Sunday, September 8, 2013

Over the River and Through the Woods to Katie's House (& Zoo Atlanta) I Go...

Hi, everyone!
 
Happy September! (A little late, I know...)
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I'm visiting my daughter Katie in Atlanta; I drove down last Wednesday.

It's a wonder I'm able stay on the road when I'm driving alone;

I'm always looking at the scenery ~ ;^)

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This is odd, I know, but kudzu fascinates me...

the shapes it takes as it envelopes things

 (I know, it's a destructive, invasive vine, but it's pretty!) ~

Kind of like looking at cloud shapes...(I do that, too).
 
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This is only a little way from home, the levee road
 
between Charleston, Missouri, and Cairo, Illinois...
 
doesn't that look like a horse rearing up?
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Roadwork on the Ohio River Bridge into Kentucky...I was stopped about midway.
 
I don't think I've ever been "stuck" on a bridge before...
 
good thing they don't bother me...
 
I took the opportunity to play with the camera on my phone
 
and look for more kudzu creatures.
 
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...And I didn't have to look far!
 
Doesn't this look just like Godzilla?? (Do I have an overactive imagination?)
 
 Or maybe Bigfoot would be more appropriate for the locale...
 
I saw Godzilla immediately, though.
 
(I saw a T-Rex on the way back to Sikeston from a festival in Kennett, Missouri last fall
 
 and have regretted not turning around to photograph it ever since...)
 
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Thursday morning Katie took me to Sublime Doughnuts...
 
(She passes it every morning on her way to work ~ will-power!)
 
I've been there three times now...:^)

That's Kamal Grant, owner-operator, on the left ~

You can read more about them here...Sublime Doughnuts.
 
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I had my usual Orange Dream Star (filled with citrusy-crème Heaven)
 
and Katie had a strawberry-filled something that looked good, too ~
 
but since I'm only allowing myself one, I can't forgo my Star.
 
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Off to Zoo Atlanta!
 
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These Chilean Flamingos were just beautiful...
 
(kind of stinky but gorgeous...)
 
I kept taking pictures, hoping for one ~ or a portion of one ~
 
that I can do a painting from...
 
(The two flamingos in the last photo were having a slight altercation.)
 
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There were fabulous bronze sculptures throughout the zoo...
 
Since the real lions were making themselves "scarce" that day,
 
 this will have to do for my "lion pic"...
 
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Oh, this was such fun!
 
(Now I want a bunch of parakeets as well as chickens and llamas...)
 
We went into the large enclosure with them ~
 
I've been in butterfly-habitats like this, but never one with birds!
 
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There were hundreds, all the parakeet-colors...
 
Blues, greens, yellows, aquas...
 
Some mixed with white in different combinations...so pretty!
 
They would all swoop around in synchronized flight...
 
just barely over our heads ~
 
(Which might be unnerving if "The Birds" disturbed you.)
 
Maybe they were annoyed because we didn't buy "millet-on-a-stick" for them.

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These looked as if they may have been naughty,
 
with their little faces turned to the wall...
 
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Meerkats!
 
I think they are so cute...I used to love watching Meerkat Manor ~ ♥
 
There were a lot, but this little fellow looked particularly photogenic...
 
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Another pretty bronze...
 
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This fellow was hoping for cabbage leaves...
 
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Not sure what species this little guy was...
 
some sort of pigeon, I think.
 
He was interesting-looking, though...
 
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The paths through the zoo were bamboo-edged and so nice and shady!
 
The weather was perfect.
 
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A Red Panda...I love his face!
 
(Photo by Katie)
 
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The Giant Pandas were so interesting! They were eating bamboo the whole time
 
we watched them...we were told that there is a special crew that does nothing

but cut and collect bamboo for them...
 
If someone has a stand of bamboo they want to donate, this crew
 
comes out and assesses it, deciding if it meets the Pandas' nutritional needs...
 
What a job!
 
There are twin baby Pandas at Zoo Atlanta; two boys born to Lun Lun on July 15th.
 
We saw photos, and were able to see just a glimpse of them on the "Panda Cam",
 
but they won't make their public debut until they are a few months old.
 
Click here for the Panda Cam...(lots of photos and videos!)~
 
They won't be named until they are 100 days old, per Chinese custom.
 
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The tigers were magnificent...
 
The male (right) was annoying the female a bit...
 
(he was in her personal space, I think.)
 
...so he just flopped down a little farther away for a siesta ~
 
Look at those paws!!
 
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After leaving the zoo (still downtown), I spied all this gingerbread on a row of little houses ~
 
Katie circled around and took these photos for me...
 
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Skyview Atlanta ...pretty neat!
 
(Because the gondolas are enclosed...thank goodness!)
 
The first photo was taken through the car window
 
and the second through the sunroof...
 
We'll save that for another day...or maybe night.
 
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And last, but definitely not least ~ Katie's kitty Bunch's
 
 (originally "Honeybunch") 10th birthday was Friday...
 
The kitties had a Tuna Party.
 
