Squirrel Friends

I love my little squirrel here on the ranch. Here is a little cute female

Screen Capture on Cam 2

Gunrunner in my chat room on WyldRyde is always capturing screen shots of the squirrels he sees on the camera. Here is one of todays captures. Thanks

Frosty Red Squirrels of Alaska 2

We have had a spell of cold weather and I enjoy watching my little Red Squirrel Friends here on the Permafrost Ranch. Taking pictures of those little cold faces from the warmth of my office window is one of the best parts of my day. I hope it brings pleasure and wonderment to those of you who read this blog. Life in Alaska can be hard during the long periods of cold and dark. Watching the little squirrels that come to my feeders is one of the bright spots of my world. I sometimes forget to count my blessings that are given to me, my family, my friends, and the social networks I hang out in on the internet. Thanks for the support and kind words so many send my way through those networks and this blog.

Frosty Red Squirrels of Alaska

Here is a picture of one of the Frosty Red Squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch in North Pole Alaska. It is amazing how they survive in this cold.

Northern Flying Squirrels

The Flyers have been frequenting the feeders a great deal here lately. Specially, the Cam 2 feeder being it's more protected from the predators of the night as compared to Cam 1. Here is a shot of a little sweetheart from last night when it was so cold. As it is today here on the Permafrost Ranch, it's 1:00PM and it's -32 Degrees F.

Permafrost Ranch Squirrels 2

Here is (Short Tail) that's what I call this little Northern Flyer who visits my feeder. It's lost most of it's tail, and I'm sure that makes it hard for this little one to navigate through the trees with such a short rudder. Being they use those tails to help in gliding through the woods. This little squirrel is a regular at the feeding stations.

The Wood Stove

Living here in the Great Land, has it's own burning issues. Such as stoking the wood stove. It seems this time of the year it's a chore that takes up more and more of my time. The problem is my hands, and arms catch the brunt of it. I'm always burning my self. Nothing really bad just little burns where I happen to touch the sides of the stove when filling it. In keeping the stove hot during the night means that I awake when the house cools off enough for the thermostat to kick on the furnace. Over the years, it's been my wake up call to get up and stoke the wood stove. That's usually when I happen to burn myself in that sleepy half awake stage of stumbling into the living room pushing in the logs of birch and spruce. Then returning to sleep is the major burning issue and those little burns I acquired make it almost impossible until the pain subsides.

Permafrost Ranch Squirrels

Permafrost Ranch Squirrels here on www.thesquirrelcam.com

Punk Rocker of the Squirrel World

Punk rocker of the Permafrost Ranch.

Greetings From the Great Land

Here is one of my little buddies saying hello to everyone.

Snow Fall

We have had a snow drought, this winter and last, but in the last week, we have had plenty of snow fall. It's something we have to deal with, and here in the interior of Alaska once the snow falls, it doesn't leave until breakup. So, now it's up to me to make sure the sheds and even the house roof is cleared. The first picture is the snow fall on the cam2 feeder for 17 Jan 08 and the second is the snow fall last night on the 20 Jan 08.

Sunday Morning Sidewalk 2

Here is what the sidewalks look like this morning here in my part of the world.

Sunday Morning Sidewalk

Do you remember that song by Johnny Cash, "Sunday Morning Sidewalk" Sitting here drinking my first cup of coffee, and that song is on my mind. I awoke with the tune running through my head. I was looking through our local paper and the employment ads. There is not much employment to be found, then I noticed a article saying the seasonal unemployment stats for Alaska is up running over 6.5%. We always run higher than the rest of the nation. If one lives out side of the metropolitan areas of our larger cities finding a job is even harder. Lord I wish I was stoned.

Squirrel Sightings

A buddy of mine on the Internet, named Charles must watch the squirrel cams at www.thesquirrelcam.com a great deal. He's always sending me screen captures of one of the cams. He sees more squirrels than most, because I've had others write to me complaining they have never seen one of the illusive red squirrels much less the even more hard to catch northern flying squirrels. Here is just one of the pictures Charles sent to me yesterday.

