After months of bitterly cold days, spring is starting to announce its arrival! It was 60 degrees today, so of course we loaded up and headed outside!<br>
Our local zoo is tied into the park system, so a trip there doubles as a nature hike! Of course, between the kids and my default state of distraction, I never do seem to get as many pictures as I'd like... but here's what I managed to grab today!<br>

<center><sup><b>If you just want to see my powerup, its at the end </b>😊</sup></center>
Here we are in front of the wolf enclosure, which is housed inside a cute cabin! A trip back into another century, this lodge has some really cool stuff inside!<br>

Here's a view from a little further away. You can see the rust covered scythe hanging on the wall, as well other tools in the background. I wanted to get a photo of the grindstone that sits on the porch, but it was time to go in!<br>

Here is the view as you first walk in. Through the doorway ahead is the viewing area for the wolves. Our zoo has 4, although I am never lucky enough to see them.<br>
To the right there is another door, which leads to another viewing area. In there you will find a loose eagle! 😱<br>
This area is great in the summer, providing a place to cool down after the long hike up the hill that leads here. Throughout this space are fun stations for children to explore, as well as educational displays. I lowkey want to live here.<br>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/Eo8Rt7iWkhHzvWedZQGCrKJASLS71JCDft91o8a9CH1x4ruzB8Ts9zvsUxcRfqXZxTx.jpg" alt="zoo4.jpg"></div> I have this thing about turtles. They are just SPECIAL.<br><br> So, I feel really blessed when I get to visit this guy. He is both exremely rare in general, and now his species is going extinct.<br><br>
I was lucky enough to see him swim around a bunch today, and he even graciously paused to allow me to snap a pic!<br><br><br>
<div class="pull-right"><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/23xKt7xDa1FSkTEwTs5dQXZSy7Y2koiPASj9nWBJ1Zfry4bko6j62hhcVUKkcdp1xcexM.jpg" alt="zoo5.jpg"></div>Yeah, it wasn't that great of one huh. Still, just appreciate how cute he is... please. 😂<br><br>
This area has a big aquarium, a bone identification station, an animal track replicator (It's a stamped slab of metal which kids can use to trace onto paper), and all sort of little wonders. I feel like I notice something new each time we visit!<br><br>
This is normally our favorite part of the zoo because it is the farthest into the park system. Today however, we found that there was some pretty extensive construction going on. Although I was excited for the new additions, I felt awful for the animals.<br><br>
In particular, we could hear the tiger in a nearby enclosure was not happy at all. 😥<br><hr>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/EokcAaAzAXefo1bpzV6uKqsRtF7nJCYW9DAhohMRoraVfS5kfohQ9yj6zaNkkAtP3LX.jpg" alt="zoo6.jpg"></center><center>Stamp station. Aren't the decorations here the coolest?!</center><br>
We moved on to the viewing area that was to the right in the first picture... and I faced my fears once again. I don't trust birds, alright? I appreciate them, I cherish their role in the world, but I <b>do not</b> want them to be near me! Here he is obviously being extremely menacing.<br><br>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/23w2m42zBcAF5zt6M7xm5TdBrck2grMV8HbNcZs9kJdAjtwrDqoG2gJfmpjo2peaCfx34.jpg" alt="zoo7.jpg"></div> You can tell by the way he is looking directly at me, that I'm in <i>so much</i> danger. But do not fear, I made it somehow!<br><br>
Seriously though, one time he flew through the room and I really did about pee my pants. That's a flipping BIG bird my friends.<br><br>
There are also a few smaller birds in this room, which is indoor/ outdoor. From this side of the wolf enclosure, you get a better view of their accommodations.<br><br>
They have a pond which has two small artificial waterfalls which keep the pool from going stagnant. A staircase in this area allows you go below ground level and get a really fun view through the water!<br><br><hr>
If I didn't have the lad with me, I would just sit and stare at this... eagle or not! It's wildly mesmerizing, the water swirls and flows, carrying bits of leaves and the like along the surface...<br><br>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/Epxqqhj8Bqe4P7VjAZsdksP5sL6JvVCxfaU24k7gfcznGMXxdFP7MmcNV6ToTUSmAwL.jpg" alt="zoo8.jpg"></center><br><br>
The best part of the zoo for me is watching my kids of course. Sadly, my daughter was with her pops today, so I only had the little guy. That was nice in its own way too, it's rare that he gets to set the pace for our outings.<br><br>


Figuring stairs out is what life is all about for this guy lately. He walked up and down them several times, and then finally noticed the water. He was only briefly impressed, those stairs were still there!<br><br>

