Mulberry's Nursing Home......

   At the home where my daughter Liz works, there's some nature for all to enjoy.   You can click on the pictures to make them larger. This is a pair of very unusual birds. The male is yellow, green, purple, red and turquoise. The female has similar markings only muted in color. These birds are in a big glassed cage near the cafeteria.

   The flowers are fake, but help the bird to blend in.  They were quick . Some little red birds were to quick to get a photo.

   There were many basket birdhouse fixtures. A bird is sitting in this one.

  Here's a pretty yellow bird with it's own necklace.  I have no idea what kind of birds they are. They seemed the size of parakeets or canaries.

   I think this male sat the longest of all the birds.

   On the Alzheimer's Unit, where Liz works, there are fish aquariums. They are always clean too. I loved the yellow fish. The patients seem to love them too. Many patients sit in their wheelchairs watching them.  It is relaxing to watch fish.

  This fellow was huge.  If you caught him while fishing he would be a keeper.

 

   There are algae eaters in each tank. They help keep the glass spotless.   If I lived closer, I would go visit the patients more and also my daughter who works here . I will say Liz loves her patients, that makes me proud that she has a kind heart.  I feel I can honestly say that about all my daughters. I am blessed.
  Today is going to be stormy. It's looking very dark right now.  Be safe  everyone.  XO

You Can Pet Them.....

   This is the entrance to the petting zoo. Just as we walked thru the gates we could see two young ladies putting a lid on a case. My daughter says, come on mom , it's the snake show....but we had missed it. One girl said come back at 2:00, we have our Snakes Alive show. They had just finished the first show. I ask if there was a snake in the case and she said , "yes, it's our boa constrictor, his name is Jules Squeezer." Don't you just love that. I had to laugh it was so appropriate.

  Then it was on to the Nigerian goat exhibit.  There's only female goats and babies. The males only come around during winter. Three new babies were born on the 5th and 6th of this month. Here's two babies.

   It seems the ladies get along well. They were just lounging around.

   This is one of the babies. It's no bigger than a cat. So darn cute. The helpers told everyone visiting, "do not pick up the goats. "  I said, "Well who would want to do that?" The lady opening the gate said , "The babies can't be picked up and we had to tell people, please don't pick up any of the goats....cause people where trying to big up the grown ones. "  Of course some of the grown ones were maybe the size of a dog...so kids will be kids I guess. LOL

  This was my favorite little animal of all.  Such a beautiful wee horsy. She was too busy eating her lunch to even lift her head up while we were there.  I have to say also, you will not see any poo while there, they must scoop it up quickly. That makes the visit even more pleasant.

 

   I have to show you this chicken. What a head of feathers. He would not stand up from his spot and so this is the shot I got over the edge of the fence. I should have squatted down to his level.
  Thanks for going along to the zoo with me this week.  I wanted you to see the things we saw while there.
  Rain moving in here today. I will do a load of laundry and cook . Back to the everyday chores. LOL.  We had a great day shopping yesterday. Got our groceries also, Ted and I both got some Skeetcher sneakers...with memory foam insoles.   Wishing all a beautiful day. XO

Butterflies & Statues.....

    This was taken in the butterfly exhibit. Which was hot and steamy. I think there were too many people in here for the butterflies to land for any length of time.

   This kind of looked like a zebra stripping.

    Lots of those sweet plants that butterflies love and water features too.

   This was a case of chrysalis 'hanging to hatch . I did see a butterfly that was just opening his wings on the bottom  of this case.

  Outside the exhibit was a huge caterpillar to sit on. I was getting ready to have my picture taken and this little red haired girl wanted to sit by me. Her father just put her next to me for our picture. :):) Her shirt was wet from playing in the water fountains. Look at her beautiful hair.

  Here I am driving Savannah in the zoo bus. LOL.  These picture boards are so much fun.

  Lots of painted frogs and some pigs for children to play on .

   This alligator statue if near the water fountains.  Kids crawl all over these statues.

     I loved this one of three elephants together and the middle one squirting a stream of water. These are at  the Columbia zoo/park in Lafayette, Indiana.  The grounds of this area were so clean and well cared for.   I would love to return one day.
    Today is not nearly as hot as the weekend was. The sun is shining. We are headed to the stores for some groceries and Ted needs new sneakers. Then this afternoon we will do some weed whacking and Ted will mow. Wishing all of you a great Monday to start your new week. XO

Columbia Park Zoo......