Internet Speeds on the Permafrost Ranch

Well after two days of having problems with the audio stream on Ustream.tv, amazingly yesterday the connection speed improved. It's a miracle, because according to ACS there wasn't any problems with this the two days before when it sounded to my listeners that the conversations were in slow speed. Remember the old record players of our youth. When we could slow down or speed up the records by using the different rotational speeds. Maybe ACS is playing with the switch on the internet ;-)

Internet Connection Speed Rant

I don't know what the average consumer pays for a medium speed dsl line from Alaska Communication System. I pay an average of over 100 dollars a month. As many of you know, I stream over the Internet on Ustream.tv and here lately my stream lags considerably. It makes my stream unintelligible on the receiving end. When you do a speed test to ACS in Anchorage where the servers are, the speed level is fine. It's the next leg down to the Lower 48 where my real market for my content is that the speed falls to undesirable levels. We pay the highest price for such services and yet it fails to live up to the promise of the broadband Internet. Why is Alaska's cost for services consistently higher than the lower continental states? ACS fails to provide any measurable benefit for the extra cost that we pay and the service falls below what is consistently available elsewhere. In fact Chris Pirillo was streaming from a tour boat in the Hawaiian Islands this last week and his stream was better than mine. It's the same old song and dance for Alaskans. Whether it be in fuel prices or consumer goods and services. The consumer is short changed for the price we pay.

Frosty Whiskers

Here is a couple of shots of my frosty little buddy, here on the Permafrost Ranch. Living in the far north, we are expecting extreme cold weather the next few days.

Frosty Snack at the Feeder

It never ceases to amaze me how the little squirrel that inhabit this land of ice and snow survive. Here is a shot of my little buddy snacking at the feeder this afternoon.

Flyers at the feeder Jan 08

Every night the flyers visit the feeders here on the Permafrost Ranch. They are such a pleasure to watch, but capturing them with a camera is tricky. They spook really easy and when they see me at the window. They quickly take off. I've yet to be able to get close to one of them even after years of trying. I can get a red squirrel to eat from my hand with time, but these little ones are something else to try and get close to. Is there anyone else out there who have been able to get close enough to hand feed.

2008 New Years Day

Happy New Years from all us Squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch

Happy New Years

Happy New Years from all us Squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch.

Merry Christmas 2007

I just want to wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all us squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch.

Here is an example of what happens when a cup of hot water is thrown into the air at -39 F

I finally found it.

The Pot at the end of the Rainbow, I finally found it.

Chris Pirillo Giveaway

Click To Play

I Farted on santa's lap

hahahha

Here Comes Another Bubble - The Richter Scales

Check this out and isn't it the truth.

Santa Squirrel Live

tengrrl on http://www.wyldryde.org/ IRC Network in the chat room #chris did this priceless picture for me. I just wanted to remind everyone, Santa will be streaming live on December 9th - 15th at 8:00 PM EST for one hour on http://ustream.tv/ Please stop buy and in the chat room say hello to Santa. He will return the greeting and don't forget get the kids. Santa will wish them a Merry Christmas if you type their name in the chat room.

Going Home

Land of the High Noon Moon

Isn't it strange, the Land of the Midnight Sun in the winter turns into the Land of the High Noon Moon.

Happy Holiday

Happy Turkey Day all

Happy Holiday

I just wanted to wish all a happy holiday from all us squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch, please stop by the web site and maybe click on a google add or two. or buy a calendar, t-shirt and support the squirrels here on the ranch. Thanks for all your support over the last year. If it wasn't for you, the Great Alaskan Red Squirrel Cam would not be here.

Christmas Gifts

If your looking for a unique Christmas Present, why not try one of the Great Alaskan Red Squirrel Calendars. You can find them on the squirrel cams web page at http://www.thesquirrelcam.com/calendar.html

Hurry up and order in time to get yours before Christmas.

I know all the squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch will thank you.

Boreal Chickadee

The light is right for some bird shots early in the morning shortly after sunrise.

Squirrely Holloween

This is spooky, I saw a red squirrel out on the feeder yesterday evening at around midnight. Now, that is very unusual to see one out in the middle of the night. He must have been getting ready for holloween.

Squirrely Monday

There has always been some reason I've hated Monday mornings, like school, then work, and this morning. The car wouldn't start. It dropped off to -4 this morning here on the Permafrost Ranch. I got a good crop going in this year. Just ask my little buddy here, if she thinks the same.

