Girls Camp Preperation

This picture of Andrew is kinda how I feel today. It's only a couple of days until I leave for a week at Girls' Camp and I have not packed my bags, made my lists of things the boys need to get done, or actually even bought all the things I need to take with me for the week.
Now don't get me wrong. I really love Girls' Camp. It is a beautiful location in the Sierras. It's an opportunity to leave technology at home for a week and spend some time in a place where you can really appreciate God's creations. Many of my dearest friends also go each year and I get to spend time with some awesome people who mean the world to me. I get the opportunity to give service which I love to do. The food is awesome, someone else prepares it and there is plenty of it. We get to laugh a lot and cry a little and no one thinks anything of it. We all come home stronger and more appreciative of the things we have and closer to Heavenly Father.
So what's not to like? Well camping and me are not a love match. I grew up in a family that camped ALL THE TIME!!!! I can still remember the week we spent on the Canadian border when I was about nine. My Grampa Baker was up there and we met up with him to camp right on the river. The fish practically jumped on my dad and grandfather's fishing hooks all week. My sisters and I spent all day playing in the river and I learned how to clean a fish that trip. We ate fish and potatoes for every meal! Then there was every summer weekend at Silver Lake. Oh and can't forget the many, many camping trips to Lake Tahoe, Ghost Mountain, Pine Crest and countless other campgrounds.
I better start rolling my sleeping bag and packing my first aid kit. I only have two days!

The Lindsay Wildlife Museum

Today for our excellent adventure we went to a local place I had never been to before. Heather and Maryann had both recently visited the Lindsay Wildlife Museum (http://www.wildlife-museum.org/) is located in Walnut Creek and each had given it rave reviews. It seemed like the perfect morning activity. They have several exhibits of animals that have been put on display courtesy of the art of taxidermy. What is really cool is that they feature many live creatures including an impressive array of carnivorous birds (ravens, owls, hawks and a bald eagle). The live animals are ones that have been injured and cannot return to the wild. There is an on site animal hospital there where they accept animals that people find locally. The goal is to rehabilitate them so that they can be returned to their natural habitats.

My favorite creature on display was a possum. I have seen many of them on the road before but never one up close. They really are kinda cute ... at least this little fellow was. He had all four of his feet wrapped in little bandages because they are dry and cracked.

I also loved the Great Horned Owl. It was absolutely beautiful and I had no idea how big they truly are. It was neat to see a live one up close. He was roosting near the barn owl and it was interesting to see the difference in their sizes.

Also on display is a live bobcat. We were at the museum during feeding time so we got to watch this process with the bobcat. They hide dead mice in boxes filled with torn newspaper that are hanging around his enclosure. The cat bats the boxes around and throws the paper all over looking for the mice.

Another interesting animal (don't laugh) was the squirrel. Now we have tons of squirrels around our property and they are pests. We actually refer to them as the "furry tail rats" but this guy was really pretty. He was pretty big and was busy running around his display tearing up newspaper and making a nest. We watched him for a long time.

When Maryann took Rebecca they got to pet a snake. We discussed this on the drive over and both agreed that we might pet a snake if we had the chance. Well, no snakes today. Instead they brought out Roxy the Rat. Instruction was given on how small animals should be petted (two fingers gently on the side, away from the mouth). Ter Bear did it ... not me!

They also have a variety of insects and reptiles on display and the place is full of interesting and interactive activities.

Maryann had suggested packing a lunch and planning a picnic at the park that the Museum is located in. I packed a great lunch for us and then drove off and left it sitting on the dining room table. So after playing in the park for a half hour we drove to the closest McDonald's and had lunch.

I'm not sure why I have never visited the Lindsay before but I think we will definitely be going back.