A Visit To Como Conservatory and Zoo

Last Friday, my friend and I took a brief escape from the ice and snow of early winter, and whiled away some peaceful hours at Como Conservatory. It is one of my favorite places to visit and has been since 1962 when we lived in Roseville, and my little ones and I would spend hours in that area at the zoo, doing rides for the children and feeding the ducks over on the pond by that beautiful pavillion. Bruce and Donna and I loved to ride the paddle boats there and watch the ducks swimming along side of us.

The conservatory has expanded over the years and now has added the Tropical Rain Forest, with Chloe, the sloth who always hangs out in her tree, the Fern Room, Bonsaii Room, a very nice gift shop and a good cafeteria. Of all of the rooms, I enjoy the seasonal changing Sunken Garden, with that beautiful statue of a slender maiden poised overlooking the water lily pond. When I walk into the Conservatory, I immediately get a sense of tranquillity as the warm and humid tropical air engulfs me. The sight of a variety of orchids on some of the trees and landscape adds a special rainbow of colors to the lush greenery within. The peaceful flow of water bubbling out of fountains and flowing over rocks awakens and calms the senses as nothing else. At times, I have seen a solitary person simply sitting on a bench, writing or sketching so as to carry their impressions as a constant reminder of a haven to seek when in need.

We walked awhile outside in the sunshine, but the wind was cold and we cut short seeing all of the animals. However, we saw the two large polar bears, who were twin brothers, and happy to be back in their new surroundings with a nice indoor area covered with hay, and two open doorways which led them to the water for swimming or drinking. They looked pretty content in their surroundings.

The baby giraffe was a beauty also, and we were told that , like snowflakes, no two giraffes have the same identical spotted markings. They are a graceful animal with a long neck and such a small head and pretty face perched atop that neck.

In the summertime , we will visit all of the animals as well as walk the many well kept walkways that are spread throughout the park. The butterfly garden, which is across from the conservatory, is also a favorite spot of mine because it attracts so many pretty butterflies. I remember fondly, walking through the tent, that housed a large collection of butterflies which were gathered from around the world. It was like music to the spirit to watch them flutter among the many flowers which attracted them.

The simple joys of ordinary moments spent enjoying nature, or an artistic experience, are like sunshine for the soul and can brighten any cold and wintery day, just by recalling them to the window of our mind. Let us always try to find beauty in the world of nature around us, or in the spirit of loving relationships.

Everyday Miracles

People think of miracles as being some dramatic, eye opening event that changes the course of their life. I do not feel that way because I have had many ordinary miracles happen in my everyday life, in answer to prayers. Back in 1957, when we lived in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, my first one that I recall happened.

I had this wonderful little dog, Susie, that I loved so much. She was the prettiest tan and white fox terrier with the most loving disposition. Susie was so dainty that if I gave her a tiny biscuit, she would take it to a carpet and break it in two before she ate it. She was my baby before my children came along, so she was a special addition to my life.

I always would put Susie outside with her leash attached to a long wire runway so she could get her exercise, unless I would go for a walk with her. One day, however, she somehow got loose and I could not find her anywhere. I cried and called her name but she was nowhere to be found. I tearfully prayed for the return of my beloved dog from wherever she might be. Not long after that, as I searched the big yard for her, I looked up toward the house and there she was standing, just looking at me. To me, that was a miracle and an answer to my prayer.

One other time, we had a large herd of wild cattle that was delivered to us from Montana. They were used to running free on the range. My husband had them unloaded into a large wooded pasture to graze until time came for branding and resale. A team of six men came to gather them in but failed miserably to do the job. My husband was away most of the time so I was left to tend the farm and I was determined to capture those cattle becauase I knew there must be a way. My younger farm helper and I set up a hog wire fence in a oval shape near the woods, and hung corn stalks from the fence to tempt them. We waited while I earnestly prayed that they would come. I know you may not believe me, but after an hour or so, the cattle came slowly walking in a single row over to that handmade corral and went in and stayed there, even though it was only 4 feet high and they could have jumped over it. It was then and now, a miracle in every sense of the word. A simple answer to an earnest prayer.

There have been so many everyday miracles in my life, not just in answer to prayers, but the very fact that each day comes to us bringing miracles all around us and they happen in ordinary ways. The transition of a butterfly from a cocoon or the dainty flowers that lift out of the earth in the springtime to share their beauty and fragrance, are a few of those everday miracles which brighten our lives. In this month of Thanksgiving, and always, let us give thanks for the blessings and small miracles that touch our lives every day of the year. Sharing our stories with one another also will enrich the lives of others who know that anything is possible when we believe in miracles.