Tag Archives: Animals

Permalink to Hipster Zoo Animals

Hipster Zoo Animals

by WanderSouth|on September 3, 2011 |in Afternoon Culture, Attractions, Confessional, Life in the South, Writer's Whims |tagged , |Leave a comment

I have a confession: I am a zoo nerd. I go to zoos… a lot. I like to look at cute animals. I like to see how different zoos create enclosures for the critters. I like to see how zoos organize and educate the public about these furry, scaly and wet friends.

Zoos offer an incredible opportunity to get up-close and personal with amazing critters from around the world. For many of us, this is the only time we’ll ever be able to see and learn about many of the animals in the world.

Since I heart zoos so much, I often take way too many photos to capture my experience. These usually result in files of photos that just sit there for all of digital posterity. Since I’ve discovered Instagram on my iPhone, I’ve rediscovered my love of zoo photography. I’m now on the hunt for funny pictures of animals to run through their analog, hipster-esque photo filters.

I try to write witty captions for these hipster critters. It’s all a lot silly. I hope you enjoy my collection of Hipster Zoo Animals!

 

Permalink to Backyard Dinosaurs Afoot at the Tour d’Coop

Backyard Dinosaurs Afoot at the Tour d’Coop

by WanderSouth|on May 22, 2011 |in Events, North Carolina, Raleigh |tagged , , , , |Leave a comment
Backyard Dinosaurs Afoot at the Tour d'Coop

Feathery, cute noises and rapid movements, chickens have captured my heart for years. I first petted a chicken at an event at the Denver Children’s Museum and their soft, warm bodies melted my heart. Their scale-y feet and leathery eyes remind us that they are not that far from being cousins to dinosaurs.

I’ve been fascinated with the idea of keeping backyard chickens. These urban hens can quietly live in your backyard without any noisy roosters and still grant you 1-6 eggs a week. Well kept chickens are low odor and yield bountiful poultry manure compost. Add a fabulous coop like the ones by Carolina Coops and you are an urban farmer!

Imagine my delight when I found out about the Tour d’Coup, a tour of urban chickens inside the Raleigh Beltline. The tour of 19 homes is a showcase of urban chicken keepers ranging from the fancy to functional. These free-range chickens live the city life fitting in nicely with beautifully kept gardens.With a non-perishable food donation or cash donation to Urban Ministries you had access to see all the foul you ever wanted to see.

My favorite part of the tour was seeing how inventive the chicken keeping areas were. People smartly used hard to garden areas of their yards for chicken runs. In North Carolina the struggle is to keep your chickens cool in the summer rather than warm in the winter so chickens had run of the shady parts of the properties. One home had the chicken area under a deck, another had it in a dark shady corner.

I also enjoyed seeing the free-range chickens in the gardens. Chickens were adorable scratching and pecking for bugs tucked into beautiful home gardens. We got lots of great ideas for our future home.

The barrier to my chicken coop dream is Brian’s voice of reason reminding me that I’d have to actually take care of them. I’d have to feed and clean up after them. Now, admittedly I’m a bit of a 6 year old when it comes to pets. I like to play with them, but quickly forget to feed, water and clean them. Even my dog, Herman, has a knack for staring me down until I remember to take care of his basic needs of food and water.

Brian has always encouraged me to take a chicken keeping class to learn more, but I’ve never had the dedication. Really it’s all a fantasy. I see myself all cute and sexy in overalls, my hair all messily pulled into a ponytail, eyes crinkled with a weathered smile. The reality is I’m a creative career girl that barely has time to get exercise in 3-4 times a week. Hey, maybe chasing chickens could increase my cardio health.

What I learned at the event this weekend is that I’m NOT ready for urban chickens. It’s a lot of work! They are cute creatures, but I’m not ready for that level of responsibility, handy coop making and care. These chicken parents have  huge hearts, maybe my heart will someday have room for these wonderful creatures. Until then, I’m sure to go to the next Tour d’Coop event.

See more photos of the chicken fun here.

Permalink to River Wander: Saxapahaw & Haw River

River Wander: Saxapahaw & Haw River

by Dawn A Crawford|on September 23, 2010 |in Confessional, North Carolina |tagged , , , |Leave a comment

Okay, so I know that wander literally means to “walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way” but I really don’t like the walking part.

Hiking is just not my thing. Growing up in the mountains of Colorado I hiked a lot. Loaded down with a pack and hiking boots, I’ve done day trips and week-long backpacking explorations. It is great to get away from civilization for a bit, but it’s the walk back that’s killer.

IMG_1983Wanting to give nature a second go, I planned an afternoon hike along the Haw River in Saxapahaw, NC. I know I like water so the river expedition would be fun, and walking at near sea-level has to be easier than hiking in the Rocky Mountains…right?

Saxapahaw has newer developments along the Haw River where they are converting an old rivermill into a cute community of housing and small businesses. They host Saturday afternoon farmers markets and a music series during the summer. This up and coming community is well worth the wander.

IMG_1992There is also an extensive network of land and paddle trails in the area. Conserved by the Haw River Trail Partnership, there are varying levels for every fitness level.

We wandered on the 3/4 of a mile River Loop that took off right beside the Saxapahaw Rivermill building. This level trail winds alongside the river before bending back through the woods to loop to it’s trail head. We just walked out the bend and back.

IMG_1986We got to amble over a tiny log bridge, see some turtles (super excited about seeing turtles in the wild for the first time) and came up on a gentleman and his dog camping by the river (which was a bit weird).

So, am I a converted hiker? Will you see lots of hiking wanders on this blog?

No. Sorry, I still don’t totally “get” hiking. I do love to do all other sorts of wandering, but walking to a destination is just not my forte. I had fun strolling and chatting with my family, but I’ll keep my cute hiking sneakers for beating the path to good food, culture, shopping and beach adventures.

Distance from Raleigh: 53 miles, round about an hour – Get the Route

Wander Well Tips:

  • Bring your hiking shoes – if you are into that sort of thing
  • Neat place to live if you want rural and upscale lofts
  • Check out the Saturday afternoon farmer’s market and music series in the summer

Sweet Tweets