Art&Seek Jr. is one mom‘s quest to find activities to end the seemingly endless chorus of the “I’m Bored Blues” while having fun herself.  Impossible you say? Check back on Tuesdays for kid-friendly events that are fun for adults, too.

The crazy weather has really been bugging Lilah lately.

Lilah the cat is displeased with the crazy weather we’ve been having. (photo: Therese Powell)

In case I haven’t mentioned her before, Lilah is our black alley cat we adopted as a kitten from the pound about 2 years ago. For the most part Lilah likes living with us. She has a cozy place to sleep and all the cat chow she can eat, but make no mistake, Lilah is no house cat. In fact, if you asked her she’d tell you–because she talks, you know– that she’s a wild cat, and the only thing more annoying than the dumb little bell on her collar is this business of being kept inside all day. I’ve tried to explain to her that laying on the fence in our coyote/hawk/owl infested neighborhood could be hazardous to her health, but she turns a deaf ear to my protests and continues on with her sun bathing. Needless to say, our weather as of late has been extremely vexing to Lilah. One day it’s glorious, the next it’s arctic. During last Saturday’s torrential rain storm she sat at the door looking up at me pleading, “Let me owwwut! Let me owwwut!” I finally got sick of her complaining and opened the door. She sprang outside like a shot but quickly retreated back in the house when she realized it was raining. She shook her feet (the way cats do when they’re wet) and gave me a look of disgust that implied this was somehow all my fault.

During this time of the year, you’ve got to have all bases covered. Keeping that in mind, here are the Junior’s picks for this week–some inside–some outside.

Bring your little flutterflies to the see the Butterflies in the Garden Exhibit this weekend at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden. Don’t worry about the weather because you (and the butterflies) will be all warm and snug in their glass tropical conservatory. Butterflies in the Garden is the largest exhibit of live, exotic butterflies in north central Texas and it runs until Sunday, April 6.

Make a flower crown at the Bob Jones Nature Center. (photo: Bob Jones Nature Center)

Another opportunity for a little inside/outside time is at Bob Jones Nature Center in Southlake. You and the little kiddles can enjoyed the fickle springtime weather and learn how to weave natural materials together to make a crown. The Nature Crowns event is suitable for kids of all ages but the tot-lettes must be accompanied by an adult. Hurry and pre-register because there are only 6 slots per session.

Grab the gang and head to Fort Worth for a good old fashion Scavenger Hunt put on by Senior Citizens Services of Fort Worth. Explore downtown Fort Worth while you complete for prizes and have fun at a party at the T&P station. The fun starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday but you don’t have to be there at exactly 11 am for a shotgun start. Just come when you can.  Prizes are awarded based on shortest completion time with all clues correctly solved.

If you’re feeling more like a scalawag than a scavenger, check out How I Became a Pirate at Casa Manana in Fort Worth this weekend. (How’s THAT for a segue?) Based on the book by the same name, this play will instruct you on all the ins and outs of becoming a salty-dog of the high seas. Plus, you can’t go wrong with such musical numbers as “Green Teeth,” “I’m Really Just a Sensitive Guy,” and “You’ve Got to Talk Like a Pirate.” Days later you’ll still find yourself saying “Arrrggghh.”

Ever wonder where bugs go in the winter? Head over to the Perot Museum in Victory Park and take a closer look at the tiny creatures and their habitats in the 3-D film Bugs! a live-action nature film that explores the lives of our insect friends. The film runs now through May 23.

If birds are more to your liking than bugs then you’ve got to see the All About Owls show at the Dallas Arboretum this Thursday morning. Tiny Tikes can learn all about these mysterious birds of the night. They’ll learn how to call owls, dissect an owl pellet and discover ways to attract owls to your yard. Hmmm…maybe not such a great idea if you’ve got a cat that likes to sunbathe on top of the fence.

Therese Powell is an Art&Seek calendar coordinator and KERA-TV producer. She spends most of her free time seeking out adventures for her 8-year-old daughter, Rose. Tell us about your quirky kid adventures by leaving a comment. Or e-mail Therese at [email protected].