Remembering Chief David Salmon

I awoke this morning looking out the window to a glowing light from the sunrise. A golden light color from the clouds and fog that had enveloped the dark green on the boreal forest here on the Permafrost Ranch. Sitting here in my chair thinking of todays events to come with a memorial to Chief David Salmon and remembering the past.

The year was 2007, it was July and the out look for the weather that day was Rain, Windy and Cold. The Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwows second day events were about to begin. The morning had been just as predicted, cold wet and windy. Chief David Salmon was on hand for the days activities. Knowing Bob Maquire had a Athabascan Rain Chaser, I asked if Chief David would use it to chase the rain away. He agreed, and soon was in the circle explaining about what he was going to do. He made small joke about the rain chaser he was using. I guess it didn't have the correct end to hang on to attached, but nonetheless he commenced to swing the rain chaser in the four directions and said a prayer to chase the cold and rain away. There wasn't many people there in the stands, and people were just starting to filter in the gate. Still, you just got to believe it will work, that's what Chief David Salmon had just said about the rain chaser. You got to believe.

Believe it, or not within 10 to 15 minutes after his prayer and the swinging of the Rain Chaser. The clouds lightened and begin to lift, the sun came out and within an hour the weather turned warm and beautiful. We had a great Powwow that year and that day was so special.

Remembering that day, the day Chief David Salmon chased the Rain Away.

Just checking In

I just dropped in to see what condition your condition is in.

How to find a Good Computer Repairman

Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes

Unusal Visitor

I had a unusual visitor to the Cam 2 feeder last night. While sitting here at the desk and computer watching the out the window at the feeder for Flying Squirrels to come in. Look who shows up on the feeder. Now this is an old Ferret cage of three stories, or about 5.5 feet off the ground. That vole has to climb a long ways to get to that peanut butter bowel.

Lets talk Squirrels

My little buddy rules the east side of the yard. I sometimes wonder what is going through his little mind when he sees me with the camera. Sometimes he leaves quickly and at other times he poses and keeps a close eye on me.

Justice is Knocking

Today, the gavel fell (knock knock knock) on just one of the high and mighty. Guilty as charged. It didn't take long for a jury of his peers to come to a verdict. I hope this is just the beginning. Isn't it ironic. How many more will fall. That's the real question. They thought it was just the way it was suppose to work. They were immune from the laws they made for those they represented. How many more now think that. How many more have dodged the arrow of justice so far. Do they think it won't come back to haunt them or that they just won't be caught. Are they sleeping well tonight. I hope not. I know I will sleep well, just knowing that justice is being served. Will they hear that same gavel fall. knock knock knock

Daydreams in time

I was very melancholy yesterday. The summer has slipped away, and today is my youngest daughters 31st birthday. My mood has always taken a trip south this time of the year. It reminds me of that old song from the late 50's or early 60's who's author slips my mind, but the verse doesn't. " My heart goes where the wild goose goes" I too, yearn to fly south. I guess like summer, I've worn my welcome out here in the far north. I was just sitting in my office watching out the window in a half daydream state when the urge to walk upon a sandy beach became almost overpowering. In my minds eye I slipped back to the days of my youth, and the beaches of South Padre Island. It is there where I would drive my old chevy down the beach until I was far away from the last people towards the Land Cut. This was as far as one could drive. It is there on those stretches of beach where no one mostly went except a few hardy fisherman that I found some peace of mind. I would build a fire, throw out a fishing line and just sit on the beach with my back towards the setting sun. It was there were I left the troubles of my youth behind and that urge to return to those earlier days was overwhelming. I could hear the gulls and the crash of the waves on the beach and feel that sand beneath my toes. Then the phone rang, and the daydream faded away with the reality of the life I lead now. It only made the melancholy worse.

Winter's Arrival

Winter arrived today, it was 18 degrees here on the old Permafrost Ranch.

hand feeding my Squirrels

Sent in by tengrrl, thanks.

Red Squirrel cuties

Here is today's capture. This is the one who comes to the feeder and looks in the window at me, or the door. Saying Papa come give me some pecans. She takes them right from my hands.

Dirty Little River Town 2

I know I'm beating a dead horse with this, but I'm going to flail
away. I submitted a letter to the editor called " A Dirty Little
River Town" (Sept. 12, 2007). I had a response to that letter written by several
members of management at the agency I recently quit from. I left there because of
what I and others perceive to be corruption of or at least mismanagement by
the board of directors relating to personnel matters within the agency.

