Warning to points east

We had a bit of a cold spell the last few days.. This photo is of the daytime high we had for Thursday and Friday. Katie had school cancelled both days. It has warmed up to 20 above today so I imagine your thermometers back east are soon to look like the one I posted here.

New Year-New Shoes!

Katie got some new shoes for Christmas, Snow Shoes that is!

So on New Years the weather was right to try them out. Katie and I went up to St. Mary's University on the other side of town where they have loads of trails through the wood.

We had a great time and Mom got a break for the two of us.

My trusty, five-year-old, digital camera died this past September. It's been hard to operate without one; however, I suppose as far as digital photography equipment goes, it was probably obsolete. Steve gave me a beautiful new camera for Christmas and I have been having fun playing with it.

Today, I noticed the contrast of the bark and snow on this tree. I like the play of light and shadows that the afternoon sun cast on the snow. This old tree is a beauty.

Gee, speaking of beauties....Katie's smile certainly fits that category.

I've gotta snap pictures when I can, pretty soon a request for a photo will be followed by a whiney "Awww Mom......"

I love this bark.

Now, if I could just turn this into fabric......

No sled? Snow Problem!

We've had a lot of snow this winter. In fact as I type this, it is snowing outside. The meteorologists predict another 6 inches. I for one love it. If we have to have cold winter weather, I feel there really should be snow. Otherwise, what's the point?

Katie loves it too. She really loves to go sledding, but we don't have many great hills around here to sled down. These shots are of a visit to the park just after a recent snowfall. As we walked around the lake, we came upon a slight incline. Naturally it needed to be tested for "Sledability".

Katie and her friends discovered that snowpants are a great vehicle for testing out a snow hill.

Rolling down the hill is another great option.

Sadie loves the snow too. We hope you are enjoying the winter weather where you are.

New Favorite Lunch

A package arrived from Arizona with a new sandwich product enclosed in it.

Katie loves it.

Thanks AZ-Allards!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

X-mas Eve in MN

We woke up to another snowstorm and by noon we had another 6" of fresh fluffy powder.

First we needed to shovel out.
We then picked up Katie's friends Lydia and Gussy for a walk to the park.





Afterwards we went to the Grulke-Reed house for refreshing cup of minty hot chocolate.

Overdue Fall Photos

Although a Minnesota fall is not the same as that in New England, I always look forward to taking my students on the annual fall field trips to western and northern Minnesota. Here are a few shots of my students hard at work on one of these field trips.
(I believe a click will enlarge them if you so desire)

Here my students are beginning their death march as I lost my way and a 5 minute hike to the Morton Gneiss quarry took about 1/2 hour of circling and backtracking in the brush.

Below are the students mapping basalt dikes that intrude into the Saint Cloud Pink Granite at Stearns County Quarry Park near St. Cloud, MN.

My TA Nicole looking at them from across the quarry wondering if they will every make it to the other side where the really cool stuff is before they run out of time?
















Here's a photo of a quiet stream near Cold Springs, MN. I was taking a break while the students wrestled with identifying carlsbad twins in 2 inch long feldspars. (sorry a little geo-geeky there for a moment)



Below are my students are taking a break after lunch near Redwood Falls, MN.















Here the students investigate a fault in a gabbro near Granite Falls, MN.












This is a group photo taken at the University Quarry east of St. Cloud. The rock they are sitting on is known locally as the Reformatory Granite because it was quarried from this location during construction of the reformatory that is literally a stone throw away from where they are sitting.

Dear Santa, 2008

Katie Allard

Age 7

(click on image to enlarge)

Hockey=no, Figure Skating=yes

Well I lost, Katie switched from hockey to figure skating. I guess she is better suited and happier so I will have to accept my child as she is. They say folks are born this way, even with hockey in their parents genes they can still “turn” figure. :)


Enjoy these 2 short videos of her basic skills practice.