Camera Critters: Crowned Lemur

I had a lovely time at the zoo's Spring Fling despite the cloudy weather.

It didn't really rain -- it spitted. 

The primates were the featured species that morning.

I love visiting the lemurs.

They are always entertaining!

Mrs. Lemur

"There's the crazy woman with the camera .... again."

"Quick -- turn your back."

"Maybe she'll go away."

Mr. Lemur

The crowned lemur is found in  the dry deciduous forests of northern Madagascar. Its diet is made up mostly of flowers, fruits and leaves. It is a medium-sized lemur with a distinctive chestnut-orange crown pattern on their head. They have pseudo-opposable thumbs, binocular vision, are highly intelligent and are on the endangered threatened list. The forests in Madagascar are being destroyed by mining, farming and some lemurs are killed for food or kept as pets. 

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters for 5 years!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Easter!

Hoppy Spring!

I went to the Spring Fling at the zoo.

Lovely breakfast buffet, a mimosa or two, and cookies!

This morning I decided to make a pot of tea and eat one of those cookies.

The Happiness is a Bunny Rabbit mug is by Emma Bridgewater.

The teapot is hand built porcelain and painted by New Mexico artists -- a husband and wife team.

I've had it for over 30 years.

One of my real treasures.

The cookies are on a bunny plate from Pier One.

I couldn't resist the zebra and the monkey cookies.

There were butterflies and tulips on other cookies,

but I was at the zoo and just had to have the zoo animals.

 Cookies By Design made the cookies.

Happy Easter! Some bunny loves you.

And remember --

“Easter is the only time of the year when it's perfectly safe to put all your eggs in one basket.”

Thank you to our tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday

A Return To Loveliness
Friends Sharing Tea
Teacup Tuesday

Tuesday Cup'a Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy, a delightful cup of tea and a happy and blessed Easter.

Camera Critters: Okapi

I've previously shared with you the beautiful Okapi at the Houston Zoo.
Not long ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Kwame in a behind the scenes tour.

The Okapi has always been my favorite animal at the zoo.

It is a beautiful and unusual looking animal.
Shy, graceful, magical!

With the stripes (great camouflage) the Okapi looks like he might be related to the zebra.
Looking at his face, you can see the resemblance to the giraffe and indeed,
the Okapi is the only living relative of the giraffe.
Like the giraffe, the Okapi has big ears (better to hear you coming) and a long dark prehensile tongue.
The tongue feels like sandpaper -- great for stripping leaves from trees,
not so great for kissing humans!
The tongue is long enough to clean his eyelids and ears!
Only the males have the horns (ossicones).

They are a solitary and shy animal.
Their home is the dense Ituri Rainforest in the Congo.
Their fur feels like velvet and is also quite oily providing them with a natural raincoat.
Petting an Okapi will turn your hand red from the oil on the coat.

They are a threatened animal and I can't imagine Mother Earth without this gorgeous creature.

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a magical weekend!

This and That

You probably heard me yell a very big

YEEHAW

over the weekend when I found gerbera daisies at Home Depot!

I have a lovely orange gerbera, but I wanted some other colors.

Jackpot!

Now I just have to keep them happy with a freeze coming this weekend.

*

I love taking photos.

I am a definite photoholic.

But what to do with all of them.

I had a lovely book made of my favorite garden photos.

What else could I do other than just printing out my favorites?

I decided to try having one printed on canvas.

It was an experiment to see if the color was true.

What about size?

Thin or thick wrap?

I picked a photo I'd recently taken of the Shoebill Stork at the Houston Zoo.
I was very pleased with the color.
Next time I'll get the thick wrap and have the photo printed larger than 11 x 14.

He looks like he's going to walk right off the wall!

**

I had a surprise in the garden this morning.

Can you see him?

When I first saw this bird several years ago, 

at first glance I thought it was hummingbird.

So small and so quick.

It is a Ruby Crowned Kinglet and how lucky to see his ruby crown.

He must have been in the bath first and was drying off here -- showing off his crown.

He didn't stay long.

Zip!

***

Friday means Postcard Friendship Friday

and I have a special one for those of you still in the midst of winter.

My sista went to Kauai recently and sent me this reproduction vintage postcard.

The original was titled Isle O' Dreams and was first published around 1939.

Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

*****

I'm still coughing.

I'm really tired of it.

Calgon take me away (and take the allergies, too).

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Wednesday Wisdom

Sunlit Sunday

It is cold, rainy, dreary.
The perfect time to look at some photos from a sunnier day!
Off to one of my favorite places and the beautiful Lady Lions at the zoo!

Snooze time!

Sunlight is painting.

~Nathaniel Hawthorne

I'm joining Karen at My Little Home and Garden and her SunLit Sunday Party.

Wishing you well and much joy!

(Photo editing with Ribbet.)

