I love living in the country! Just think of the endless entertainment right from my rocking chair (no I am not 90 yet!). But I do love deck-side-gazing upon nature.
Ah yes, nature! Witness the myriad of birdlife, squirrel life, deer life, ground hogs, cows, horses, turkeys (the list goes on), and bears. And there are the comings and goings of the seasons and watching the rain drop. Imagine the excitement in witnessing the world turning white with snow, or that same world in transformation to the green, green, grass of home!
My grandgirls are all grownup now, so I supposed that country-style porch sitting had long-since lost its charm. I was surprised to receive a request from our oldest grandgirl to bring two of her college friends for a visit! “Do you think they want to do the deck-watching thing?” I asked. ” Is Jessica living in an afterglow of fond country memories?”
The reality is, Jess is not coming to watch the grass grow. She is visiting to introduce her friends! AND they are also going to the VIRGINIA SAFARI PARK – a place just down the road where she and her sisters simply HAD to go during every visit here since they were little girls. Recalling all the squeals and screams and spilled food pellets makes me smile today.
“Eeeeek! Roll up the window! Go Grammy! Go! Go! Ooops, the camel knocked the food bucket right out of my hands! Nooooooo….. here comes that buffalo and his head is bigger than the window! Go faster Grammy! Move it OUT! Move it OUT!”
Now if you have never toured the Virginia Safari Park, you are missing a treat (simply ignore the sound effects above). The park is a drive-through wilderness area of 180 acres that’s home to birdlife, squirrel life, deer life, ground hogs, (the list goes on), and bears.
Ooops! Does this sound familiar? Yup. We can watch all that from my deck. But Safari Park also features zebras, camels, emus, elk, llamas, bison, ostrich, giraffes, pigs and piglets, African herd creatures (and the list goes on). And you can see all of them in their natural habitat from the comfort of your car.
In fact, you can actually feed many of the animals from your car windows! This is much more thrilling than porch sitting with Grammy.
Actually, (according to my old brochure) this Safari Park is Virginia’s largest and only drive-thru zoo. There are over 1,200 free animals t o see roaming on the preserve. Three miles of safari roads wind through beautiful countryside as you enjoy the animals in their natural environment. And there are hundreds of babies born each season.
So Jess and friends are coming this Saturday! I can’t wait to see her and meet her friends. I will be tempted to go on safari once more so I can hear all the squeals and screams of yesteryear.
And when they tire of all the excitement, maybe they will come and sit on our deck to just calm down, have a glass of lemonade and watch the grass grow.
Looks like such fun! I do hope your granddaughter and her friends will porch sit with you for a little while, at least. (They’ll probably enjoy that just as much as the safari!)
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It sounds really lovely. Enjoy the weekend with the grandgirls! 🙂
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That would be sweet Dianna! They are coming from college though and I’m sure they have their own busy agenda. We shall see. 🙂
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We are so looking forward to seeing her. 🙂 Thanks *hugs*! 🙂
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Oooh, sounds like a fun weekend ahead :). I want to go there too. I guess I’m going to have to come for another visit!!
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Fun stuff!
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Sounds wonderful and “they” are predicting good weather too!
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Hurry up! 🙂
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The park looks like so much fun! Have a wonderful week-end.
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Thanks Sheryl!
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Ooooh, I’ll bet Virginia is really pretty in the summertime. Imagine how many pictures I could take?? LOL
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I will follow behind you for the perfect shots. 🙂
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Okey dokey 🙂
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The safari park sounds like something I need to check out.
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Not to be missed! Come for a visit and I will join you. 🙂
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That sounds lovely!
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Have you ever thought of becoming a travel agent? You have so many beautiful resources close to your home.
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Oddly enough I was actually a travel agent for about two weeks and decided I hated the lifestyle. Have used some of that experience in other ways though so it was all worth it.
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