Happy the weekend is over.

Ugh. What a weekend. At least for me. I got side swiped on the 401 on my way to my first show on Saturday while driving a rental car. Despite getting there an hour late, the Nature Walk at the Toronto Botanical Gardens went very well... although I did end up with red ants crawling up my leg and a hornet trying to get under my watch - I guess it could have gone worse.

I had to head back to the office to get some things for the second Nature Walk and of course there was HORRIBLE traffic on the way back - ended up getting there late.... The second Nature Hike at the TBG went well too. I'm glad we had such nice weather and great kids! For me, the parties were fun and awesome, but the connecting pieces to the parties really were the pits!

But I really love the Nature Hikes. We found a magical spot where there are so many Ebony Jewel Wing Damselflies and they were landing on the kids... really awesome. When the kids are into seeing, learning and touching it makes it that much more fun. I love messing around outside.

Fortunately for me, Allison decided that she wanted to try leading up a car on Sunday, so I stayed back and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned.

All the other handlers came out of this weekend better then me (thank goodness). They had some trying moments but many more exhilarating moments. And we're all looking forward to next weekend and all the fun it will bring. As for Monday to Friday this week - we're taking it off!

Yolanta

Outdoor Enclosure - Test Run

Duane's talked me into it so we'll be letting the small tortoises out today to romp in the new outdoor enclosure. I was hoping to let the grass to get a little bigger and stronger before our shelled and fuzzy critters take over - but the tortoises really, really, really want to go out.

The big tortoises, guinea pigs and rabbits will have to wait until we see how successful today will be - I hope we have grass left!

Here's to hot weather!

Yolanta

Farm Fresh Strawberries

Since I was a very little girl my mother would always take my siblings and me strawberry picking in early summer. This is one of my fondest memories. For about two decades now, we switched from a different farm, we have been visiting the Big'R Apple Farm in Brampton. And I love continuing that tradition with my children.

Having lots of strawberries in the house is great for the kids and the animals LOVE them too. Since we pick only the finest strawberries, they are always very juicy and sweet. Far better than ANY strawberry I have bought at any grocery store of veggie stand. Plus it's a great way for the kids to learn about where their food comes from, the work it takes to harvest the food and participate in feeding the animals.

This year's strawberries are HUGE, very juicy and very sweet. I would highly recommend that you have a visit before the season is over. Very large 7L baskets are currently running for $13. I never buy the smaller sized baskets so I don't know the fees for them. Bring your own basket or buy one of theirs - they're not expensive.

Big'R Apple Farm
8672 Heritage Rd, Brampton
905-455-8414

They also have pea, pears, apples, squash and pumpkins - of course when the season is right.

Happy picking!

Yolanta

Happy Father's Day

Everyone at Creature Quest would just like to wish all the fathers out there a very wonderful day. Thank you for all of your contributions that helped shape our lives to what they are today.

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Yolanta

Lov'in the wet stuff!

I've really loved the wetter weather of the past few days and wouldn't mind it hanging around a little longer. The reason: everything IS getting greener!

The grass in the new outdoor enclosure is really getting big and so are some of the veggies in the garden. I'm really excited!

I love green :)


Yolanta

Weekend Success!

Thank you to everyone. This weekend was lots of fun for us and we hope that everyone that came to our shows enjoyed themselves too.

Yolanta

Getting ready of Saturday.

We're just getting all set up for all of our shows today. Really looking to have a SUPER day today. The weather is all ready co-operating. Goodness knows we really need to have a good day today...

Yolanta

Lots of Drama - Yolanta's rant about a not always great week

We had a few 'interesting' moments this week and are really hoping that all of our shows this weekend are lots, and lots, and LOTS of fun. Our goal is to have a positive end to an otherwise not always positive week.

To finish off my Monday to Friday, I actually had a family emergency and had to cancel one of my shows. Not something that I like doing and in fact something that I've only done once in the past.

Unfortunately, the client couldn't understand that we were having a family emergency and couldn't make it. After all, we didn't do this on purpose and would have made it to the show had it been morally acceptable. Emergencies, after all, typically do no come with warnings. Even an offer (which is no longer valid) of a free show that would be arranged early next week was shot down quickly - and rudely might I add. Like I said, this was an emergency and I'm sure 99.9999% of all parents that love their children would have made the same call.

I'm really sorry for the birthday child in this situation. I wish we could have come and I hope you had fun anyway.

Everything on our end turned out ok-ish for now... thankfully... fortunately, we have a great, supportive family that Allison is now an honorary member of.

But now I'm done with ALL unpleasantness - it's going to be my new rule. So let's have a BLAST this weekend and create an awesome fun trend that EVERYONE can enjoy! Fun and learning IS why we do what we do and fun is a HUGE part of it.

So here's to awesome, fun animal shows and to great people!

Yolanta

PS all of our shows this week were great. I'm just not keen on some of the other 'stuff' that we've had the privilege to dealing with.

T-Shirts

We're getting our artwork created for our first ever Creature Quest t-shirts.

All of our campers will get one of these shirts - that are sure to be pretty cool - just for coming to camp. We're also planning on selling others to birthday parties!

Can't wait to see the designs!

Yolanta

Outdoor Enclosure - Part 3

All we have left is the door and then the major construction will be over!

It is looking awesome so far. Once the door is on we'll finish up with some landscaping ... hopefully we'll be all ready for critters in two weeks!

Yolanta

PS We jumped the gun a little bit yesterday. We could (and planted) a gorgeous hibiscus....