The Toledo Zoo - Feature #14 & Name That PLANT

The Toledo Zoo - Feature #14 & Name That PLANT

The Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio has been voted one of the top 10 Zoos in the country!  I have lived in this area for 20 years and this past September 2015 is the first time that I have ever visited this special place.  Now I am asking myself: "Why did it take me so long?".

I had the pleasure of visiting the zoo with my sister & brother-in-law and my precious twin nieces.  It was such a blessing to experience this amazing zoo with my 10 year old nieces.

Each week I will feature one animal and one plant (asking for your help in identifying some of the plants) - ENJOY!

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Feature #14 - PARAKEETS

Parakeets are part of the Parrot family.  They are very playful, intelligent and social.  Parakeets are native all over the world and each region has it's own species.  Parakeets live between 5 and 20 years (depending on the species).  They make great pets.  The Parakeet exhibit at the Toledo Zoo was interactive - it was an amazing experience as you can see by the pictures below.   

Checkout these great pictures:

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

Photo taken by Monique Ouellette-Fittler

I went to the zoo to look at animals but found myself mostly taking pictures of plants.

Many of the plants around the zoo exhibits and buildings I had never seen before (and unfortunately they were not labeled), so I decided to include a section asking for your help.  The featured plant today is fairly common but beautiful.

Please leave your answer in the comment section below & have fun!

Identify the plant below:



Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Other Toledo Zoo Posts:

Feature#1 - RHINOCEROS HORNBILL & Orange Coleus

Feature#2 - RED PANDA & Lion's Tail Flower

Feature#3 - GALAPAGOS TORTOISE & Unknown Plant

Feature#4 - GOULDIAN FINCH & RED-THROATED PARROT FINCH Plus Unknown Berry Plant

Feature#5 - JELLYFISH & Red/Green Coleus

Feature#6 - POLAR BEAR & Unknown Tree

Feature#7 - PENGUIN & Butterfly Bush

Feature#8 - CHEETAH & Unknown Berry Bush/tree
Feature#9 - FLAMINGO & Hibiscus
Feature#10 - HIPPOPOTAMUS & Unknown Pink Berry
Feature#11 - TIGER & Unknown Multi-colored Berry
Feature#12 - STINGRAY & Unknown Star Shaped Flower
Feature#13 - ELEPHANT & Unknown Multi-colored Flower

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VERSE by VERSE - 1 Corinthians 13:2

VERSE by VERSE - 1 Corinthians 13:2

We are studying the entire 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians VERSE by VERSE.  1 Corinthians 13 is all about love and many people have written books on this one chapter alone.  I won't be writing a book but we will be studying one verse at a time.

I just "love" it when Bible verses describe exactly modern day situations.  Today, emphasis on education and knowledge is out of control.  Society has decided that One's College degree (or lack of a degree) defines whether one is worthy of success or failure.  I obviously do NOT agree with that way of thinking - education never ends and occurs in everyday life.  However, knowledge without love becomes pompous, impractical and even cruel. 

Then, there is the second part of this verse - having "faith that can move mountains".  When I read this portion I think of an entrepreneur who has a vision and faith that their dream will come to fruition (and they make it happen!).  Think back through history about those businesses that were/are extremely successful - how many of those creators were miserable?  They had faith without love.  Yes, their faith might have brought about temporary financial success but without love many of these companies become destructive and end in corruption.

Again, this verse ends very strongly - it doesn't matter if you are the most brilliant and knowledgeable or if you are the most powerfully successful - without love you are NOTHING.

Love is the key to happy learning and joyful living.
1 Corinthians 13 VERSE#1
1 Corinthians 13 VERSE#3
1 Corinthians 13 VERSE#4
1 Corinthians 13 VERSE#5
1 Corinthians 13 VERSE#6
1 Corinthians 13 VERSE#7

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CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions: - this is open worldwide (void where prohibited) - You must be 18 years or older to enter - You MUST have a blog to win the Ad spaces (otherwise these will become second place prizes) - You MUST have a valid PayPal account to win the Paypal Cash (otherwise this will become a second place prize) - You MUST have a mailing address in the lower 48 states of the USA in order to win the necklace (otherwise this will become a second place prize)

- This Giveaway is open from February 1st, 2016 until February 29th, 2016

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Pie Crust Cookies - Made from Crust Scraps

Pie Crust Cookies - Made with extra pie crust scraps

Never discard the edges of the pie crust that you cut away - make cookies instead!!
Whether you're making a dessert pie, breakfast quiche or dinner pasties - there will always be leftover pie crust dough.  Use this leftover dough to make these fun cookies.  These are such a delicious little treat! 

I simply press the extra dough in little ramekins, sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar & then bake in  a preheated 475 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. 

I have included my pie crust recipe below - use the scraps from this recipe to make these cookies (or make the entire dough into these delicious cookies) - ENJOY!

Single Pie Crust                                                                        Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups flour
1/4 cup butter (I use unsalted)
1/4 cup lard (see note below)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if you are using salted butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (ONLY if you are making a sweet pie.  Omit the vanilla if you are making a savory pie)

3 to 4 tablespoons cold water (preferably filtered water)

Stir the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  "Cut" the butter and lard into the dry ingredients until it is crumbly looking.  Now add the vanilla and 3 tablespoons of water and mix together (still use the pie cutter or fork to mix in the liquid).  Only add the 4th tablespoon of water if the dough still seems dry.  Now form the dough into a ball with your hands.

