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Posts Tagged ‘Madison’

  1. Must Love Dogs: Dog Parks in the Madison Area

    June 25, 2013 by admin

    IMG_0248A dog park is a great outing.  It’s a chance for your pup to run off leash and an opportunity for both of you to get into nature.  Here are a few of our favorite dog parks in the Madison area.  All of the parks feature fenced in areas and trash disposal- they usually have some water available too, just in case you forget to bring it for your pup.

    • Yahara Heights:  This is one of our favorites as it has trees, prairie, and a river.  It’s big, so one trip around the circumference is usually plenty of exercise on most visits.  Yahara Heights is rarely very crowded, which we consider a plus.  Moo likes to go wading at the docks and Bluey enjoys running on the paths in the woods.  Once we met a nice 80 year old man walking his two Shelties and he talked to us for twenty minutes.  It gets pretty breezy in the winter, so watch for wind-chills.
    • Warner Park:  It’s closer to our house, but also more crowded than Yahara.  Warner Park has water access into the lagoon.  Its smaller size makes for a quicker walk than some other parks- but sometimes that’s just what we want.
    • Sycamore Park:  We love this park when we don’t want to deal with a wet dog.  It offers a long walking trail through a grassy prairie setting, with no pond or river.  On occasions when we want to give the pup some exercise, without dealing with towels, we head here.  There are no trees and little shade, so be careful on hot days and grab your sunscreen or a hat.

     

    A few caveats:

    • Always bring water, a leash, and disposal bags with you to the dog park.  Don’t assume that it will all be provided.
    • Some parks require a registration fee on a daily or annual basis.  Be prepared for this or you’ll risk a ticket.
    • Use some form of flea and tick preventative on your dog.
    • Check yourself for ticks thoroughly when leaving the park.
    • Keep your dog on a leash unless s/he is super-friendly and well-behaved.
    • Watch for small kids as they become quickly intimated by running dogs.  Your dog is your responsibility to control properly.

     

    Grab your leash and head outside!

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  2. The Resting Place

    June 17, 2013 by admin

    4506241171_11388d70b3_zIn our wanderings around the neighborhood, our Bluey recently discovered (and named) a Resting Place.  It’s a simple spot– the stoop of a local church that is partly shaded, with a porch slider-rocker to sit upon.

    There’s nothing particularly extraordinary about this location, except that Bluey discovered it.  He thinks of it as His spot, and he enjoys stopping there and showing it off to his friends and family.  It gives Bluey a chance to catch his breath, to listen to the sounds of the universe, and to talk to his dog.IMG_0232

    So now it has become part of our adventures and a scheduled stop.  This gives Bluey one more reason to get out into the world and to enjoy some reflective time.

    Destinations don’t have to have bells and whistles or candy to be worthwhile.  Where’s your Resting Place?

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  3. Breathe

    May 12, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1818One Spring evening, our entire family decided to take a walk down to a local café, Victory.  TR Mom and Dad were well aware that bedtimes were quickly approaching.  But you have to know when to bend the rules.

    Victory is Plum’s favorite spot to pick up a small treat with her own spending money.  Bluey triked, Plum scootered, and TR Mom and Dad walked with our pup, Molly.

    As we made our way, Plum offered to treat her brother, Bluey, to something from the café.  He readily accepted, while thanking Plum over and over again.  The crisp Spring air was encouraging much love and generosity between these siblings!

    Snacks in hand, we randomly decided to take a different route home.  When we were ½ way down the block from the café, TR Dad spotted an elderly woman struggling on her front steps with her trash and recyclables.  TR Dad was quick to her rescue!  We chatted briefly with this new friend before Bluey discovered that he had lost a little accent item from his trike.

    Bluey was upset, so we decided to retrace our steps and soon found the toy!  As we continued toward home, Bluey and Plum paused to sample each other’s tasty treats from Victory.  TR Mom and Dad loved the displays of sibling friendship during this walk, as it doesn’t surface every day.

    All of a sudden, we spotted a well dressed man, sporting a pirate hat, walking toward us.  As he approached, we gave an “Aaargh” greeting, which this stranger happily returned with his own throaty, “Aaargh!”  Then TR Dad saw our dear squirrel friend, Stumpy, scurry up a tree.  We hadn’t seen Stumpy since last Spring !  And yes, we’re certain it is Stumpy as he is incredibly easy to identify, what with the missing tail.