Now, I won't take offense at the remark that it was me who had the
blackened shriveled rock for a heart or the remarks from the others. My first sentence in my
previous letter was "Overall the people of Alaska are fairly
decent folks" and I'll stand by that statement. It's not all people
of Alaska who are corrupted. It's a small minority of those in power or in
positions of trust who seem to be tainted and those few who follow them or want to be just like them. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. The sad part of this is just as I
stated in the earlier blog: "The big movers and shakers of business in Alaska are
all mostly tainted with corruption, cronyism and dirty dealings."

I have to admit that my original statement wasn't entirely correct. I should have said the big movers and shakers of business and politics in Alaska. My mistake.

I could list them if you wish, but I'll leave that up to the readers
to research that for themselves. Although I will add this to
the mix. The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
(CREW) released its third annual report on the most corrupt members
of Congress. Their web site is http://www.beyonddelay.org/node/373

I'll let you look for yourself and you make the decision as to where
Alaska stands in the eyes of the rest of the country. Now before
anyone takes offense to this letter, let me say that Alaskans don't do it
like they do it outside of here. We do it our way. I'm not betting on this dead horse but I think we will come in first when the race is over.

Fox Sparrow

I love these little birds, called Fox Sparrows. I only see them in the summer and fall of the year, they seem to go away during the winter time. It was cool this morning when I awoke. 32 degrees, I'm afraid our summer has just faded away.

For us

I listened to a local politicians interview yesterday. A good man and like most politicians, he is all for Alaska and Alaskans. Just as those who have fallen from power, they are just good old boys trying to help us out and do the right thing. Of course, we should believe him, he has no personal ax to grind and just wants to do right. That's why he ran for office. To do good and what's right for Alaskans. Oh and those he admired and emulated did made mistakes but it was because they are just good old boys who didn't know any better. Small mistakes not intentional and that's how business was done. The intent was good but you have to remember. We did it for you, just as all of the decisions that we make are for. Okay, I'll buy into that. So, I won't judge you on those you have supported in the past or how you voted for and on issues that have failed, because you did it for us. That was your intent and it was to help Alaska and Alaskans.
I just have to remember, he's there for us. Working hard everyday to make sure Alaska and Alaskans get what's coming to them.

End of Summer

I know for many in the lower 48 you are still locked into the dog days of summer. Well, stay tuned because fall has arrived here in the Great Land.

Red sunrise and Rainbow

I awoke the other mornig and watched the sky turned a really deep red...so I quickly grabbed my camera and headed out the front door. On that side of the house was a rainbow in a red sky. These pictures don't really do it much justice but I thought I would post them anyway.

This Dirty Little River Town

Overall, the people of Alaska are fairly decent folks. None the less, one has to remember we have more than our fair share of crooks, cons, thieves and dirty politicians. If the recent events doesn't remind you of this and makes one shake their head in amazement, then you haven't been paying close attention. From the highest office of the our Government and Governor to the lowest dealings of past Mayor of Fairbanks. The big movers and shakers of business in Alaska are all mostly tainted with corruption, cronyism, and dirty dealings. It filters down to and permeates almost everything. It is a extremely dirty little river town, that was founded by a crook here on the banks of the Chena river. A dead and departed local business man and city founder once told me that, and he said people here will stab you in the back for the gold in your teeth, while smiling and shaking your hand. Being young and foolish, I didn't believe him. It's true though and The Golden Heart of Alaska really is a blackened shriveled rock. It is overwhelming us with the stench of rot, even while standing among the flowers and pristine beauty of our Great Land here in this Dirty Little River Town

Birds of Alaska

One is a Fox Sparrow and the other is the Hoary Woodpecker.

Snow Shoe Hare

This little hare was up on the stump eating sunflower seeds

Canadian Jays(Camp Robbers)

The jays have been hitting the feeder bowls really hard. I'm going through about a bowl a day of molasses and peanut butter. The greedy little suckers. Not only them, but my Magpie buddy, who I haven't seen all summer has showed up at the feeders this early fall. Winter is coming, the leaves on the trees are changing colors and it's been in the low 30's already. I'm never ready for winter it seems.

My New Medicine Bag

Here is my new Medicine Bag, made by Tonya Esmailka for me.