Spring Lambs (& Goats, Alligators, Zebras & Big Shaggy Things...)

My friend, Crystle, also one of the volunteer photographers for the 2012 DSANV calendar, invited me along to one of the shoots on Saturday morning.  Heck, it was at the local zoo and with a mother, father and 14-month old boy that I've been wanting to meet, so the stars aligned and off we went. 

My girl has no fear.  Feeding the sheep like an old pro, hand outstretched and proffering pellets of something-sheep-and-goats-like-to-eat-but-looks-like-rabbit-poo, she showed she has the touch.  The touch of a compassionate soul, and of one who nurtures.  That's Samantha, through and through.

The day was absolutely gorgeous, with crystal-blue skies and a soft breeze. I had actually forgotten how amazing it is to visit animals at this time of year, too, when the babies are taking their first breaths, drinking their first gulps of milk, and seeing the sun for the first time. At Crystle's request, the zoo staff had agreed to provide some baby goats for the little boy (and Samantha, of course!) to be photographed with. 

Yes, my girl has the touch.  This little kid's name is Irene.  And, get this, she was 2 days old.  I felt really honored to be in the presence of such a trusting and delicate little creature, allowed to watch two such trusting and delicate little creatures interact with each other.  Samantha is so gentle, and just knows.

I'm pretty sure she would have wanted to go in and give the alligators just such a gentle, delicate welcoming, but I was sure to put the brakes on that by telling her that alligators eat little girls.  Was that wrong?  A little bit of healthy fear can't hurt, right?

I'm not sure if any of you have ever had the opportunity to take a tractor-pulled wagon ride out into the middle of a tundra to meet some pretty shady characters up-close and personal or not, but having done it before, I knew to sit in the center row of seats, leaving the outer seating to my unsuspecting friends, one of whom is not much of an animal person.  She took it all in good-natured stride, though, especially since the ostriches and the huge beast with the 3-foot horns (not pictured here, but in this blog post from last year) happend to visit the other side of the wagon, fortunately.

A perfect spring day.  *sigh*