This week you’re going to have to make do with a bit of a hotch-potch for ABC Wednesday, because I couldn’t find a single location with enough ‘Z’s to make a decent post! So, who knows where that picture up there was taken?
Anyone?
It’s Zion National Park in Utah, and I make no apologies for the number of times I mention Zion in this blog, and how often it creeps into my posts, because it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. And it’s home to a huge amount of wildlife, amongst which there are liZards, and the AriZona Toad. Well, there are coyotes and mountain lions and snakes and tarantulas and birds and tortoises too, but there are no ‘Z’s in those, are there?
Here’s another picture of Zion from that first holiday we took in Utah in 2007.
Just gorgeous, isn’t it? And I don’t know about you, but to me it looks a little bit like dark zigzags in that rock! Now, I know there are both volcanic rocks and petrified sand dunes in Zion, but I’m not sure which are responsible for this landscape. Looks volcanic, but is it the wrong colour? Surely it’s sandstone?
Anyway. Also on this trip we stayed in a little town called Boulder City, not far from Las Vegas. It was a strange and interesting town, and we spent a day wandering around, taking in the atmosphere, buying hats and finding little cafes … and this!
See that? Zoltar! Isn’t that the very same wish-granting machine that was featured in the movie ‘Big’? Didn’t Tom Hanks tell Zoltar that he wanted to be big, and the next morning he was? I thought so, but I was too chicken to try it out for myself.
Now, who knows where this next picture was taken?
No, I don’t know either .. but it’s the HertZ car rental desk from one of the several airports that we passed through that trip. You see, our holidays tend to be a compromise between what OH wants to do, and what I want to do. One thing I wouldn’t choose to do is the long drives which OH loves so much, passing through hundreds of miles of countryside and town each day.
And one thing OH wouldn’t choose to do is to spend a long weekend at the Dewey Beach greyhound gathering, in Delaware, but if I agree to do a few days of long drives with him, he will come to Dewey with me – and just look what we saw that year.
Isn’t that the sweetest thing? This gorgeous girl had chosen herself a stuffie from one of the vendors on the strip and she refused to put it down. She carried it all the way back to her motel room, though I bet her jaw ached by the time she got there! Do you see what it is? It’s a huge zebra!
Which leads me nicely back home to that natural history museum in Tring. You see, they have a case full of stuffed zebras. Of course they do.
They have many different types of zebra in those cases, but the strange thing is that all except one were lying down! It made me wonder if they ran out of room to let them stand, but it doesn’t really make sense and I really have no clue why it is.
Also in the museum was this most interesting picture.
Now, I was under the impression that it was impossible to tame a zebra sufficiently to use them for work, but here they are, four of them, harnessed quietly to a carriage! I did a little research and found that zebras were used as fashionable draught animals for carriages quite often in the 19th century, but that the Mountain Zebra is indeed deemed to be unrideable. Interesting.
So that concludes Round 5 of ABC Wednesday! And I have exactly a week to decide if I am going to take part next time, and if so, what will be my theme?
How about you? Are you in?
Wow…very cool. Love the photo of the hound with the zebra.
I also really thought the staircase in the natural history museum was gorgeous.
Very nice post Jay
Great post for the day! I love the photo of the hound and his toy, too! All of your shots are really beautiful! Hope you rest of your week goes well!
Sylvia
Sylvia Kirkwood´s last blog ..Evening, Wisdom and Beauty
Make no apologies for Zion – it IS beautiful.
But Yes, Zoltar I remember quite well from that movie “Big”. FINE choice.
Roger Green´s last blog ..Z is for Zero
Great post, – so many interesting and novel ‘ZZZZes’
I am quite partial to the dog with the zebra toy! That is too cute! And, of course…it’s Zion! Cute post!
carolynUSA´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday / "Z"
I would be a bit apprehensive telling Zoltar what I wish for as well. But perhaps that greyhound had no such problems and told him he wanted a big stripey horse!
And yes, I am in for the next round, I’ve already got about half lined up as well (preparing them in advance…)
Mara´s last blog ..Z is for…
Clever post – looks like a great place! love the pic of the dog with the stuffed zebra – so cute!!!!
Gena @ thinking aloud
South Africa
Gena @ thinking aloud´s last blog ..Blue Bench
That was quite interesting! Especially what you wrote about zebras impossible to tame and yet some of them were used as draught animals. Well we finished this ABC round beautifully and can be satisfied with the results, cannot we?!
You know what the Dutch word for “to sing” is? It’s “zingen”. I sing = ik zing. So your pun about “Zing” is not strange at all.
Reader Wil´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday Z for Zoei singing.
A great collection of Zs, and you travelled far and wide to get them.
Anthony North´s last blog ..ZANY
Great Zs! Zion Ntnl prk IS gorgeous, much texture and color in the rock, beautiful. Enjoyed the zebra info.
You have an amazing collection of “Z’s” You are absolutely correct about Zion.
