Biological Lessons

When we woke to wind and cloudy skies (with rain on the ground), I groaned because of putting off the zoo yesterday. Two hours later we arrived at the zoo, to find blue skies, 58°F-68°F temperatures, and a deserted zoo full of frisky animals (thanks to the rain). Today was our third week in a row we've gone to our Biological Park for the morning. I don't realize just how many times I press that shutter... until I get home and download over 270 photos from just 2 hours at the Zoo. Here are the top 10% from today:

Jack is quite pleased that he's starting to be able to read words like "zoo".

There are several photos of the boys as they walk (backwards), but I love this one where Jack is looking up to Frank.

You've got to love Photoshop Actions where you can save even a fuzzy, out of focus photo, and make it look "aged" or intentional! Thanks again Pioneer Woman for your amazing (free) Action Sets! This photo has the "Heartland" Action, from Set 2, applied to it.

Ever since the 6th Grade I've been interested by Flamingoes.

Just because I had knobby knees, weighed under 60 pounds, and wore hot pink all the time, that wouldn't have had *anything* to do with said "interest".

No matter the reason why, I do like flamingos and am quite pleased that the exhibit at this zoo is front and center by the entrance/exit. I can stop and watch them coming AND going.

For the times when Mom is taking too many pictures, the boys get going on their own with a "C'mon MOM!"

Like water on a (Carolina Wood) Duck's back, I tell you!

Now THIS is the kind of Birthday Portrait I've been after for the past two weeks... well, minus the raincoat and sun hat, but this expression! That's what I'm talkin' about!!!

Got sun, just add tree branch.

Instant shade AND a snack all in one!

Such a funny expression and pose.

The orangutans are given cardboard and paper; which they play with, sit on, and eat (not necessarily in that order).

The exuberant young'en reminds me of my own...

Right down to monkeying (pun DEFINITELY intended) around during meal times!

Another shot showing how the little guy looks up to the big one.

There is a small Parakeet aviary at this zoo (we've been finding many new areas during our weekly excursions).

Ever wonder why there are so many green parakeets? Natural camouflage, baby!

You knew that Koala's are nocturnal, right?
You knew that Koala's are from The Land Down Under (Australia), right?
You knew that Koala's are marsupials (carry their young in pouches), right?
You know that Koala's hardly drink any water because they live by eating Eucalyptus, right?
DID YOU KNOW, that Koala's have five digits on each limb, but on their arms, they have three fingers and TWO THUMBS? Neither did we... until today!

I think Jack actually has a hard time holding a "normal" pose for a photo!

Just yesterday, Tom was telling the boys about his SCUBA diving days. The boys were delighted to watch the workers cleaning the Seal & Sea Lion Tank today.

Actually, they wouldn't leave the area until the three SCUBA diver's exited the exhibit!

When I tickle Jack JUST before the camera goes off... then things look more natural!

And THAT was our third visit to this zoo. We are finally getting our groove on for what to take, how long to go, and how to relax and enjoy ourselves while there (which I am learning from the boys!)

A "Break" in *Something*

When a


"break in the weather"


(up to)


40°F


feels *nice*


to me....


it's time


to


question my sanity!

Why does Autumn in Wyoming look like Winter?

What about Fall???

Jack and I went to a statue dedication on Friday. Gorgeous, mid-high 50's.


Saturday, we played at a Family Day at the College. Mid-50's again.




Today. It was suppose to be rainy and in the 50's, instead, we have over 4" of snow... it's been snowing all.day.long! :P


The boys got right to the business at hand, chasing one another with wet globs of snow flying everywhere.


How can the same thing (snow) bring such opposite reactions (joy and dread) from the boys and their mother?

Getting a Chill On

Can you believe it was just last week that I snapped these pictures?


Somehow, I knew I'd need to document some of our last "nice" days of the year.


With the sub-freezing temperatures and "Wyoming Winds" of the past few days, I can't believe I took these just last week either!

An Amazing Thing!

