Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Z O O

We've just returned from an afternoon at the Alexandria Zoo with one of the younger grands, Marley.  A couple of hours well spent enjoying the beautiful weather, well-behaved animals, and a lovely walk.  The zoo in our area is privately owned or, at least, run by the City of Alexandria.  It may not be huge in acreage, but it's big on animal varieties and habitats. This zoo has over 500 animals of which there are 160 species.  

All of the photos that I've shown thus far are from the many that I took today while we visited.  They do not appear anywhere else on the web because I simply have not had time to post them.  So if you see photos that look vaguely like these, I apologize, but rest assured that they aren't mine.  

The quilts, now, are on my "heart, quilts" board or I found them on Pinterest while looking for zoo quilts.  I hope you enjoy them and are inspired to make a zoo quilt of your own.

New Orleans Returned

Richard and I made a quick trip to New Orleans for the Teacher Leader Summit at the Convention Center.  That was interesting, but more so was that we agreed to take along some grandchildren.  While I was working, Richard was escorting a quaggle of kids through the zoo and aquarium. 

Audubon Institute photograph

I wanted to go to the new Insectarium, which was only two blocks from our hotel.  It's one of the few places I have not visited, so I threatened serious harm should they go without me.  


Instead, they made plans to go late Tuesday when I got out of meetings.  Well, the problem with being a teacher during the summer is that I tend to read "fluff" stuff only.  

Audubon Institute photograph

That would translate into I didn't read the information giving the times at which the summit ended.  Let's just say no one went to the Insectarium.  

We have now returned from our trip, and let me tell you, the kids and grownups both are exhausted.  We walked from the hotel to Bourbon Street so the kids could get a look around the city, ate dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (their favorite) and enjoyed ice cream on the stroll back.  

Yesterday I went off to the conference while Rich and the kids went to Cafe du Monde for breakfast, took a streetcar ride to the zoo and enjoyed petting a roach while there.  Then back downtown for the Aquarium where they petted a stingray and a baby shark. We always appreciate it when the kids can get their hands dirty.
  

Google images

There's really a couple of stories in this trip to New Orleans, but I need to remind you that today is the last day to enter the giveaway!  I'll choose winners (yes, 2) tomorrow and post it as soon as I do.  Even if you've entered, you may do so again.  

Go here to enter.

See you tomorrow for the announcement and a surprise!

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

An afternoon at the Baton Rouge Zoo means lots of walking and animals.  We had a wonderful bright day with a bit of wind.  I ended up a little red from the sun and the wind, which was uncomfortable, but a good bath and gobs of lotion fixed me up.

The bright sunshine felt good and the animals were mostly out but napping.  I managed to get a few pictures and thought you might enjoy the beauty of the day.  My students were amazingly well behaved which probably added to the brightness of the day.  Teens can really surprise us if we just give them clear instructions and high expectations.

Richard and I walked around for an hour and saw only about half of the zoo.  I was really tired and wanted to rest a while before getting on the road back to Bunkie.  Driving the bus, sponsoring the event, and chaperoning 40 kids can really take the wind out of a girl.

 

 

 

My favorite picture is this last one.  Too bad I'm so allergic to poison ivy.  Otherwise, posting a sign like this would be a perfect way to ignore the problem of cutting and pulling the miserable weed!  Of course, you'd have to first build a boardwalk.  Oh, and yes, they really ARE letting it grow.  Which means you may want to avoid that area when it blooms.  But don't fret, there's plenty of zoo to keep you busy for at least two hours, and that's walking at a steady pace.  At the very least, take a virtual visit on their website.

National Zoo

If I were to recommend any of the many things we did while in Washington, D.C. last week, one would definitely have to be the National Zoo.  

I wasn't surprised by the variety of animals, their enclosures or how well they are kept.  In fact, I fully expect that this zoo would be one of the best in the world.  

 What surprised me most is the educational opportunities that the zoo provides for its patrons and for the world in general.
I tend to read everything I can get my eyes on.  

So our visit naturally includes my reading every sign, every post, every pamphlet.  In fact, it was a bit of a problem since we were supposed to get to the end of the trail at some point so that we could go on to another place.

Richard rushed me, and hurried me along, and came back for me, and well, didn't give me time enough to read everything.  I mean, how am I supposed to remember the name of this quirky bird if I didn't even have time to read the poster, connect the live bird to the picture and tell someone?  See, that's how I learn.  I read, make a connection, and then teach.  So we arrive at the famed panda bear exhibit.

I have a special connection to panda....first off, they're just cute and darling and cuddly.  But also, I once had a stuffed toy panda as a child.  My panda was accidentally left in a train station and my dad, who was trying to catch up to the rest of the family, saw the toy bear on a bench and recognized it.  He didn't pick it up but, the story goes, he knew he was getting close when he saw my bear, and indeed, found us just a short time later.   

So, I had to read all about the near extinction of the pandas in China, how the National Zoo has helped that government in recovery efforts, and how those efforts helped the two government to begin talks and work toward peace.  Isn't that a great story for a sweet, peaceful little bear?  Yes, well, to get the whole story (and I did) I had to throw a southern girl hissy fit.....but it work!  Want to read it for yourself?  Here it is!  The link will take you to the zoo website page for the giant panda center.  There you can get e-newsletters and watch live action on the panda cam.

We loved the panda exhibit, but I do believe we spent the most time in the aviary buildings.  

There are both an indoor and an outdoor building, and the variety of birds is pretty special and beautiful.

I'll close with a recommendation that if you have the opportunity to visit Washington with children (or without) visit the National Zoo.