Kate´s last blog ..ABC WEDNESDAY "Z"=ZERO
My eye was caught immediately by the Zoltar machine. I was trying to remember where I had seen this before, and then you reminded me–”Big”, of course! I thought that was just a prop in the movie; I didn’t know they really existed. I think I would have been afraid to make a wish on it, too:)
Love the greyhound with the stuffed zebra. My Sophie is the same way when she finds a stuffed animal she likes–no one gets it away from her:)
Glad to hear you’re going to continue with the ABC Wednesdays. I hope to visit everyone even if I don’t post every week.
Rose´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday: Snow Day at Grandma’s
You ace clever with the Zs (or is it Zes?) I fell for the zebras with the carriage – that must have been a sight around town!
RuneE´s last blog ..Z is for ZERO (or rather, below ZERO)
Wow, this is really a place to visit! I love the 2 picture with the mountains, absolutely beautiful:-)
Wish you a great day!
Spiderdama´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – Z
I thought zebras were untrainable, too. It’s good to find out otherwise.
I love Zion and it’s fascinating rock formations. Great photos, and a very fun collection of Z’s.
Janie of Utah´s last blog ..Sub-Zero
Jay, Zion is one of our favorite places, though it certainly is crowded most of the time. Years ago we hiked the Narrows with our daughters who were about 8 and 10 at the time – such great memories! I think I’ve taken shots from almost the exact same places as you, so thanks for prompting such good memories.
And the stuffed zebra – that is simply a “classic” shot – such a prize for your beautiful doggie!
Just a great selection of z’s!!!
Amy´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – Z is in FUZZY WUZZY!!!
OMG! The Zoltar! Yes, I think that IS the very same wish-granting machine that was featured in the movie ‘Big’!!!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..Contextual Intelligence
Clever you with all those Zs. As soon as I saw Zoltar I remembered the Tom Hanks film, I hope you didn’t make any rash wishes! I too have to make up my mind about ABC Wednesday, started on it last time, got as far as H and then LIFE took over!
Sistertex – I knew you’d love the greyhound! I did too, but she wasn’t interested in pets and scritches, just getting her prize back home! LOL!
And yes, the staircase was gorgeous. I made sure to include that in the shot of the zebras, as you see!
Sylvia Kirkwood – Thanks! Yes, she was a cutie, wasn’t she?
Roger Green – Wasn’t that a great movie? It might be time to watch that one again!
Hildred – Thank you!
CarolynUSA – I loved the hound with the zebra. And I’ve had that picture a long time waiting for a good time to use it! I posted it on Greytalk at the time, but couldn’t find who she was.
Mara – Ha! You may be right. Perhaps there was a Zoltar machine in Dewey somewhere and that hound asked for a stuffie as big as a pup!
Gena – Thanks! Yes, she was cute. Totally uninterested in anything else, just focussed on that zebra, bless her.
Reader Wil – ‘Zingen’ is Dutch for ’sing’? How perfect! Funny, too! LOL!
Yes, I think we finished ABC Wednesday on a high note.
Anthony North, Carol and Kate – Thanks!
Yes, Zion is a favourite place, that’s for sure.
Rose – There’s no way I could bring myself to try that machine! LOL!
I loved the dog with the zebra toy. Not one of my dogs, and I’ve never been able to find out who she is!
RuneE – Thank you!
Yes, I would imagine the zebra ‘carriage horses’ were quite stunning.
Spiderdama – It’s an amazing place. We hope to get fit enough to do more hiking next time.
Janie – Well, it seems some zebras are untrainable. But I won’t be trying it anytime soon.
Amy – Wow, you hiked The Narrows? Intrepid! I just remember standing and reading the warnings about flash floods and the advice to ‘wedge yourself behind a boulder’ if the worst happened and wanted to get the heck out! ROFL!
Meleah – I think so!
S J Anne – Thanks! No rash wishes here, no! Not after seeing ‘Big’! LOL!
Dog with the stuff zebra is going to be my favorite picture. Zion park looks breath taking though.
Paul Wynn´s last blog ..Welcome Uh Boss…
that was a lovely post with wonderful images!
magiceye´s last blog ..Tilgud ghya… goad goad bola
Jay, I’ve not participated in the ABC’s yet. It does look like fun! A Theme?? I’m not sure what that’s about… Guess I need to head back to where I signed up!
Thanks for visiting me today. (Btw, You did a Great job with Z!)
Shady Gardener´s last blog ..I Made Myself Go Through With It
Ah, Zion is one of my favorite places, too! Incredible formations. A perfectly wonderful post – and I’m in for the next time, for sure!
Great post for Z, almost look like the dog is in the same size as that stuffed zebra.
Maria´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday: Z is for zipper
Zion must be such a wonderful place to visit, based on your photos here, it’s so awesome!
Jama´s last blog ..RED
The Zion Nat’l Park looks like a great place for a holiday! I agree with the zigzag feature as well
thank you so much for the visit! till next Wednesday!
