Animals, Apples and more

We are are finally home for a weekend! It seems like it has been forever since we have actually been home for the weekend! Not that I am complaining, but sometimes it is nice to be home! Darrin headed to Scout Camp with my dad yesterday so we had a day to do what we wanted!

First stop was the NEW Zoo. We had not been out there most of the summer and we anxious to see all the changes and additions! The day after we were out there the last time, the baby swans hatched, then a month ago the lion cubs were born, not to mention the fact that the giraffe's keep growing! They also have been working on the new Japanese Macaque exhibit that just opened last month as well as a few other improvements... so we were due for a visit!

It was a chilly morning so we were hoping to see a few more of the animals moving around more, or coming out from hiding. We were not disappointed!

The Badger was actually out wandernig around! Most of the time when we visit him, he runs and hides, and will not come back out. Today, he really did not seem to care that we were watching him! He just kept strolling around, checking out all the rocks and logs!

The Prairie dogs are always one of our favorites! They never miss a move!

But today the highlight was the pair of giraffes - Hudari and Zuri. This pair is 4 years old. Hudari weights in at about 1800 pounds! And they love their crackers! We spent quite a while feeding, photographing and petting them today, since there was no one else up at the feeding platform except the volunteers.

To view the entire set of photo's from today's adventure, click here

After the zoo, it was off the apple orchard. We found this little gem a few years ago and keep coming back! Once they open in the fall, we usually are here about every other week - especially since they are only a few miles from out house. Each time we go, we usually end up picking a different variety of apples. Today was our first trip of the season to the orchard and the HoneyGold's that we really like won't be ready for another few weeks. Today it was Jonagold's and Paula's. Cortlands should be ready next weekend.

Now is time to find some new apple recipes to try this year, as well as digging out the good ones that we discovered last year! Each week is always a new adventure, trying different apples in different recipes! Tomorrow, we make applesauce and who knows what else!!