I spotted a total of four bald eagles while visiting the Long Meadow Lake unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge after dropping my nieces off at school. I happened upon the pair above about two miles from the visitor center. Even though they were rather far away it was hard to miss their distinctive silhouettes.

Nearby Minnehaha Creek was swollen due to significant recent rain making its plunge over 53-foot tall Minnehaha Falls that much more dramatic.

I hiked down the creek until it converged with the mighty Mississippi River.  Along the way I encountered more raptors and a single bubble gum decorated tree, the first of its kind that I have ever seen.

Cameras were not permitted at the Excel Center where we attended a concert featuring the acapella quintet, Pentatonix.  Although I really enjoy the group’s music, the concert was a tad too loud for my taste and a pair of screaming teens in the row behind us did little to enhance the experience.  Fortunately, the girls enjoyed their first concert and staying up until midnight on a school night.