Earlier this month I posted some Bright Babies I found. I went searching for them this week and found them much, much bigger. As I was photographing them, the family came right up to me. Springtime is definitely bright with all the new life!
This is for Becky’s April Squares with the theme “Bright”. It’s been a fun and inspiring month!
After these pandemic lockdowns, it’s so good to be able to go to my favorite places again. We have a little zoo in Santa Ana where I love to hang out for an hour or so. Lots of big trees, walking trails, and interesting critters. After re-opening I saw an article in our local paper, the Orange County Register, and it seems the animals miss us too. Well, at least Lou did! Here’s an excerpt:
After almost two months apart, some of the animals seemed as happy to see the visitors as the visitors were to see the animals.
Education Specialist Terri Hernandez put on an educational show, Critters for Conservation, one of two featured during the day, with an assemblage of animals including a boa constrictor and a hedgehog. Lou, 38, a blue-and-yellow macaw and the oldest resident of the zoo, squawked loudly and disruptively from his perch during the show. At one point Lou had to be removed and taken backstage.
“He’s very jealous,” Hernandez told her laughing audience of grown-ups and children. “He thinks all the people came here to see him.”
After the show Hernandez said the primates and parrots were probably most affected by the shutdown.
Lou thrives around people, she said. “When we were closed he’d get quiet and then demanding, screaming for attention when he’d see workers go by.”
Employees would take him on walks through the zoo to keep him happy and entertained because “large parrots are said to have the intellect and emotional development of a 3-year-old,” Hernandez said.
Screams, squawks and smiles: Animals, humans reunite as Santa Ana zoo reopens – Orange County Register (ocregister.com)
This post is for Becky’s April Squares “Bright”. Here’s a link to her Brightness
Last month, California began lifting some of the lockdown restrictions. My husband & I decided to take a day trip to the Seal Beach pier. Near the pier is the Red Car museum. Unfortunately, it’s closed due to the pandemic but it is a bright catchy sight.
The description from their website says this car was in operation until 1950. More information here.
This is in response to Becky’s April Squares challenge of Bright. The challenge is to find some brightness this month–and that’s something we all need more of. More information is at Becky’s site.
Our local Regional Park has some new little goslings and they are adorable! They’re perfect for Becky’s Squares challenge for April “Bright”. Lots of perkiness and brightness here!
This is for April Squares “Bright” at Beckyb of Winchester.
At our local park, I turned around and was confronted by this inquisitive bird just a foot or so away.
He was checking out my phone to see if there were any snacks for him. Once he’d looked it and me over, he turned and walked on.
These beautiful birds are so bold and so full of personality! And so fun to look at.
This is the last day of January and the end of the UP squares! It’s been so much fun to find my squares and see all the other creative ones. It’s definitely helped my COVID-induced bad attitude!
This is what I want to do later this year:
I cancelled two trips last year so I have credit with two airlines. I’m looking forward to some family visiting and just seeing somewhere new!
Thank you Becky for this wonderful diversion!
On a walk at one of our local regional parks, I saw these woodpeckers hanging out at the base of two branches. Then I noticed they had created a watering hole.
I moved in slowly so I could get a close shot. It was lots of fun to watch them having a morning drink. Finally, just one was left.
This is another contribution to Becky’s January Squares. We’re nearing the end of the month already!
Continuing with January’s Squares, I found this adorable jump in my photo collection. When Layla was placed on this see-saw, I could see she was not having it. Luckily I had my camera at the ready to capture her lift-off!
Here’s the link to Becky’s Squares. This such a fun project!
A few years ago, my sister and her family got a new puppy. To get a sense of his size, she sent me photos with the tv remote next to him over the next few months.
This is for Becky’s January Squares. I’d actually made these squares at the time to show our Mom but rediscovered them as I was going through my archives. It’s too fun not to share.
Same remote, same dog. Just growing up!
Here’s a link to Becky’s site
This is another square for Becky’s January Squares challenge. She posted a teacup through her lens ball and it reminded me of a teacup I had in my archives.
Last year I’d attended a fund-raiser tea at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles. The event was to raise money for the restoration of the Empress Josephine’s coronation garments. You can see the details here: FIDM Museum Blog: Empress Joséphine’s Coronation Ensemble
We had a tour of the gallery afterwards. The train worn by Empress Josephine is shown beneath the painting of the coronation. It gave all of us shivers to see the actual garment; it was so beautiful.
Here is what the garments look like that they were intending to restore; you can see what a huge project they were undertaking.
I understand it will be several years before the garments are fully restored. I hope there will be a full exhibit at the museum once they’re done.
Snapshots and Insights 