Animal Farm

To finish off the three-day long weekend of family time, we ended up driving to a kind of farm where they have some different kinds of animals to see, as well as some activities to do for kids, like peddle cars, trampolines and a jumping castle. While they have a small cafe there, we also took some sausages to grill on one of the several cooking areas in the park.  >That was my best shot from the day. They have a few different kinds of animals, with an ostrich, some reindeer, some deer, rabbits, pigs, llamas, alpacas, sheep, cows, donkeys and a couple degu - a cute rat-like thing from Chile. >The only challenge we had was getting there. --- The place isn't that far away (about 50 km - 30 mi), but the navigator took us on a strange route which went on a goat track road through dense forest. There was no turning back at that point, so it was just crossing fingers and hoping that it wouldn't end in a dead end. We found out later that there is a much, much, much easier route - *mostly on a highway.* But, it is always good to have a bit of unexpected adventure. --- --- We have actually been here before, but it was about four years ago when Smallsteps was little. It was the first place she ever had an ice cream kind of thing, which was all fruit juice - and she loved it. She of course doesn't remember the trip, but this time she also got to do a bit of a pony ride and could peddle the cars for herself without me. > She was a demon on the road. --- --- Sometimes I feel like the animals are sad at these places, but it was interesting to see that their eyes were bright and they seemed to be enjoying the attention of the children feeding them leaves and grass, and being patted. The staff seem to take good care of the animals here, which is of course the way it out to be.  That is a degu. Supposedly, they make good pets and will live in captivity about eight years - but I am not sure if it is a replacement for a dog. I am not ready for a new dog in the family yet, because I would like to travel a bit more and we don't have anyone to look after one anymore.    Again, I will mention how "simple" (basic) Finns are, where there really doesn't have to be much in order to have a good time. This place was great for smaller kids, and there was probably a few hundred people there throughout the day, enjoying the warmish, dry weather, and their kids running a bit freer than perhaps they do in the suburbs.  Tomorrow it is back to work for the last week before vacation, so hopefully this longer break gives me enough energy to make it through what is looking to be a very long and busy week ahead. Long days, many tasks, and possibly for very little, if any reward. Perhaps it would be better to live a life in a cage, being fattened up on hand-fed grass. Taraz [ Gen1: Hive ] Olympus EM-1 12-40mm 40-150mm