Terrific Tuesdays

School's Out!!! Part Two

This is our time at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

The past few times we've been here, they've all spent most of their time on the bottom floor playing with light and weather-related hands-on activities.

Eldest child doing a non-museum techie thing--texting!!!

Not many people were there, so it was easier for the kids to do what they wanted to do, and much easier to find them!!!

A creative way of advertising for the movie coming out, later this month! We came to see the Titanic, but saw the Grand Canyon, again, which was worth it!

Spherical Lens--you look through it with a friend--or sibling--and observe the magnification.

This is my son magnified. Step away from the sphere, and images turn upside down.

The cherubs sometimes drag their feet about the hour long trip, but once there, it's hard to drag them away! --LKR

A Violet!!!

Sure, yesterday was officially the beginning of spring. And yes, many states such as New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin all had snow falling from the sky on that promising day.

This morning, I took a few shots of the snow that had yet to melt. But what I discovered shortly after noon was really surprising.

A beautiful violet was in full bloom!!! I'd been lamenting that not a single crocus or daffodil has poked through the ground, but here was this cheery little flowery face looking up to greet me!!! Oh, what a beautiful day it's been! --LKR

The Race Is On!

The sun was shining, birds were sweetly singing, and bicyclists were whizzing by. The third annual Chippewa Valley Firecracker Bicycle Race, which took place in lovely Lowes Creek County Park, was on! A part of the Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS), it was the fifth of twelve races taking place in the state, this summer.

The evening before, my youngest and I headed to the park to check which trails would be used. We also watched and greeted cyclists both young and old as they pre-rode the trails, becoming familiar with them. Several narrow, twisting, hilly trails had been chosen, along with some wider paths for passing. The Youth category rode a shorter lap of six miles. Citizen and Sport participants cycled 12 and 18 miles, while the the Comp and Elite Women rode three laps of longer trails, putting in 24 miles of mountain biking. The Elite Men rode four laps, totaling 30 miles.

One rider had a flat tire that he quickly fixed. Another had his handlebars suddenly loosen up and had to borrow tools to adjust it, loosing his place as the lead. Towards the end of the race, another man cheerfully walked past us with his bike. Having dislocated his shoulder, he was using his bike to help support his arm. These guys were real troopers!

Participants and spectators came from all over Wisconsin, but we were told that many more were from Minnesota and Illinois, as well.

The next of these races is scheduled for July 15^th in Suamico, WI. For more information on these events, check out their website at: http://www.wors.org/schedule/

--LKR