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Posts Tagged ‘Nature’

  1. Better Than A Booklist

    May 9, 2014 by admin

    We see them all the time. Someone puts out a list of all the books that kids should read when they are 7. Or when in High school. Or in order to be considered truly literate.

    There are a lot of great books out there, too many for any list.

    For our homeschooled little Bluey, we have a different kind of list.  A list for an explorer.  Parks!IMG_1793

    We love visiting new places and getting the chance to meet new people. So we have embarked on an ambitious plan- to have our young son experience all the parks in our hometown (big and small).

    There are over 200 parks in the city of Madison. That’s a lot of parks, so it’s a big challenge. But that’s not all we are going to do. We also resolved to attempt to visit all 31 parks in our county park system, and all the state parks as well.

    It’s almost 300 parks to visit!

    IMG_0127We know that this is an ambitious idea. But think of how many natural wonders our son will see! Think how many wild animals and plants we will encounter.

    Maybe he’ll never choose to read the top ten greatest non fiction books of 2010, but we know that he will experience amazing things.

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  2. The Boy Birdwatcher Society

    February 26, 2014 by admin

    Our young Bluey has recently taken up birdwatching.  Or bird and squirrel watching, more accurately.  It’s a plan he came up with entirely on his own- just something he wants to do. IMG_1509

    He’ll come home after dropping his sister at school, or spend his lunch, nestled in a chair on the porch watching the bird feeder to see who might arrive.  He’ll even encourage his friends to join him when they visit.

    His connection to the natural world is strong.  It’s very good to witness, but we can’t say we’re surprised.

    After all, from the time he was a few weeks old, he’s had his ‘Bird of the Day,’ where TRDad reads a page from a bird guidebook describing the many species of birds common in North America.  We’ve gone through several different guidebooks by now.

    And he and his sister used to sit and watch the Nature Channel outside the window, as squirrels, birds and other critters came to our porch for a snack.

    And bird-watching is a major element in one of his favorite books, Pogo, which he reads almost everyday.

    IMG_1090So we are happy to help set him up with his binoculars and a cup of cocoa to settle in to watch the birds.  We hope his love of nature stays with him always.

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  3. Winter Biking

    February 14, 2014 by admin

    It’s the middle of the afternoon on a recent, bitter-cold winter day.  Schools have been cancelled in our area due to the extreme weather.  What does Bluey want to do this afternoon?

    “Let’s go for a bike ride!”

    Our young rider doesn’t let snowy landscapes and subzero temps keep him off his bike.  And why should he?  We see people riding all winter in our town, so he knows it can be done.  And we spend our springs, summers, and falls biking all over- so he knows how much fun biking can be.IMG_1301

    He has heard our winter mantra many times (borrowed from the Norwegians): There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.

    So we saddle up.  Bluey dons his snowsuit, finds his best mittens and a hat.  He wraps a scarf around his neck while I loosen his bike helmet straps enough to fit over his hooded, hatted head.

    We grab the dog and we’re off.

    The trip doesn’t last long- after all it is pretty chilly out.  But Bluey gets a chance to ride and to explore his neighborhood some more on a day when few people are out and about.

    There are some icy patches to remind us that there’s more to winter biking than dressing right—some sections of the sidewalk are a bit treacherous.  But we have a fun jaunt around the neighborhood, and head home for hot cocoa.

    Polar vortex, arctic blast- no matter.  We’re going on a bike ride.

    Category Get Outside! | Tags: ,,,, | Comments Off on Winter Biking

  4. Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

    January 3, 2014 by admin

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    We acknowledge that it is amazingly cold and your natural instinct might just be to stay indoors.  But you can have some wonderful moments outside, very well dressed, that will allow your family to get some fresh air, have a laugh or two, and learn something as well!

    Experiment #1:   Go outside with boiling water and toss it away from you, into the air. Watch in amazement as a cloud of ice crystals disperse all around.

    Experiment #2:  Turn water into ice with a shake of your hand.  The instructions on the hyper-link page work in the exact same way when you place your bottled water outside to freeze, as opposed to inside your home’s freezer.  We promise that you will be incredulous when you pick up the water bottle, shake it once, and watch it form into ice from the bottom up like magic!

    Experiment #3:  Blow frozen bubbles.  What fun to watch your bubble crystalize like your own little snow globe.  And guaranteed to wow the little ones.  We’re excited to find out what happens if you quickly catch a stack of them.

    There are really many ways to actually enjoy the extreme cold.  We’d love to hear your ideas! And we would like to thank Darren Bush of Rutabaga for this cold weather inspiration.

     

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  5. Outside Inside

    December 22, 2013 by admin

    IMG_4281One of our favorite spins on winter weather is allowing the kids to bring snow indoors!

    We lay a towel down on the kitchen floor and gather up a few disposable spoons, non-breakable cups, and perhaps a few tiny toys.  Then we fill a couple of bowls with snow and you create instant fun!

    Playing with snow indoors allows your kids to experiment in a whole new way.  They aren’t limited by the blustery weather and cumbersome, soppy mittens.  They can take their time to explore texture, changing composition, and to just get creative with snow.

    Our Bluey discovered that if you squeeze handfuls of snow in your fist, water drips out.  He spent a good 20 minutes practicing this new skill, talking about the discovery, and theorizing on when it would be useful.

    Bluey had a great time making little sculptures and changing snow into ice by adding water.  All in the warmth of our home.

     

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  6. Picnic Point

    December 18, 2013 by admin

    IMG_0881Recently, we posted on the joy of a holiday walk in the midst of family-gathering chaos.  One of our favorite local destinations is Picnic Point in Madison, WI.

    A peninsula located along the Lake Mendota edge of the University of Wisconsin- Madison, this mile long stretch of land affords lovely views of the Capitol and is a great bird watching destination.

    Tip:  Be sure to smooch your sweetie while exploring Picnic Point, it is tradition!

    The walk is pretty level, so there should be no significant impediment to any age.  There are no restrooms.  Parking is plentiful and leashed dogs are allowed.

    Tip2: There are several fire rings on the Point.  Reserve one by contacting the Wisconsin Union!IMG_8515

    Remember that Babcock Hall is only about 1 mile from Picnic Point.  Ice cream is always a welcome treat after a hearty hike.

    Explore the outdoors, near and far!

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  7. Great Museums In Milwaukee

    December 9, 2013 by admin

    IMG_3792Milwaukee is a great city, and we are fortunate enough to live nearby.  As winter sets in, we find that a museum is a fantastic place to visit on the weekends.  Milwaukee has several options.  If you are looking for a place to go in Cream City, check out any of these museums!

    MPM:  We LOVE the Milwaukee Public Museum.  There are three floors of history and science to explore!  We never tire of going here.  It is so big, in fact, we’re pretty sure there’s a nook or two that we haven’t seen yet.IMG_2334

    Discovery World:  A science and technology center focused on Great Lakes ecology and manufacturing, this museum is a whirlwind of activities.  Be prepared to be exhausted when you are finished here.  Admission is steep.

    Harley Museum:  Do you like motorcycles, engines, and/or Americana?  Then the Harley- Davidson Museum might be just for you!  It’s a rather expensive entry, but a fun trip.  Unless you plan on numerous return trips, opting for a membership isn’t worth it.

    Haggerty Museum of Art: This museum on the Marquette University campus is a fun (and Free!) stop.  You should bundle this stop with another destination because you’ll go through the whole museum in under an hour.

    Mitchell Domes:  If the space ship from Silent Running crashed into Milwaukee, it’d look like this: giant futuristic domes filled with plants from all around the world.  Consider a membership as they reciprocate with many public gardens across the U.S.A.