    A simple Spring walk strengthened our family bond, allowed us to spread some TR Kindness, provided us a comical encounter with a pirate, and afforded us some exercise in the fresh air.  We would have missed out on all of these great experiences if we had just stayed indoors.  And we didn’t have to spend any money.

    Get outside!

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  4. Talking to the Taxman About Poetry

    March 12, 2013 by admin

    tax-clip-artIt’s tax time again.  We don’t mind paying our fair share of taxes, but we do mind being billed too much to have them prepared.

    We have a pretty simple financial situation, and it typically takes less than an hour for an accountant to prepare our taxes.  Last year, we found ourselves paying over 25% the value of our refund to a nationally branded tax preparer.  And that didn’t sit well with us.  This year, we set out to find a new, cheaper way to file our return.

    We realize that we could do our taxes ourselves.  We know that tax software is cheap, or even free.  We also realize that many people have great success independently preparing their returns.   In the past, we’ve made errors on our forms and we’ve found ourselves completely frustrated by the entire process when attempting to file everything on our own.  We don’t wish to revisit that situation.  We are much more comfortable having a professional complete our taxes.

    So we began our research on local accountants.  We checked internet reviews and we asked a few friends for their opinions.  When we narrowed our list down to four contenders, we made phone calls to inquire about their rates.   We were pleased to see that 3 of the four offered estimates that came in well below the price we had paid last year.

    We set up an appointment with the company that seemed the most friendly, and most straightforward, during our initial inquiry.  Beckett Tax and Accounting ending up doing a great job on our taxes.  They were quick, efficient, and put us at ease.  They were happy to talk to our Bluey and to offer him fun things to play with (Alligator vs. T-Rex go!) while the adults talked.  The whole process took less than an hour, and our refund was similar to last year’s filing.

    And the clincher– Beckett’s bill for their service?  It was about a third the cost of what the nationally known tax preparers charged!

    Take a minute to shop around and to make sure that you are getting the best deal from your tax preparer.  It is well worth your research time.  If you are in the Madison area, we recommend you try Beckett Tax and Accounting.

     

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  5. Get Your Geek On

    February 14, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1542

    Have you been to the Wonders of Physics in Madison?  Or have you checked out Vi Hart’s Facebook page for her latest YouTube video?  Perhaps you have flipped through the book, Math Doesn’t Suck, by Danica McKellar?

    The Wonders of Physics  is put on annually at the University of Wisconsin-Madison within Chamberlin Hall.  Professor Sprott and his helpers enact a “themed” presentation exploring various laws of physics.  It is free to the public, though reserving your tickets in advance is essential as it draws quite a crowd.  During the hour long production, you’ll witness many exciting science experiments and perhaps get to participate in one when they ask for volunteers.  The event is an all-ages, completely family-friendly affair.  Our 4 year old got fidgety only at the very end and our 10 year old was fully engrossed.

    Tip:  A few experiments are quite loud but they are marked as such on the program.

    Vi Hart  puts up simply incredible YouTube videos pondering many mathematical and occasional musical situations.  Her fast pace can leave you a bit breathless as you try to keep step with her brilliant mind.  She will get you thinking about math and music in an entirely different and immensely enjoyable way.   Her content is accessible but requires concentration as it can be complicated.  In our opinion, this puts her main audience around 10 years old and up.

    Danica McKellar (you may remember her as Winnie from the TV show, The Wonder Years) has found a niche with trying to encourage young women to embrace math.  Her tween/teen accessible books  help to give girls confidence in an often male dominated field.  Math doesn’t have to be something to fear, or something that is mastered only by boys.  Unfortunately, the trend of discouraging girls to enjoy and excel at math, and of presenting math to both genders as something to just plod through, continues in our schools.

    The common thread running through of all these recommendations is that they spotlight people that are finding a way to make Science and Math fun!  One of the greatest gifts you can pass to your child is to help them realize that learning is an exciting adventure that should never end.  And as an adult, you, too, should continue to challenge your intellect.

