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Thanks For Spring

Monday, March 16th, 2009 by Alyice

This is winter in South Dakota. Very beautiful to look at and fun to visit. But to live in this for five to six months out of the year—that can be a bit too much!

These are the beautiful birds that flew home—letting me know that spring is just around the corner!

And this morning, as I was painting in my studio, I heard a flock of geese fly overhead. Yes, spring is upon us and I couldn’t be happier. I love everything about spring: new life, pastel colors, freshly cut grass, the smell of flowers, the amazing aromas that come from cooking outdoors, the chirping of birds early in the morning, and the ability to go outside without layers upon layers of clothing!

So today, I shout unto the world, “Thank you Mother Earth for Spring!”

Give thanks…

Posted in It's Gratitude, Dude!, SD Transplant | 2 Comments »

Ingalls Homestead

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 by Alyice

When I was a little girl, I loved watching Little House On The Prairie, starring Melissa Gilbert and reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls-Wilder. The books and the televised series offered an escape from my every day life, allowing me to experience what it would be like to live a simpler, more carefree lifestyle. And I loved dreaming of being a part of the Ingalls family—a family that seemed to exemplify the very nature of what “family” was supposed to be about: unconditional love, close bonds, and working together as a unit.

Two summers ago we visited the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, South Dakota with my twin nephews—who were two years old at the time—and it was an amazing experience. The land has been preserved to the point of only being plowed by farm animals and everything on the Homestead can be touched, played with, and used. You can make a hand-spun rope and a corncob doll, ride in a covered wagon, and attend school in the one-room school house.

If you ever happen to be near De Smet, South Dakota, stop by the Ingalls Homestead—just remember to bring along a few toddlers as their excitement is contagious and makes the experience worth it.

Until next time…

Disclosure: I paid for this attraction. This is “my opinion”. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Posted in SD Transplant | Comments Off

Sport Bowl Sioux Falls

Thursday, June 26th, 2008 by Alyice

Avoiding the heat and getting out of the rain is easy thanks to Sport Bowl in Sioux Falls. I must have passed by Sport Bowl a hundred times since my mother-in-law moved towards old downtown Sioux Falls but I never gave it a second thought until last week. The kids and I wanted to get out of the house. We wanted something different to do and we wanted it to be “cheap”. So we decided to give Sport Bowl a try.

Upon entering the facility there is a hint of cigarette smoke lingering in the air, but thanks to the ventilation it’s not enough to send my allergies into an attack. Off to the left is a Pro Shop where one can buy a beginner’s bowling kit for just $99.95—something I plan on getting if we decide to make this a regular habit as my fingers are too fat for the ten pound bowling balls—and on the immediate right are vending machines for drinks and candies. A few steps further has you choosing between the small diner on the right or the pool parlor on the left. Straight ahead are the bowling lanes.

On the first visit, we opted for bowling. The prices were pretty reasonable, too. $1.50 for shoe rentals—which my daughter firmly told me grossed her out and if we were to make this a regular thing, she’d need her own pair of shoes—and $2.50 per person, per game.

I must admit that I am a rather poor bowler. For starters, my fingers have always been on the chubby side (even when I weighed in at 120 pounds) so they don’t fit in bowling balls that I can actually lift with ease. Second, playing once a year doesn’t allow for improved skills. And third, I have a natural tendency to twist my arm as I throw the ball down the lane.

You should see me bowl. It’s quite comical. My form is poor and my balls seem to have a mind of their own. Sometimes my fingers get stuck in the ball causing me to fight for a release, other times the ball simply plops right out of my hand making a little thump sounds as it bounces a time or two before finally rolling down the lane, and then there are my gutter balls. I have more gutter balls than one person should be allowed. And yet, I have fun. I get really excited when I actually knock down more than two pins and my kids don’t seem too embarrassed by my little victory dance.

On our second visit, we opted for shooting pool and at just $5 per hour, per table, it was a steal! The pool tables and pool sticks did look a little beaten, but aside from looks they seemed in top shape.

Honestly, I’m no better at pool than I am at bowling. My son thought he was better off choosing me over his younger sister as a partner—boy was he mistaken! Not only did nearly every turn result in hitting the white ball into a pocket, but I cost us the game once by hitting in the eight ball. My daughter, my son, and my husband can “play them some pool” so it was no surprise that after the second game, I was asked to sit out so they could play “Cut Throat”. Honestly, I didn’t mind. It was fun just to be there as a family and I really did enjoy them succeeding at something I have yet to master—even got a kick out of their jump shots.

As for the arcade Sport Bowl touts…I’d pass. There are only a handful of games. You’re better off taking a drive to Dave & Buster’s in Omaha, Nebraska and making a day of it.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive family outing and can get out during the day—before the evening crowd of smokers and drinkers arrive—it’s worth the trip! They open at nine in the morning and close sometime after eleven in the evening. Visit Sport Bowl online (http://www.siouxfallssportbowl.com) for more information or drive to 1901 Burnside, Sioux Falls, SD or call 605-336-6063.

Until next time…

Disclosure: I paid for this attraction. This is “my opinion”. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Posted in SD Transplant | 2 Comments »

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