what a zoo

“What did you see on your trip to the zoo, Jasper?” asked grandma. Jasper's response: “Giraffes... and a monkey with a purple bum.”

On our latest trip to Portland, we ventured to the Oregon Zoo. So fun! Highlights for us included the lions, tigers, giraffes, orangutan (it was huuuuge!!!), sun bear and baby elephant... oh yes and of course the monkey with the purple bum (sorry for the lack of picture, you will just need to imagine). It was really cold that day, but I think we all enjoyed the animal adventures. :)

a day at the farm

On the weekend, we headed out to the country, the Westham Island Herb Farm to be exact, to check out their 7th annual “A Day at the Farm” event. The highlight for me was seeing the shaggy cow... I mean, just look at him... he’s such a cutie. I would want to just brush its hair for hours. Due to it’s large size though, I think little Jasper preferred looking at the goats a lot better. Bleet.

march giveaway - win a small woodburned panel of your choice!

To kick off the spring season, I thought I would have a prize choice for this month's giveaway. The winner of this giveaway will get to choose a small woodburned panel from my etsy shop! Check out the selection to choose from here.

Enter to win by posting a comment telling me which one you would choose and where its new little home will be... will you hang it in your baby's nursery?... or maybe it will sit on top of your computer to brighten up your office cubicle?... hood ornament for your car? maybe it will add a little whimsy to your own boudoir? Post your comment and you could be the winner!

A random draw will be made next Wednesday (March 30th), so check back to see if you win. Please remember to include some sort of contact info (etsy shop, blog, website, or e.mail address) and please only one entry per person. Good luck!

farm friends

Some more pics from our adventure at the PNE... these are of all the farm friends we encountered that day. Kissing horses (or maybe they are gossiping?) and snotty giant cows (someone get this guy a giant tissue!)... they are all pretty cute, nasal secretions and all.

northern fuzzy friends

More Cultural Olympiad show-and-tell today... there are a series of pavilions and hospitality houses dotted around town, most of which are opening at the end of this week to coincide with the start of the Winter Games. One that was open early, however was the Northern House (featuring culture, art and performances from Canada's three northern territories)... oh yes, and also featuring some cute fuzzy northern animals (stuffed, of course). My favourite is the cute short chubby muskox... I mean just look at it... it's so darn fuzzy. Maybe I will nickname this one Musky (after it's species name and not smell... although I have never encountered a real one, so maybe they do smell?... hmm... will have to Wiki that).

While at the Northern House, we also discovered something really cool in the exhibition building... but I am keeping it a surprise until tomorrow's post, just to be suspenseful. Ooooh... what could it be?!! Curious aren't you?

a little bit of country in the city

This past weekend, we went to visit the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition), which is the big end of summer fair here in Vancouver. One of the highlights (besides the amusement rides... more on that tomorrow) was the farm country pavilion which showcased a diverse bunch of animals. My faves were the giant pair of oxen named Zorro and Zeldo. Seriously... in that first picture, I would have come up to his chin... it was that massive. Am also a fan of the mini horses too. If it weren't frowned upon, I would use one as an alternative mode of transportation. I wonder if they put the mini horse and giant oxen in the same pen, if both would be really confused or weirded out by each other.... hmmm. More pics coming tomorrow!

deer, chipmunks, and... marmots?

This is part 2 of some of the pics we took while on our camping trip at Lightning Lake at Manning Provincial Park this past weekend. There were a lot of deer up there... I even bumped into a pair up close and personal while on my way to the bathroom - of course, I didn't have the camera with me... grrr. The chipmunk, which we named Mr. Chippy Chappy scavenged around our tent and picnic table waiting for us to drop crumbs and sorts while we ate... cute isn't he? The third pic is of Mr. and Mrs. Marmot (which is like a small groundhog)... there were close to two dozen of them scattered around near the main lodge chirping to each other. I think they were plotting on how to overtake all the campsites... sneaky little guys.