Mister and Lady: Out and about - Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth Fun

A couple of weeks ago, Mister signed us up for a Member Morning at the Dallas Zoo. Yesterday, Jen asked us to go to Fort Worth and meet them. We now have a very busy day ahead of us.

That means - an early rise and shine -- a stop for donuts and coffee -- and to the zoo right on time. As we are walking towards the hippos, a quick stop to see the penguins swimming and I almost walk into this spider. OMG. As we moved past it, the spider went back up the web, taking all trace of it with her into the eaves. Crazy.

Hippo time! We get there before they enter the exhibit and wait for a bit to watch the entrance. Firs the ladies show up.

And head straight into the water.

The out boy, Gus, makes his appearance and stops right by the gate.

He turns towards the fence and opens wide to receive some treats.

The girls are watching -

Back out they go and stand with their mouths open too -

Soon, all three are happily enjoying their breakfast and we move on.

Baby flamingo chicks!! Such cute little white balls of fluff.

As we start walking towards the primates, this crazy noise is taking place. At first I think it is a bird, like a really loud cockatoo (which the zoo has) or something similar. We round the corner and discover that the gibbons are simply being social with each other. It's grand! However, they only perform their best when my camera is not recording so I only got a small sample of them. Believe me, SO MUCH LOUDER and crazy. We loved every minute of it.

The new clouded leopard was in habitat but very difficult to see. It's there, honest, but this was the best I could get this time.

While talking with the keeper of the clouded leopards, we asked where the sloth had gone and were told that he was over by the tortoises. Next stop - these gentle giants.

Once again, no sloth to be seen in it's habitat, but we do spot a couple of cool visitors.

Well, that's about it. The doors opened to the general public an hour ago and we are ready to go before it gets too crowded. Yep, still being fairly careful and we still a whole day ahead of us. Off to Fort Worth we go and when we arrive, I discover that Jen and I had a misunderstanding as to her arrival time. Okay - we are on our own for a bit. First stop, Water Gardens. It is also rather busy with people so we simply find a nice viewing area and sit and watch for a bit. It's the first time I haven't walked down in the exhibit, but I still enjoyed my time.

Food --- I want food. In the process, let's try and find an open brewery that is new to us. Funky Picnic seems to fit the bill and it's open already. Off we go. Once there, we locate a couple of seats at the bar that allow us to be a distance away from the many full tables.

Oh my. One Virtuous for me and a That Time Was The 80's That Place Was Orlando for Mister. Both so very good.

Peek across the room towards the actual brewery.

Yum - I'm starving.

We've killed the required time and are off to Cowtown. Jen is in the rodeo and it hasn't let out yet, but the cattle drive is in process and I find a spot on a side street to watch the end of it.

And then - family all around. We start walking towards the spot where one can sit on a longhorn.

Jen has a foreign exchange student again this year and Rintaro wants to sit on a longhorn.

Wish granted.

Josh goes for it as well.

To the overlook -

Itchy itchy, scratchy scratchy -

Ahhhh, that feels so much better.

How they maneuver those horns is a piece of magic to me.

Gather round - it's chow time.

One even manages to push it's head DEEP into the stack of hay.

Pic time ---- so glad to spend some time together. Welcome to Texas, Rintaro.

Off to the depot and we get there just as the train is arriving. The kids are off to the candy store and return with bags of goodies. I went in for a minute and walked the whole store without seeing anything that was even tempting. Hmmmm.

LOVE this -

I'm on the hunt for water and locate the General Store. Inside the store, behind the counter is this great mural. "Texas Longhorn Herd" was created and hand painted by Texas native artist Aric Von. Aric is multi-talented and known for his painting, sculpting and tattoo work. He has produced famous works of art for many corporations and individuals. In the two decades following the Civil War, great herds of longhorn cattle were rounded up and driven North. The Fort Worth Herd was established to preserve and celebrate the history of these awesome animals.

As we are walking around, Mister and I notice the bricks on the walkway, many which say "Thurber" and have their mark. Very cool.

The family is done here and ready for some dinner. We have decided to go to Cane Rosso and as we return to our car, I see this and stop for a minute.

The sign to the right says, "Acknowledging that Chief Quanah Parker was the son of two cultures it is only right that we recognize those who taught us about the Comanches and inspired Fort Worth to celebrate the contribution of these two cultures."

The larger sign: "Comanche Chief Quanah Parker was a son of two cultures. He was born about 1845 along Elk Creek, Indian Territory (Oklahoma). His Anglo Mother was Cynthia Ann Parker, taken captive in a May 1836 raid and adopted by Qua-ha-di (antelope) Comanches, and his father was Comanche Chief Peta Nocona. Texas Rangers reclaimed Cynthia Ann in an 1860 fight at the Pease River. Nocona died soon after and Cynthia lived with relatives near Birdville in Tarrant county before dying with no further contact with her Comanche family. Becoming Chief upon his father's death, Quanah refused to sign the 1867 Medicine Lodge Treaty that sent many plains Indians to reservations. Instead, he led raids in Texas and Mexico for another seven years, likely including the last foray into Tarrant County in June 1871. That winter, Quanah's band eluded Col. Ranald MacKenzie's Fourth U.S. Cavalry across the Texas Panhandle. Comanche losses during the 1874 Panhandle Battle of Adobe Walls, in which Quanah was wounded, followed by a harsh winter, finally brought him and fewer than 100 remaining Qua-ha-di to the reservation at Fort Sill, Indian Territory in May 1875. Quanah served as liaison between his people and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He proved to be a pragmatic leader, encouraging the Comanches to take up ranching and farming, and to educate their children in government schools. Quanah prospered through his investments and built his spacious "Star House" near Cache, OK. He traveled widely, giving speeches and interviews and participating in wild west shows, the Texas state fair, Texas Cattle Raisers Association gatherings, and the Fort Worth Stock Show. Quanah visited Fort Worth and The Stockyards on many occasions. He died in 1911 and is buried at Fort Sill."

"The Fort Worth Stock Yard Company's wooden horse and mule barns on a site across the street from the statue was destroyed by fire on March 14, 1911, opening day of the Feeders and Breeders Show (later Southwestern Exposition & Fat Stock Show). The show opened as planned, with former President Theodore Roosevelt giving the opening address. The company announce plans to replace the destroyed barns immediately with new concrete and steel fireproof buildings. Construction was completed in March 1912, and the new barns, measuring 540' x 350' had a capacity for 3000 animals. With a price tag of $300,000, the buildings were described as among the finest stables in the world. Activity here increased considerably in 1914, at the outbreak of World War I. Horses and mules were needed in great supply by European armies, and agents were sent in droves to Fort Worth to buy stock. Spending an estimated $11 million. During tat time, Fort Worth was designated the largest horse and mule market in the world. The wide space between the buildings has over the years spawned the nickname, "Mule Alley". In recent years, the barns have been used for various cultural activities and annual events."

I didn't photograph the new barns, but found the history fascinating. Horse and mules -- not cows. Now, looking the other way.