Wednesday, MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing all my loving family and friends a very Merry Christmas.  May happiness, good health and God's blessings follow y'all through our new year.

My last two days have been pure joy!  So wonderful having Jacki and Geoff with us.  Yesterday, we  started the cold windy day with a trip to the Alabama Gulf Coastal Zoo.  It is a small zoo with most animals living in fenced areas.  Thought all the animals were very well maintained.  Here is an interesting tid-bit about the zoo...It has been in operation since 1989, starting with 290 animals, now housing over 500.  In 1997 the zoo was hit by Hurricane Danny causing flood damage.  Again in 1998 with Hurricane George, more flooding causing full scale evacuation.  They became the first zoo to have a full scale evacuation during a hurricane.  Clobbered again in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan, causing $500,000 damage, another evacuation and closing for 14 months.  Several animals were lost at this time.  Then in 2005 more evacuation from Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina.  But the zoo was able to reopen fairly quickly in Oct, 2005.

The flurry of all the activity around the zoo attracted media attention during Hurricane Ivan, the zoo was approached about doing a series for Animal Planet.  Shooting started for the series in 2005, and the first of 13 episodes of "The Little Zoo That Could" aired in 2006.  The series focused on the zoo's efforts to reopen after end being battered by 3 major hurricanes in  '04 and '05.  A one hour follow up on the series aired in 2007 about the same time the zoo reopened.

In 2009 the zoo unveiled a plan to move the zoo to new quarters that are farther inland and less susceptible to flooding.  The new facilities were scheduled to open in early 2013.  By the looks of the zoo...it is still the original zoo.  Maybe the new one will be coming next year.

Think I will complete the rest of this message with pictures...enjoy

                        My first animal sighting at the zoo...a huge beautiful swan

                                   Below, you will meet Millie and Boo da Bear

                                                                  Millie

                                                              Boo da Bear

                                         Some kind of a curly feathered fowl

                                                       Kangaroos sparring

                                 Guess who's finger this cute lemur is licking?

                                                       Capybara coming

                                       Jacki called this cappi an oversized rat
                                       And yes, he was also licking her fingers
              Jacki really knows when to and not to stick her fingers in the cage

                                               Dromedary, one-hump camel
                                       Common to Africa and the Middle East
                                  More common than 2-hump, Bactrian camels

I don't want to bore y'all with my gazillion animal pics, I'll stop for now.  Continue with my sweet darlings Jacki and Geoff

                                              Tuesday lunch at O'Charleys
                                        Jacki and Geoff ordered pasta meals

                                           Tim chose a blt and potato soup
                                            My choice, pecan chicken salad

                                     Christmas Eve afternoon at the Leichty's

                                              Guess what we're watching?
                                           National Lampoon's Christmas

                                              And our next movie was...

                                          Tim's bored with the next movie

                                               That's right...Polar Express

                                                       Next came dinner
                                               Crock pot beef stew and rolls
                                                    Cheesecake for dessert
                        
                           Ended the evening watching, Jingle All the Way.  Just ok

                                       CHRISTMAS MORNING SUNRISE

                                                          What a beauty

                       Breakfast was crock pot breakfast casserole, muffins, fruit
                                                               Yummy!!!!
                                                This meal was a first for me

                                                     Maggie and grandma

                                                          My baby and me

                                                       Dad and daughter

                                                Best mother in law I know
                                          I think that's what I heard Geoff say
                                                             Right Geoff

                                                      My two sweetie pies

                                 And closing this Christmas day with Tim and I
                                                   Ah, I just spotted Maggie

Sorry this was sooooo long.  Just want to share.


Life is good
God is Love
Nite all

                                           MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL