One of the nicest things you can do with the kids as Spring arrives is to head to the zoo. Today, we did just that. It was the perfect way to spend St. Patrick’s Day weekend, even if none of the animals was sporting a bit of the green in honor of the holiday. (Although the peacocks were showing plenty of other colors!)

Photo by K Thomas

Our little zoo is just the right size for a trip with young children and has a really nice picnic and play area attached. I don’t know if the kids had more fun visiting the animals or climbing on the play equipment, but I know I had fun seeing some of the animals up close.

We saw some baby goats, but if you wait a bit longer and go to the zoo for Easter or spring break, you may be able to see some more exotic  babies, like gibbons or wombats. (If you can’t wait to get a baby zoo animal fix, check out ZooBorns. These guys are soo cute.)

Don’t forget to check to see if your zoo has any spring time specials. Our local zoo doesn’t, but the Maryland Zoo at Baltimore is having a grand opening special today and tomorrow where admission is only $7 for kids and adults. Other zoos do egg hunts during the Easter holiday.

Photo by K. Thomas

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Tonight we turn our clocks ahead…and get up an hour earlier in the morning.  I enjoy the longer evenings of daylight and somehow find I get so much more done.  Do you find this allows you more time for quilting, or do you find the darker winter evenings more condusive to quilting.

However, until the year approaches its longest day, in June, our mornings remain darker.  If we’re earlier risers, we’ll find it dark or dawn.  But…we may have the glorious adventure of watching the sunrise rather than having it fully daylight when we get up.

Do you find Daylight Savings Time affecting your schedule and lifestyle?

For further information about Daylight Saving Time…it’s history and facts and figures:

About Daylight Saving Time (a web site)

Books:

Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time by David Prerau

Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time by Michael Downing

Time for Change: Setting Clocks Forward by One Hour Throughout the Year by Mayer Hillman

Crafting Springtime Gifts: 25 Adorable Projects Featuring Bunnies, Chicke, Lambs & Other Springtome Favorites by Tone Finnanger

The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

For information on obtaining these books, check out my pages, Books About Spring & Daylight Saving Time.

(Amazon image)

                                        Bloggers in the b5media Arts and Design Channel participated in their Springtime Showcase today, with each writing something on their blog that had to do with this time of year.  Chloe hosted the Showcase at her Tangled Thread blog.

Quilting and Patchwork joined the Showcase with Quilting in the Garden & Other Spring Thoughts. 

Has springtime inspired you in your crafts, quilting, art and cultural pursuits?