Taking the Long Way Home...

Breakfast of champions...

Dog is my (carsick) co-pilot...

Christmas shopping at Yonder in Pacifica...

The beach at Pescadero...

Sunny attic in a Pescadero antique shop...

Looking away from the Pigeon Point lighthouse...

Finally, we're home...

Holiday Projects

Putting some leaves next to the heater, to secure the wires...

And, then making even more...

Couldn't finish last night, in the dark shed...

More leaves and flowers did the trick...

Carrying them inside the house to dry where it's warmer...

Backlit in the kitchen...

River of Words

Elijah started adding color with pastel and watercolor pencil...

Tristan finishes up his watershed map...

Hannah's robin is very hungry...

Ashlee uses watercolor pencil to add color to her map...

The trees set the stage on Ximena's illustration...

Makaylah also had sea stars...

Champ shades a mountain lion with pastel...

Frida's red fox receives some color...

Thank you Linda Cover, for the wonderful art lessons...

All Hands on Deck

The Lady Washington in action...

Today, we went on a field trip aboard The Lady Washington. It is a replica of a brig which sailed from Boston to California carrying trade goods. As a fan of C.S. Forester's twelve Horatio Hornblower novels, and of any other adventure tale at sea, this was a real treat. Although I have a very unseaworthy stomach, I still love ships. We were able to see the various parts of the brig, and to have members of the crew as our docents. I have read about hardtack in many books, but today, I was able to smell it and touch it. And, now I actually have a recipe for hardtack, so I can make my own! We also saw samples of salt pork, and of various tools. But, I think my favorite thing that I learned, was about the lead line. Many a midshipman has used the lead line to navigate, and I've never really understood how it worked. Apparently, it is a weight that was once made of lead. The bottom of the weight had a hole, which was filled with sticky tallow. So, it accomplished a dual purpose of measuring depth, and bringing up a sample from the bottom, whether sandy or rocky.

One of my favorite seafaring novels is Typee by Herman Melville. It is one serious page turner. The reader spends several chapters wondering just exactly what is in those mysterious bags hanging from the ceiling of the hut?  Are they really heads? Are our gracious hosts really cannibals? All of the assorted books concerning The Whaleship Essex are interesting. The first mate's journal tells his point of view. And, of course, there is the classic Bounty Trilogy with Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian.
I am going to be walking on air for the entire weekend, or walking on water, although that is a bit blasphemous, really…

The port side of the Lady Washington...

Gregory Peck as Horatio Hornblower...

Sea lions aplenty on the docks...

The main mast and rigging...

Love the pattern of the frazzled rope...

Knots everywhere...

Looking upward...

The old world meets the modern world...

The kids were very excited to be able to name the sails...

Our helpful docent explains his tools...

So long for now, Midshipman Hornblower...

Falling in Love with Drawing

Carlo's Sting Ray

Natali's Monarch Butterflies

Outlining My Sea Stars

Frida's Fox

Our class has had the treat of having Linda Cover teach us art lessons that she calls "River of Words". First, the students learned about our watershed. We also made maps of our watershed, and of the neighboring watersheds. The past few lessons, we have drawn animals that reside in our watershed, and we've drawn the specific plants that exist in their habitats. For me, it has been a delight. I love sitting next to students to draw. Last week, it was Matthew. Today, I was Carlo's neighbor. He kept covering his paper and giving me dirty looks, when he saw me staring at his sting ray. I don't spend enough time drawing. It's hard work, because drawing is really observing closely. It takes time and effort. Linda has a great teaching style. Today, I took a minute to walk around, and to shoot photos of work in progress.

Gregory's Marsh Scene

Makaylah's Sea Stars

Sebastian's Opossum

Graydon's Joyous Red-Tailed Hawk

Piper's Coyote

Diego Captures Flight

Aiden's Pelican

Mealtime with Cristian

Who Says Child Labor Doesn't Pay?

We'll smooth over the hole at the left...

Today, we made our sale item for the Holiday Fair. We're going to sell these little pots with succulents planted in them. We also made an extra one for each student, so that they can give it as a present. The students really liked working with the Navajo Wheel clay, they commented on how easy it was to mold. It is pretty soft and pliable, that's why it's my clay of choice. The only trouble with this clay body, is that it stains clothes. I have many a shirt to prove it. And, some pants, too… But, the kids did a pretty good job of keeping it contained.

Our next step, after the bisque firing, is to try using some wax resist. I'm wondering if using crayon to make stripes and polka dots would work. I bought some matte green and red glaze to decorate the exteriors of the pots, when the time comes.

Uh oh, not enough tubs to carry them home...

Packing them up in the trunk...

Safe in the garage, soon to be covered with plastic...