     

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  6. Suddenly, I Hear A Symphony

    January 23, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1476Our Plum took up violin at school this year.  She is incredibly interested in music but doesn’t have a particular focus at the moment.  She had violin lessons when younger, then singing, then guitar, and now she’s back to violin.  We love being able to offer her opportunities to experience all genres of music.  Recently, we’ve begun trying to locate live music events to attend that are age appropriate.

    The Madison Symphony Orchestra is one of the only symphonies in the nation to open up rehearsal sessions to the general public free of charge!  It is a tremendous educational opportunity for both young and old.  Since the rehearsal is free, there is no guilt for leaving early if you aren’t enjoying it, or if you have a child that just can’t sit still for too long.  We ended up leaving after the first hour, but not because we weren’t having a good time—it just got too late in the evening for our family.

    We had thought that the audience would be comprised mostly of high school and college music students.  Oddly enough, Plum was the only young person in attendance, surrounded by middle aged adults.  When the doors opened, ushers helped everyone find a seat in one reserved section of the theater.   We settled in while the musicians were warming up with scales, and tuning their instruments.  Then, with limited introduction, the conductor got down to business.  The orchestra played an entire piece,   heard feedback from the conductor’s assistant, and then replayed only certain sections.

    After the first piece, half the players were dismissed, and a smaller contingent stayed on to rehearse a Beethoven Piano Concerto with Gabriela Montero.  Ms. Montero played at President Obama’s first inauguration alongside Yo Yo Ma.  The Beethoven piece was definitely more rousing than the first piece and managed to really engage our Plum.  When we were ready to go, we waited for a break when the orchestra stopped playing, and then snuck out quietly.Overture-Center

    The Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Open Dress Rehearsal is a fantastic way to expose children to the symphony, to get a chance to see a live show that you might otherwise not be able to afford, or as an option for a great budget-friendly date night!  Check out their schedule and get on the reserved list!  Plum is already asking about when she can go again.

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  7. Holy Cow! The World Dairy Expo

    October 3, 2012 by admin

    The World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, is a week-long event featuring cows from all over the world brought here by people who come to show off their products, livestock, and ideas related to the dairy industry.  It is the biggest trade-show that we’ve ever attended.  We had a tremendous time exploring the numerous buildings chock full of countless exhibits, including the coliseum housing the  judged shows.  And we never did see the whole thing by the time we called it a day!

    The Dairy Expo can get expensive as admission is $10 for anyone over age 13.  But parking is included in the price!  Either bring your own food or explore the offerings carefully before purchasing something.  We spent $1.50 for a small cup of decent ice cream only to discover that another booth offered large chocolate shakes for just $1!

    Tip:  Passes are available from exhibitors, so if you know anyone showing a cow, or running a booth, see what they can do for you. (Thanks, Steven, for our free passes!)

    The Expo can be broken down into four main areas: the Exhibit Halls, the Animal Barns, the Coliseum, and Outside.

    The Exhibit halls have all the great trade booths with many fun freebies.  There are obvious give-aways, like pens and candy bars, at most booths.  Select booths have ‘secret’ giveaways- limited supply special items that they’ve tucked away.  The exhibitors only give these to people that ask for them, or that engage the booth sincerely.  Last year, Bluey scored a wonderful stuffed cow when the young ladies running a booth were overwhelmed by his charm.  This year, both Bluey and Plum got the inside edge  on a high quality toy pickup truck from a trade-man that was pleased with our kids’ questions about his product.  Bluey and Plum were thrilled to take their toy trucks home!  Once you start talking and making friends at the Expo, good things will happen.

    The Animal Barns host the hundreds of cows from all over the world.  We loved walking through the barns and meeting the cows and owners.  There is much camaraderie and dedication to witness in the barns.  Most of the farmers are very friendly and will tell you all about their cows, if you give them a chance.  You’ll also get an opportunity to see how the cows get primped and preened for their trip to the show ring.

    The Coliseum contains the show rings as well as a number of additional exhibit booths.  It’s a good place to take a break from walking around by watching some beautiful cows get paraded around.

