Safari

Woo hoo! I am going on a safari! When I look at the roots of the word, it means journey, and I have had many of those. But this one is to see the wild animals on the continent of Africa! The earliest safaris were trading journeys which had caravans traveling long distances to bring supplies from one city to the next. Then the word changed to mean the journey for people who identified different kinds of animals not seen at home, and hunters who shot them for sport. Now, safaris are usually to take pictures of wild animals in their own area and learn more about how they live. Lions, tigers, zebras, hippos – all kinds of animals I don’t see in my neighborhood. Do you have wild animals where you live? Purrs , Gulliver

Stanford mansion

Remember the Governor of California who had to go to his inauguration in a rowboat, and when he came home he had to climb through a second story window to get into his house? This is the house in Sacramento! He had a much bigger one in San Francisco called the Palace which burned down in 1906, and a horse farm in Palo A lot where he later developed a university named after his son – Leland Stanford Jr. University. After her husband died, Mrs. Stanford donated this house to a charity which ran an orphanage for many years. Now owned by the State of California, it is used as a museum and parties and meetings hosted by the current Governor. Purrs, Gulliver

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Norway

Norway’s name means “the northward route” or the north way. Its nickname is the land of the Midnight Sun because they have long summer days. There are many islands and fjords along Norway’s coast, and the only way to get around is by boat. Norway has 16 ships that deliver mail, supplies and people to remote towns and villages. The Vikings were from Norway and did a lot of exploring in their long boats. There is even a cat breed called the Norwegian Forest cat. Hmm, maybe I have some Viking blood – I like to explore! Purrs, Gulliver

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A Walking Volcano

A walking volcano? The Pinnacles rocks are all that’s left of 23,000,000-year-old Neenach Volcano. It once stood 8,000 feet high near what is now Lancaster, CA, 195 miles south. The San Andreas Fault ripped the old volcano in half and moves the land slowly north. It took the rocks a few million years to get here and according to the National Park Service, they’re still moving – about an inch per year. At that rate, they’ll be near where San Francisco is now in another 6 million years. The Pinnacles are a home for many kinds of wildlife, including the endangered California condor. These ancient birds can often be seen soaring on their 9 1/2-foot wide wings, looking for food. There are only about 425 California condors left in the world! Purrs, Gulliver

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Flags

The use of flags goes back 3,000 years. People have raised flags on Mount Everest and the Moon. Red is the most popular color used on a flag, with about 75 percent of all national flags using that color. White is a close second, used on about 70 percent of the national flags, and blue is on 50 percent of the flags. Green, black, orange and yellow are some of the other colors used. Only one national flag uses purple – do you know which one? What would your personal flag look like? Purrs, Gulliver

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California missions

The California Missions are an important part of our history. I thought they were built starting in San Diego and moving north, but found out they hopscotched up and down the lower part of California. I have not visited all of the sites, but the one I like best so far is Mission San Juan Bautista because there is a cat door carved right in the people door to let the cats come in the church at night and catch the mice that were always looking for food. Cats worked as hard a people to earn their daily keep! Do you have a favorite mission? Purrs, Gulliver

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Rocky Mountains

“Rocky Mountain High…Colorado” sang John Denver on the radio as we drove through Colorado. I tried to sing along, but my mom complained I was yowling too loudly. Such a critic! We headed to the Rocky Mountain National Park to do some hiking and maybe even see bighorn sheep, moose, elk or deer. I don’t want to see any bears or mountain lions – they might eat me! While the Rocky Mountain National Park is in Colorado, the Rocky Mountains are a series of mountain rangeswhich spread more than 3,000 miles from central New Mexico to northwest Alaska and include the Canadian National Parks of Banff, Jaspar, and Kootenay, while in the United States the mountains include Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks among others. I am looking forward to climbing Pike’s Peak, which has such beautiful views it inspired another song –“America the Beautiful”! Purrs, Gulliver

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Carousel

The word “carousel” was first used to describe a game played by Arabian and Turkish horsemen in the 12th century. The game, which involved tossing a clay ball filled with perfume between riders, was played with such seriousness that the Italian crusaders who first observed the game called it a “little war” or “carosello.” In England, carousels have been called roundabouts and galopers. In America, in addition to carousels they have been called whirligigs, flying horses, hobby horses and of course merry-go-rounds. Horses with at least 3 feet touching the floor are called “standing figures.” Horses with two back feet resting on the platform and front feet posed in the air are called “prancers.” Horses with all four feet in the air and called “jumpers” and are the ones that move up and down. Sometimes other animals were added to the carousel like tigers and frogs. FullSizeRender (7) Purrs, Gulliver

Paris

Bon Jour, Parlez vous Francais? Good Day, do you speak French? Paris is the city of romance, and true to its reputation, last spring I met a sweet young kitten I adored. Sadly, the affair of the heart did not last, and I am single once again. In addition to romance, France is famous for its food, wines, and many kinds of cheese. The smellier the cheese, the better it tastes! Au revoir! Good bye! Purrs, Gulliver

Paris