Fun with the grandkids

St. Louis has so many wonderful free attractions. Suson Farm ( pronounced Sue-SAHN) is a county park that has two large fishing lakes and a couple of smaller ones for children. There are farm animals that are put to pasture every evening and go on display in their stalls during the day. There was a cow with her newborn calf, still wet and sticky in one of the stalls. There are many resident geese, ducks, horses, donkeys, cows and other barnyard birds. I gobbled at the turkey and it fanned its tail feathers which thrilled Nicole.

We arrived before 10:00 so the animals were still out to pasture, and Nicole was excited to see the horses and bull. She 'ewwwed" at the sight of a sow lounging in mud, but laughed at her piglet who came bounding towards her.


The sign says Do Not Feed The Animals, but we know that means, don't feed them our junk food. We always feed them clover, placed on the palm of our open hand, so they don't nibble our fingers. Nicholas was ecstatic and so was Nicole.

We sat in the grass under a shade tree for about half an hour watching a fisherman toss tiny fish he caught to a snowy white heron. What a treat for the bird who didn't have to work for his food, and for the kids who sat in awe and watched the bird swallow each little fish whole. Sometimes it had to step in the lake to get a drink to wash the fish down.

Nick was happier than ever when the fisherman tossed a fish to the bird just a few feet from us.

This is a black crowned night heron, about two feet tall and stocky with bright yellow legs. It flew to a tree when I approached.


What a fun memory-making trip for Nana, Paw-paw and the grandkids. Even though it was 98 degrees, we stayed hydrated and returned home by noon to cool off.