    The rear Outside areas are mainly food tents and scattered picnic tables.  The front outside areas and the parking lot in front of the main exhibit hall are crammed full of  various pieces of impressive farm equipment.  There is no shade to be found so we’d recommend you explore this area early in the day.

    We encourage you to strike up conversation with all members of the World Dairy Expo.  These interactions will allow for you to learn more about this industry and the lives of the folks within it.  We were utterly exhausted by our day at the Expo.  It was not only a fabulous educational experience, but it was also a ton of fun!

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  8. Small is Beautiful

    August 22, 2012 by admin

    Have you noticed the mini houses that stand in front of many homes in Madison?

    As you walk around the city, be sure to keep an eye out for these little wooden libraries set back from the street.  They are the Little Free Libraries,stocked with random books for all ages that are donated by the people in the neighborhood.  Open up a little house and take a look.  The books are free for anyone of any age.  There’s no membership, no fee– just the simple expectation that you’ll return the book (or a different one) to keep the library well stocked.

    Although Bluey has found a few books to read from these libraries, our experience so far has been that it is harder to stumble upon a book for a child/teen then for an adult.  But that is okay.  Part of the added fun to an outdoor explore is chancing upon these libraries and seeing what delights are held within. And with so many of these libraries around, perhaps we’ll find one that is a goldmine of kid and YA literature!

    Although the movement is based in Madison,Wisconsin, you can find Little Free Libraries all over the world!  Just consult their map to find one near you!

    We think these libraries are a wonderful addition to the world.  There are already more Little Free Libraries than Carnegie Libraries, and the movement just keeps growing.  There is only good to be had when you bring books and people together, everywhere.

     

     

     

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  9. Into the Jungle: Plant Sciences at UW, Madison

    August 12, 2012 by admin

    The University of Wisconsin Plant Science Department runs the D.C. Smith Greenhouse that is free and open to the public.  So we went to check it out.

    Starting with the huge Oak across the street from the greenhouses, our trip to the Plant Sciences Building was a huge hit.

    The first room hosts the Corpse Flower and the koi pond.  The Corpse Flower wasn’t in bloom when we went, so we got more enjoyment out of looking at the fish.  We’ll have to go back again to get the full effect of the Titan Arum.  A definite must see for plant lovers are the Sensitive Plants hanging in the hallway.  You touch the Mimosa Pudica and they react immediately, wilting while you watch.  A few minutes later they are back to normal.  It’s freaky- the kids loved it!

    The main hall features eight rooms each with different collections of plants being studied at the moment.  This assortment triggers good conversations about why some rooms are hotter or more humid than others. There are no tour guides within Plant Sciences, and few fact sheets explaining what surrounds you.  But it is great fun exploring the building and seeing what’s within.  It’s a fun make-it-what-you-want-it-to-be trip.

    Parking on campus is always an adventure in itself.  We parked a few blocks down Babcock Street at a two hour meter.

    Tip: The greenhouse is a block away from Babcock Hall Dairy Store, if you need a little treat after seeing some cool plants.  

    Category Jaunts | Tags: , | 1 Comment

  10. A Capitol Idea

    July 27, 2012 by admin

    Explore the Capitol building at Madison and learn about art, architecture, and politics all at the same time.

    We are fortunate to have free access to our State building.  We’ve been there many times to climb the stairs, check out all the artwork, and examine the historic artifacts.  It is a great way to burn off energy!  You can challenge your family to climb the stairs all the way up to the observation deck.  And then you can take the elevator all the way down.

    Tip1: You’ll find several parking ramps located on the ‘outer loop’ (Webster, Doty, Fairchild and Dayton Streets).  These lots are reasonably priced and usually have plenty of spaces available.  Parking is extremely limited on the ‘Capitol Square.’

    The Capitol has tours available, but we usually prefer to just wander and explore on our own.  This allows us to tailor conversations about the role of the governor, State representatives, courts and citizens to the age and understanding of our kids.

    Tip2: The Capitol Square is mostly deserted on Sundays but the Capitol is open.  Go then to avoid all the crowds.

    It’s a lot of fun!  There are plenty of public restrooms within the Capitol and places to eat surrounding the Capitol.  And the Capitol is warm in the winter and cool in the summer; so it’s a great destination when the weather won’t allow outdoor activities.

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