Re: update time folks/Reb/zoo etc

[Guest guest]

The specialty of the zoo is animals that can be found in the Nordic countries, so they have been given the kind of environment they'd typically live in if they were living in the wild, only, in most cases, fenced off areas. The manner and degree of caging differ depending on the kind of animal. The eagles and owls have net around and over their living areas for instance. But in most cases it's just a fence. And some, especially geese, swans, ducks etc wander free without fences. The storks have a fenced area, and a pond of their own. But the fence isn't there to keep them in, merely to keep humans out, they can leave, and do a lot. It seems they like to visit with other animals in the zoo. In my photo they are paying a visit to the seals, who seem to not take a whole lot of notice of them, but the first time we were there one of them wandered into the utter area, and the utter was NOT amused... In fact it chased the stork out... It is fascinating to be able to interact more closely with animals you'd usually see in the distance, or only see traces of. The lynx, for instance, I have never really seen one in the wild, not close up. I have seen paw prints of them in the snow, and I have caught a glimpse of one, but never had the opportunity to have a close look like that. And while I have seen moose up close (because the "king of the forest", as moose are nicknamed in Sweden, is a curious royalty indeed, it happened now and then that one of them poked its head through an open window in grandma's and grandpa's cottage and had a look around, "nothing to be afraid of, they just wanna see how humans live, it's a little bit like zoo to them", my grandma used to say when a moose head was suddenly present in the living room...), I have never had the opportunity to pet one before... So, you could say, this particular zoo combines familiar and exotic, for it's Nordic visitors, the animals are familiar, but the closeness is a bit exotic. Pixie is fine. It's fun hearing her tell stories about things. She have actually even learned a couple of words in English, because a boy in her preschool is American, or at least has an American mother (don't know about his father), his name is JC (or, well, I suppose that's short for something, but anyway, it's what he is called), and Pixie heard his mother call him "JC boy", and figured that must be his real name (since his mother used it), so now she always calls him "JC boy", and she says "bye bye" when she says goodbye to him, just like his mother does. And she has been to the woods picking blueberries and lingonberries and mushrooms. The first time, when she and her mother went to get blueberries for a pie, she was less than exited about the whole experience. She told me in the evening, when they were back and her mother was baking the pie (in an excited voice no less...): "We found lots and lots of blueberries!" I said: "You did! Well that's great then." She (in a more subdued voice): "Yes we did. But I was sad." I asked: "Sad? How come?"She: "Well... I didn't want to find blueberries, I wanted to look at a moose"I: "I see...and there was no moose to look at?"She: "No. Not even one"I: "You think maybe they were all asleep?"She: "Yes, I think so...but then I was happy again"I: Well, that's good"She: "Yes. But on the way home I was sad again."I: "Sad again! How come"She: "Because mum said I couldn't eat all the blueberries she picked."I: "Oh, I see. Well, I think your mum wanted there to still be blueberries left when you got home, so she had enough for that pie she baked."She (in a slightly upset voice): "Yes. That's just what she said!"The dramatic high points of a story is a talent she has..., and she really tells it with her voice as much as with her words...But she has been out to pick blueberries, lingonberries and mushrooms at a later time too. And then there were no complaint after, she was proudly showing all the mushrooms and saying their names. The ones she knew the names for, the others she simply (but with no less enthusiasm) presented as "And this is...A mushroom!"...love/Reb > >> > It's time for an update from each of you. Please let us know what you are busy > >> > with, how your MS is treating you, how's the weather, what book are you reading > >> > or TV show that has captured your attention.... whatever you feel like sharing > >> > with us.> > > > n--how are your knees? Akiba--how's the non-psycho roomie search going? > > Anne--how's your non-cut hair holding up? Cait and Donna--are you feeling > > better? Tammy--were you able to clean the house before comes home? > > Reb--did your burn heal completely yet? Debbi--any new recipes? I wonder > >about > >> > so many of you out there. Please let us know how you are.> > > > I would love to hear from our new members! Please check in and let us all know > >> > how you are doing.> > > > I always look forward to the updates! > > > > > > Sharon> > This email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling > >and > >> > grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be > > considered flaws or defects.> >>