More student art

This assignment had the students all take the same object- a large purple circle, and incorporate it into an illustration. First we brainstormed what the circle could be- bicycle wheel, face, fruit, soccer ball...

So here is what turned out:

Solar System:



Hot Cheeto Guy Gone Cold:



The Pizza Party:



Ninja:

Running around the Monterey Area

I know its random, but when I google myself, the first thing that comes up is of course my masters thesis. the second, are the race results for all the runs that I have recently completed.
I have completed four 10k (6.2 miles) races in the last 8 months!! If I go back an entire year, that would include a half marathon (13.1 miles) and if I go back a year and a half, that would include a 21 mile marathon!! I guess I love running. The best thing about it, is running with a partner. Teresa, a great teacher friend of mine ran the 21 miler with me. Darling Lex ran the half marathon with me. Both of the longer races were in Big Sur.

For the most recent races I have been training and staying motivated by my good friend and salsa dance partner, Hector.

So time to get to the stats of the races.

Date: February 14th
Location: Pacific Grove
Course: race along the ocean-side street from lovers point (out and back)
Weather: Sunny, misty spray off the ocean
Results: 9:08 min mile; 56:35 minutes
Racer # 228 out of 560+ participants.

Date: April 11
Location: Santa Cruz
Course: race along the Santa Cruz Coast line. From the boardwalk (out and back)
Weather: foggy, windy
Results: 8:48 min mile; 53:56 minutes
Racer # 195 out of 1118

Date: September 12
Location: Aromas Rock Quarry
Course: race through an active rock quarry (very hilly!)
Weather: thick fog; very chilly
Results: 59:00 minutes
Racer: # 26 out of 55 (8th woman to cross finish line!)

Date: September 25th
Location: Pebble Beach/17 mile drive
Course: Start at Stevenson High School, through the forest, out along the 17 mile drive coast line then back into the trees. Incredibly hilly!
Weather: 75-80 degrees!! Gorgeously sunny day!
Results: 57:25 min.
Racer: 2nd in my age/gender category!! (58th overall out of over 100).

Next race... Half Marathon in Monterey (my own backyard)
I've got the t-shirts to prove it!!



**Thanks abba for the photos!! Guess I need a photographer at all the races.
Next one is November 14th!! (hint hint)

the scribble game

This post is specifically for the sisters. As much as I teased you two about the ridiculous games you would come up with -singing as your ramen cooked, making up a language, and making paper doll clothes, I can't help but acknowledge and attribute some of the things I do today to that wackiness!! For example, the scribble game you two would play in the car- often.

For those unfamiliar with the activity, one person would scribble a bit on one paper and hand it to the other, the second person would have to create a picture from those random scribbles. To introduce my students into art this year, I took the same general idea. It took a few tries for them to "break out of the box" and really turn out some clever art- all based on another classmate's scribbles.

Enjoy. (the titles are always entertaining!!)

This student enjoys science...




This student is quiet, but hardworking. I had her older sister two years ago.




this one really made me laugh (make sure to read the caption!)

Gardening in Carmel Valley

A couple weekends ago I helped my good friend Teresa kick start her garden in her new little place in Carmel Valley. Once the protective fence was up and ready... Carmel Valley-ites have terrible trouble with a certain pest, deer!! So in order to keep the hopeful veggies safe from nibbling lips, a fence had to be erected.

I helped out the following weekend when we headed over to the nursery for good soil, and "deer-tolerant" plants. We worked all afternoon, moving a raised bed into the garden and filling it- for the veggie plot. We then transplanted and potted a host of lovely little guys- a meyer lemon, lavender, peppers, basil, morning glories. The day was lovely, and we got wonderfully dirty!! Moose, her 114 lb. dog found his own way to help out too!