At The Zoo



      Feodora looked up, leaned back the novel that she was reading, and asked me a simple question.


      She wanted to get out and about, so I asked her where she wanted to go. She reminded me that I had promised to take her to the Toledo Zoo. I suggested that she change into some pants and a top so that the wind would not be blowing up her dress.


      This was our first visit to the Toledo Zoo together. Feodora attracted a few questions, mostly from children. We went on a day when the local residents can get in for free (from 10:00am to noon), so there was quite a crowd early in the day.


      The weather was warm and dry, but there was a nice breeze that kept it from becomming too hot. We spent about two hours in the park. We could not get to some of the exhibits because of the crowds. I did not want to get in the way of the real people who came to see the animals.


      This is another 'Kodak Picture" place. I cannot even remember how many pictures I have taken in this same spot over the years.


      The zoo has a number of these animal statues. When my kids were small, (heck! when I was small!), one of our simple joys was to 'ride' on some of the statues and get our pictures taken.



Same area, differnt angle.



      The picture above is number 9000 (taken on 13 June 2011) on the Canon EOS Rebel Xs digital camera. I bought this camera on 9 April 2009. Not all of my pictures were worth saving, but I still went through a lot of them!



Animal topiary.



Another of the zoo's animal statues. I used to 'ride' on this one when I was a kid!



      At one time the cat house (Carnivora) held man-eating beasts. The cats are now outside in natural enclosures, and the people go inside this building to eat! As far as is possible, the Toledo Zoo has eliminated cages in favor of natural enviromnments for their animals. There are still cages for when the animals must be kept inside.


      We did not go into the Conservatory or the Butterfly Conservation Center. There were a lot of people there and we did not want to get in the way. When we go back again, it will be mid-week when the crowds are a lot thinner and we can get to more of the exhibits.


This is the pool as seen from in front of the Conservatory


      Because of my love of Paul Simon's music (At The Zoo lyrics), I did ask the usual questions. I can verify that orangutans are indeed "skeptical of changes in their cages", but I did learn that "the zookeeper is not particularly fond of rum"!

      There were 96 images in this set. Most of the other pictures were of the animals and exhibits, and Feodora's was not in the picture. I placed 27 images in Feodora's gallery.

  


Feodora's other photo shoots can be accessed from this index.


      Feodora Verochka Tychovich is a life-sized platinum-cured silicone rubber doll. She was produced by Oleg Bratkov (a gifted sculptor) and his beautiful wife Irina (excellent makeup artist), at Anatomical Doll in Vladivostok, Russia. Feodora has Face 3 and Body 3 of their product line. She has a fully articulated skeleton and can pose in most natural ways that a human can pose. There are 'stops' on the skeleton that prevent her from posing in unnatural ways. This also helps to prevent damage to the silicone.

      She is wearing the White Button-Down Top, the Comfort Waist White Pant, the Shades of Brights necklace and earring set (in White), the Heart of the Crusade Pin, the Scroll Cuff Watch, the Goldtone Marquise Ring, and the Aviator Sunglasses, all from Avon. Her tennis shoes are from Wal Mart. Her wig (from Forever Young) was given to her by Irina at Anatomical Doll.



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