Here we have the special bonus of today's post: Sam's Diorama Extravaganza!
Now all of you ought to be aware that Sam and I have been together for quite some time. I mean, when we started dating Pluto was still a planet. So it's not very often that we surprise each other. Today, however, I learned something very new and pretty dang surprising: Sam has a real thing for dioramas. You know, those weird little "nature windows" full of stuffed creatures that are creepily lifelike, but juuuuuuust off enough to constantly remind you "yep, I'm dead. No comin' back to life for me!" I kind of assumed we'd be skimming over that part of the museum, cuz we're wussy wusses who don't like looking at dead things. Well, Sam really really likes them. In diorama form. Apparently. So I decided to hand the camera over to him for awhile, to introduce you all to the wonderful world of dioramas.
Take it away, Sam!
I never knew that my love of dioramas was an uncommon love. How could these little vignettes of nature not be awesome?
This is a kind of vole native to Africa. It might have been my favorite part of the Museum. It was hidden in some tall grass right between..
... these defensive Ostrich parents...
... and this group of egg seeking Warthogs. Does the vole know he is in the path of imminent danger? Did he happen upon that branch? Or is he perhaps some kind of peace keeper? Is he there to make sure the Birds and the Boars Suspend Hostilities? We will never know, but I salute you, small African Vole. I salute you.
It doesn't really come through in the picture, but this is a large pack of Wild Dogs staring intently at a heard of Zebra painted on the wall. They seem to be maybe a mile away, but these guys are ready.
This guy gave me a bad feeling. He was just sitting there, looking around like that. I thought that he might be up to no good. Then I saw his buddy.
Yep, they were definitely bandits of some kind.
This is a falcon nesting in the cliffs on the New Jersey side of the Hudson river as it was one hundred years ago. They almost left the area entirely, but they are now making a come back. They are building nests on apartments near Central Park.
The noble turkey. He was so close to being our national bird. Oh for the America that could have been...
See Below...
I was disappointed that these were not some kind of flying duck/dog.
These Bald Eagles are fighting over some particularly fake looking King Salmon. They remind me of home. Fighting off raptors for my next meal...
(hehehehe... this is amy. I made him keep this one. Sam is apparently running out of things to say.)
Amy has always said that if she were an animals she would be a goose. I felt obliged to photograph these elegant wonders of the natural kingdom. Their babies look really funny.
This bird was trying to hide at the very top of the window and I had to photograph it from a funny angle. Tricky tricky tricky bird.
This is a male impala. I took the picture because this is exactly how Leonard lays down. Back legs a little to one side. One front leg straight out and the other with the paw tucked under. It's eerie.
Love to all
4 comments:
Have either of you seen 1776? There's a whole thing between Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin about what the national bird should be. I've only seen the movie, but it has Mr. Feeney from "Boy Meets World" as John Adams. Pretty Darn Cool.
i. love. dioramas.
you realize that this, too, is also an incredibly geeky post. and that is why i love you. also, "phil" is correct about 1776. it is pure joy.
Those are dioramas? I thought you had to have a shoebox for dioramas...The things one can learn while blogging! Thanks, Sam!
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