Zoo Lights

Holiday celebrations in Houston just got a little wilder
with the start of a new tradition at the Houston zoo.
Lions, Tigers and Lights -- OH MY!!

Lights depicting many of the zoos animals are located near their habitats.

Thousands of twinkling lights, lighted animal sculptures, holiday projections, carolers,

Christmas music throughout the zoo.

You can work up an appetite strolling through the zoo.

There's hot chocolate, funnel cakes, cinnamon rolls, gingerbread men,

pizza, sandwiches -- all those good holiday treats that make your mouth water!

I plan on going back several more times.

It was just too much fun!

Thank you to our hosts:

Seasonal Sunday

Mosaic Monday

Our World

Wishing YOU well and much joy during this holiday season!

Camera Critters: Methai

Asian Elephant - Eye of Methai -- Houston Zoo


"I often ask myself at what point can a man and a beast that cannot talk recognize each other.
From the early paradise, at the dawn of creation, runs the path where their hearts meet.
Although their connection has long been forgotten,
traces of their continuing association has not been erased.
And, suddenly, in a wordless harmony,
a dim memory awakens and the beast looks on the face of the man with tender trust
and the man casts his eyes upon the beast with an amused tenderness.
It is as if two friends, both wearing masks, meet
and vaguely recognize each other through their disguises."
~ Rabindranath Tagore

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Camera Critters: Celesto

Celesto was born at the Houston Zoo in 1990 to parents Bruno and Kili 

who arrived at the zoo with a third lion, Lindi, after being confiscated by authorities 

from a Kansas farm.

 

Earlier this week, at 22 years of age, Celesto passed away from kidney disease.

She was among the oldest lions in the country.

Lions in zoos generally live into their late teens.

Her health had been declining over the last few years.

Knowing that her time was limited,

the zoo started a successful search for young lionesses to be added to the lion family.

Jonathan has three girls to keep him company.

But, I'm sure, like us all -- he will miss Celesto. 

Celesto was feisty and strong-willed.

Jonathan is the King, and Celesto was the Queen.

She ruled wisely and well.

A big thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters.

Cocktails With An Owl

The Houston Zoo had a cocktail party to celebrate the reopening of the

Sea Lion exhibit -- a new pool, covered areas for the public, new paint job.

When the zoo celebrates they bring out their Ambassadors and one of them is

this beautiful, female Great Horned Owl.

It was a fun evening.

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters each week.

Wishing YOU well and a joy filled weekend.

Big Purrs

It's time for a favorite Blog Land party:

Vee's Note Card Party.

We are to share 4 photos with you that have been previously published on our blogs

that we think would make good note cards.

You all know how I love the Houston Zoo.

Here are some my favorite BIG PURRS that I've shared with you before.

Cheetah

Pandu - Malayan Tiger

Johnathan - King of Beasts

Cali and Johnny

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Wordless Wednesday

Funny LIttle Guys

A quick visit with a couple of the funny little Meerkats at the Houston Zoo.

Enjoy!

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters each week.

Wishing YOU well and a Joy filled weekend.

Here Kitty, Kitty

Magnificent

Regal

Endangered

Meet the Malayan Tigers, Hana and Pandu, at the Houston Zoo.

Thank you to Misty for being the hostess each week for Camera Critters.

Pygmy Falcon

The elephants weren't the only critters I visited with during

Pancakes with the Pachyderms at the Houston Zoo.

 

This is the African Pygmy Falcon ... the smallest raptor in Africa.

What a cutie!

Very photogenic and patient with everyone who came up to see her.

But, she did get fluffed up when the sparrows started to

bug her. Sort of: "Ha, Ha ... you can't get me!" 

Many thanks to Misty for being our hostess for Camera Critters. 

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.

Pancakes With The Pachyderms

There is just no better way to start off a Holiday week for me

than to go to the Houston Zoo.

Last weekend was Pancakes with the Pachyderms,

a celebration of the opening of the completion of the McNair elephant habitat

and, as you can tell,

taking pictures of the pancakes wasn't on my list of things to do!

I will say that breakfast was very good ... a whole buffet spread

that included eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pancakes, scones, breakfast rolls,

Mimosas, Bloody Marys and you could order up an omelet if you wished.

 

 The stars of the show were the Asian Elephants.

Tess (with the blond hair at her ears), 

Tupelo (Tess' calf),

Baylor and Shanti (Baylor's Mom).

Baby Tupelo seems to always take over the show.

What a cutie and such a little squirt!

Tupelo had an exciting morning and was resting and thinking

about what to get into next!

Tupelo and Baylor love their new space.

It includes a big pool for them to play in.

Baylor trying to goof off with his Mom, Shanti.

Shanti is very patient!

This is Thailand.

Dad to Tupelo and Baylor.

A big thank you to Misty for being our hostess for Camera Critters.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.