A Full Day = A Tired Webgal

Hello all, yes, I'm still blogging at a better pace....miracles do happen!

Today I took my usual trip to the Des Moines Farmer's Market. Now if I haven't said this before, I'll say it now (though I'm really sure I've said it before), I LOVE the farmer's market. I typically go very early to make sure I get in on the "good" produce before it sells out. Today was no different. I was there in time to snag some Iowa grown strawberries (score!). But first I had to stand in line for a really long time to get my breakfast burrito. I love that burrito, but the line is a little nuts. I think I'll try the crepe stand next time. I've also been meaning to try the papusa stand (loved them the first time I tried), but haven't been in a papusa state of mind that early yet.

I also scored some fresh eggs and some chemical free radishes. I saw a post on Green Lite Bites for roasted radishes and I was intrigued. And hey...a bunch of radishes was only a dollar. Awesome!

One last thing I had to try was a suggestion from Kristin of Iowa Girl Eats. I typically buy goat cheese from Northern Prairie Chevre (and LOVE it). But she suggested I also try out Reicherts Dairy Air, so I did and wow! Great taste and texture! I'll be visiting both places. (I got the chive chevre, by the way)

So after my wonderful hour downtown I headed home to relax a bit before my first giraffe feeding shift of the season at the Blank Park Zoo. YAY!

It was insanely busy when I got there. Seriously...it's a beautiful day, but I haven't seen crowds like that this early on....in well, ever. But it was great! It was literally the first public giraffe feeding of the year, so I was a little worried we'd even get the giraffes to visit the feeding deck. I did not need to worry. All four visited at one time or another. Though two were definitely the most interested. New this year is that instead of feeding the Rye crisp like cracker, we are feeding them romaine lettuce, which was another thing I wasn't sure would go well, but it did (after a little prodding for one picky, spoiled giraffe). The three feedings lasted on average an hour (and that's a loooong time for giraffes to feed). So it was a great success. One of the people I helped feed was even brought to tears by feeding a giraffe...as it turns out it was a life-long dream of hers. Aww. And then I started crying too because I'm a bit empathic that way. What a great moment to be a part of.

I was so happy to get to see and interact with the giraffes again. I never tire of them and their unique personalities.

And now that I'm home, I'm ready for a night of relaxing and catching up on Tivo. Hope everybody else had a great Saturday as well!