Monday, May 30, 2016

End of the Year Update

A few hairline cracks appeared on this sign for our custodian...
The fifth graders made bowls with carved rims...
And, my class made bowls with carved rims...
We'll be glazing them tomorrow...
Meanwhile, the quest for a housebroken puppy plods on...
Both are very earnest and have good intentions...

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Living History

Confederate attire, with button count signifying rank...

At my new school, field trips are mandatory. Parents carpool the kids and pay for these activities. It is a huge amount of effort. I am ever so grateful for these learning opportunities. And, each time that I go on a field trip, I notice that there are almost no public school children attending. Every school is a charter school, or a private school. What has happened to public education? Where does all of the money go? Aren't we all paying taxes, so that children can have positive learning experiences? Why are most children only able to attend one or two field trips each year. My school has at least one field trip each month, that includes all grade levels. Is it the exorbitant bus fees? Is the money going towards building projects, or towards hiring more district office employees? It seems like it doesn't trickle down towards the students. For the cost of one Assistant Superintendent, it seems like many field trips could be restored. Trimming the overhead in district offices might mean that more money ends up affecting children.

This field trip was extraordinary. Because of a scheduling conflict, we switched days, and attended the fifth grade Civil War trip, instead of the Gold Rush presentation. The presenters were so polished and everything was so authentic. So much information was presented, in an interesting format. And, after all of the learning, we were able to take a one hour train ride through the mountains.


Apparently these Union jackets influenced women's fashion...
Learning about life in the Confederate navy...
Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker, and Harriet Tubman...
A camping stove for Virginia refugees...
This woman's home was taken by the Union forces...
We learned how to amputate Joel's leg...
Germs were the number one killer...
A blacksmith teaches us how to use a forge...
We learned about the cotton industry, and about spinning...
And, we panned for real gold...
The Confederate camp...
I bought a snood and some high powered candy...
Dressing up makes it more fun...

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Birthday Eats

Meeting up with the Wrights...
Right after running a brief errand...
Getting some plexiglass for a rickety old frame...
Ran into this babe on the way...
He's an enormous homemade man statue...
Loved the metal patching...
Headed off to the San Jose Museum of Art...
Birthday swag...
Fabulous dessert...
Happy Birthday Susie...

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Sculpture IS: Demonstrations


Carlos Dye had a hands-on demonstration about underglazes...

He discussed different brands of specific underglazes...

He showed how to mix colors and how to mist work...

He also talked about clear glazes, and watering them down...

One of his small paintings...

Wendy Ballen demonstrated how to sculpt with wire...

She uses anatomical models to get the structure just right...

Unbelievable facility in working with different gauges...

A small sample...

Goat Hill Fair Again

Bowl of dice...

Beautiful black dress...

Love the naval headgear...

Thermometer...

A sassy hairdo...

Ribbons galore...

Gather round...

Always a sucker for mantilla combs...

Beautiful glasses near some celluloid hand mirrors...

Altar near the front of the show...

Gift wrapping raccoon...

A boy and a glamorous hat...

Shaving brush headgear...

Farm and city, all in one modern poster...

We stopped for some refreshment...

Got a fun map table cloth...

And, we found some replacement pillow shams...

This frame is going to have a picture of my pop...