Happy 1st Birthday Colin

My sister-in-law Lila, my mom, me and my sister-in-law Lisa. I don't get to see them often, so it was nice to all be together. Lila's baby is the cute one below.

Colin really clicked with Uncle Templeton! Future skateboarder we say!
First piece of cake!
The theme of his party was ducks, so Grandma got him this wooden push toy of a duckie!



Peek-a-boo...it was a great time!

schooley's mtn. nj

hiking w/ my buddy carrie of 23 years, her dog indy and temp

Peru here we come.

So Templeton and I bought our tickets for Peru this past weekend and we're so excited. Our travel agent in Lima sent us our itinerary and it seems amazing. Here are some clips from it:



•After arrival, Day 3, June 19: Sacred Valley B, L
Full-day excursion in group to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during Colonial times. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays the Indians barter their products, and artisans from all over the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions and jewelry.

•Day 4, June 20: Machu Picchu B
After breakfast transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo for your Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. We take the bus up to the Sanctuary where you will have a guided visit in group of the most spectacular ancient city in the world. This fabulous city contains houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour, free time to enjoy this spiritual wonder.

•Day 7, June 23: Cuzco – Tambopata Jungle B,L,D
Reception at the airport and transfer by canoe to the jungle lodge. Travelling through virgin rain forest, you will eventually reach the jungle Lodge. In the afternoon we go to the Canopy tower. A twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas leads to the 30 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above.

•Day 8, June 24: Tambopata Jungle B,L,D
Today we go to Tres Chimbadas, thirty minutes by boat and forty five minutes hiking from Posada Amazonas. Once there you will paddle around the lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters (seen by 60% of our lake visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers.
Later we go to see the Parrot clay lick, only a twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas.
After dinner in the evening you will have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active. Much easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories

This is just a portion of our 10-day itinerary. I can't wait!!!

and the traditional charlie's easter breakfast

happy easter!

traditional easter baskets that we make each year for each other

Finished clay projects

This octopus went in the Student Gallery Art Show.
Andy Goldsworthy inspired: multiples into one art piece.
The poor bear in the background's arm was broke off, but man, that turtle is looking crazy!
Elephant face turned into a giant soup bowl.
She loves the beach.

This fish also went into the Student Gallery Art Show.

The project was to simply take something originally from nature and abstract from it. I am amazed of all the different results we got out of it. If there were any that you wanted to see finished, I can post those too. Next-relief printing.

eerie beauty

If you have a cat, you understand....

Before I lay me down to sleep....

I took a couple of minutes and shared with Templeton how grateful I am for my life:

•I have got a great home that I love
•I have got a job that I look forward to
•I have got a happy and growing family
•I have got a car that I still don't want to trade in!!
•I am in good health (besides the recent bronchitis-wink wink)
•I have got good friends that I love to play games and laugh with
•I have got a cat that I adore
•and a husband that makes me smile everyday and that is my best friend

Ok, so this is all cheesy. But too many people complain about what they don't have, and I think it's more important to recognize what we do have!

happy 6th anniversary to us!

sirena's restaurant

More kids work

I need to kill time between kids building clay and firing the clay so I came up with this little project. Students studied artists Georges Seurat, Gustav Klimt, and Vincent Van Gogh. They were to pick their favorite artist, and make a 5x5 painting using their style-subject matter was their choice. This was to get them thinking of what technique they will use to paint their clay projects, and to really think about texture. I was impressed with the results:Obviously, Seurat was a favorite. Click the image to see a close-up of each.