out and about

I am off on Wednesdays, during the summer Whyboy and I are out and about. Today we went to the Henry Vilas Zoo, so Whyboy could checkout the gila monster and green tree python. It is a much smaller zoo than the Milwaukee zoo, but it is in town, and free! We go there a lot. Whyboy was thrilled to see the gila monster and the green tree python. We took pictures of the gila monsters for his cousin, she doesn't believe they exist. The anaconda's were very active, which we have never seen. We stopped at the 'zoo store' and Whyboy picked out a stuffed green python.

After the zoo, we headed to Lakeside Fibers, another one of my favorite LYS's. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but they had a bunch of Mountain Colors Bearfoot sock yarn. I love Mountain Colors yarn, the colors are so rich and the yarn is yummy to work with. I couldn't make up my mind. I was chatting with 2 knitters who were visiting from OK, trying to pick out colors. I finally decided on Copper Mountain and Glacier Teal, checked out and filled my punch card. Since I now had $20 to spend, I also bought Larkspur Bearfoot and some more Mini-Mochi in Flame Rainbow. While I was shopping Whyboy was chatting away with the store clerk and his snake. He decided to name the snake 'James' and told her all about various snakes and reptiles. The clerk thought he was 'cute', which was nice. Whyboy is intense, and a bit hyper-verbal, especially about subjects he in interested in (reptiles, dinosaurs). Sometimes I wonder what people think of him when they meet him for the first time.

After stopping for some groceries, we arrived home. I finished my cabled yarn. It is drying as I type. I decided to start spinning some Blue Ring Octopus lambkins merino roving from Enchanted Knoll Farm. I love spinning lambkins, it is so soft and drafts like a dream. Planning a bulky yarn to knit something for Whyboy. I made pesto, and got dinner ready (whole wheat pasta, green beans and pesto). Whyboy has T-ball tonight, and he wants turn his room into a 'jungle' so 'James' feels at home.

zoo tripping...

Today Whyboy, J. and I headed out to the Milwaukee County Zoo. Someone at camp had told Whyboy there was a cobra there, and he is in a bit of a snake/reptile phase now. Needless to say he was very excited. I don't really understand the snake fascination. He was dismayed at not finding any garter snakes in our yard this weekend. He came up with the idea of releasing mice into the yard to entice the snakes to take up residence.

Once we got to the zoo, he asked every 5 minutes when we would get to the snakes. It was a nice day, sunny with a bit of a breeze. We wandered through the exhibits. They have a great Big Cat exhibit with cheetahs, and snow leopards. There is a platform that lets you get eye to eye with a giraffe. Whyboy liked seeing these animals, but he was holding out maximum excitement for the reptiles. Seeing the Mongoose and Meerkat peaked his interest (they kill cobras, you know). He could hardly contain himself when we finally entered the exhibit, and right there was a King Cobra. He was mesmerized. The Cobra just was just laying there, but to Whyboy this was as good as it gets...eye to eye with a Cobra. "He's playing dead" he told me. He learned from PBS Nature, that snakes will play dead when they are in danger...this only added to the charm.

In the gift shop he found Cobra and Meerkat figurines. He is planning a Rikki Tikki Tavi celebration. He has been watching Rikki Tikki for weeks. So far the plan is that we will invite our neighbors (the girl is 2 1/2 and loves Whyboy), have cake, and play "Mongoose Games" (Rikki Tikki Tag and Cobra Hide and Seek). Since we couldn't find a mongoose, the meerkat will have to do. The cobra and mongoose (meerkat) will decorate the cake. I am surprised he went for the substitution, he is usually a stickler for authenticity.

I made good progress on the Vanilla socks on the drive to and from the zoo. I really need to get some spinning done today for the Tour de Fleece. Thanks to Seabluewool for the words of encouragement.