It's 40 degrees Fahrenheit out, and I'm walking around - COMFORTABLY - in just a VERY thin, long sleeve t-shirt and a medium-weight fleece vest. I also have on jeans and shoes and underclothes... but no coat. No mittens. No gloves. No scarf. NO HAT! I'm comfortable!

Who woulda thunk?!?!?

I'm happy to be aclimating to the cold a little faster with this move than I have in previous moves.

I'm also happy that it's warmer than last year, our highs have been 60-70 for several weeks now. October was about 30 degrees warmer (so it seems to me).

Word of the Day - Graupel

At a recent Knitting Circle another lady new to town (from Texas) had done some research to find out about something that falls from the sky here. It's not rain, and it's not snow, and it's not sleet. They are about the size of small BB's; basically, they are tiny little white balls of frozen water, but unlike hail or sleet, they are soft and squishy when pinched. They are GRAUPELs.

You can read all about Graupel on Wikipedia, and even see microscopic pictures of the things.

If you're like me and can't figure out how to say "graupel", then, head over to Merriam-Webster Online, and click on the speaker by the word.

Or you can just say "soft hail", but I think it's much more fun to learn the "real word" and use it, especially if no one else knows what it is and then you can pretend you're a human dictionary and tell them all about it. :D

I’m A Winner! (Happy Heart Day to Me)

Teresa of Moonvalley Quilter told me it “Looks like this is your lucky day!” She was right! Today I “won” at least FIVE THINGS!

1. FOUR HOURS extra sleep (compliments of my hubby and boys).

2. One World – One Heart Giveaway from Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist

3. Warm Fuzzy Heart from Trisha of easily amused, hard to offend

4. Miraculously Avoided an Automobile Accident

5. One World – One Heart Giveaway from Teresa of Moonvalley Quilter

Today I received a “Oh-so-sweet” envelope in the mail… that I thought at first was junk mail, because, who else sends out dark colored envelopes with white writing? Trisha, that’s who! She HAND STAMPED and used a white-gel-pen to write me a note and envelope that we’re just darling. Inside was my first choice from her “warm fuzzy hearts”.

I am so tickled with it! It actually arrived yesterday, but I forgot to get my mail, so, when I went down this morning, there it was to wish me a Happy Valentine’s Day. I wore it around all day, and truly enjoyed it! THANK YOU TRISHA!!!


[Postscript: Sorry for the fuzzy picture - you try taking a picture of your own chest and see how it comes out!!! :P]

It really is my lucky day! As you know, I am new to living in the snow. I’d been getting pretty confident about driving in the inclement weather, but today I was a little shook up. It was probably because I nearly wiped someone out, as I slid (out of control) down a 25' hill out of a parking lot (leaving the grocery store) into moving traffic. I watched a SUV drive right.in.front of my van (which also had my two young sons and my hubby with a broken leg in it) and somehow, miraculously, all that happened was I was shook up for an hour. The guy RIGHT BEFORE ME, slid down the same hill... so, I was going REALLY slow, just creeping with my foot on and off the break pedal, and then WOOSH! Down I went! Right after that, I saw two other people who had just slid off the road. After that, I kept loosing (and seeing people loose) traction all over town. I don't know how I avoided hitting the SUV... it was right in front of me! Such a miracle!!!

About my success with The Prizes today. I posted about the OWOH Giveaway last week, but until (bedtime) last night, I hadn’t entered any. I spent about an hour randomly opening links and entering only for the prizes I liked (about 20). I won two of them! Pretty good odds, I think. Thank you, Trisha, Vanessa, and Teresa (notice all the “a’s” at the end of these names? I notice things like that, thank you very much!) for your generous gifts via the One World – One Heart Giveaway! I look forward to playing with my new goodies; you are too kind!

As a bonus, I’ve had four SIX ladies email me that they plan to come to the “Mom’s Time Playgroup” I host every Friday morning. It’s been just me and another lady for about a month now, and I just found that she has to move within the next two weeks. I’m very sad to see her go (even though we’ve only known each other a few months), but I’m VERY HAPPY that so many other ladies are coming to visit while their kiddos play!