Still Wildlife

Last week we had a business trip... We drove from Ohio to Johnstown, PA. Along the way, we stopped to stretch our legs at Cabela's in Wheeling, WV. If you've never been, it's a huge outdoor outfitter store that is filled with camping, hunting and outdoor gear...



And lots and lots of taxidermied animals.


It's kinda like visiting the zoo. Except that none of the animals move. Which is a little sad. But also a very interesting experience because you have the opportunity to really appreciate the beauty of these magnificent animals up close. Way closer than you would get in real life. Way closer than I'm sure you would want to get in real life!


We actually spotted quite a few familiar-looking faces...

We saw the polar bear from Lost.
Ahhhhh!!! Scary! Look how huge it is! Save me, Sawyer!

We saw Mr. Beaver from The Chronicles of Narnia.
We saw Jacob from the Twilight series! (Unfortunately, Edward was nowhere to be found.)
We saw Bullwinkle. Scott made a rare photo appearance because he couldn't resist saying "Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!"Yes, the rabbit is emerging from an orange hunting cap. Cabela's doesn't really carry formal wear such as top hats, and Scott left his at home.)

We saw Horton...I'm not sure that he's hearing much of anything these days though, much less a Who. But he is gorgeous and massive and it's amazing to stand next to him.
We saw Sabor (from Tarzan.) Wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley. But you've got to admit, she's got style!
And we saw Bambi. Lots of Bambi's.
Also................ they had a shooting gallery!OK, I know I'm totally exposing my inner hick here, but I do enjoy shooting a rifle. I got a taste for it in college out west and I'm actually a pretty good shot. I am very proud of the fact that I beat Scott at the shooting gallery!! (In his defense, we're not sure his gun was working properly. Riiiiight.)

So, the next time you get an itch to inspect a polar bear up close or to shoot at tin cans that whistle and spin when you hit them, I recommend Cabela's!

Nature Hike

Yesterday was the last day of a reeeeeeeaaaaallllly looooooonnnng week. I had been going a mile a minute all week, had hair appointments that morning and by the time I was done, all I wanted to do was put on my jammies, crawl into bed and hide for a while.

Scott had other plans. He wanted to take me on a hike before the last of the vibrant fall color was gone.

I was feeling grumpy and exhausted and really did not want to go. So, all the way to the park, I was grumbling inside. (OK, maybe I was grumbling on the outside, too.)

I'm so glad my husband puts up with me! What a gorgeous day we had! Once I was there, breathing fresh air and glorying in the gorgeousness of fall, I was so thankful that sometimes he knows what I need better than I do myself.

Look at this cool tree we saw. I wonder if this is a remnant of the big storm we had a few weeks ago?And look at these fantastic, twisty roots...I am a tree lover. I love their majesty and beauty. I love the symbolism of trees, reaching towards the heavens. Can anyone tell me what this is?It's about the size of a grapefruit. I seem to recall that someone once told me that if you put them around your house, they keep spiders away. I brought this one home, but if that's the case, I'm going back for more.

Teddy went with us (of course) and had a marvelous time tromping through the leaves......until Scott mentioned that we were in a prime location and season for snakes and to watch out because they might be hiding in all the leaves we were walking through...

...at which point I made him carry him.

It was a beautiful day and I came home feeling renewed and peaceful. And then I had a three-hour nap.

Shadow Puppets

While waiting for our health screening event to begin the other day, Scott and I took advantage of a projector screen to make some shadow puppets. He had a pretty good swan going, but mine looks more like a dinosaur.

I guess we'll need to practice a bit more and maybe someday we'll be able to do something like this...

Food Challenge

What is it about boys and food challenges?
Scott and I ate at Ohio Deli Restaurant in Columbus today and he ordered the Dagwood sandwich - a 7 inch high monstrosity with turkey, ham, roast beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato and who knows what all else PLUS batter-dipped fries. The waitress asked him if he wanted to take the Dagwood Challenge which meant that if he could finish everything on his plate in under 30 minutes he would get a T-shirt and his picture taken and put up in the restaurant to document his supremacy.
His response? Of course! (This from the man who hates having his picture taken, soooooo... it must have been the draw of a free T-shirt. Or the chance to prove his manliness by consuming massive amounts of food.)
He is now the proud owner of this...
and a huge stomachache.
I told him that next time he should just enjoy his food and I will buy him a T-shirt and write "I ate a ginormous sandwich and a pile of fries" on it with a Sharpie!

Dinner and a Movie...and Grocery Shopping!

Date Night!
We consider ourselves "foodies" and pretty adventurous eaters (except no seafood or mushrooms for Scott and no walnuts or raw onions for Jennifer) so we enjoy any outing that has to do with food!
Scott threw me in the car on Saturday and said "We're goin' to Cinci!" We found Sabor Peruano - a Peruvian Restaurant that was very authentic. I think we were the palest people in there which is always a good sign. Scott had Lomo Saltado - sauteed beef with onions, tomatoes and rice with yuca. The waitress had this stunned look on her face when he ordered that, I'm sure she doesn't see many Gringos ordering yuca. (For those of you who don't know, yuca is a root vegetable kinda like a potato but is an aquired taste for those of us who weren't raised on it. Scott aquired a taste for it on his mission.) I had Pollo a la Milanesa - a breaded chicken dish with rice and beans and sweet plantains. When she brought my pollo out, I had to laugh - It was bigger than my head! Then we headed over to Jungle Jims- the adventure park for Foodies! Seriously, this place is insane. It is six acres of food from all over the world. When you enter, there are all these jungle animals out front to welcome you with various hoots, howls and calls.
Then inside there is so much to see! Besides all the incredible food, the whole store is decorated with crazy things like the Cereal Bowl Band playing atop the S.S. Minnow from Gilligans Island. (They really sing!)We saw Robin Hood and his Merry Men up a tree where they have hidden the Sherrif's treasure above all the aisles with food from Great Britain. Oh, yes, they have all kinds of wonderful things to eat and see, including...A WHOLE PIG'S HEAD?!?!?!?!
We picked up some fun, new food items to try (we left the pig head there) and even met some new friends. We talked to a couple in the China aisle who recommended some famous Chinese candy. We met a family from Russia in the Russian aisle who told us all about their favorite foods and showed us which items we might like and what things to stay away from.
After four hours of shopping, (yes, we spent four hours in a grocery store...I said we were into food) we were pretty tired so we came home and curled up on the couch and watched a movie. And ate snacks. It was a great date!