    Milwaukee Art Museum:  We always have a great time here, and we never get through the entire museum in one visit!  If you can, check it out on the first Thursday of the month, when admission is free thanks to Target (children under 12 are always free).  If you have kiddoes in tow, make sure you seek out the free art kits!  These bags full of art activities encourage kids to interact with the exhibits; by trying to create their own versions of some of the works they’ll see, or by following an art scavenger hunt.

    IMG_1155These museums will keep you busy for many weekends of exploring in downtown Milwaukee.

    Category Jaunts | Tags: ,,,,,, | 2 Comments

  8. Holiday Walk-about

    December 3, 2013 by admin

    IMG_8486The celebration of any holiday can be stressful. There may be special meals, out-of-town guests and high expectations.  Things can get tense.  And with everyone piled into the house, the instinct might be to flip on a movie to keep the kiddoes happy.  But we find more success taking a different direction.

    We’ve discovered that the best antidote for holiday cabin-fever is to get out of the house.

    Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years- on all these holidays you’ll see our family piling into the car to head out of the house, and into nature.

    Going for a walk on a holiday allows everyone in the family a chance to relax outdoors, center themselves, and get some exercise.  We see if there are any wild animals out and about to celebrate, what plants are still thriving, and what has hunkered down for Winter.

    So few people head outdoors on the holidays, that we frequently have a whole park or nature reserve to ourselves.  The lack of human noise is impressive on these days.  You really get a chance to see why Thoreau moved to the woods, and why that still seems like a good idea.

    After an hour or so of exploring, we head back home.  There’s still plenty of time for movies, games and traditional in-home fun.  But we find our escape into nature a valued re-fueling moment that lets us enjoy our time together even more.

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  9. Perspective

    November 3, 2013 by admin

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    Yes, we’re a month out from Thanksgiving.  But you don’t need a traditional holiday to take a moment to sit back and reflect on why you are grateful for the life that you live.

    If we’re honest, we can probably all say that we have dreams we know won’t actualize, places we long to visit, time we wished we had more of, disappointments that still taste bitter.

    That is life.  Please don’t linger in the muck or judge yourself by your worst moments.  There is so much in the simple day-to-day that is worth celebrating.

    Here are some teensy and some huge things for which we are grateful:

    • Coffee – The smell!  And knowing that warm mug will soon be craddled in your hands.
    • Children’s laughter – It is contagious, true, and pure.
    • Frozen pizza – Seriously!  It is cheap and indulgent.
    • A paycheck – Sure, we live paycheck to paycheck.  But with a tight budget, we have just enough money to support our family.
    • A home – ‘Nough said.  Many don’t have a place to settle.
    • Playgrounds – Free access to fun, exercise, and the outdoors.
    • Libraries – Free access to education and fun.
    • Gardens – Cheap way to feed your family and support farm-to-table.
    • Love – Right?  It makes the world go ‘round.
    • Music – Inspiring, often free, and entirely enjoyable.
    • Critters – Unconditional love and mostly entertaining.
    • Health – Not to ever be taken for granted!

     

    Taking a moment to remember these things, no matter how minor they might be, helps us to focus on life worth living!  And to acknowledge that we are indeed, very lucky to be here.

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  10. Portage, Wisconsin

    August 2, 2013 by admin

    IMG_0978We found ourselves headed to Portage, WI for their library’s booksale.  Since we haven’t ever explored this town, we decided to try to round out the trip to the library with some other local experience. 

    After a quick Google search, we discovered that there was a bike trail that seemed to hug the river.  This was just the thing!  A nice bike ride after scoring books for $1 a bag is a perfect day, as far as this TR family is concerned. IMG_0958

    The levee bike trail in Portage was quite the discovery!  You can actually walk down to the sandy river frontage and the surrounding areas.  We saw clams in the river and crane footprints in the sand.  We jumped onto a little island and we skipped stones.  We had this insanely beautiful area completely to ourselves.  It was an excellent morning!

    Open yourself up to exploring your surroundings and you never know what you’ll discover.

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