Reaching for the sun

The crocuses in our garden are looking up for some springtime warmth.

Getting greener out

The view from our deck is looking greener!

Mount Vernon

Plantation home of George Washington, first president of the United States.

View from Mount Vernon's front porch across the wide expanse of the Potomac River south of Washington, D.C. George Washington once said of Mount Vernon, "No estate in United America is more pleasantly situated than this." I tend to agree!

Washington DC at night

Jefferson Memorial

Washington Monument

In the Everglades

Raccoon

11-foot alligator

Pelican perched on the prow of our airboat

Bumper Crop of Shells Yesterday

Yesterday, the tide washed in sea shells in piles 9" deep...mostly small shells like cockles, clams, scallops, slipper shells and "kitten paws". Can you find the kitten paw in the photo above?  (Hint:  top center!)

Sunset cruise with dolphins

Sea Urchin

Three Pelicans on Three Posts

Captiva Sunset

Captiva Crab

Roseate Spoonbills

At Ding Darling Nature Preserve

Another Ding Darling Resident

Newt? Gecko? Chameleon?

Snowy Egret, I think

My seashell hoard so far

Off to the beach, Captiva Island, Florida

Lazy Heron

Looks like this fisherman gave up fishing, since the heron would probably get to any fish he caught before the fisherman did!

Mid-winter robin

Middle Earth

My students and I finished reading The Hobbit just in time for the opening of the movie. One of our projects was to make a map of Middle Earth together, so we could trace Bilbo's travels.  We made our 3D Relief map using bright white drywall joint compound on a 24" x 36" canvas panel.  We painted it with watercolor to show elevation.  I then photographed it and added map labels using a graphics program.  The students had fun moving small clay figurines I made around the map to re-tell the story.

If you're a Hobbit fan, can you tell what is happening in the scenes below?  Highlight the "white on white" text to the right of each number to check your answer.

1 Gandalf and Thorin and company set off from Hobbiton and go on an adventure.

  

2  The company encounters some hungry trolls and Bilbo comes to their rescue.

3  The company reaches Rivendell and seeks counsel from Elrond the Elf

4 Bilbo meets Gollum in the mountain of the Elven King

5 The company travels through Mirkwood and comes across spiders

6 Bilbo explores the Lonely Mountain and finds Smaug and the treasure

7 Bard shoots an arrow at Smaug during Smaug's attack of Laketown

8 The Battle of the Five Armies

9 The Goblin King kills Thorin, and Beorn kills the Goblin King

10 Gandalf and Bilbo return home to Hobbiton