Zoo critters, part 1

It has been raining a lot lately.  But yesterday, the weather cooperated for the girls' first day of summer break.  A beautiful sunny, although a little chilly, day! Kansas is actually having a long spring this year!   Infact, today is another rainy day and I put on the heater!

We decided a trip to the zoo would be a good way to celebrate the start of summer vacation!  We drove to the Big City (as my farm friend calls it).  We forgot that Claire has not been there for probably a year (they live pretty far away) and she was fascinated with the overpasses!

I asked Claire what animal she would like to see at the zoo.  

A Kitty!!

They should have kitties at the American barn, don't you think? 

Al remembers squirting the milk into their kitties' mouths when he was growing up.

The first thing to see at the zoo are the fish.  We aren't able to feed them anymore because of the bird flu going around.  The food draws in too many fowl and they want to keep them away.

 Picking his nose with his tongue.  Yech.

Claire looked at her back and said "I don't have a bump on my back!"

 "Hello Baaa!"

She was singing "Baa baa black sheep"

 Even Claire tried it, but I didn't get a picture.

And of course we washed, washed, washed our hands!!  That E-coli scare is no laughing matter!

 "Painting" the barn - such a cute idea!

 Sophia was a little skittish of the dark bamboo forrest.

 

Hannah took some great pictures of the chimps.! 

 What fun to discover a baby orangatang!  Claire thought it was funny that he was doing the splits.

I do splits too!

Birds

I enjoy the birds in the springtime!

We've had a beautiful spring in Kansas this year.  Usually we go from winter to the hot summer.  But not this year.  Lots of nice cool weather.

 Mr. Cardinal has been persistent in tapping at our window.

 I'd think he would give up.  Evidently, cardinals are very territorial of the area where they are nesting.  So they are trying to defend their territory.  I guess he sees the reflection in the window as a rival.

You can rub soap on the window, or put up a screen outside.

It helps a little.  Although he just finds other windows to attack.

And washes it away.  And we've had a lot of rain lately.

Bath time

I'm not so fond of the grackles.  Mainly because they like to get in my birdfeeder and scatter the food all over.  They will empty out a bird feeder in all one day!

But my granddaughter once told me "But Nana, God made these birds too!!"

How I praise the great Creator, 

Who did make this world so fair;

As I scan the realm of nature

I can see His image there.

 The neighbor kitty came to investigate one day.

One day I could hear a click clack sound from inside the house. 

 The sparrows were trying to make a nest in our fire place flue!

We wrapped it up in saran wrap for the time being 

God made perfectly good trees for your nests, birdies!

 This robin's nest has unfortunately seen 2 eggs fall out already.  Sad.

I have many more bird/nature pictures to share...  More to come!