kids seemed indignant about the situation.

Here's a hole in the wall.

A Hole in the Wall at Northern State Hospital Farm

Another few Northern State Images

I loved these dark images, possibly too dark for some.

This has been one of my favorite places to visit over the past three years.

I have folders of images that haven't been processed and are awaiting discovery. I like this.

In the same way that I still have books to read by some of my favorite authors, who have ceased to exist at this point and won't be writing anymore.

Savor the flavor of the experience, for me I can dip back into this emotionality that this place evokes quite easily when playing with these images.

Looking from inside where the dairy cows once got milked.

Milking stations to the left milking stations to the right.

Thamesmead , 2005

I have been adding images to This Life in Ruins.

Some of the ones I have been revisiting are these from 2005 of The Thamesmead Housing Estate. Recent photographs show bits being torn down.

Quite a few things have been filmed here including "Clockwork Orange"

I am sorry not to get to bear witness and capture it's demise and rebirth. I have in my searches come across some nice images but my favorite so far are at:

Love London Council Housing

Please do have a look, some lovely images that give a sympathetic eye to the idealistic origins of these weird dystopian estates.

Have a look at the complete set of Thamesmead at :

This Life in Ruins

Thendara M Kida-Gee

Thendara's Blog