Kero´s last blog ..Newborn Days
I can see why you love Zion National Park – so much to see one could never tire of it. I love the zebras too though I wonder how and why Tring acquired so many. Perhaps Tring is the national centre for taxidermy!
jabblog uk´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday Z
The layers of the mountain in Zion Park is amazing. Looks like Chinese pastry to me.
ann chin´s last blog ..Friday shoot out: Birds
Come on Jay – you’re not really scared of Zoltar are you????? That greyhound is really sweet – they do love their stuffies don’t they?
Kate´s last blog ..The end of the year and what happens next!!!
I can’t believe you found a Zoltar!
Mama Zen´s last blog ..Review: The Lake That Stole Children
Wonderful photos Jay! I love the doggy with stuffie! So cute! But I have a question: we Canucks promounce it “ZED”, as opposed to the American “ZEE”. Which way to YOU say it?
Maureen´s last blog ..Perfectly Imperfect
Paul Wynn – Zion is AMAZING!
Magiceye – Thank you!
Shady Gardener – You should give it a try! It’s fun! You don’t actually need a theme at all, just post whatever you want for the right letter. You could do a poem one week, a picture the next – even a piece of music. I like a challenge, so I usually have to make things harder for myself!
Tumblewords – Thanks! You’re in too? Oh good!
Maria – Yes – and if the zebra had been bigger, I’m thinking she’d still be trying to carry it around.
Jama – It’s a stunning place to visit! If you go at the right time of year, the climate is wonderful too – I love the dry air!
Kero – I’m glad you can see the zig-zags too!
Jabblog – Tring Natural History museum houses a collection of taxidermy put together by a Rothschilde. And it’s also now part of the London Natural History museum, so yes, it’s part of our national collection.
Ann Chin – I hope Chinese pastry is a little softer and tastes nicer, too! LOL!
Kate – Everyone should be frightened of Zoltar!!
Yes, the dog was sooo sweet! She certainly loved her stuffies, that’s for sure.
Mama Zen – I know! I was so surprised!
Maureen – Thanks!
We say ‘zed’ too! But I’ve been influenced by talking to so many Americans that sometimes I say ‘zee’ too, especially when talking to one of my US friends!
“So, who knows where that picture up there was taken?” Why did you tell us? I actually knew the answer to that question!
Don’t Bug Me!´s last blog ..Macro Monday……..urm……..Wednesday.
Oh the letter z so wonderful- marbled hills and zebras I love saandy the picture a keeper for me ..
sandy´s last blog ..Thirteen times -I smiled this week.Thursday Thirteen
I remember Zoltar!
And did you know that the movie is actually a remake of an Italian one? :3
DBM – Ha! Well, not every day can be quiz day. LOL!
Sandy – Thanks!
Teresa – Really? Well, now I want to see it in Italian with subtitles.
Still learning, by the way. I still only know a lot of random phrases and words. But I am beginning to understand a little tiny bit how simple verbs work.
Zion is one of the most gorgeous Nat’l parks in the US!
Kala´s last blog ..New Horizons
Call me silly but every time I visit a local show or the Royal Easter show, I’m secretly hoping there’s a Zoltar who will make me ’small’. Great pics darls.
Baino´s last blog ..Surface . .
dogs just love toys, don’t they? I guess she just had a connection with that zebra!
btw, I tagged you and am hoping you’ll play along…please?
http://poyndexter.blogspot.com/2010/01/tag.html
OH my goodness! Each photo is so unique, interesting and gorgeous! Loved the giant ice cream cone with the whipped cream on top! I’d like that on my patio! LOL! Interesting about ABC Wednesday, I’m going to look into it!
Michelle´s last blog ..Welcome to the 3rd HBinFive Bread Braid
Kala – It most certainly is!
Baino – Hahahahaha! Now there’s an idea. If only I’d thought of it… :p
Diane – Yes, some dogs do love toys. My old Jack, who left us suddenly in February last year was one of them, but he was picky. He loved yellow toys. I still have his two favourites next to his casket because I can’t bear to put them away. *Sigh*
You’ve tagged me? Going to look!
Michelle – Thank you, how kind!
Yes, the ice cream cone is almost as interesting as Zoltar, isn’t it? A little further along was a giant fibreglass cow, too! LOL!
That scenery is magnificent! I’d love to be able to see these places for myself.
I adore the photo of the grayhound with her personal zebra!!!
Dragonstar´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – Z.
A great post on the letter z. I was particularly intrigued to see the zebras pulling a carriage. It is just as well that there was less traffic on the roads those days
Dragonstar – Isn’t that the sweetest thing? I just HAD to take a photo!
Anna – Yes, indeed! Although I think it was pretty busy with horses and carriages in the towns! I wonder what the other horses thought of the zebras, though?
Wow, I didn’t even know that Zoltar machine was REAL! I thought it was just made up for the movie!
You get the award for best “Z” post, by far!
I’d love to participate in this, but I have trouble getting even ONE post a week these days, and I don’t yet have a wealth of photos…maybe next go round.
ethelmaepotter´s last blog ..The Great Tennessee Blizzard of 2010