Saturday, September 26

Once again, we were up early, this time to go to the zoo. We wanted to be there by 9 a.m., opening time, so we could get the tour done by around noon or 1 p.m. and get back to camp to take care of Shih Tzu.

We arrived at the parking lot right across the street from the entrance to the zoo a few minutes before 9 a.m. But family who were to join us didn't arrive as early as we hoped. Some time after 9, I called to see what the problem was and learned that they had run into a Race for the Cure event and were detoured. Somehow, they ended up in one of those residential areas that are mazes and difficult to exit.

Finally, though, they arrived, and we began our zoo tour. Mother rode in the wheelchair, with Hubbie, Daughter, and I taking turns pushing her. Hubbie manned the chair for uphill pushes.
Granddaughter and her husband brought along a wagon for the two little ones to ride in when they tired of walking.

We had a very good time at the zoo, but I was disappointed at how many exhibits either no longer contained animals, or were roped off for repairs or painting. Many of the animals one would expect to see were there...elephants, giraffes, zebras, gorillas and other primates, rhinos, lions and tigers, deer and antelopes, reptiles and birds, etc. But there was a lack of bears, no hippo, no peacocks and secretary birds, no giant tortoise. Or if these animals were there, they were hidden or were in one of the barricaded areas being repaired or reconstructed.

I was amused at the tiger exhibit, when a little boy being held by his grandmother, assured her that he would protect her from the big cats, so they wouldn't "eat you all gone."

At the another exhibit, two young women with children stood looking out over a grazing area. "Look," one young woman exclaimed to a child, "there's a cantaloupe!"

The other young woman looked at her, puzzled. "Those aren't cantaloupes," she said. "They're antelopes."

"Oh," the first young woman said.

The zoo also featured a farm animal section that the kids enjoyed, as well as a train and carousel that they rode on. So it was a worthwhile family outing. As the morning progressed, it became warmer, and by noon, we were all very thirsty. So we stopped for tall Styrofoam cups of lemonade made with freshly squeezed lemons and sugar. I would have preferred sugar substitute, but I was thirsty enough to not quibble.

Then, while the kids waited their turn at the carousel, we returned to camp to prepare a lunch of microwave baked potatoes, and steamed hamburger/turkey burgers, along with sliced tomatoes and sweet onions. Dessert was a variety of homemade, store bakery made, and Girl Scout cookies.

Actually, we had pre-cooked the potatoes while we were getting dressed and ready this morning. Once they were done, we wrapped them in foil and put them into a heated dutch oven, which we then put in Sis's car to keep them warm until lunch. At lunch, Sis added a litte water to the pan, and steamed the potatoes until they were hot again.


After lunch, we all visited for a while, before Daughter, Granddaughter, and Great-Grandkids had to leave for home. Sis, who was due at work by 6 p.m., left shortly thereafter. Daughter called to say that Daughter-in-Law wanted to know if we had Internet access. We didn't. So, I called her phone to leave a voice mail that we would be around camp if they wanted to visit (they live in a nearby town) . But I didn't hear back from them, and they didn't come by the camp. I figured they got busy and couldn't get away.

So Hubbie, Mother, and I were alone to play Skipbo tonight. I think I won a couple of games this time, but I don't really remember. I must have been too tired to care.