Palm Springs Living Zoo

Had a great four hours at the Living Zoo today. Lots of walking, lots of warm sunshine, lots of interesting vegetation and some very interesting animals. Unfortunately the Cheetah would not make an appearance and the camels were not there but the giraffe's were quite remarkable. That Giraffe is 19 feet tall!! A rattler behind glass was the only place we wanted to see one. And the carousel was the hit of the day - go figure. :)

Grandma Can't Paint

In a creative moment, I thought I wanted to take up painting. So with a discount coupon in hand I purchased a whole lot of acrylic paints and some canvasses from Michaels.
It turns out I can't paint. AT ALL!!
But the grand girls can!!
This is what they did yesterday! With very minimal instructions from Grandma. :)
Because Grandma can't paint!

©2015 Julie Cortens Photography

Wanuskawin Heritage Park

Went on a long walk with my Sweetheart/Sherpa this Saturday to the Wanuskawin Heritage Park. I was wishing I had brought my long lens because we saw some very pretty birds. Next time I will bring it and my tripod. Sherpa will bring a book and we will settle in and bird watch.
Yeah I know I am sounding kind of old.

But I did bring my 50 mm so I focused on all the beautiful little flowers and vegetation that make up the Canadian plains.

Must take the grands there some time his summer so they can run the trails.
We did manage to time our hour walk to end right when a dancer was about to start so we enjoyed another hour learning about and watching grass dancing.

Thursdays With Grandma

Today we made Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Parfait. The Food Charlatan sent me a link in the mail this morning - an hour before I went grocery shopping. How was that for perfect timing.

It was deeeeliscious!
It was so good I had to send the leftovers home with the girls.

Super easy!
Super finger lickin' good fun!

I put a link to the recipe at the bottom of this post.

On your mark.....

Get set...

GO!

Here is the link to the recipe!

My Backyard

I must be getting old. There are bird seed packets all over my backyard attracting the birds. I spent an hour just sitting on the deck watching them visit.
Of course I also had my long lens with me.
And my bird book. :)

White Throated Sparrow

The House Finch (male)
He was way up at the top of the tamarack tree.

House Sparrow (male)

The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (female)

Deck Ballet and Other Fun at G&G's

The newly stained deck before the arrival of new deck furniture was the perfect stage for a couple of ballerinas who were visiting Friday afternoon.

When the furniture arrived, the boxes it came in became the new attraction giving Grandma time to start putting all the pieces together.

The day ended with a rather late supper and two hungry ballerinas who ate so well they got coconut milk ice bars for an evening treat.

Then Eva discovered the tape measure and of course Grandpa had to measure the girls. I asked Norah how tall she was. She showed me three fingers. :)

Let summer begin!!

My Princess

Easter

They tuckered us out today but I wouldn't have it any other way.