What's up, readers?

I'm back.

Actually, I never went anywhere. Just took a six-week hiatus from the blog while wrapping up production of Living Here magazine. Please look for this 168-page guide to life in the Charlotte region in your Observer on Sunday, Sept. 28.

When I wasn't working on the magazine I was hanging out with my husband and toddler daughter. We found lots of free or cheap stuff to do around here. Thought I'd share.

In July, we went to two free kiddie rock concerts at ImaginOn, the big children's library in First Ward uptown. The annual summer series is called the Tricycle Music Fest. We had a blast watching Lucy and the other kids get their groove on. We're just sorry we were out of town for the first of the three acts -- They Might Be Giants (who I saw as a college freshman but apparently do just kid stuff now). For more info on ImaginOn and its programs go to www.imaginon.org.

Earlier this month, we went to the McDowell Nature Center and Preserve in southwestern Mecklenburg County. The center was just wrapping up a nature talk but a nice park ranger gave us an impromptu lesson on their resident snakes and turtles. Lucy touched a turtle and within a few days "turtle" was one of her new words. The center charges $3 a car for Mecklenburg residents and $5 a car for non-residents. For more info on this and other nature preserves, go to www.parkandrec.com and click on Nature Preserves.

Finally, last Friday the three of us went to the Lazy 5 Ranch, the privately-owned exotic animal drive thru park in Mooresville. Along the 3.5 mile drive, the ranch promises you will see more than 750 animals from six continents. Wild bison, lemurs, zebras, llamas, ostriches, camels, giraffes, wild pigs. You can feed many of them, but the zebras are one exception. (If you want to feed the animals, you have to purchase a bucket of feed -- $3, I think -- at the front gate.)

You can take a horse-drawn wagon tour or drive your own car. We opted to go in our own car because we were worried about being able to contain our 20-month old on an open-air wagon. Smart move. I'm not sure Lucy would have done well on the wagon with animals nosing their way into her personal space. She was a bit suspect when the large animals approached the car. She got wide-eyed and waved and said "bye bye" to them. That's kid talk for "Back away from the car you crazy llama." Admission is $8.50 for adults and $5.50 for kids ages two to 11. Add $3 for the wagon. Children under two are free. For more info or to make wagon reservations: www.lazyfiveranch.com.

So what fun things have you been doing in and around Charlotte?