Benny the Dog – In Memoriam October 30, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Benny the dog
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My very special dog, Benny, passed away sometime during the night. I adopted him in June of 2005 and we guessed he was about 2 years old at the time. He gave me 10.5 years of unconditional love, laughs, and fun. He was my photographic muse and creating this montage was not hard considering how many pictures I took of him over the years. He loved putting on hats and posing (as long as there were treats involved). My cat Roberta, seems to be heart broken as well. The other two cats, Madison and Audrey don’t care one bit. The house is much quieter now. When I feel a bit stronger and can stop crying I will put away all of his ‘stuff.’
When I returned home from bringing Benny to the Vet to be cremated, the entire apartment building staff was waiting for me in the lobby to give me hugs and support. He was a building favorite and loved getting treats and hugs from the doormen after our walks.
I spoiled him with toys, treats and trips to our favorite stores. Our daily walks allowed me to meet my neighbors and he had a host of friends in the ‘hood, both two and four legged.
He was a joy and changed my life for the better. The pain in my heart will lessen with time. Thanks for sharing your love of Benny over the years. He was the ultimate ‘good boy.’ 
Octoberfeast – 2015 October 25, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: NYC, photography, Pumpkinpalooza, pumpkins, Union Square Greenmarket
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I admit to not being useful in a kitchen and to being a very picky eater but I do enjoy going to the Union Square Greenmarket to photograph their seasonal offerings. The colors, shapes and smells are a feast for both the palate and the palette. Enjoy my Octoberfeast!
Frida Kahlo – NY Botanic Garden October 18, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: art, Frida Kahlo, NY Botanic Garden, NYC, photography
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Frida Kahlo – Art – Garden – Life at the NY Botanic Garden has been a blockbuster show with over 750,000 people attending over the past few months. We went early on a beautiful sunny day and had the place almost to ourselves. The Haupt Conservatory has been re-imagined as Casa Azul, the home she shared with Diego Rivera in Mexico City. The Mertz Library features 14 original works (no photography allowed – so we took mental pictures). If you cannot make it to the Garden by November 1st, enjoy today’s montage.
Staten Island Zoo – Part Two October 14, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: AJ the tamandua, baby animals, photography, Photography Workshop, Staten Island Zoo
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Last Sunday I devoted my photo montage to adorable ‘AJ’ the baby tamandua. Here are some of the other beautiful animals we met as well. Thanks again to General Curator and Veterinarian, Dr. Marc Valitutto for a fabulous visit.
Reminder – on Sunday, October 25th, I will be leading a photo workshop at the Central Park Zoo from 8:30 to 10:30. The theme is PUMPKINS! Up close and personal with animals enjoying pumpkin enrichment. Sign up here. 
Meet ‘AJ’ – Staten Island Zoo’s New Addition October 11, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: AJ the tamandua, baby animals, Baby Tamandua, photography, Staten Island Zoo
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Another terrific visit to the Staten Island Zoo was made even more special by meeting ‘AJ’ the zoo’s new adorable baby tamandua. AJ weighs a little over a pound and was born on September 8th. He and Mom, DJ, are resting comfortably off exhibit. Dad, EJ (Elvis Duran Junior) can be seen in the Tropical Rain forest during the day. Little AJ and his Mom will be on exhibit in a couple of months. AJ is the second known birth of a tamandua in NYC. Thanks again to General Curator and Veterinarian, Dr. Marc Valitutto for a fabulous visit. There is more information about tamanduas below today’s photo montage.
Tamanduas are native to central and south America. They live in forests and grasslands, are semiarboreal, and possess partially prehensile tails. This is a Southern Tamandua (tamandua tetradactyla), found from Venezuela and Trinidad to northern Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. In their native habitat, they forage for arboreal ants and termites. Occasionally they eat bees, beetles, and insect larvae. In captivity, they will eat fruits and a commercially formulated insectivore diet. They have no teeth and depend on their powerful stomachs to break down their food.