NOTE:  If you only want to use butter then you may omit the lard and use 1/2 cup butter instead (or 2/3 cup butter if you are doing a double recipe - see below).
Now you are ready to roll out the dough but first you must dust the rolling surface with flour and you might even need to dust more flour onto the dough half way through rolling.  Keep rolling until the dough is a little less than 1/4 inch thick.

To "flute" the edges use your thumb and forefinger on one side and then your other forefinger on the other side of the dough.

Double Pie Crust                                                                           Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/3 cup butter (I use unsalted)

1/3 cup lard (see note below)

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt (omit if you are using salted butter)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (ONLY if you are making a sweet pie.  Omit the vanilla if you are making a savory pie)

4 to 5 tablespoons cold water (preferably filtered water)

Follow the same instructions for the Single Pie Crust recipe except when you roll out the dough simply cut it in 2 equal parts.

Remove from the oven & allow to cool before eating.

ENJOY!!

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Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report #2

#2 - Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report

If you were following this blog in 2015 then you will be familiar with my "365 Days of Being Thankful" challenge.  I have missed reporting on my thankfulness since I finished my challenge back in November so I decided to at least give a weekly Thankfulness Report & include a Growth Report also.  Growth in our Christian walk, growth in the garden & growth on this blog.  Finally, I am also including a "Posts From the Past" feature - ENJOY!



This week I have been thankful for God's guidance and protection;  for delicious leftover meals made by my mom;  for my dear cousin  and for heirloom seeds.



"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground;  for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you."  Hosea 10:12
It's almost time to start plowing the garden - but let's not forget about plowing the ground in our Christian Walk which will help us produce "Spiritual fruit."
Read: Reap the Fruit of Unfailing Love



I just received half of my seeds in the mail this week.  If you haven't ordered your seeds there is still time - enjoy planning!  Garden 2016 planning is underway.

- Here are my Follower stats:

GFC (Google Friends Connect) - 2,212

Bloglovin - 3,906
Twitter - 5,836
Pinterest - 5,205
Google+ - 2,247
Facebook - 4,384
Linky Followers - 109
Networked Blog - 1,175
Sverve - 574
That's a grand total of 25,648 followers in some form or another (that's up 60 from last week!).

(click on the title to view the entire post)
Four years ago I shared with you one of my layered salad creations:
Mediterranean Many Layered Salad




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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

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Welcome! Wake Up Wednesday Linky #109

Welcome to another Wonderful #WakeUpWednesdayLinky! #109
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 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party

@ Sew Crafty Angel

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We are so excited to have so many amazing bloggers party with us.
Check out this weeks Featured linkups.

Thank you so much to all those who share your blog in our party.

Last week we had  490 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 

We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

Your link will appear on the blogs of

Please take time to visit your hostesses.

 Sew Crafty Angel

            

 Cuddlebug Cuties

          

God's Growing Garden

               

 Epic Mommy Adventures

                    

 Natalie Loves Beauty

               

 Heidi's Wanderings

          

 The Organized Dream

                  

Eclectic Red Barn

                  

iknead2knit

                 

Pretty Shabby UK

                

This weeks 

Featured Bloggers

I'm Possible
Called To Be MORE

Ever feel like it's just impossible? Its too high a goal? Too hard to accomplish? Too lofty a height? Too scary? Too big a thing for little old you. So you tell yourself its impossible, that you'll never touch those stars... Me too. All the time!

Happy Homemaker Monday
Simple Joys of Home

Welcome to another week everyone!   How was your weekend?  We took a trip to the library and had fun choosing books with the girls.

Book Quote Poster
Over The Apple Tree

Make personal, one-of-a-kind wall art by printing and framing your favorite quote, book passage, or music lyric.

Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups Recipe
Hello Creative Family

Today is such an exciting day for me. First of all… I’VE BEEN PUBLISHED IN A COOKBOOK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!!!! Second, I’m going to share with you a delicious (and healthy) dark chocolate almond butter cups recipe from the book! These almond butter cups are the things that dreams are made of!

The Paradox of Mercy
My Life As An Adventure

I have been in need of so much mercy in my life. And I have never ever earned it.  Not even once.
I have received so much mercy in my life.  And often as I let it do its work in my parched soul, I have found myself filled with gratitude and shame.  Gratitude for the mercy, and shame for needing it.

THIN MINT CUPCAKES
 Just 2 Sisters

It's Girl Scout Cookie time! Stock up and make Thin Mint Cupcakes.

It’s that time of year when you can find Girl Scout Cookies just about anywhere. If the girl next store wasn’t selling them, head to your local mall or grocery store and you’ll will probably find a booth where you can purchase your favorites. Speaking of favorites, those darn Thin Mint Cookies are my weakness.

Coconut Almond Energy Bites
Simple and Savory

These tasty coconut almond energy bites are made with only 4 ingredients: medjool dates, almonds, coconut flakes and cacao powder.  They are nutritious snack when you are craving something sweet.

 

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Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, crafts, decorating, fashion, makeup, health & fitness, recipes, mommy moments -- anything at all, as long as it is family-friendly.  Please visit some other bloggers and make some new friends and say hello to old friends..

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An InLinkz Link-up

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