Zoo trip & more

We took a family trip to the Detroit Zoo:

 

 

The wolf exhibit was brand new, and it was very cool!

Jessica the prairie dog

Megan the prairie dog

I love this pic of Jessica and her crabby face (because she couldn't fit on the tiger)!

After the zoo, we went out to lunch in downtown Royal Oak.  Then we stopped by the new Field & Stream store in Troy.  It's a mini-version of Cabela's, with lot of hunting and fishing stuff.

We made lots and lots of freezer jam:

We went on a run/bike ride on the Clinton River trail...

Followed by dessert!

Last week, I took the girls to a fun park in Birmingham.  They played in the park for an hour:

Then we played in the creek for an hour!

We have zucchini!  Our community garden is way ahead of our home garden.  We're getting a few zukes a week now.  Katie is the BEST zucchini cooker.

Jess lost another tooth, on the top left.  She was very surprised when this one came out!

Our first tomatoes!  Fourth of July variety, but we ate them on June 29th!

Making more jam, this time "wild child" jam, with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

I took the girls on a downtown Detroit excursion one day last week:

Lunch at the Cass Café, which is part art gallery and near Wayne State.  There were lots of tattoos and beards here.  Delicious vegetarian food, too!

We spent a few hours at the Detroit Historical Museum

Then we ventured across the street to the main Detroit Library building.  It was incredible!

First prints of Little House on the Prairie

Original manuscripts, too!  We wanted to see them, but you needed an appointment with an archivist first.

Gorgeous stairwells

Amazing murals

Just an amazing space!

Half of the library was old and magnificent, as seen in these pics.  The other half was a 1960's add-on building...still cool, but pretty dated.  We liked the children's library and the art show in one of the wings.  The artist was there, too, and we talked with him for a long time.  I wish I had remembered to get a pic with him, he was so nice!  (http://www.timothyorikri.com/about-the-artist/)

It was a very fun, cultural day!  And totally free (other than lunch)!