The lioness

We had been to see the giraffes, monkeys and various other small animals and the bears. We were cold and hungry and at the top of a hill. We had come out of a building that housed various small animals and venturing down the road we came upon an enclosure that had thick glass separating us from the animals inside. There was a little alcove where we could stand, look at the lions and be out of the wind. As we looked at the lions, one of them got off her rock (I was told that it is a heated rock) and came towards where we were standing.

Here she begins her journey towards us. If you will notice, she is in the stalking mode. What other reason, in 30 degree weather, would she leave her warm rock? We watched her come towards the window at a slow crouching pace. She would stop every few seconds like she was checking her prey. Then move forward again. Her approach was very slow and calculating. And so interesting to watch.

She is close to the window and very intent on something. We, Jeffrey, Jordan and I were watching her, little did we know that she was stalking us.
Yip, she came directly towards us and stopped just a couple of feet from the window.Here, she is looking at where Jordan is standing.

I took this picture while she was still approaching the window. She is certainly a beautiful animal.

Back to her stalking. When she got close to the window, we noticed that when Jordan moved, her gaze followed him. The window was about 10 feet wide and if he moved to one end of it, she kept him in her line of vision, when he moved to the other side, her gazed followed him. Jeffrey and I moved around but she just kept looking at Jordan. When she got within a foot or two of the window, she stood for a few minutes then she lay down in the "ready to spring" position. I didn't take any pictures of her in this position, it didn't really dawn on us that... She was stalking Jordan!

Oh what a day we had!  So want to go back.

I want one

On November 7, Jordan, Jeffrey and I flew to Denver then drove down to Colorado Springs. Jordan had a Future Stars gymnastics clinic at the U.S. Olympic Center. That will be another post. Today I want to remember the Zoo in Colorado Springs. On Sunday morning we drove up the road and visited the Cave of the Winds. From there we went to the Zoo. Its touted to be the only zoo that is in the mountains. Lots of walking up hill and down hill, up hill and down. I digress. When we got to the zoo we were dressed in our area of California winter attire; pants, shirt and sweatshirt, shoes and socks. We parked in the parking lot along with about ten other cars, hmmm, must be early. The sun is peaking out, it should be a very pretty day, cold, but beautiful. Little did we know how the weather could change. We got snowed on and just about blown away. But we had FUN!!
Our first stop was the giraffe exhibit. I fell in love.

I want one!!
They are  friendly and so willing to eat out of your hand.And so gentle.

That little one there is about 14 months old, if I remember right.

Isn't he cute?
I want one!

 We got to feed them.
They like Ryecrisp crackers and lettuce

He snuck up on me.

These animals have the longest purple tongues. They are soft (yip, and I had some giraffe slobber on my hand), smooth and not slobbery at all.

I had so much fun with the giraffes that I only got two pictures of the boys with these beautifully graceful animals.Both pictures are of Jeffrey. I'm thinking that Jordan just didn't want to get too close.

I so want to go back to this zoo. I would rather go when I won't get snowed on, frozen or blown away, but just visiting the giraffe exhibit was well worth being in the freezing weather without proper clothing.

I will post more of our adventures later this month. We/I have a very cute story of the lioness and Jordan.
So glad you stopped by.