Jasey Rae

Hi Jasey Rae, it's Grandma again. Gosh I love you so much, you are just a sparkle in my eye, and a smile in my heart. I can't believe you are almost 6 months old already. Six months since your daddy called to tell me you were here. It doesn't seem like that much time has passed.

You've gone from a helpless newborn to a little lady who knows what she wants! You can scoot to what you want, roll over, sit up, and now pull to a stand. Oh and the talking! You babble and babble, especially first thing in the morning. One day I heard you talking, and went to get you out of the crib so mom and dad could have some more rest. You beamed up at me with the biggest smile I've ever seen. Then you wanted to say good morning to Daddy.

I had a wonderful time on my birthday with you and your parents. I could think of no better way to celebrate my special day than with my precious little granddaughter. You are getting so big, and every time I see you, you've grown so much in size and skills. One evening while I was there, Daddy went to rub some stuff on your gums to help with your teething. Suddenly he shrieked in surprise, "She has a tooth!" Oh we were so excited and happy for your first tooth!! Just after that, you cut another one. No more toothless smiles for you my sweetie.

I'm so excited for all the stuff we can do together! One day I was in a store, and a lady was talking on her cell phone to her grand daughter. I'm not sure how old she was, but apparently the child was going on a trip. Listening to her, I realized one day I can talk to you on the phone! I'm so excited!!! We can go out for ice cream, (your dad took me for ice cream on my birthday), ride a merry go round, go to children's museums....I can't wait!!

You have to hear about the Fernbank museum. I took your uncles Matt and Josh, and your auntie Angie when we visited last. They have lots of stuff about Georgia history, and animals, but the best part was the kids floor! A huge area devoted just to you. They have a pretend river that actually splashes, a tree house, a suspension bridge, a sunken shrimp boat, microscopes that display on screens, slides, so much kid stuff!! We have to go there when you get a bit bigger. It was so much fun!!

I don't get up to see you as much as I would like, but do know I think of you every day, and my heart just swells with love. We talk about you all the time. I'd heard that grandchildren are even more special than your own children, but until you have one, you don't understand.

Oh, about that frowny face picture of you in your high chair. You had just gotten a high chair, and this was the first or second time you'd been in it. You were so excited, because it gave you such a different view of things, plus your chair means food! (who doesn't love that) So you were smiling and babbling...until Auntie Angie took your picture. You did not like the flash at all, and she ended up with a picture of a precious little frown. LOL

Love you much sweetie, you're a precious little doll.

Love, Grandma

Wilma

Here are a couple of pictures of our nosy, fun ostrich Wilma. She continues to snoop on our rides, and check our tourists for munchies. In the movie "Night at the Museum", poor night guard Larry is tormented by a capuchin monkey named Dexter. When the museum comes alive during the night, the monkey urinates on Larry and bites his nose. The following morning, Larry is tagging along on a museum tour when the guide talks about all the great attributes of capuchin monkeys. Larry replies, "Yeah, he's a real barrel of laughs."

That's pretty much feel about Wilma. She's a lot of fun, but on the other hand, more work for the guides. We have to worry about her escaping, biting our guests, she's just a mess. Still, she is the highlight of my day. So...without further ado, here is Wilma!

Another shot of Wilma, with her mate Fred in the background:

God Bless,

Chela

random pictures

DD is training for a 5K in a couple of weeks, so she's been running with her dog Sweet Pea every morning. I've accompanied them the past couple of days, with my dog Reno. He's up there in years, (13) and has no legs to speak of, so we just putter at a walk. Today I brought the camera, and shot some pictures while DD ran. Enjoy!

There they go, heading out for 3 miles!!

What a pretty butterfly!!

Look how tall the corn has grown

Pretty crape myrtle

The dew is still on these leaves

They're back, and someone is off leash! I'm impressed.

Someone is hot and tired!

Fun with Ostriches

What a day I had at work! While most people have to deal with grouchy bosses, grouchy customers, or difficult co-workers, how many have to deal with cantankerous ostriches? Perhaps that fits into the difficult co-workers file?

My position at work calls for me to open the gate to the Veldt exhibit, and let the trailer through. I also have to make sure nothing escapes while the gates are open. Then of course I close the gates and load up on the trailer to continue our ride. For a year now, this has proceeded without incident. Then came Saturday.

I had been warned to watch out for Wilma, our female ostrich. She had been trying to escape when the gates were open. The other guides had to be quite creative in distracting her to let the trailer through. So here goes...we load up the trailer, and head out to the Veldt. As we approach the gate, I see a pair of huge ostrich feet peeking out under the gate. (Really, think Big Bird from Sesame Street)

Wilma likes to peck the lock and try to open the gate herself. Ostriches are a bit smarter than you might think. We used to just hook the chain with a carabiner, but not anymore. Now we have a large padlock keeping her behind the fence, and this is where the trouble started. I had a bit of trouble with the lock, so my co-worker came to help me. As she fussed with the padlock, Wilma pecked her hand through the fence.

We finally get the lock open, and to Wilma's mind, this means 'Freedom!'. We managed to drive our trailer through before Wilma saw her chance. She approached the gate area with full intentions of heading straight through it. I made myself big, and very firmly told her "no" and to "go away", hoping she'd go investigate the trailer. But like I said, ostriches are rather smart, and she wasn't going for it.

My co-worker said, "C, you have to shove her!"

"No way!" was my reply. So here I am with my arms up in the air, yelling at this huge bird to get away from me. In reply, this 9 foot tall, 300 lb bird is snapping her sizeable beak in my face.

