Santa Ana Zoo

I took a little day trip to the nearby Santa Ana Zoo. I took the camera with me in case I wanted to snap any picture of the “wildlife” while I was there. It is a pretty small zoo, and a lot of the exhibits were empty, but I still enjoyed the chance to get out and do something. The Colors of the Amazon bird habitat was very pleasant to sit in, even though I could still hear the sounds of the nearby I5 zooming by.

I’m currently going through the book, “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron. Cameron as spent years teaching people how to regain their creativity–blocked artist and writers, and people who have never considered themselves “creative.”  I’ve been feeling a little block myself lately, and this book really called to me.  It takes you through a process, week by week, to help you rediscover your creative spirit, and how to nurish it and sustain it.  One of the weekly things you must do are “artist dates”, where you take your artist out, to do something she wants to do. And it doesn’t have to be anything proper,  like going to an art museum, just something that your inner artist would find fun and entertaining.

Hence our trip to the Santa Ana Zoo. I’ve been having a hard time figuring out what my little inner artist wants. Or rather, we’re having a hard time finding  the things she wants within driving distance.  She wants to play in a secluded stream in the woods where no one else can find her. Hmm. Or in a deserted beach where she can find driftwood and shells. Hmm.  Or a trip down the Amazon. Sigh. Well, finding a lonely beach in Orange County is a challenge, as is the woods.   But she likes animals too, and the zoo has rainforest like settings, so yay! Inner finger painter satisfied. Of course, while there, she decided that we should sign up to volunteer for the zoo to do face painting and such when they have specail events.  I kinda like her idea, so we might go along with it. 🙂