The tamanduas are nocturnal, active at night and hiding during daylight hours. They spend up to half of their time in the treetops. Tamanduas have tapered heads with a long, tubular snout, small eyes, and protruding ears. Their mouths house a tongue reaching up to 16 inches in length.
Cats – Small, Medium and Large October 4, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Audrey and Roberta, Cheetah, Jaguar, Lion, Lynx, Madison the cat, Pallas, photography, Sand cat, snow leopard, Tiger, Zoos
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I love all cats – small, medium and large. This week’s montage is devoted to these gorgeous creatures. Did you know there are 37 species of cat? Down near the bottom of today’s montage you will see my three cats (yes, three) – Madison, the elder cat and sisters Audrey and Roberta who are now two. Want to see them as kittens? Meow. 
The Central Park Zoo – End of September September 27, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Central Park Zoo, Grizzly bears Betty and Veronica, King Penguin, NYC, photography, Photography Workshop, Red Panda, Saki Monkey, snow leopard, Snow Monkey, Titi Monkey, wildlife
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The Central Park Zoo has been my home base for the past 25 years. I never tire of the collection of beautiful animals, the landscape, the NYC backdrop, or the variety of visitors, happy faces and delighted children. Today’s montage features just a small sampling of the collection. Imagine if you will, some of these animals surrounded by carved pumpkins, filled with fun enrichment, during my Fall photo workshop on October 25th from 8:30 to 10:30. To register for the fun, sign up here.
The Bronx Zoo – Sept, 2015 September 20, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: baby animals, baby gorillas, Bronx Zoo, nature, NYC, photography, Photography Workshop, wildlife, zoocation
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I haven’t been to the Bronx Zoo since May of 2014 and figured I was due for a visit. We planned a weekday jaunt while school was in session and enjoyed the zoo almost to ourselves. It is nice to watch adorable baby gorillas, a baby otter, baby Wolf’s guenon and a baby titi without the sounds of screaming children (nothing against kids – but sometimes they are very loud). Take a day (wear good walking shoes) and visit this wonderful collection of animals.
For all of the camera enthusiasts out there, I’ll be running a Fall Photo Workshop at the Central Park Zoo on October 25 from 8:30 to 10:30. I will arrange some special pumpkin and other activities so you can get great, up-close animal shots – all before the zoo opens to the public. Here is a link to last year’s photos from the same event. To register for the fun sign up here.
Potawatomi Zoo – South Bend, Indiana September 13, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Amure leopard cubs, baby animals, Indiana, Joshua Sisk, Marc Valitutto, photography, Potawatomi Zoo, Serval, South Bend, travel, wildlife, zoocation
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We took a mini-zoocation to South Bend, Indiana this week, to visit good friend and now General Curator at the Potawatomi Zoo, Josh Sisk. What a fun and eye opening visit. This 23 acre facility is beautiful – with a varied and interesting collection. The sight lines are wonderful and the habitats are large and very user friendly to the visitor. They have eight species of primates, four species of big cats, Sichuan takin, red panda, river otters, anteater and on and on. There was something new and fascinating around every corner. I was especially enamored with the Amur leopard and her three, six month old cubs. Thank you Josh for your generosity and time. We loved our visit and will be back for sure.
The 2015 US Open September 6, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Benny the dog, photography, tennis, US Open
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I interrupt the usual Sunday Zoo photos to bring you photos from the 2015 US Open where I enjoyed a few days of tennis life and work. The action is great, the sun is hot, and it is a fun change of pace. And yes, that’s my dog, Benny, above – enjoying his US 2015 US Open tennis ball at home.
For all of those camera enthusiasts out there, I’ll be running a Fall Photo Workshop at the Central Park Zoo on October 25 from 8:30 to 10:30. I will arrange some special pumpkin and other activities so you can get great animal shots. Here is a link to last year’s photos from the same event. 
While at the Zoo 