A Walk in the Park

Isn't it nice when, after days of cold/snowy/rainy/icy/windy/grey/wintery weather, all of a sudden the sun comes out? Isn't it nice when the day the sun decides to come out is a Saturday when the whole family can enjoy it? Isn't it also nice when you can just forget that there are people coming for Christmas, presents to wrap, food to cook, and rooms to clean, and just get out and enjoy it EVEN THOUGH?

Yeah, that's nice.
Isn't it nice when God does little leaf-arranging?
In Ault Park, which overlooks the Ohio River and of course, the Covington foreshore, stands this funny little statue. Inscribed in Latin, I do believe...well, anyway, I was rather impressed that my children knew who these two little fellows were, what they were doing and why, and what they were famous for.
The part I don't quite follow is why Romulus and Remus have a statue in their honor in the middle of Cincinnati. Never mind, though, I rather liked it. It has a bit of unique charm, don't you think?

Another thing I like about Cincinnati is its walls. Most places you go in Cincinnati, if you see a rock wall, it will not be boring old granite or monotone sandstone. No sir. Here in Cinci we build walls with 100% fossil rock. By that I mean rock that is choc-a-bloc full of fossil ex-life.

This fantastic little brick had a sort-of-smooshed geode in there with all it's fossil friends. How's that for a rock with pizzazz?

The sunshine just gives you a little high, doesn't it? It's hard for us sandgropers to adjust to long days without it. And as a side note -- did you know it was the shortest day of the year today? Weren't we blessed to have such a rich, sunny day to offset the short daylight hours?
We thought so, anyway.

December 15th Snow and Man

December 15th started out very, very snowy. It was an Illinois snow, with giant flakes, covering the ground almost immediately.
I was supposed to be meeting at the church for a special orchestra rehearsal as we were providing Christmas music for the congregation with a choir, orchestra and all.

The night before, I had raced to the instrument repair shop to pick up my newly-rehabbed flute.

On this snowy morning, I pulled out of the garage, skidded across the driveway, and out into the street. Through one stop sign I went, with no sign of actual stopping. Slower to the next one, but alas...slid through it too. I think I am not a good snow-driver. By the time the third stop sign loomed ahead, I thought the better of trying to drive with actual other people on the road besides me, and (slowly and carefully) turned around and went home.
Approaching our own driveway with the utmost of caution, I still managed to slide within an inch of our neighbor's car. Going home was a good move.
So, while it was not the day I had planned, there were other fun things to do.

Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights

It was a chilly night tonight. Brisk and cold, unlike Tuesday night, which was warm and misty...the night we had originally planned to go to the Festival of Lights. That night, we bundled up, rushed through a fast-food dinner, hurried to the Zoo -- only to find that the show didn't start until Thursday. Tonight. Which was chilly, brisk, and cold.

Nevertheless, we ate dinner (at home this time,) bundled up again, and headed out to the Zoo. Oh, but it was chilly! (!!)
I think this train set is the inspiration for my children's birdhouse projects in the previous post. I remember from way back, seeing these beautiful sculptures and thinking, "Someday....I'm going to try that." Well, I still haven't tried it, but the children are doing well so far on their creations.
There are another set of these at the Indianapolis Children's Museum; and another at Krohn Conservatory; as well as sets at many other locations in the USA. The creator, Paul Busse, adds such life to these railways with his creative natural-material buildings. They are patterned after real buildings; the Zoo's railway includes the Elephant building, the Reptile House, the Main Entry of the Zoo, as well as others.
The last time I took a picture of these children on this concrete camel, they were very much smaller.
The craft shop ladies couldn't get enough of my little Snowby.




Ice sculpting demonstrations.

The monkeys in the caboose.

Jr Spragus was so thrilled when he told these talking tigers his name -- and they sang him a song. "Rollin, Rollin, Rollin...keep those dogies Rollin..." (only using his name of course. LOL)

I loved the little craft shop they had. Full of reasonably priced, beautifully made, handcrafted items.
I could have done a little shopping here too....but I didn't....
Well, one little Snowby ran out of steam by 9pm, so it was time to go snuggle him up in his nice warm bed.