Again, my co-worker tells me, "You have to shove her!" Again, I didn't want to do it. What is this bird going to do if I put my hands on her? She's so much bigger than I am! Finally I realized my partner was right. I had no choice, it was either shove this bird, or we'd have an animal escape. I just couldn't have that under my watch. So I plucked up my courage, firmly placed both hands on her, and shoved.

What happened? She moved with the pressure, and quickly walked away. I did it! I hustled over to close the gate, and hopped back on the trailer to continue with our guide. In case you're wondering, Wilma felt like a big pile of feathers. That's all I felt-feathers. Of course I only had my hands on her a few seconds. But it was long enough to move her. And you know what? Next time I won't hesitate. I know what needs to be done, and how to do it. I am also aware of how Wilma is likely to react. All of which makes me feel more confident in dealing with her. Just another day on the job! LOL

We had a problem the same day with Wilma pecking our guests on the ride. At first I was trying to weasel in between people and push her away, but after a few rides, I realized something. Those getting pecked were cocky young men who were asking for it. Really-when everyone else is moving to the center of the trailer, and these guys are sitting close to the ostrich, and putting an arm out for her, they are asking for it. So my co-worker and I decided not to discourage Wilma from visiting the trailer. We'd warn everyone she bites, (and goes for any shiny thing-jewelry, cell phones, cameras, etc.) but if you then proceed to get bitten, you're on your own.

Now I suppose I can put ostrich wrangler on my resume. The things you learn working at a zoo!!

God Bless, Chela

I am sorry to say, your blogger friend is an idiot. Yes, it's true, and unfortunately, it is time you knew this. Oh you've been following my blog, and perhaps thought my writings to be clever or well written. Maybe in just this one area, I can be on occasion, although I really give the Glory to my Heavenly Father, who is responsible for this talent. Yet in other areas, like my job,I can be a hopeless idiot.

I was scheduled to work Sunday, and as we are in the Bible belt, we start late on this day. So I got up, and let everyone else shower, and prepare for church. I left, fueled up my car, and headed out. Clocking in, I notice I'm right on time, 11:30. Great!! I head down to the parking area, thinking about all the things I need to do to get started. Hit the trailer canopy to release water puddles, check the CD player, hook the key to my pants.

As I approach parking, I see the trailer, but it's absolutely full, and everyone has expensive cameras. What the heck? I rush to park the car, and jump on the trailer. I can't talk to my partner until we arrive at the Veldt gate. As I pass by to unlock the gate, I quietly ask him if I am late. Yes, I was
supposed to be there an hour ago. Yeah, at 10:30. I'm such an idiot!

No idea why I thought 11:30. I mean I've been on this job for nearly a year, you'd think I'd know what time to be there by now. I've always been so careful about showing up on time, stressing myself out one day when I was 8 minutes late. Then I happily show up 60 minutes late, all smiles that I'm on time.

Your prayers are welcome for this poor blogger, that she gets a clue and can pull herself together.

God Bless,
Chela

Believe...or not

I had a meeting yesterday evening for the volunteer aspect of my zoo work. We went over relevant information, made some decisions as a group, and had a good time. Afterwards, we were heading out to the Veldt to see the new baby Wildebeest. My friend K came up to me, and mentioned that she would like to start going to church with us. She is Catholic also, but life has been getting in the way, and she hasn't been able to attend Mass. I was so excited!!

We chatted for a bit, then loaded up into the van. Once seated, my friend H turned to one of the other volunteers, and asked him about the "group" he was talking about in the meeting. This man, we'll call him D, (forgot his name) had talked a lot about how his group ran meetings, and all the community service they had done. Not the kind handed down by a judge, the out of the goodness of your heart service. Cleaning up the river, helping with marathons, etc.

Anyway, so H asks D what kind of group with which he is involved. The answer completely stopped me in my tracks; "Atheists of______town and _____state." Oh my! H handled it very well, probably better than I would have. He just said, "Oh", and went on about his business.

An atheist. Hmmm...so he doesn't believe in Jesus, or God, or any higher power. I just can't fathom living that way. How do you celebrate Christmas or Easter? Is it just Santa and the Easter bunny to you then? What about the birth of a baby? To see a new life enter the world totally proves the existence of God. What about when someone dies? Is that the end, is there no life beyond this world? What about a garden; watching a flower bloom, or a watermelon grow? How do my Portulaca flowers know to open in the morning, then close in the afternoon?

I could go on and on, but my point is, I find it impossible to deny the existence of God. My entire life, Jesus has been by my side, my best friend, my Lord and Savior. We've walked together, talked, He's held me while I cried, we've celebrated, and He's heard my frustration and grief. The Bible tells us how much Jesus loves us, and what He gave up for our salvation-He willingly went to the Cross in my place for the sins I've committed. Then He rose again from the grave to give me the promise of eternal life in Heaven. Not just me, but for anyone who believes.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

As for going to see the baby Wildebeest; well...it didn't quite work out for us. My boss got the van out on the Veldt, and managed to get it stuck fast in the mud! LOL The group split up, and about half of us walked, the rest rode in a truck that came to get us. A memorable evening for sure!

God Bless,
Chela

Riverquarium 2

Here are some more pictures from our visit:

This is a Black Capped Night Heron. He comes out at night to hunt insect and small birds. A very impressive bird.

I'm not sure what kind of fish this is, but he's cute! I heard a child say it was a black and white Nemo. :)

A Diamondback Terrapin, they live in the Southeastern US. So very beautiful!!

This fish completely creeped me out. He's a fish, yet he has primitive legs, and walks on land as well as in water. A Short Nose Bat Fish. To me, he looks like a frog/fish combo.

Finally, my little Bobwhite Quail friend. He was right up on the railing next to me. There were about six quail, and they were very friendly. :)

God Bless,
Chela