Rufus At The Zoo

So that Rufus can appreciate the diverse culture of Detroit, I took him to the zoo, too!

Because it was so cold outside, we spent most of our time inside the various animal houses.

Rufus will be moving along soon, but I think he enjoyed the local hospitality!



A Little Applique... Some Cars... and a Giraffe

My dear friend, Lauri, has reminded me it’s been a week since I posted.  I was waiting until I had some completed blocks to show you (I have 5 in their final stages), but I guess she misses me.

My five blocks are part of the Something Kind of Wonderful International stitching group.  It’s a large quilt using needle-turn applique and embroidery.  Have I mentioned I didn’t know how to applique?  Nothing like diving in with both feet!  I’m terribly behind because summer (and all its distractions) is in full swing!

I’m using the freezer-paper beneath/Roxanne glue method so I can focus on my stitches rather than holding the pieces in place.  I’ve tried the glue stick method – I guess I’m too heavy-handed as I keep shredding the fabric.  I’ve used small applique pins -  jammed one right under my thumb nail.  I’ve tried basting the pieces to the fabric – it was so time consuming and those little pieces are a bear. 

There are several things I’ve learned from the freezer paper/Roxanne method:

·        Buy freezer paper in bulk – you go through more than you expect.

·        I mark the applique shape to the shiny part of the freezer paper and then fuse several pieces together.  This guarantees a mirror image when you adhere the freezer paper to the wrong side of the fabric.

·        Make sure everything is cool before you start cutting/shifting.

·        SKIMP on the glue!  It’s amazing how little it takes to hold everything in place.

·        Watch the YouTube video on cleaning the glue applicator if you ever intend to use that bottle again.    

Speaking of summer distractions, my brother, David, was in town for another brother’s 50^th Birthday party (Happy Birthday, Jeff!).  David had never been to the Woodward Dream Cruise (he moved just before the first one. 

I took this picture while sipping free Fay-go (yum!).

Another of my Dad with the Fay-go truck (with my sister photo-bombing him!)

We also went to the Detroit Zoo the next day.  As usual, we found all sorts of trouble to get into!

But that's OK.  The giraffes still loved us!

Hope to have some pictures of my blocks soon!
Elisa



Spending the Day at the Zoo....

I spent all day yesterday down on Belle Isle in the annual clean-up.  In celebration of hauling out 2 full bags of trash and two full buckets of glass, I went to the zoo today.  Would you like to tag along?

Detroit Zoological Gardens - est. 1928

Spent all day today walking around the gorgeous Detroit Zoological Gardens with my sister, Lorna.  Lorna is a docent at the zoo and can give quite the tour!

New Reticulated Python - 32 feet long

New python exhibit.  See him on the right?

She does this an awful lot.  Harumph!

Look how huge those paws are!

New lion exhibit

Grainy due to telephoto lens but still SO handsome!

Look at the little belly!

"WHERE are the giraffes?"

3 new arrivals were out and showing off!

I'm not kidding.  Kid complained because
he didn't see a single prairie dog!

Didn't realize the reflection off the glass but
they're still too darn cute not to share!

They're all looking the wrong way!

Can you believe he's napping?
I'd fall out of this tree in an instant!

So, isn't it time you visited it?

Happy Sunday!
Elisa

Geocaching at the Detroit Zoo

 Spent a glorious Saturday wondering around the Detroit Zoological Gardens with the family.  Call me biased, but it really is the most wonderful place to have an annual membership.  I live about a half mile from there so I can stop whenever I want to see the animals, walk among the gorgeous flowers, look at the art.

Rackham Fountain - Hipstamatic app!

Today, my brother (Jeremy, brother #5) and his family (Rocking Robyn and their son, Mr. Energy), as well as my sister Lorna, introduced me to geocaching.  To put it simply:

Geocaching is a global treasure hunting game.  Participants hide & seek hidden physical containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share their adventures online.

The Detroit Zoo has four of them hidden there, and, as beginner's luck would have it, I found the first one first time out!  (I hope I'm not breaking any unwritten rules by posting the pics here - I'm a newbie!) And, in case you were wondering.... there's an app for that!

We also saw SO many amazing animals today, also.  They were posing for us!  I've tried to select only a handful, but there are SO many!

This is the peacock I p*ssed off!  It charged me!  Look how close it got!

Hope you enjoyed my little tour of the local zoo.  It's an amazing place to get your Vitamin Z!

Elisa

Please do not copy pictures from my blog without my permission first.  Thanks!