Can you see it in his eyes? He knows he is being corralled for photos, and he's not having it! Just like most days, I was able to spot the distant ears of a napping wolf. I know some day I'll get to see the pack up and at 'em, it just wasn't today.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/EonkVQcCH5mhBHeu2dEWn2EtRCckCaZftUkBHEsbMGBGFumiAPGrZP5kGfepYK6aZbD.jpg" alt="zoo13.jpg"></center><br>
Nestled in a corner of this room is a beaver, today she was having lunch when we visited. In retrospect, her face looks exactly like mine would if someone decided to photograph me while I was eating! What's my problem...<br><br>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/Eoc75wjCevVX4gzWCtuaKyCaKy5thF8T3u2saiYVZcbMi9AFhU75qPn9UY4dEPMtC8D.jpg" alt="zoo14.jpg"></center><br>
<center><i>"Seriously lady?! Get a life already!"</i></center><hr>
Noted. Okay let's get back outside! I went to investigate where the sad tiger noises were coming from, as it appeared they were in a temporary enclosure. As we looked around, it was clear that many of the exhibits were closed for now.<br><br>
<div class="pull-left"><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/EouA9jyuTstCeDasGy2LWR3a5Ht1PErmNrYJFRzSTLhr81sz1iwyVvjhNYdcDH5TKbk.jpg" alt="zoo15.jpg"></div> The temporary enclosure was added on to the existing one, and it seemed that a different portion had been closed off for updates.<br><br>
That has to be a weird job, right? If you don't build the structures just so, animals escape. Do you imagine there is someone soaking off a lifelong guilt over such a thing? Pretty likely I imagine. I wouldn't want that job! 😅<br><br>
...Why is my brain like this?<br><br>

I have a weird relationship with material possessions.<br><br>
Everyone buys 100's of baby items that they don't need, "I'll <i>never</i>  be one of <i>those</i> moms!" I told myself. Well, we are all that type of mom to some degree when convenience buys you the ability to relax. These wagons are fancy, they have like tables and stuff now? Mind blown.<br><br>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/Eo4Es1K6UF8q282PHtaQ6ye4bYsAfurSh2vbL1SdDPEJBDoYRKxRxPpFaSx4EwxxbYC.jpg" alt="zoo17.jpg"></center><br>
These guys make me smile. Although I am sure they would not be friendly were I to approach, there is just something Zen in their energy.<br><br>
We wandered on, and went to see the red pandas. Talk about an absurdly cute creature! Sometimes I have to think that some cuteness was improperly allocated amongst the species, and folks like the red pandas got more than their fair share!<br><br>
<div class="pull-right"><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/23vi2AbGNGDttYDrdsRqKdEWVJBzDMxGBHxXmouh4besjYX3EnqWYpx3Xmss8zW8s6Unj.jpg" alt="zoo18.jpg"></div> I almost never see the red pandas active, so I was really excited! So was my husband, who may love them even more than me. Another family came up to the window at the same time as us, and my son was much more interested in their kids than pandas.<br><br>
He had started to get that naptime look about him, and so we began to wander back towards the other side of the zoo.<br><br>
It turned out that this was great timing, we saw a big crowd of people forming to enjoy the afternoon. With our normal weather patterns as a gauge, it's safe to say it will snow at least two more times before spring is here. We weren't the only ones getting it while it was good!<br><br>
Once again, we were fortunate and got to see a normally sleepy face. This guy didn't stop moving the entire time we were walking past the enclosure. I guess he was hyped up for the nice day too!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/EoK7jeKFxh5nR8BSJJj9g6StK4jpb2irh8dpi58BJeGcmhjLuLoe5p6AJmzqaLufvie.jpg" alt="zoo19.jpg"></center><br> 
As we walked back to the car, our son fell asleep. We were ready for an afternoon pick me up as well, and grabbed a coffee before heading home. It's amazing how refreshed you can feel just from being outdoors for awhile! It will be 35 again tomorrow, so I'm thrilled that we made the most of today! 😁<br><br>
Now that I'm settled in, and I've typed my adventure out, I suppose I had better power up before the day is over!<br><br>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/23tcNRVyjFV89XxGMgr5hSPiYftwVqd1RURy2617u1QPcX3E22xr6ABAQYX7dsDDdu17i.jpeg" alt="Web capture_1-3-2023_183650_peakd.com.jpeg"></center><br>
This brings my natural Hive Power to 2879! On the 25th I celebrated my half birthday here, so I am on a great track to becoming a dolphin by my Hive birthday!<br><br>
Happy HPUD everyone! I hope you enjoyed taking my Wednesday walk with me. 😁<br><br>
<center><img src="https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/grindan/23tvibW5nMWq9yApUcUg7rbjcjNS85sY15jrKF3tQLJCWQnQg6fQ1CKFVSQ4edbDDV7dH.png" alt="footer.png"></center><center>All photos are my own.</center>