October 30, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

Halloween is sweet!!

Monday I, Zeb the Duck, showed you pictures of pumpkins, lots of pumpkins, and photos of Halloween decorations people had in their yards. This Halloween is so exciting. But I didn’t know all of it.

Mom and my Alaska uncle took my Alaska cousin and me, Zeb, trick or treating. It was so much fun. We went to houses and said “trick or treat” and the people gave us candy. Fantastic!

This is what we brought home.

Halloween is a great holiday for kids and ducks!

Wish Halloween came more than once a year!

October 28, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

So Many Pumpkins. Halloween??

Zeb the Duck here. Things have changed. Remember I was just born this summer. Nights are cold. We have had some snow. Leaves turned colors and are falling. I saw many gold leaves; now these red leaves.

Love red leaves

But, what is with all the pumpkins?

We went to the store this week and so any pumpkins, scarecrows and ghosts in front of the building.

So many pumpkins

Just look at these.

Ghost with pumpkins??

Mom bought some pumpkins and then went back and bought some more.

Driving home, we saw lots of pumpkins on the ground.

More pumpkins

Pumpkins being sold for Halloween. Lots of pumpkins. Some are so big and then we found these that are my size.

Great! Something my size. We bought some of these, too

Some people decorate for Halloween. These are great decorations. Here is the headless horseman riding toward grave markers.

The Headless horseman still rides

Here is a carriage and it is on the roof of the house.

Halloween carriage

What is going on??

Mom says that this Thursday is Halloween. On Halloween kids, many with parents, will wear costumes and come to houses and say “Trick or Treat”. These kids will expect us to give them candy. What a great day for kids. Again, I wish I were human. I am looking forward to Halloween to see all the action. Strange human behavior, but I, Zeb the duck, like it.

October 26, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

Palomas, Mexico

I, Zeb the duck, am still excited about visiting Mexico for a few hours. Yesterday I told you about the Pink Store in Palomas.

This is a great place

It was fascinating and had skeleton items for Mexico’s Day of the Dead. If you missed my experience, please go back and read it. I love that store.

But, as much fun as shopping was for me, there are other parts of Palomas. There were a few other stores. There are liquor stores and pharmacies. We did talk to a few street vendors. One man was selling sunglasses, another sold straw hats and another sold DVDs and CDs. There were more restaurants in town. They had a tempting aroma as we walked past. We eat a lot, but one lunch was enough. These ladies were dressed up and looked very nice.

Dressed up and so pretty

Thought you would like to see them.

I did see a lot of dental and vision offices.

Medical tourism is big here

I learned that many people come to Mexico to have medical procedures done. Being a duck, I don’t worry about dental and vision problems, but humans do.

Leaving the main shopping and tourist area, we walked to the park. Most Mexican towns have a large plaza in town. Sometimes this is called the alameda. In Palomas this plaza is very pretty and there is a large gazebo in the center.

Great gazebo in plaza

Lots of grass and trees here and sidewalks leading to the gazebo. I love these plazas.

Across the street from the plaza is an old church.

Old churches are comforting. Love them

We were there Sunday, and mass just ended as we arrived. Everybody looked so nice coming out of the church.

A few blocks from the plaza we saw this statue of a horseman.

This is a big horse

A large statue but the sculpture had great detail on it. I felt proud to be here.

I know that people are concerned about safety going to Mexican border towns now, but mom and I felt very safe here. Everyone was very nice. There were several Americans in town. Some drove here but most like us, walked across the border. If you are near Columbus, New Mexico, I hope you will come to Palomas. We had a wonderful time here and I know you will enjoy it also. Come to eat, come to shop and come to enjoy the city of Palomas, Mexico. Look at www.palomasmexico.com for more information.

October 25, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

The Pink Store in Palomas, Mexico

Mexico! I just got back from Mexico. Wow! Zeb the duck is now an international traveler.

Zeb the Duck is in Mexico!

We spent a few hours in Palomas, Mexico last weekend. Most of our purchases came from The Pink Store. Let me tell you about this store.

But first, Palomas, Mexico is a border town in the state of Chihuahua. It is across from Columbus, New Mexico, just south of Deming, New Mexico. We drove to the border, parked on the US side and walked into Mexico. So easy. The Pink Store was recommended to us, and this is why. The Pink Store is huge and has everything.

This skeleton lady was the first thing I saw.

She is just too thin

A bit of a shock to me. Mom said that Mexico’s Day of the Dead is Nov 1 and Nov 2. The spirits of the deceased return and much celebrating occurs. I saw lots of skeleton displays.

Skeleton stuff everywhere

Everything seemed so festive.

A skeleton wedding

I was amazed and loved it all.

Mexico produces much pottery and hand blown glass and it is beautiful. These were displayed on a wall,

So festive!

but many more are on shelves. Some of my favorites are the dolls made from cornhusks.

Dolls and a duck

Perhaps a duck on the shelf enhances the display. I wanted to play with these piñatas.

Oh to be a human

Too bad I am not human.

We ate lunch at the Pancho Villa Restaurant in The Pink Store. Excellent food and service. So many choices. A man played music while we ate. He was nice, too. Near the restaurant was a large bar. Looking out the window at the The Pink Store Plaza I saw General Pershing and Pancho Villa shaking hands. I joined them in the handshake.

I love a firm handshake

In the plaza this wooden door caught my attention.

This is a wooden door

The carving on this door was magnificent. Took lots of talent and time to carve this door.

This is just one section of the door. WOW!

Also love the peaceful feeling of a fountain.

Fountain in Pink Store Plaza

I could have stayed all day at The Pink Store, discovering and shopping. Mom bought vanilla, Kahlua and some other souvenirs. Look at this site www.Palomasmexico.com to see more photos of the Pink Store. I will tell you more about Palomas soon.

October 23, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

NRA Whittington Center at Raton, New Mexico

My humans took me to New Mexico. The NRA Whittington Center is 33,000 protected acres.

NRA Whittington Center at Raton New Mexico. Zeb and Alaska uncle.

Within the property, we can shoot on several ranges, we can hunt at certain times of the year and in certain areas, we can hike, ride bikes, drive almost abandoned roads, including those through a former coal mining town.

From coal mining town

This tunnel is left from coal mining operations.

former coal mining area

We even stopped at the remains of the company store.

Not much shopping here today

We could use primitive campsites, RV campsites with water and electricity or stay in guest accommodations with dining facilities. My humans got us a room in Raton, New Mexico.

The Whittington Center has Adventure Camps for young men and women. We were there to celebrate 25 years of Adventure Camp. One evening we had a chuck wagon dinner in Coal Canyon. Good food and lots of reminiscing about previous years. Also enjoyed the beautiful setting, surrounded by mountains and beautiful blue sky. On the way out of the canyon, we saw these deer.

Deer watching us watch them

They seemed to enjoy watching us as much as we enjoyed seeing them.

One morning the humans were shooting huge guns on one of the ranges. My Alaska uncle shot the Barrett 50 caliber rifle

Big gun with big noise

and the 338 Lapua Mag rifle. He kept one empty shell casing from each rifle. They are very large. The noise was so loud; it set off the alarm on our car. No reason to lock car out there, so that solved the problem.

One afternoon at a different shooting range at the Whittington Center, a representative from Glock Firearms provided Glock pistols and lots of ammunition. The targets looked like 5 speed limit signs. The shooters had to shot and hit each target in a certain order. They were timed on this event. They shot target one, then two, then five, then four and last target 3. Two of my humans did this.

Shooting a Glock

My Alaska uncle did very well and my Colorado mom was good. She hit the targets, but was a little slower than my uncle. Both did well and had fun. The humans all wear ear protection, but my duck ears really heard the noise.

When the shooting ranges are not in use, this baby antelope with mom decided it was snack time.

Snack time on shooting range

At the final evening banquet, my Alaska uncle won a door prize, eye protection glasses for shooting, or for using power tools. My Colorado mom has these glasses she uses when cutting branches with a small electric chain saw. My uncle seems to win a lot of prizes at these conventions. Previously he won a gun safe and another time, he won a gun. Mom won nothing. Lucky she has me.

In the main building, there is a gift shop, of course, and also a really interesting museum. The Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest has lots of gun information, lots of American history, lots of New Mexico history, and artifacts from World Wars I and II. They change the exhibits often, so go and go often. The Whittington Center is open to the public, not just NRA members. There is something to interest everyone. Even Zeb the duck. Stop in soon and see for yourself what this is all about. For more information visit www.nrawc.org

October 21, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

Colorado has an Alligator Farm

Alligators are not usually a duck’s best friends, but this was fun—and a little scary for me. North of Alamosa, Colorado, we visited the alligator and reptile farm.

Colorado Alligators!!!

I saw lizards, snakes, turtles, even an opossum, fish, and many alligators.

alligators. Friend or foe??

Why alligators in Colorado?

These guys started a fish farm raising tilapia, and needed a way to dispose of the fish waste. They brought a few alligators to be the garbage disposals. The alligators reproduced, the pubic wanted to see the alligators, so these smart guys charged people to see the alligators. Then sold food to feed the alligators. Also the alligators took care of the unwanted fish parts. And the place just keeps growing and they are still raising and selling tilapia. These are smart, and very nice, businessmen.

Soon after paying the entrance fee, my humans were holding alligators!

My Alaska uncle with an alligator!!

Large African Sulcata turtles

African turtle inside. Not alligator food

were wandering the reptile area. Hot and tropical in there. Outside alligators were in enclosed lake areas. The gators loved the alligator food tossed to them. Looked like big chunks of Purina dog food to me, but I was happy the alligators liked that food and were not looking at me as a snack.

Look but don’t eat!

Let’s talk about unusual human behavior. There was a group of girls, and a guy. This was a wedding party and the bachelorette party (Yes, the bride and attendants) came to wrestle alligators. With an employee guide, into the water a young lady goes. Drags the alligator out by his tail. Sits on the alligator, holds him under the chin and pulls his head up.

She is a very brave bride!!

My, alligators have big mouths! Was fascinating to watch, but my humans stayed with me, outside the alligator area.

An alligator movie star, Morris, was present. Morris the alligator starred in several movies made in Hollywood, including Happy Gilmore. Near Morris was the white albino alligator.

Albino alligator

This made a nice change for me. Didn’t look as threatening as all the green/black alligators. Still had a big mouth full of sharp teeth though.

Walking along paths by the alligators, we saw this colorful bird.

A bird near alligators

I thought this blog needed some of my feathered kind, so here are a few. Even a wild duck, perhaps a distant relative.

Possible cousin??

An alligator farm in Colorado is just too weird to miss.

You will want to see these alligators. Visit soon

You will enjoy the experience. I did and didn’t even come close to being their snack. Visit www.coloradogators.net for more information.

October 19, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

Four Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients

WOW!! Zeb the Duck visits the memorial to 4 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. At the time the monument was built, Pueblo, Colorado was the only city to have 4 living Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.

At the entrance to the Pueblo Convention Center, I saw 4 statues dedicated to 4 American heroes.

in Pueblo, Colorado

They are:

William J Crawford, a WWII veteran enlisted in the US Army.

Carl L. Sitter, a Korean conflict veteran, a US Marine

Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy, a Korean conflict veteran, a US Marine.

Drew D. Dix, a Vietnam War veteran, enlisted in the US Army.

These soldiers and many others helped make the United States of America a great country. Zeb and all Colorado Traveling Ducks are in awe of their accomplishments and service. Thank you all military persons, active and veterans.

A tribute to Medal of Honor recipients in Pueblo Colorado

This memorial is located in Pueblo, Colorado. It is just a short distance from I-25, near the River Walk. I am proud to be an American duck and to have visited this memorial. You will want to see it also and enjoy the river walk.

October 18, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

Denver’s Downtown Aquarium

We went to the aquarium.

Going to the Aquarium

My humans told me the aquarium has many species of fish, otters, turtles, and many creatures that live in the sea. I am so excited to go. Through the glass, I will be able to see what the fish see under water.

Humans are always hungry, so first we go to the restaurant. This is no ordinary restaurant. From all tables and booths we see an aquarium, built just for the restaurant. Hundreds of fish swim constantly. Homer, my favorite grouper, swims and then stops and stares at me.

My friend, Homer the grouper

Fascinating, but a little creepy. My family laughs and thinks he is so cute. Guess he is.

Waldo is a bright green eel.

Waldo the eel swimming with water bubbles

He seems to stay in a certain area of the aquarium. He is by the kid’s party area and sometimes swims closer to our booth. He is long with no fins and glides through the water. Waldo is my favorite because green is one of my favorite colors.

This restaurant specializes in seafood. I think that is strange. We come to see fish and they want us to eat fish. The food was very good. My humans stayed in the restaurant a long time eating, laughing and watching the fish. After they ate, we walked around the dining area to see other fish in the dining room aquarium. You can go to the restaurant without paying to go to the aquarium. Maybe we will stop there for lunch some day. This was a happy place for me.

Leaving the restaurant, we went through the gift shop and then bought tickets for the aquarium. There are so many exhibits, each with an aquarium and lots of sea creatures. My mom and Soapy’s mom loved the small otters. We saw the desert exhibit. Complete with rattlesnakes. The snake’s head was actually kind of cute, especially since he was behind the glass and could not touch us.

This rattlesnake is watching me watch him

I do not want a snake to bite me.

In the rainforest exhibit we saw piranhas. Lots of them. They can eat a cow really fast. Again, thankful for the glass separating us. We saw starfish, more eels, gray and silver fish, fish with yellow tails, big fish, small fish and other sea creatures.

One exhibit showed how flash floods happen. They occur very fast during periods of heavy rains. The water rushes out of the mountains so fast and so strong, the water carries everything and everybody away. Flash floods can carry cars, animals and people. People die in these floods, so be careful during heavy rains in the mountains. Climb high, you cannot run or drive fast enough. And, take your duck to safety also. We cannot swim fast enough to escape.

Just when I, Zeb the duck, thought I had seen about every fish, we came to an exhibit, under renovation, but with a tiger in the cage. Tigers in the aquarium??? My mom loved it. She thinks tigers are fascinating animals. Soon we came to a huge aquarium with the sharks.

Sharks!!

Wow! These guys are big. We stayed there awhile listening to the shark information and just watching these huge animals. Sharks were swimming in the ocean when dinosaurs walked on the earth.

At the end of our aquarium explorations, several stingray were in a shallow pool

Stingray

and we could touch them. What a fun finale.

Resting after exploring the aquarium

To learn more visit www.aquariumrestaurants.com I will look for you next time I visit Denver’s Downtown Aquarium.

October 16, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

Wildlife Sanctuary in Colorado

Lions and tigers and bears, oh yes. Sunday we all went to the Wildlife Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado. It was wonderful. We saw so many wild animals and none of them in small cages. It was great—and safe.

Wildlife Sanctuary with JB Duck, Soapy Duck and Zeb Duck

This wildlife sanctuary provides homes and care for rescued wild animals. They seem to have mostly lions, tigers,

Lounging Tiger

bears, and wolfs.

Wolf at rest

But we also saw a camel and several llamas.

After arriving and paying the admission fee, we paid $15 per adult; we walked on the elevated walkway. The walkway is about a mile long. We looked down on the animals. The animals have areas of several acres to roam. With people above them the animals are not afraid, nor were we. The animal areas have balls, water areas, structures the animals may climb and tunnels in the ground.

These animals have all been rescued from abusive situations.

Bear happy at home

The animals have never lived in the wild and they never will. These formerly caged animals do not have the survival instincts of the wild animals. This is their final home.

Tiger enjoying a meal

The Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to visit and learn how the animals live and play.

This lion was one of 25 rescued from Bolivian zoos. He is inside, but his door is open. Shortly after this photo he went outside again. Freedom he never knew before coming to the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lion rescued from Bolivia. Is he talking to us??

We three Colorado Traveling Ducks thought it was great and we believe that you will enjoy visiting here. Please visit www.wildanimalsanctuary.org To learn about this Wildlife Sanctuary and see the amazing photos and stories available.

We 3 ducks hope to see you here soon.

This is a wonderful place for people and for animals that had been without hope before being rescued. Please visit and tell all your friends.

October 14, 2013 by coloradotravelingducks

FESTIVAL OF SCARECROWS

WOW! I saw so many scarecrows Saturday. I didn’t even know what a scarecrow was a few days ago.

I am on a scarecrow

Olde Arvada had scarecrows all over Olde Arvada Square Saturday. I learned that scarecrows could be placed in fields to scare the crows away from the fields. The ones I saw were so cute. Not at all scary.

Guess the crows didn’t think the scarecrows were scary either. There was a man walking around with a straw hat and a crow on his shoulder. Here he is judging the pumpkin pie eating contest.

He has a crow on his shoulder

Contestants cannot use hands to eat. Quite a messy event.

Pumpkins were on the ground, pumpkins were decorated for Halloween and there was a contest for best pumpkin dish. Ducks were not allowed to judge the food. Too bad. It all looked delicious.

Gunnysacks were available for races. This was new to me. Kids, and parents, stand in a gunnysack and try to run.

Getting a little help

Looked crazy, but everybody seemed to be having fun. As I attend more festivals I am sure I will see more of these games. Remember, I was only born this summer.

A tractor pulled a hay wagon and the kids and parents could ride on the hay wagon.

This looks fun

We even saw a few alpacas. The alpacas, similar to llamas, were adorable. A mom and a young alpaca posed for pictures.

Baby alpaca watching me

Mom alpaca had her head in straw

They sure have long necks.

Alpaca. Long neck and so sweet

Lots of booths at the festival. Many selling souvenirs and many selling food and beverages. The pulled pork sure smelled good. They had mom’s favorite kettle corn booth. I enjoyed it also.

Barney the Dinosaur

The parade begins

led the parade of children (and adults) in costumes.

I love butterflies

This was so much fun. So many costumes. Mom said this was for Halloween. I have never experienced Halloween, but I am looking forward to it. I hope you were there Saturday. It was a great annual festival.

Festival of Scarecrows

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