Out of Our Rut

 As the summer moves along, we decided we needed to change our routine a bit, a vacation of sorts.

Friday we went to the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend. The weather was beautiful. Everybody and his cousin decided to enjoy the nice day at the zoo. The main parking lot was full. My husband found a spot about two blocks away next to the adjacent park but not near the zoo entrance. He said there were only two other parking places and that people that came after him were parking in front of houses on the streets in the neighborhood next to the zoo. He had dropped me off at the entrance. I have a handicap parking placard now, but all of the designated places were full already. 

The zoo is relatively small. It has been upgraded in recent years.

It is laid out by continent, with South and North America combined. There is no Europe. 

One of the reasons I picked this zoo is because they have electric carts that you can rent.

You can feed the giraffes lettuce for a $3 fee, but they have other feeding options so that they sometimes ignore the people wanting to feed them.

Helen accommodated them. I overheard her name spoken by the zookeeper. I did not feed her, but they allowed folks like me to come closer to take photos. 

The lines were long for the train, feeding the giraffes, and especially for people buying lunch at the Lodge. 

The leopard was awake and alert unlike the lions. We only got a glimpse of the tiger as he chose to enter his "den" shortly after we arrived. 

We spent about 3 hours there (waited about 20 minutes to get food). 

Saturday we drove to nearby Columbia City and had breakfast at Pickles Cafe. The decor is garage sale hodgepodge.

Since Pickles sits right on the courthouse square, we walked around the Farmers' Market a bit. I was not feeling up to much shopping.

I bought a bouquet of flowers put together by 2-year-old twin boys re their father who owned the booth. He showed me video on his phone. They were not giggling nor bickering. They were quite serious about their job with colorful results.

With our lovely weather continuing today, we attended the boat-in worship at Oakwood Resort on Lake Wawasee. Attendance was down compared to past summers. We had to take a round-about route through the farm fields and country because Highway 13 has construction between North Webster and Syracuse. I wonder if that affected the turnout. 

We also did a jigsaw puzzle this weekend. My husband's sister has loads of puzzles and gave us some. 

Now we are heading out to Texas Roadhouse. I especially like their pork chops and tossed salad and rolls. Makes me hungry just thinking about them. It has been a while since we ate there.

Back to our routines next week except also a few medical appointments in Fort Wayne. It is going to warm up more next week, too. Glad we enjoyed the beautiful weather while we could. The freedom of retirement.

Deliciously Cooler

 The scorcher days have ended for a lovely weekend. HOT temperatures will return next week, however.

I ate breakfast in the sunroom this morning.

During the hot weather we have been working on our one buck jigsaw puzzle from the church rummage sale.

Appropriately enough we will probably finish it tomorrow (Father's Day). I didn't go to bed until midnight last night as I was engrossed in doing the puzzle.

 

I have read enough Christian fiction on Hoopla now that it is suggesting titles for me. I find my work in the Grace Village library where I sampled various authors is a big help in choosing. Yesterday I finished Legend of Mercy by Lynn Austin which is one of the books suggested. I think this is one of her better books.

My Asiatic lilies are blooming now next to the patio.

  

I have also been spending my time in the AC preparing for the Robin Hood Community garage sale. I plan to set my stuff up on my front porch and probably only for Friday June 24th. (The sale continues 8 to noon on Saturday).

The local Presbyterian church is sponsoring a Classical Music series this summer: 3concerts spread out over the months. This afternoon we listened to Duo Cantabile which consists of cellist Simona Barbu and her pianist husband Nariaki Sugiura.

The played a suite written just for them by Bruce Stark. Dr. Sugiura also played a medley of tunes by Mr. Stark. 

Tomorrow will start out cool (low tonight in 50's); we are going to the boat-in-worship service at Oakwood Resort. We will sit on shore. Might even need a sweater or jacket.

I will need to get to bed earlier as the service starts at 8:30 a.m. Maybe make up for the lesser sleep last night. <smile>

Wishing you a good weekend.