BROOKEFIELD ZOO

Well I've gone and done it now. Purchased a Membership to the Zoo, which means we'll be going lots. LOL I'll try not to overwhelm everyone with just Zoo pictures though . First up this trip ....



The Polar Bear

Who said only kids have fun in the water

We stopped in at the Camels



How's this for a profile

Came across this Raffie. Unusual horns ...

it appears that instead of next to each other, they grew in front and back of each other.

Guess what Daughter's very FAV is, LOL

Ut oh, must of been naughty








Good gravy, forgot to flip this one sorry. Please tilt your head to the left, thank you.

Just had to get pictures of this. As the sign says Cookie has been at the Zoo since day 1. What a sad day it will be when he passes.

Well that'll do it for this trip.

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Looking forward to out next 'trip'

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE

I've heard from Mothernature that she and Indy John have tried to send some stuff in but it never got to me. There was a few days there that I didn't get anything to the wildmail addy (which I thought was a bit strange) and I was having some connection problems (figured it out finally, was something the ISP put in that was supposed to be a temp thing until they fixed their lines but they never came back for). So if you ever have something bounce back at you try sending to a second addy I'll put over under the wildmail addy. Also use the comcast addy if what your sending is big. I know the comcast addy can handle larger sizes but I'm not real sure about the size limit on the other.

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Sorry for all the problems. Hope this clears it all up

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Looking forward to our next 'trip'
SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE

OFF FOR A DAY AT THE COUNTY FAIR

An annual trip we make every year is to the DeKalb County Fair, AKA Sandwich Fair. For a bit of back round, this Fair was started in 1888 and this years marked the 120th year the fair was held. It is the oldest continuing County Fair in IL and one of the most attended every year. I know of a few people who have been going every year for the last 60 years (if not longer) ! Talk about tradition. People travel from points far and wide to come. Many have moved to other areas but come back to go. Myself, I've been going every year for the last 13 years. We go to celebrate my youngest kids birthday. (She loves the fact she doesn't have to go to school that day!) So without further ado ... The Fair ~

Farm equipment is big, both in size (note the trucks) and interest. Farmers have 100's of thousands of $ tied up in machines that are used probably 2 to 3 weeks a year.

Cattle washing and grooming station. Here the livestock are all cleaned up before a showing. Local kids raise these just for the fair and belong to FFA (Future Farmers of America)

Can't forget about the Fair entertainment. Mostly local and usually having something to do with Farm Reports.

The Crew. Can't go without eating all the favorites. And no, that's not a Corn Dog there. See next photo for the menu board.

Yep, your reading that right. Alligator on a stick. And FYI it does taste just like chicken. This is definitely one place we visit every time we go. Unfortunately the vendor only has it during the fair.

It rained on and off all day, with several hard downpours. The kids all enjoyed it, while adults ran to cover. Everyone took it in stride though.

The sun always came back out, so the day continued.

Took a closer look at some of the livestock.

This Piggy was having a good time while being sprayed down. Can't be covered in mud when the judges show up LOL

And what's a Fair without the rides. I don't go anymore, stomach can't take that. But the kid went. Over and over and over.

Of course they always have lots of games to play too. We always play 'The Mouse Game'. You put a Quarter on a series of 3 numbers and hope that when they release the mouse it runs into one of your numbers. Kinda fun and easier on the pocketbook then the $2 to $3 games there. I came home with this guy.

If you look very closely you can faintly see the second rainbow above the first one.
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And since I didn't know how my crude attempt at picture taking in order to get a good panoramic view would work out, I did a short vid of it. Corny, I know

A Double Rainbow to end the day.

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I hope you enjoy this trip to the County Fair as much as we did when we went, despite the rain.

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Looking forward to our next 'trip'

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE

DAY TRIP ~ BROOKEFIELD ZOO

Well, took my daughter on a day trip to an area zoo. Had a very nice time, just the two of us. we saw the Tiger.

Here he's getting ready to lay in the 'pool' area. It was kinda hot that day. (We all know how the heat has plagued the US this summer)

And Snow Leopards. Here in the outdoor area they have a fence that separates the males and females. Don't want any hanky panky going on I guess LOL

She was getting ready to jump up and hang out on a ledge here. At this spot all that separates the leopard and us is a plexi-glass window. Nice and close up !

This is where they hold the Dolphin shows. Had 2 groups. Males and females.

During the show.

This is a huge fountain in the middle of the zoo. It's dedicated to President T. Roosevelt.

This is a bronze statue of a Gorilla that used to live at the zoo. His name was Samson. This is a life sized statue. That's the kid next to him.

They said that the gold color areas are from people touching it all the time. I guess kids have a need to touch the nose and mouth for whatever reason. The brow area is from people getting on his back for photos.

This is one of the areas that are set up for several species of animals. They are all from Africa and would be found together in the wild. There are several types of Monkeys, hippos and various birds.

One of the Monkeys way up in the tree.

The Gorilla's have their own area. Here one of the youngsters is going through wood shavings 'looking' for carrots.

At another exhibit, we of course had to visit the Penguins.

These are real cuties.

Then on to my fav, the Wolves. They have a small pack (5) of Mexican Gray Wolf.

The Zoo has a large man-made lake that you can walk around. Takes about 25 mins or so and is very peaceful. The lake is home is many truly wild waterfowl. Here you see the resident Swan and her kids.

Was very surprised when these 2 came so close. My daughter kept saying "Just take the picture. The mom is looking 'mean' at me". Momma called them back quickly and we moved on.

Here is an Okapi. Kinda of a mixed up animal. It has a longer neck like it's nearest relative the giraffe (not as long though). It has stripes on the back end and legs like a Zebra and the body is like a horse. Brookefileld Zoo was the first Zoo to have a young born at a zoo in the US, back in 1959. They are found in the Congo and not much is known because they live in remote areas. So much of what is known is what is learned from those in zoos.

The Giraffes are now in their new habitat. Much more like how they would live in the wild.

This is a hedgehog who came to visit in the Rhino exhibit. Even the Zoo staff were taking pictures.

Aardvarks in their den sleeping.

Bison, not a buffalo.

From down under, a snoozing Hairy-nosed Wombat

The resident Polar bears. Look closely and you can see the newest addition.

And finally a Sloth Bear. They have 2 females, sisters. No idea where the other one was, probably taking a nap somewhere.

LOL
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That's it for this trip. I hope you enjoyed a small sample of Brookefield Zoo.

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Looking forward to our next "trip".

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE