Field Trip to the Minnesota Zoo

 There's a swap on Swap-bot that I signed up for with a focus on sharing photos of three animals. As I went back on my photos over the past month, I realized I didn't take any pictures of our dogs or wild animals that I've seen around our home. Instead, these are all photos of animals I saw at the Minnesota Zoo.

I went to the Minnesota Zoo on a field trip with the sixth-grade class and was assigned to a student in special education. It ended up that another student I work with wanted to join us, so the three of us explored the zoo together. It was a lot of fun, especially since I gave them their own photo disk and let them borrow my camera. They took over 400 photos of the experience there.

So, I had very little time to photograph animals myself, but to see the joy of the boys as they took documented their trip was well worth it. 

At any rate, below are some photos I took that day. The first two are of snow monkeys. Snow monkey are from Asia and they live farther north than any other non-human primate. In Japan, they are able to survive the cold northern temperatures because of their long, thick fur and occasional dip in a volcanic hot spring. 

Snow monkeys have long canine teeth and are very strong which helps keep them safe from predators when they are on the ground. They also have special cheek pouches. While foraging, they stash extra food in their pouches and chew it later.  

It was a beautiful, sunny day when we were at the zoo, so the brown bears (grizzlies) were resting. Brown bears are among the biggest animals on earth, and they are particularly large in Kamchatka, in Russia’s far east, and on the coast of Alaska. They may grow to be ten feet tall and weigh 1,300 pounds.

This is an Amur Leopard. These leopards live in the eastern part of Asia and are on the brink of extinction. With deer populations declining and their habitat being disrupted, the leopards are in a precarious place with fewer than 50 individuals living in the wild.

As we were walking on a path, a chipmunk came running out. It stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and it watched us as we watched it. Chipmunks have either seven or nine stripes depending on their type (Eastern or Least) and weigh only from one to four ounces. They have short lifespans - up to two years. 

Like the snow monkeys, chipmunks have cheek pouches too. However, with chipmunks, the cheek pouches can enlarge to three times bigger than their heads.          

Zoos, for me, are challenging. Although I love to see different types of animals and appreciate that they are keeping some species from extinction, it is difficult for me to see animals in captivity - especially large ones with small enclosures or land space. I'm not sure the solution to this issue because, in some cases, the animals are safer than in the wild where poachers will kill them. 

So, for the time being, I need to focus on the gift of being able to learn about and see these animals; and for being made aware of the challenges that they face in the wild. 

My Favorite Photos - February 2023

This month I have a very small number of photos compared to past months. I'm working about 50+ hours a week between three jobs now that the girls are both in college, so my free time is limited as is my time to take photos. 

Honestly, this is kind of depressing for me because I love taking photos and documenting life. I guess when time is spent working, things change. Perhaps going forward this year I need to make a conscious effort to prioritize using my camera and creating images that I can be proud of and enjoy looking at. 

The ones below are just quick shots. Nothing fancy. They do bring back good thoughts of having Sophia at home one weekend from college. We went to the Lions breakfast for Vinterfest.

This is one of the Lions. He's a vet who served in Vietnam. He has interesting stories to tell and is into nature and wildlife. 

These two women also are Lions and have been so supportive of me. They are both in their 80s, but you would never guess it by how active they are. They do a tremendous amount of volunteering not only for the Lions, but for other organizations around town. 

There were fires outside around the community center for everyone to enjoy.

There was a mini donut food truck, so Sophia treated me to mini donuts which was nice. The donuts were piping hot and the air was so cold. She's showing me the steam in the air from the donut...though my camera isn't picking it up.

We watched some hockey. Neither of us is a hockey fan, so we didn't stay long.

I dropped her off with a friend in Stillwater and then headed back to Vinterfest. This time I went across the street to Gammelgarden Museum and saw the exhibit that the Scandia Heritage Alliance put on. There were antique sleds like this little one. I could imagine myself pulling the girls in something like this when they were smaller. 

There was a big wooden toboggan. I remember having a wood sled growing up with metal runners. You had to be careful where you placed your hands on the sled.

These are snowshoes. I remember trying to use snowshoes when I was in fourth grade. It didn't go so well. Never tried again. Wonder if I would have better luck as an adult. 

The Wildlife Science Center was at Gammelgarden with a couple of owls. This was one of them.

They let me get pretty close to the owl. It was so calm. I wish I could have touched it...it looked so soft. 

This little owl is missing an eye. When it was born, it was missing an eye. It would have very little success in the wild - both in terms of catching prey as well as potentially being eaten by a larger predator - like a Great Horned Owl which we have around here. 

The coloring on the owl is similar to a birch tree and it blends in beautifully with its surroundings. 

At the end of the month, we got another ten inches of snow. We really don't need it. At this point, the front doors of the barn are inaccessible. What is not apparent in this photo is that there are sections in the backyard that have at least 2-3 feet of snow. 

Near the fence line leading to the east pasture, the snow is as high as the top of the fence. Cooper can literally walk over the top of the fence. This is not good because if any wildlife - like deer, fox, or coyote - wanders into the pasture, they could just as likely walk over the fence and into our backyard. It would not fare well for any of the animals - dogs or wildlife. Hopefully, the temperature will warm up and melt all this snow.

Speaking of dogs going over the fence, this is Cooper who is pretty proud of himself that he got into the pasture and could run at full speed through the snow. He was having fun.

Interestingly, the snow reveals tracks that sometimes are easily recognizable. Other times, I have no idea what they are. For example, in the photo below, there's a big blob of tracks to the left of the photo. That's Cooper as he is running through the pasture. What I found strange was the rectangular shape made of small tracks. I have never seen anything like that before.

I posted the photo on Minnesota Naturalists (a Facebook group) and one person identified the tracks as those belonging to a deer mouse. Apparently, this type of mouse walks on top of the snow - rather than under it. I would think that would make it quite vulnerable to predators. 

At any rate, I was surprised at how the mouse made abrupt turns and made a rectangle.

These are two trees in the far back part of our property. In front is some sort of pine tree. In the back is a Weeping Willow. We planted these trees (at the time - about 5-6 feet tall) - a good 20 feet apart from one another. We thought it was far enough. It isn't. These two trees are right next to one another and both could use more space. 

There are two sets of tracks leading up to the pine tree. I wonder if both are used by the same animal or if there are multiple ones living under the tree.

When the girls were little, we would sit under those trees - sometimes just us and sometimes with the dogs. We had picnics under them...and we'd just enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of being in the country. 

So many good memories of this place. I am incredibly grateful we found it and chose to call it home.

5x5

There is a swap on Swap-Bot that I thought looked intriguing. It's called 5x5 and there are five prompts that each require five answers.

5 people in your life that you think of as heroes

I saw this description on Everyday Heroes that I like: "The Everyday Hero, is the person who smiles at you on an off day. It is the war veteran fighting for freedom and equality for all. As well, it's your friend, parent, or mentor sacrificing for your happiness. The Everyday Hero is within every single human being on this planet, and is expressed by simple, ordinary actions. Heroes do simple acts; of kindness, courage, and love."

1. Sophia - she can make anyone feel listened to and appreciated. She connects with strangers and can always find a compliment to give to others. She is adventuresome and courageous and is navigating living in a foreign country for four months where she does not know the native language there. 

2. Olivia - is passionate about the environment and wildlife, and has and wants to continue to make a positive difference with both. She is a motivated and hard worker, especially with these topics. She has a creative eye for photography and loves to look at things from a different perspective.  

3. Paige - has used his career in radio to inspire others in radio in different markets to help those in need, especially after disasters (natural and man-made). 

He works so hard to provide for his family and wants what is best for everyone.

  

4. Mary - became a widow in her 30s when her husband died unexpectedly the day after Christmas. She raised two sons, both who had the same medical condition that her husband did. She has persevered through so many challenges in the past 18 years, yet still maintains a positive, generous, and compassionate spirit. 

5. Jim - has raised four children on his own after his girlfriend decided that she missed out on her "party years" and wanted to go her own way. He has provided a stable and loving home, ensured that his children have worked hard in school, gave his children countless opportunities for after-school activities and lessons, and more. 

5 books you want to read

I have quite a few books on my bookshelf that I have checked out of the library. The next five that I will be reading include: 

1. Yes Man by Danny Wallace. The description from the back cover says, "Recently single, Danny Wallace was falling into loneliness and isolation. Until one day, when a stranger on a bus advised, 'Say yes more.' At that moment, Wallace vowed to say yes to every offer, invitation, challenge, and chance. For a year. Soon after resolving to be more open to what the universe had to offer, Danny wins $45,000 and becomes a television executive...and a minister. He gives spare change to anyone who asks. Invents things. Travels the globe. Nods a lot. And finds that romance isn't as complicated as it seems."

2. Hurry Spring by Sterling North. This is actually a children's book. However, as the cover insert says, "it is a book for readers of all ages...it has the thoughtful substance to intrigue the adult mind. It also has the swift excitement to entrance the young. From the first clangor of wild geese wedging northward to their Arctic nesting ground, through the arrival of red-winged blackbirds and wood ducks, this poetic and expert narrative brings you the urge and the surge of Spring."

3. The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor. I'm on page 107 out of 192 pages. The short stories are well-written, but a little on the sad side. I needed to take a break from reading them. The description on the back cover says, "In her heralded first novel, Gloria Naylor weaves together the stories of seven women living in Brewster Place, a bleak inner-city sanctuary, creating a powerful, moving portrait of the strengths, struggles, and hopes of black women in America. Vulnerable and resilient, openhanded and openhearted, these women forge their lives in a place that in turn threatens and protects - a common prison and a shared home."

4. Get the Hell out of Debt by Erin Skye Kelly. The author wrote this book "after her own struggle to become consumer-debt free. She was tired of listening to middle-aged men in suits tell her to consolidate and refinance her debt when all that seemed to happen was she'd end up in more of it while they profited from it. When Kelly figured out the two most important tools to money management - and started achieving massive results - other women wanted to join in on the debt-free journey."

5. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margaret A. Magnusson. This book was mentioned by a pastor of a local church who highly recommended it. The book cover says, "In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called dostadning, do meaning "death" and stadning meaning "cleaning." This surprisingly invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner rather than later, before others have to do it for you." The artist encourages readers "to embrace minimalism" and suggests things to "easily get rid of (unworn clothing, unwanted presents, more plates than you'd ever use)" and which items "to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children's art projects." 

5 fragrances that remind you of happy times

1. Apple blossoms combined with freshly-mown grass - the smell of spring each year here at the farm.

  

So many memories of the girls when they were little come back...then playing in the backyard, swinging on the swings, all the animals we've had either roaming or playing in the backyard or pastures...just so many wonderful things to think about.

2. Maja soap and C.O. Bigelow Barber Elixir Blue No. 1620 - the soap is one my mom used to use when I was growing up. I remember it distinctly when she and my dad would go out for the evening. My dad wore Bigelow body spray in his 60s and 70s. I still have the container with some of the cologne in it. Maja is still being made. The only place I can find No. 1620 is on Ebay. 

3. Old Spice - my grandpa on my dad's side used to wear this cologne. He lived in Illinois, so we didn't see him as much as I would have liked to see him. Every time, though, he wore Old Spice. No other colognes. 

4. Home-baked cinnamon rolls, parker house rolls, and caramel rolls - smells that filled the house when my grandma on my mom's side came over to bake. 

She used to be a professional baker, so these rolls were ones we looked forward to having.

5. Wood fires - reminds me of campfires when camping with the girls, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows in my parents' backyard as a child and well into adulthood (early 2010s), fires in our backyard, the woodstove in our home now, and the fireplace in the home growing up.  

5 activities for a rainy day

1. Sewing or quilting. I have plenty of fabric and sewing projects to keep me busy for weeks, if not months.

  

2. Baking or cooking. It's a good excuse to try a new recipe or use some ingredients that I have on hand.

3. Cleaning the house. I might as well spend some time cleaning where I'm going to spending time while it rains.

4. Reading. There's nothing like getting under some blankets, having a hot chocolate, and reading when there's a thunderstorm or just raining heavily.

5. Getting caught up with things that I've wanted to get done indoors. I always have a long list of things I want to get done. If I have a lot of time indoors because of bad weather, I seem to be able to get at least a few things marked off my "to do" list. 

5 jobs you've had or hope to have in the future

1. (Had) Founder/Executive Director/Artist Director of a non-profit organization I founded. At our farm, we offered art and farm camps for kids, and gave them hands-on experiences to see the connection between the arts, nature, and agriculture. We had a great staff of teen camp counselors, talented artist-educators, amazing volunteers, and a restorative justice program. There was nothing like it at the time, and people drove 50+ miles one way just to bring their kids to the day camp. 

2. (Had/Have) Homeschool Educator. I have homeschooled my daughters since 2003 - when Sophia was 2 1/2 years old. Both she and Olivia have always been homeschooled, and it was the most rewarding "job" I've ever had. 

Although I was the teacher/guide, they also introduced me to interests that they had, and we learned a tremendous amount together. 

3. (Hope) Todder to 3 1/2 year old Teacher - When the girls were little, we did the Growing Together program at the Minnesota Waldorf School. They and I loved going to this program. It was calming and in a beautiful location; there were high-quality, natural toys; we enjoyed a healthy snack together; the children and adults all worked to clean up together; and there was time for outdoor play. The mothers also made natural toys and talked about parenting. 

4. (Hope) Work with animals, especially dogs. 

I would like to do something that involves rescuing dogs - whether it is from high-kill shelters or getting senior dogs out of shelters and living out the rest of their days in a type of "senior sanctuary."

5. (Hope) Working with seniors and doing a type of community center/adult daycare type program. There is nothing for seniors in my community and I would like to see some type of educational, artistic/creative, recreational, exercise, and food program for those who are 55+ years old. 

Adults with no cognitive impairment to mild- or mid-level impairment could be involved. Beyond that, it would require a whole other level of staffing, nursing, and services that I wouldn't be ready for handling. It would be out of what I would consider my scope of abilities. It would be ideal, though, to have programs that help those with mid- to late-stages of cognitive impairment. 

Raccoons - Outdoor Hour Challenge

This week, Olivia and I focused on studying raccoons for our nature study. We used some of the ideas from the Outdoor Hour Challenge that were posted back in 2009, but never did at that time. We also added some of our own activities.

Watch videos about raccoons.

We watched this one - Raccoons: Amazing Animals. Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores. They have very sensitive paws. There are seven species of raccoons, and most live between 2-5 years. That's such a short life!

We also watched this one - Raccoon demonstrates problem-solving skills. Rascal, the raccoon, shows how it can remember how to open a variety of locks to get through three compartments to receive treats and eventually leave the plexiglass tunnel. 

We also watched Raccoon Nation and some of the short clips from the episode. The "First Night Out" one was interesting as a mother and her young raccoons went out and about. As dawn approaches, they need to find a hiding spot for the day. We learned that raccoons can collapse their backs to fit into smaller quarters. 

Also on Raccoon Nation was "Filming Raccoons is Hard" which shows the difficulties of getting videos and pictures of raccoons at night. 

Read from the Handbook of Nature Study.

“None other of our little brothers of the forest has such a mischievous countenance as the coon. The black patch across the face and surrounding the eyes like large goggles, and the black line extending from the long, inquisitive nose directly up the forehead give the coon’s face an anxious expression; and the keenness of the big, beady, black eyes and the alert, “sassy” looking, broadly triangular ears, convince one that the anxiety depicted in the face is anxiety lest something that should not be done be left undone; and I am sure that anyone who has had experience with pet coons will aver that their acts do not belie their looks.”

                                                        -Handbook of Nature Study, pages 247-248

Read pages 247-250 in the Handbook of Nature Study about the raccoon. 

“The raccoon lives in hollow trees or caves along the banks of streams. It sleeps during the day and seeks its food at night. It sleeps during the winter.”

Do supplemental reading in The Burgess Animal Book for Children by reading Story 31. 

This story is called Bobby Coon and integrates facts about raccoons into the story. We learned some facts about raccoons including:

- they are nocturnal animals. 

- they are wasteful eaters, especially when it comes to corn in cornfields.

- they are related to the bear family. 

- the hindfoot shows the whole foot - including the heel and toes. It resembles a bear's footprint, but on a smaller scale.

- they eat eggs, young chickens, anything with flesh, fish, frogs, fruit, nuts, and insects.

- they like to wash their food before eating it.

- they give birth to more than one baby at a time.

- after the first snowfall, they typically hibernate in hollow trees.

- they can climb trees and move from treetop to treetop, if they are close together.

- they are most closely related to animal that is known by many different names: the Bassaris, the Civet Cat, the Coon Cat, or Cacomixtile. This animal lives in the far Southwest or the mountains of the West. This is what they look like: 

Neither Olivia nor I had ever heard of the Bassaris, so reading this children's story was worthwhile. We learned something new.

Learn some facts about raccoons on the Adirondack Ecological Center's website.

The AEC has interesting facts about raccoons that we enjoyed reading.

Spend 10-15 minutes outdoors on a nature walk. 

Raccoons hibernate in the winter so there will be little chance of actually observing one this week. Instead, look for any animal tracks in the snow or mud. Keep your eyes out for any mammal that comes your way this week.

We didn't do the nature walk because we knew that there would be no raccoons. It's easier for us to see them on the trail cam. 

Additional resources for this challenge:
Raccoon coloring page
Raccoon information from Nature Works
Raccoon tracks

This is Olivia's nature journal page: