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No Bears At The Zoo

October 22, 2010 by rickety 5 Comments

Rocky Shores at Hogle Zoo

Rocky Shores will open Spring of 2012

We discovered at our last visit to Hogle Zoo that Tuff, Cubby, and Dale had been moved to the Oregon Zoo. Construction is proceeding on the Rocky Shores Exhibit, an extensive multi-animal habitat featuring polar bears, sea lions, seals and possibly other bears. According to Hogle Zoo:

Guests will experience unprecedented environmental immersion through realistic, cutting-edge habitat design. Educational information about the animals what they eat, their behaviors and instincts, and their future survival will be presented through interactive technology and innovative educational programs, adaptable for Zoo and classroom use.

Rocky Shores will be the largest exhibit ever created at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, and is a major step in its transformation to a 21st century zoo. (Hogle Zoo)

Rocky Shores construction

On our visit to the zoo on Wednesday Aurora and Bryson also saw the animals, rode the train, and clambered in the playground.

Zuri with mother

Zuri the baby elephant

Aurora encounters the Aldabra Tortoise

The shells of the Aldabra Tortoise are not very hard. Giant tortoises are slow moving, non-aggressive animals. Most of their time is spent foraging. Although the tortoises are primarily vegetarians, they will eat decaying animal matter. Paths to and from their favorite feeding and drinking areas are scraped into the soil by the massive shells. These tortoises can weigh up to 550 lbs. and shells up to 55 inches long. They live up to 200 years.

Bryson

Aurora

Splashing water

Train ride

Watch the video and see how intent Bryson is as he rides the train.



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Filed Under: Aurora, Bryson, Fun in Utah, Jill, Rick Tagged With: Animals

There Are Differences Between Us

October 10, 2010 by rickety 20 Comments

These photographs have some real differences to reconcile. See if you can help.

Spoiler Alert — don’t read the comments until after you find the differences.

Update: The solution has been posted in the comments. Remind me to make the next one more difficult.

A hat tip to Adelaide for giving me the idea.

Zoo Roundabout (original)

Zoo Roundabout (altered)

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Filed Under: Bryson, Competition, Fun in Utah, Jill, Rickety Picks Tagged With: Zoo

Our Grandchildren at Hogle Zoo

September 12, 2010 by rickety 3 Comments

Hogle Zoo

Last Wednesday, along with Adelaide and Jill, I took my three grandchildren to Hogle Zoo. It hasn’t been long since we took Bryson to the zoo. Cassandra, the newborn, slept most of the time but she did wake up near the end. Aurora and Bryson seemed to have fun. There are a lot of new sights and sounds for them to see and hear. Aurora and Bryson got to ride the roundabout, the train, and the lions.

Hogle Zoo

We saw the baby elephant, Zuri, but we didn’t see the zoo’s black bears (Tuff, Cubby, and Dale) because they have been sent to the Oregon Zoo. What we did see was their home being demolished to make way for the new Rocky Shores Exhibit. According to the Deseret News, the new exhibit

will be an extensive multi-animal habitat featuring polar bears, sea lions, seals and possibly other bears. Up-close viewing of the animals as they swim by will be possible through glassed areas, as well as views from ground level in a habitat depicting the physical, cultural and social landscape of the western shores of North America. (“Hogle Zoo send away three bears to make way for construction,” Deseret News, May 2, 2010)

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Read Cassandra’s report of the zoo visit in Cassie’s World…It’s a Jungle Out There!
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Filed Under: Adelaide, Aurora, Bryson, Cassandra, Fun in Utah, Jill, Rick Tagged With: Utah, Zoo

Feeding Farmington Fowl

September 5, 2010 by rickety Leave a Comment

Bryson is learning to feed the ducks, or in this instance, geese. His coaches are Jill and Susan. They are at Farmington Pond. It appears these fowl will not wait long in a breadline. If you cannot see the video, click here.



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Filed Under: Bryson, Fun in Utah, Jill

Bryson Visits Hogle Zoo

August 21, 2010 by rickety 2 Comments

Last Wednesday Jill and I took Bryson to visit Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. The weather was cooler than normal, making the afternoon temperatures just right. We enjoyed seeing the animals with Bryson and took a few photographs and a video. Click on the images to enlarge.

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo

Merry Go Round Video


Hogle Zoo
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Filed Under: Bryson, Fun in Utah, Jill, Recreation, Rick, Rickety Picks Tagged With: Animals

Wasatch Mountain State Park

August 7, 2010 by rickety 3 Comments

I wanted to take my grandchildren camping so I made reservations for two campsites. I then invited the parents to go and before the day was out they were ready for the trip. So last weekend we went to Wasatch Mountain State Park. We camped overnight at Little Deer Creek Campground.

Here are a few of the photographs and videos taken by Steven, Jill, and Rick. Click on the images to enlarge. If you cannot see the videos, click here.

We unloaded and pitched the tents. We were only staying overnight but it seemed like we had food for a week. That’s Jill by the picnic table. The campsites were large, had running water, and some had shade. We had quite a view.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

I brought plenty of wood for a fire to cook our hot-dogs.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Aurora was ready to eat…

Wasatch Mountain State Park

…just about anything.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

After we ate Bryson and Aurora put to good use the local materials that were lying around. Aurora used her truck to level the ground.

Wasatch Mountain State Park



We had lots of adults to go around when the grandchildren needed to be held. Here is Sarah with Aurora.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Steven with Cassandra. Steven is the one on the right.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Derek with Bryson.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

And me.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

We retired to our tents while Jake slept out in the open.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

In the morning, before breakfast, Derek took Bryson for a walk.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Jake is a handy guy to have around when you are hungry for some ham.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Sarah appears to be enjoying her breakfast.

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Any left for me?

Wasatch Mountain State Park

Before noon we broke camp and drove a few miles onto federal land to visit Cascade Springs in Uinta National Forest. The trail through Cascade Springs consists primarily of a raised boardwalk which crosses over a series of clear shallow pools. Calcite mineral deposits accumulated and formed terraces over which the water cascades.

Adelaide holds Cassandra, who didn’t really want to see running water just right now.

Cascade Springs

Jill loves the outdoors…

Cascade Springs

…while Cassandra has yet to make up her mind.

Cascade Springs

I do believe we will go camping again. There is no better way to spend the weekend than with family.

Cascade Springs

The water coming from the springs has made a long journey from limestone caverns deep within the earth. Forced through cracks and fissures, the water emerges here as “travertine”. The deposits have gradually accumulated to make the terraces for the pools at Cascade Springs. Approximately seven and one-half million gallons flow from the springs each day.


Filed Under: Adelaide, Aurora, Bryson, Cassandra, Derek, Fun in Utah, Jake, Jill, Rick, Rickety Picks, Sarah, Steven Tagged With: Camping, Cascade Springs

Chair Race

August 4, 2010 by rickety 4 Comments


My grandchildren Aurora and Bryson never sit still for long, even when you give them both a chair. Video and crash sound effects by Jill.
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Filed Under: Aurora, Bryson

Independence Day Kaysville Rotary Run For Reading 5K

July 3, 2010 by rickety 1 Comment

Davis High School Flag

Davis High School Flag

This morning was the Independence Day Kaysville Rotary 12th Annual 10K and 5K Run / 5K Walk “Run for Reading” at the Davis High School Stadium. In 2009 there were 873 participants who entered, beating the previous year by over 200 runners. The proceeds of the $15 race registration will go towards the purchase of “I Like Me” reading books for Kaysville area elementary school children.

I was there to take a few photographs. Click on the images to enlarge.

Before the race

Before the race

Sarah's friend Jennifer and her husband

Sarah's with her friend Jennifer and her husband

Sarah, Derek, Jill, and Bryson

Sarah, Derek, Jill, and Bryson

Bryson was not too thrilled at the early morning start to the race

Bryson was not too thrilled at the early morning start to the race

Start of the 5K segment

Start of the 5K segment

Run For Reading 5K

Run For Reading 5K

Run For Reading 5K

Jill at the finish (39:25:00)

Jill at the finish (39:25:00)

Derek, Sarah, and Bryson at the finish

Derek, Sarah, and Bryson at the finish

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Filed Under: Bryson, Derek, Jill, Recreation, Sarah Tagged With: 5K, Independence Day, Kaysville

Bryson Returns to Utah

May 26, 2010 by rickety 3 Comments

Bryson with toys

Bryson rolls his truck down the hill

Bryson returns to Utah. Sarah flew from Texas and dropped him off with Jill in Salt Lake City. She then got back on a plane and flew back to Texas. Tomorrow she leaves Texas again to drive one of her cars to Utah.

Just to put Sarah’s mind at ease I am showing these photographs and videos of Bryson playing in the driveway and rolling his truck into the street.

Bryson toys

Bryson carries his truck up the hill

If you cannot see the videos click here.




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Filed Under: Bryson

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Who is this Rickety?

Rick at homeI'm Rick Willoughby. I live in Utah, a retired Software Engineer. I'm a Mormon, married with 5 children and 12 grandchildren.

I emigrated from England in my late twenties, bringing with me one small suitcase and a few dollars. I appreciate the opportunities America has given me and the friendliness of the people to new citizens.

I blog about my family as well as politics, religion, finance, technology, and other topics.

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