New Bows For The Children

Harris' bow (above) is a Ragim Matrix Jr. Youth Recurve. The bow is 48" long with a 16# pull. The Matrix Junior recurve take-down bow is the lightest bow for beginners available on the market.

Both Kids are getting pretty good with their crappy red fiberglass bows. But, it's time for an upgrade. They'll be reinforcements, as we face down small stuffed animals in backyard battles. The alien below will never phone home again.
Claire's (below) is the Greatree Mohegan Take Down 48" youth recurve bow. It is manufactured of an attractive layering of maple and oak woods. Her lefty bow is 48" long with a 20# pull.
I ordered these and a bow fishing kit from Quality Archery Bows. I place the order Sunday and they should be at my house Wed. Not bad for free shipping.

21st Annual Traditional Bow Shoot Coon Rapids, MN June 18-19

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Hakuna Matata.

Only foam animals were hurt making this blog post.

Harris/Insideous Rat Boy

In celebration of finalizing his plans to take over the Universe!

Tall Bike Joy

Claire and Harris conquered the tall bike today. Dismounts were not graceful, but they were able to get off without too much assistance from gravity.

With snow melted alley biking is on.

The bike is homemade out of two boulevard bikes and a section of black pipe. Total cost $5 for handlebar grips and 1/2 a can of spray paint. Q, a friend of mine is the master mind. We built this bike and two others one night in his So. Minneapolis Garage. Good times.

Skunk Cabbage is "Warm Blooded"

Thanks to all the people who helped identify this fascinating plant, symplocarpus foetidus or skunk cabbage. Wikipedia says,
Skunk cabbage is notable for its ability to generate temperatures of up to 15-35°C above air temperature by cyanide resistant cellular respiration in order to melt its way through frozen ground,[2] placing it among a small group of plants exhibiting thermogenesis. Even though it flowers while there is still snow and ice on the ground it is successfully pollinated by early insects that also emerge at this time. Some studies suggest that beyond allowing the plant to grow in icy soil, the heat it produces may help to spread its odor in the air.[2] Carrion-feeding insects that are attracted by the scent may be doubly encouraged to enter the spathe because it is warmer than the surrounding air, fueling pollination.[3]

Strange Plant Along the Minnehaha Creek

Harris, Claire and I found several of these plants growing in a wet area about 1mile down stream from Minnehaha falls on March 31st. At first we thought they were some type of shoot, but it appears to be a flower of some kind. (Click on the picture to make it larger for a better look.) I also thought it maybe some type of pitcher plant. I didn't see any images from a web search that looked like this. Anyone know what this is?
Some were singles; some grew in clusters of green or red.

Artcrank Scores

I purchased Blood+Sweat+Chemo by Jason M. Miller 6/100 (above)
Claire chose Chainwhirl by Courtney Billadeau 1/30

Both Claire and Harris came with this year. They enjoyed the art and bikes, I enjoyed having such and event we could share together. Claire was excited about her purchase with her own money.