A Sad Day at The Zoo

Typically when you turn on the news in this city the breaking news is a shooting in which one or several people died or more political drama as the government here is fairly corrupt. Well on Monday the headline was this: "Baby Elephant Born!" Asali's artificial insemination finally took on the fifth try. She was pregnant for one year, 9 months and 15 days. It was exciting news and of course then everyone plans to make a trip to the zoo soon just to see the baby.

But at 11:10 this morning that happiness was shattered. Apparently the baby stumbled in the enclosure and in an attempt to help it back up the mother accidentally hurt the baby. They tried to save her, but she didn't make it. She didn't even have a name yet.

Plant Update

I'm only slightly obsessed with these flowers. Our sunflowers last year were ruined when my mother in law (who knows a LOT about plants so I'm not sure why she did it) pulled the flower over, almost to the ground to look at a bug that was on the stem. It never stood back up and soon shriveled and died. I took this photo this morning on my way out the door.

Also, we checked on the pumpkins this morning.
The top had a good bit of condensation on it so I figured
we should soon see leaves.

I took the top off just to peek and ...

Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Rewards At Last

I came home to this yesterday!

A critter has taken up residence in another one that's about to pop.

And our balloon flowers that we planted at the end of March
are finally about to actually have flowers on them.

Yes, I am easily amused.

These nuts...

Our company goes to Sam's pretty regularly to pick up sodas for our community fridge at work. Recently they came back with these. Needless to say, the whole office is officially addicted. Typically, chocolate covered almonds are just too sweet for my tastes. And I NEVER eat dark chocolate. But these are just right. I like to alternate between bites of really salty chips and a couple of these almonds because I'm a sugar-salt freak. But they are awesome no matter how you eat them.