Out and About

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 24, owner Barb Olson will make an appearance at at craft/vendor show at the Oak Park Mall in Austin, MN from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. She will have our summer things and some of our smaller items available to look at, touch and try out, as well as buy and take home on the spot.
In addition to our regular fare will be a spread of rubberband guns, from our Colt 22 pocket-sized pistol to the Lawman and Magnum 45 pistols to our Jr. Range Rifle for hunting. Appropriately sized rubber band ammo will also be available. Depending on the setup of the show, a test firing range may also be available (a table with a target).
Come out and say hello!

Rain, Rain, come and play

Taking free play outside to engage the senses and engage my fond memories of playing in the rain took us outside on this rainy spring day.
I didn't give in to my toddler's pleas to go out in the rain immediately at 7:30 a.m. (at a very non-balmy 48°), but between lunch and nap, we put on our boots, waterproof (winter-weight) jackets and froggy umbrella and went out to splish-splash.
The umbrella's big, froggy eyes watched as the 24-month old learned that decks get slippery when it rains; that under a down spout rain makes a deep puddle that makes really big splashes; and that the only thing that really happens when you kick the gush of water coming out of the down spout is that your pants get really wet.
The rain thundered on the roof of our steel shed, but my toddler instead turned his head upward, listening to and studying the rain pattering on the spotted umbrella and rolling down its plastic tips and splashing on the ground.
I wished I had a waterproof covering for my camera.

The 37 in. arc of the froggy and ladybug umbrellas are perfect for toddlers or petite children, and the slightly larger ducky umbrella with a bill that sticks out and a 41 in. arc is great for any size child. All three umbrellas are available at GrowlGearStore.com for $12 plus shipping and tax.