Isn't she a pretty girl? She plays like a little kitten!
 
That's all for now...
 
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
 
Love,
 

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20 comments:

  1. We lived at Zoo Atlanta when our son was younger!!
    I like the Willie B. sculpture, I think some of his ashes are buried near it, even though they wanted to take his ashes back to Africa (where he was born in the wild.)
    I have done a post about Willie B. on my blog, he was a very special creature.
    Make sure you go to Stone Mountain next time! xx

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  2. what a fun trip you are having! thanks for all of the very interesting photos!

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  3. What beautiful photos! Looks like you had a great time at the zoo. I have never heard of those doughnuts, but I'd love to have one (or two) right about now!! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I enjoyed ALL the pictures, you do take nice ones. Would't mind having a donut with the orange creme..or heck any donut...with a nice cup of coffee what a treat. I love to look for shapes in the clouds and in nature...maybe it is a sign of our creativity..

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  5. I do love a fun road trip and that's just what you had from start to finish!! I had to grin at what you said about the kudzo, I've not heard that before, but it's certainly true, isn't it? AND that cute red-panda reminded me that a few weeks ago the National Zoo had one of theirs escape, and the giant panda just had a cub a couple of weeks ago. And those cute houses.... Well, as I said you had a great trip that I would have enjoyed too!! :-)

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  6. Dear Anne - love love love seeing all those beautiful animals...some I have heard of but never seen. The red panda really caught my eye. My favorite though was not at the zoo it was Honeybunch - now that is a tiger I can handle (LOL) - hope you are having a wonderful time with your daughter...you can send me one of those citrus star donuts too - won't turn it down!!

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  7. Wow..Wow..Wow...love your post. So much to take in. Love the birds...so much color and cuteness...and those doughnuts will haunt me all night. You have a great imagination...love that about you. Dee

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  8. Wow, great photos and I love that giant panda.
    I never saw so many parakeets in one place. i bet it was noisy but beautiful.

    Thanks for the zoo tour.
    it's been years since I've been to the zoo.

    I too have a thing for seeing animals in clouds. I see faces everywhere. I never encountered Kudzu vines but I bet I would see some figures in them too.

    Hugs,
    JB

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  9. Hello Anne, I have wondered what adventure you might be having. Such FUN you have posted here with fabulous pictures! I sooo wanted to take a bite out of that citrus filled star doughnut! YUMMMO!
    I am happy you and your daughter are having a nice visit together!
    My red cypress vine has just started to bloom! I am thrilled!!! I planted several of the seeds and so I am waiting to see if the white and pink might bloom as well.
    Take care!!! <3

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  10. How much were you dieing to hug that panda? These animals are insanely cute! I just want to rub my fsce on their bellies and sleep like that! I have never seen one up close which is a good thing because i would definitely try to jump over the fence for some cuddling!
    By the way,i became obsessed with thew cucamewlons! I googled them and omg i totally love them!

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  11. Haha! Just saw what i typed! Thew cucamewlons ares awesoimmee!

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  12. Really enjoyed this post, have missed you.

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  13. Dear Anne, I loved your photos and the tale of your travels, thank you for making my morning a happy one, Jane xx

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  14. Looks like you are having fun. The parakeets are so colorful. And the face on that meerkat so sweet. Happy birthday to Bunch's. Best wishes, Tammy

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  15. Sometimes I think I want a pretty cat just to have as a built in model. But then sanity is restored and I take pictures of my shih tzu, Molly. Besides, Molly has been an only pet for all her life with me starting at 6 weeks and she's almost 11 so it might upset her to share me.

    I only visit Atlanta once every 4-5 years because two of my sons live north of there in Cumming, GA. But the next time I visit, I'm going to spend a day at the zoo with camera in hand. Those flamingos are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing all the lovely pictures.

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  16. That vine is fascinating! I had never heard of it! What great photos!

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  17. Beautiful photos - I love the tigers and the flamingos. Looks like a wonderful trip! xo

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  18. Wow. What a nice trip to visit a friend! So many gorgeous photos! The kitty, the tigers, the flamingoes, and bungies!!!

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  19. I thought I was the only one who looked for kudzu animals! I love the photos from the zoo-the flamingoes are beautiful. There is nothing like a good road trip.

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  20. Oh my goodness, dear Anne...I cannot believe how much I've missed here, but I'm all caught up now.
    How are you, sweet friend?
    What a marvelous time you had with your dear daughter....the photos are so beautiful...I could watch the animals all day!! :) And how lucky to see pandas so close up....
    Our MN zoo has the sweetest red panda, he is usually sleeping, though... :)
    Happy Birthday to Bunch's, so cute!
    And I am loving your lovely new artwork...the painting I have brings me joy every day, Anne!
    I hope all is well, and am wishing you a beautiful Autumn....
    Love and blessings,
    - Irina
    Big hugs!

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I love your thoughts and comments, and I read each and every one! Sometimes life gets in the way, though, and it takes me a while to respond...Thank you for understanding! ♥...Time is precious, and the time you have taken here is truly appreciated!