   I went to Karen's yesterday. Then Savannah, Karen and I went to Lafayette, to the park/zoo.

 

    Here's Savannah and Karen standing in front of the restrooms and gift shop, the entrance to the zoo.

   Then I had them poke their faces into the picture board. LOL  This needs to be lower for the little kids.

  We looked at the wallabies first. One had a new baby. The zoo keeper was putting a tiny sprinkler out for them to play in.  They had a shallow pond there for them too.

   Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, merry, merry king of the bush is he, Laugh kookaburra, laugh kookaburra, gay your life must be..yes, that's from an old church camp song. LOL

  Can you see a spot of white in the corner by the grassy bush? There's a pair of bald eagles back there.

  When coming back around one had stepped out and I got this photo thru a glassed over peep hole.

  Hope you can see the otter. He kind of blended in once he got wet. Such a sleek swimmer.

 This is a statue of an otter next to their pen/pond.  There were many wonderful  statues at this small  zoo.  There were wild life birds, animals, a petting zoo, and a butterfly enclosure also. I will show more pictures later.
  I had one of the nicest days that I have had in a long time. It was a pretty day, very hot as the day went on.  We stayed at the zoo, looked at everything. Then went to lunch. We even stopped by the nursing home to visit with Karen's twin sister , Liz.  She introduced us to her patients, I am not sure they will ever remember us, as Liz is in charge of the Alzeheimer's unit. But some seemed genuinely happy to talk with us or listen to us.  We complimented their hair and nails. I only saw one man there.
  Hope everyone has a beautiful Sunday. XO

Creating A Centerpiece....

  I thought I would play around creating a centerpiece for our summer table . It's so close to 4th of July, I decided to use a  rough old fashioned water pitcher. I used  two tea stained flags, in it.

  A sampler print matted in blue.. Cream and red doilies, on a blue napkin. All this on what I call a  picnic tablecloth.The cardinal salt & pepper shakers. Some dishes with blue motifs.

 Then I tried the little white pitcher with red strawberry trim. A small chalkboard, with summer written on it.  This is how I left it....I know I'll be changing it up again. Oh I also used some dried carnations.
  Going to my daughter Karen's today. We may go to the park and then to lunch. Or we may just do lunch. Karen pulled a muscle in her back while fishing, so she may not be up to going to the park. We hate to see our children not feeling well.
  Today is to be our hottest day this year.   Stay cool. XO

A Few Odds & Ends....

  Here's the rose I have been feeding. It has lots of blooms now, but for some reason still looks sparse.

   Do any of you remember when my daughter and I junked some lounge chairs from the our city's pool  trash?? Here's the chairs on my daughter's patio.  She was getting ready to scrub them . I think they will clean up nicely. She will give them a longer life and use them at least this summer.

  Ted put an anti algae in the one of the water features, now it looks as if the birds are taking a bubble bath.  I ask if it was safe for the birds as they drink and bath here. He assured me it was fine. I left the barrels the same as last year. I had thought of staining them an aqua color...but changed my mind. Well come on , you all know how I am. LOL.
  Wishing everyone a great weekend. Be safe. XO

Flowers Are Planted......

 I am done with my flowers. I will water them and hope for the best. It seems once I plant the flowers, it sure doesn't look like I spent as much money as I did. :) Here's my peanut container set up.

   It was to go with this garden flag I stuck the flag in my big container here , left it there about an hour then changed it out.  I am laughing at myself...Gee, I am hoping the flowers I planted here fill in, or I'll have to buy some fake flowers. :):)

  Someone comment they wanted to see the catalpa leaf. So here's a shot of one.

   These are the blossoms on the catalpa tree. they grow in little bunches like this. They are really pretty.

 This is one of the hanging baskets plopped into a plant stand. I should have hosed the porch and walk down to clean up all the dust I made....but we are to get rain soon, that will take care of the dust. I swept so hard yesterday, I broke my broom handle. :):)
   Wishing all of you a good relaxing day. XO