Life at the Zoo

Well, it doesn't always rain in Washington ( I think I established that in an earlier entry) and everyone has promised that summer is spectacular----- if it is anything like the past two days then life is good.


Saturday we went to the zoo in Tacoma (20 minutes drive away; it is across "the bridge"). Weather started a bit questionable but quickly the sun took over and it was cool, but not to cold to stay out for a couple of hours. You would think that a zoo is a zoo, but I think each zoo has its own personality. The Point Deifance Zoo is set on the most spectacular piece of property in Tacoma; it juts out into the Sound so as you walk through the zoo you get beautiful views of the water and they have really worked to make plants an interesting part of the exhibits. I love looking at the plants here because most are so different. I know you are thinking "It's a zoo talk about the animals already." OK G immediately fell in love with a peacock that was roaming near the gate. Even when he unfurled his feathers G just wanted to get closer to try to pet him. The elephants were close to their fence so we got a great view.



I couldn't get a good shot of M's face but he was very interested. His favorite was the tiger and we got him to say something that sounded like "tigger"---- close enough.



D and I were fascinated by the walruses and beluga whales; neither of us had ever seen them and at this zoo you can really great views of all the animals. Do you know how fast a walrus can swim? Did you know they have a sense of humor? One guy kept coming close to the rail and blowing water out like he was sneezing. I can see why people think they are a nuisance- they are huge beasts! I had seen video of them destroying docks in CA but now I can really understand their power. The beluga whales(pictured) were so cute! They had just done a little show and were taking all the toys that were left in the tank and putting back in their room. At both the walruses and at the whales the kids were ready to move on and D and I kept saying, "One more minute...... can't we just stay one more minute?" The boys also loved the reindeer and did the typical looking for Rudolph, where's Santa questions.




Reindeer was near the end of M's endurance for the zoo, especially since he walked most of it. Luckily, we were the recipients of a kind gift of a year's membership to the zoo so we will can go back and finish up and do it all over again and again (thanks J-S-R and L-S-G!!!!) Everybody napped on the way home (except D who drove and me who had to cross "the bridge") We played outside until dark.



Today we got a late start to playing outside after church and lunch out. D organized the garage and I planted flowers.... now it feels a little more like our house. In the pic you will see my pots on the front porch--- primroses!! In VA I think selling them is cruel; they die inside and outside they freeze to death within a few days. Here mine may meet early demise by slug, but at least they have a fighting chance. When I bought pansies they had a big banner over them that said "color all the way through fall!" Wow!!!! Now I like pansies but I don't know if I am ready for that level of commitment. There are a lot of flowers for the garden and I think I should try them all out before I settle for a one-kind-all-summer kind of obligation.


It has been a beautiful weekend so far and here's hoping tomorrow follows the trend as well. One last pic. This was taken from a bridge (a small one) about a mile from our house. This really shows how amazing this weekend has been..... even Old Man Rainier had to come out to enjoy it!

love and hugs,

B