Something Beautiful

Would love to say that these were mine, but they were done by an artist named John Singer Sargent - one of the biggest names in the art world. He was famous for laying down a stroke and then never changing it. I thought they were breathtaking and wanted to post them. The size here doesn't do them justice. There is nothing I would love more than to create something really beautiful - in addition to the beautiful eight babies I had a hand (?) in.
School is going well. This semester is busy, but I love most of my classes (and the others are ok). I have a new appreciation for the ceramic pieces many of you made. I am adept at making mud spin and then wedging it back into some semblance of clay. I am loving my oil painting class but still feel nervous before I go. Not many classes display your failed attempts quite so flagrantly. Kent is in a new business venture which keeps him very busy also. It looks promising, although the money will take some time. Does that sound familiar to anyone?? All in all, life is hectic, happy, and hopeful - what more could I ask!

Alaska This 'N That

 

 

 

 

Ethan was not thrilled with the river running outfit.
Haylee and Ethan learned to be pirates at kids camp.
A great eagle picture taken by Kent.

Towel Zoo

 

 

 

 

Every night our steward would fold fresh towels into some type of critter and I would get Kent to take a picture. They had a ship activity where they taught you how to fold these, but I missed it. My amateur towel creations are a lot like the clouds: the fun is in imagining what you see.

Alaska - Final Installment

 

 

 

 

We docked in Whittier early Wednesday morning and traveled a couple of hours up to Anchorage. Lunch was at the famed Moose's Tooth pizza place, afterwhich we saw the biggest chocolate fountain in the world. Later, Kent, Gina, and Jon scouted out the city while Amber and Chris went to see the new Batman offering. The next day's trip to the Imaginarium, a hands on science center of sorts, we found that (as we had long suspected) Jon and Gina exist inside a bubble. A long but uneventful flight returned us to LA just before midnight. Alaska is a sweet memory.

Alaska - Installment Five

Tuesday was another sailing day with lots of food (notice a subtle "fleshing out") and beautiful scenery. Our waiters were lots of fun and we gave them rave reviews on our comment cards.

Alaska - Installment Four

 

 

 

 

Sunday we stopped in Skagway, our favorite, but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures and must again refer you to the infamous Jonina blog (by the way, Gina NEVER gets on my nerves). Monday we docked in Sitka, which was the capital of Alaska from 1867, when the US purchased Alaska from Russia, until 1906 when the capital was moved to Juneau. A pretty little town with a lot of history. Note - in the totem pole picture, everyone was assuming the totem pole stance; Chris found a HUGE slug; and Alaskan Amber is the ale of choice which is golden in color and has just a hint of bitterness. Ha! (I didn't make that up; we read it on a menu).

Alaska - the Third Installment

 

 

 

 

Saturday was our day in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Four of us Shot the Mendenhall (which in layman terms means we floated the river coming out of the Mendenhall glacier). We braved some class four rapids and, in calmer water, Ethan and Haylee both got to help row. The rest of our group were relegated to the comparatively tame excursion of taking a helicopter into the glacier to do a little hiking - ho hum stuff but it kept them busy. See all about that on Jonina's blog, which has beautiful grid-framed pictures that enlarge when you click on them, delightful witty dialog, and the entire vacation organized into one entry - sometimes Gina gets on my nerves.