this moment

 
this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

this moment

 
this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

scrabble challenge

It was his first game and he beat this mama by one point. He's quite a wordsmith, that Owen.

this moment

this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

walking the labyrinth

Typically, labyrinths are used for meditative purposes; the stones, dirt or paint outline a circuitous path to walk, allowing our minds to slow down and engage in a reflective or spiritual journey. Just a short walk through the woods from Mom and Dad's house there is a labyrinth at Crossroads College, but when we visit, the boys turn it into a racetrack, completing the route in record time. Good exercise and fun for the whole family.

piano man

After visiting Great Grandma Fitzgerald at her condo, Logan agreed to play in the atrium of Mayo Clinic, first on one grand piano and then another. To his delight, people stopped to listen in each location and applauded his efforts. Songs included: "The Entertainer", "Hall of the Mountain King", "Ecossaise in G", and "Evening Star". Way to go, Logan!

twilight of the triceratops

During our spring break trip to Rochester, we were able to catch the last day of a special exhibit at Quarry Hill featuring a replica of Kelsey, the most complete Triceratops skeleton found to date. At 22 feet long and 8 feet tall, this dinosaur was very impressive. Other fossils and replicas such as Psittacosaurus, Velociraptor and Pachycephalosaurus were featured in the same room. We also spent some time exploring the permanent exhibits of the nature center, including the aquariums containing fish and turtles, the hands-on tables with bones and pelts, and the pond.

taiko performance

This week, 4th and 5th graders at Logan's school participated in a Japanese Taiko Global Music Residency. The students learned about the "Japanese culture surrounding taiko, the proper standing stance, how to use the bachi (sticks), and traditional rhythmic patterns." Every evening, Logan shared his experiences with this new instrument and stretched his sore muscles, acquired by holding positions for long periods of time. We were treated to a performance yesterday and went home with a plan to make our own taiko drums.

this moment

this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

wool rainbow

Anticipating a visit with our good friends, the Goellners, I felted a few wool balls for Lucas John, who turns one later this month. Needle felting colorful designs onto each ball makes them just a bit more special and, frankly, it's just fun to do.

growing a scoby

After enjoying several bottles of store-bought kombucha, we were hooked on the fizzy, tangy beverage and it was time to brew our own. Made by fermenting sweetened tea, we are finally seeing the start of the scoby (Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast) on top of the liquid. While I had expected the process to proceed at a faster pace, I think that the cooler temps in the house have slowed the growth. That's okay--if we are successful, we will have an inexpensive, delicious drink loaded with B vitamins, antioxidants, and gluconic acid to enjoy for years to come. It may take more than a few batches to figure out the combination of teas and sugars that we prefer, but I suspect that I will have willing taste testers on hand when I call.