Our First Glimpse of Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Tying this field trip into a recent one

was this photo from EROS of the Black Hills. 

There were some very cool displays

and enough "hands on" and "touch me" areas to keep our crew busy for over an hour.  My favorite, the glow in the dark rocks hidden behind a velvet curtain. 

After

K had his interview he joined us at the Museum of Geology. 

Our Fourth and Final (at least for this year) College Visit

was to The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.  K and Dad were supposed to visit on Saturday the 16th, but the snowstorm on the 15th that made "no travel advised" precluded that visit.  Because we were already headed to Rapid City the next week it was easy to reschedule his visit with the mining engineering department. 

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

The first stop on our SD Spring Break aka Cousin Week 2011.  Monday evening we picked my youngest sister and her daughter up at the airport in Sioux Falls.  Tuesday morning we headed west to Rapid City.  As we drove across the state in thick fog and heavy snow flurries I was thinking, "We are never going to be able to see Mount Rushmore. . ."  My sister was thinking the same thing, we never voiced our fears, however.  Around noon we arrived at the airport in Rapid City to pick up my younger sister, her husband and their three boys.  After they deplaned we headed to lunch at Pizza Hut, still under cloudy skies and snow flurries.  As we ate pizza though the sun began peaking out and by the time we arrived at the School of Mines the sun was shining!  We parked and followed the dinosaur footprints to the Museum of Geology. 

Sun, at least for a couple of minutes. . .

Even on some of our cloudy, overcast days we've had a few spectacular sunrises. 

April 15th, 16th, and 17th

Our Third College Visit

was to Lakes Area Technical Institute.  We looked at the Aircraft Mechanic Program.  While there K got to warm up the hydraulic system on a 737.

And that is why they call it Pelican Point.

Spring Comes to the Grove

Slowly but surely.

Muskrat Lodge

Tiger Lillies Peeking Above the Soil

April 12th

Can you see the thermometer?  It is showing a temperature over 90 degrees F.  While that is not exactly accurate, it is in the sun, we did have a couple of delightful days in the upper 70's.  When the snow and cold temperatures returned the standard "joke" everyone asked was, " Did you enjoy your summer?"

A Boy and His Truck

S'mores!

It was a little chilly and a bit windy but it was our first fire and s'more night of the season!  If you come to visit I'll buy the marshmallows!

Boat Repair

When we bought the boat we knew it had some spongy parts in the floor and that we would need to replace the floor.  But, then the transom became the urgent project last summer and we just avoided the squishy parts.  Since it is almost boating season the men have started to replace the floor.  First step, take out the seats and stuff, next step remove the carpet, then cut out the floor.  They got quite a ways on this step and needed a tool.  Tuesday night R will go pick up the tool and the marine plywood that he ordered.  And figure out what to buy to replace the foam. . .

Electricity

in the barn and outside!

Molasses Men

The cookie jar?  A milk jar from the Jones' Farm in Texas

 

C wanted to make gingerbread men, but K wanted Molasses cookies.  So we compromised.