Winter Fun!

Since it was a beautiful day today, sunshine and warm (ish) only like 10 F, we decided to walk past the skating rink on the way home from church.  The past couple of weeks it has been stormy on Sunday so we were happy to have nice weather today.

This is the same place that has the farmer's markets in the summer and fall.  It could use a zamboni for perfect conditions, but everyone seemed to be having fun.

Here's some ice sculptures and a Happy New Year Message on the store behind it.

This is an ice fountain.  Very clever.

This one has a flower display inside the ice.

 

Down the street a block or two is the river.  The city has built some awesome slides for the kids' enjoyment.  And there are no signs warning you to use at your own risk!

 

 

The slides go from the bank of the river down to the frozen river.  The sides are built of blocks of ice and the slide is nice and straight ice and very slippery.  Some kids use sleds, or go down on their shoes, or a piece of cardboard, or these little "butt slides" or just slide down on their behinds.

  

 

One side seemed to be used by smaller kids and the other side had bigger kids.  Some parents and grandparents were going with their kids too.

 



There are stairs, but some kids like to climb up the hard way.

 



 

 

And in case you don't have your sled, these are for sale nearby.

 



There's a snowmobile giving rides up the river.

 



This guy was on cross country skis.

And a guy ice fishing inside his little bubble.

 



 



Here is Alan in front of the beach where they come to swim in the summer.

 



The snow is pretty deep out here where nobody walks.  These are my footprints.

 



A stroll in the snow.  Not quite like the beach!

 



This is where they've been cutting out the ice blocks.  They've cleared the snow away from here.

 

They're still trying to get more ice.  It's so thick now that they have to use a cement saw to cut squares 6 - 8 inches deep and then use a bar to break off the pieces.  The blocks they're getting now are smaller than the first ones they were getting.

 



 



 

Camping anyone?

So, down at this part of the river, the stairs are covered with snow.  It was either climb up (in my skirt) or hike back to the stairs.  So, yes I did climb up this hill!  It was quite a walk and a work out!  Had to have my senior missionary nap after that!