into the mist

hmmm… what have we here?

Last weekend we flew down to North Carolina to see the little one, and her parents, of course. πŸ˜‰ A visit to the Museum of Life & Science in Durham proved to be a great adventure. The museum’s tag line is “know wonder.” We spent most of our visit at the “Into the Mist” outdoor exhibit because that’s where Katherine’s curiosity led her.

time to investigate the intermittent mist at closer range…

Activate push-button mist fields and watch as droplets of water suspended in air form clouds that hover over small valleys. How does humidity and wind impact your misty landscape? Take a one-of-a-kind stroll through this cooling landscape and watch as rainbows appear then disappear. Climb through tunnels, make sand sculptures, or just sit, cool off, and observe the beauty of mist, landforms, and rock.
~ Museum of Life & Science website

noticing how slippery the steps are…

Katherine is an observer. This little amphitheater/mist pit captured her attention. For a good while she studied carefully how the other children played until the mist stopped coming up from the ground and then how one of them would run up the stairs to push a button on top of a pole to make the mist appear again.

continuing her investigation…
still figuring things out…
watching another child press the button…
a new friend to play with on the sidelines…
but it must be more fun in the middle…
think I should try this, Grandpa?

When she finally decided to take the plunge she had a wonderful time and got thoroughly soaked in the mist.

cool!
oh this is fun!
taking note of a pine cone…
joy!
it’s so wet…
the little scientist explores…

After changing Katherine into dry clothes we all had lunch and then Grammy & Grandpa Tim got to take our little darling on the Ellerbe Creek Railway. She’s very interested in trains these days and there are a few more in the area we hope to ride on during our next visit. While on the train we passed the Hideaway Woods outdoor exhibit and will definitely have to check out the huge tree house playground. But we had all had enough excitement for one day and it was getting hotter as the day wore on. Hard to believe it was still February.

14 thoughts on “into the mist”

  1. great to see Katherine playing with the water spirit of nature…she’s so contemplative, a wonderful experience for you Barbara, cool photos πŸ™‚

    1. Thanks, Tai. πŸ™‚ I love when nature, science, spirit, magic and wonder blend together to enchantment… Contemplative is a good word ~ we marvel at Katherine’s often serious countenance.

      1. I got the feeling that Katherine may very well become a writer Barbara, guess its in the blood, certainly a child of nature, blessings Tai

        1. Even when she was fussy as a baby I could take her outside, stand under a tree and look up to the branches and leaves. She would stop fussing and gaze up with me, full of wonder. Trees have a serene energy I’m sure she is sensitive to…

          1. sounds like the most wonderful way to soothe a baby Barbara…it’s like the sun dances and the leaves are moved into their rhythm by the breeze, magical πŸ™‚

    1. A joy, indeed! Every time we come home we start counting the days until we will see her again. πŸ™‚ Thanks for stopping by, Joanne!

    1. Thank you, Pam!! I love how her parents let her be and let her explore the world at her own pace without rushing her. It’s fun to watch her thinking and taking it all in…

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