Friday, August 28, 2009

Mill Mountain Zoo

I love zoos. It doesn't matter what kind; big, small, I love them all. Roanoke has a tiny little zoo on top of a mountain (Mill Mountain). Its actually right next to the Roanoke Star (see older post). We had beautiful weather last weekend so we road the motorcycle to the zoo and then stopped in downtown Roanoke for a mexican lunch. It was a tiny zoo but we still managed to spend 2 hours or so there. And...we saw an escape! Thats right, one of their large heron-type birds flew the proverbial coop and was running around the zoo looking for an escape route. Soon all the zoo employees were running in circles looking for the bird until they finally got him. It was pretty entertaining. So our overall rating of the Mill Mountain Zoo was very high, 5 stars, would do again.

Me with the Mill Mountain Zoo sign. The bird depicted in the lower right corner of the sign is the bird that almost escaped. I did not have a photo op with the actual escapee.

The wolverine. It kind of looks like a little bear, and looks nothing like Hugh Jackman.

The black vulture. Its the only kind of vulture in the world that will eat live carrion if it needs to. It kept giving us the eye. We were uncomfortable.

Red panda. Cute and funny.

Giant porcupine. All of its needles were on its butt portion.

Pink bird. I like birds, by the way.

The monkey display was less than stellar. There was plexiglass between the observer and the primates.

Here is the linx. We stood there for several minutes trying to find it and were almost about the leave the exhibit before we saw him, sitting right there, plain as day, on the rocks. He blends in really well, yes?

Everyone loves a fat pig.

Here the cougar was giving us the eye through the brush. She was probably checking out Ian (get it...cougar...ha ha?)

Well that pretty much sums up the Mill Mountain Zoo. Cute, fun, worth checking out next time you come to visit :)

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Summertime Creations

We may be a little boring. Here is the highlight of our weekend...

Thats right, scrabble. And since there isn't a whole lot to talk about when it comes to scrabble night, I have decided to dedicate this post to my recent knit projects. You like to see what I've been working on, right?

Well, the simplest creation, a pretty little chick.
This one if for Mom, she requested it specifically.

Next, a neck warmer. Its like a mini scarf. I knitted a little keyhole in it so you can slip the end of the scarf right through. Have a look!

Oh who is that neck warmer model?
Here is the pattern up close

My next creation, a dog hat! Why? Because Neit needs a hat in the winter (kind of...) and I had some yarn to use up.

Neit isn't exactly the best hat model, so I had to have a basketball fill in

I finally got it on his head

He kind of hated it

Okay he REALLY hated it.

Well, if you know anyone who wants a dog hat, Neit might be willing to give up his.

The project I am leisurely working on now is a scarf. Its multidirection triangles and I am using variegated yarn to enhance the pattern. I'm not in any hurry to get it finished, I just work on it while I am watching Jeopardy and whatnot. I am just aiming to get it finished before it gets cold out.

My work in progress

Close up

So let me know if you are interested in any of these items. I am always trying to think of good Christmas gifts to give ;)


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Riverstock ´09

Oh man. It took me until today to fully recover from Riverstock 2009. You needed to be there to fully appreciate the images to come. Let me just say great music, great food, great folks, custom made t-shirts, fun games, 2 kegs, lots of fun. Without futher ado...

Welcome to the River

Here he is...the pork chef (he also kicked off the celebration with the first official drink of the day)

I think this group wins the Furthest Distance Traveled award (minus Kalow)

C.P. Bacon enjoying the band

How about that shrimp/crawfish boil?

Life of the party

Waiting for the big volleyball match

Someone convinced Carl Erskine to show up and even play some harmonica

Some of the kids who stuck around for the after party

A lot of people are hinting that they would like to see this event become an annual one. So stick around and we will see!

Thanks to Mom and Dad for putting on such an extravagant party. You rock.