mine, Mine, MINE!

Back to the Clark Hill Quarry to go gem hunting. Pics of the kids, plus some cool lichen on the trail.

Lucia, fresh from her visit to Toni's house, sporting her new barrettes.

Who among you is psyched we came to the mine? (Actual answer: everyone)

Gillette's Castle

We tried to spot some eagles from Gillette's castle, but it was cold up on the terrace, and the orange safety net keeps you back so far from the stone wall that you can't see the edge of the river below, so we didn't last too long up there. We sought refuge from the sharp winds down on the dappled woodland paths.

Lucia takes a quick snack break.

a-sugarin' we go

Erica and Chris invited Violet's preschool co-op to come for a maple sugaring day at their place, Hurricane Farm. We joined in the fun, learning how to tap trees, how much it has to boil down before you eat it, and a yummy taste test.

Putting in the tap with the attached lid.

Violet shuts the lid over the bucket that hangs from it.

The set-up in their backyard to boil down the sap.

Raptor rehab

First we saw a talk about owls, followed by one on hawks and falcons. We met some of the rehabilitated birds of prey that the Audubon works with. The speaker said that most of these raptors were hit by cars and can no longer fly, see or hear well enough to survive in the wild. They train the birds to relax a bit in groups so they can use them in educational programs like this one. The birds were all wary, some even skittish. A couple tried to fly off and didn't last too long out of their wooden box.

This gremlin-like being is an Eastern Screech Owl. Look how tiny!

She's holding Merlin, a barn owl. This species of barn owl is from Ohio, not around here -- just one more reason he has to remain in captivity, so as not to disrupt the native population.

Above and below are the Barred Owl.

This is the Great Horned Owl, or Mr. Ocax in "Poppy" which we've just finished reading.

Then the owl show was over, time for Birds of Prey.

A red-shouldered hawk.

Front and back shots of a peregrine falcon, like Frightful in "My Side of the Mountain".

The American kestral, another falcon, tho much more colorful (and smaller) than Frightful.

The Hair Club for Eagles

On Sunday we headed out to Essex for the Eagle Festival. We got to see guys with lots of various chainsaws and other power tools carve sections of huge trees into various birds of prey; we went to the optics tent to use fancy binoculars and scopes to see the nesting eagles across the river; we saw a talk on owls where they had a Great Horned Owl, a Barred Owl and an Eastern Screech Owl who sat on the trainer's gloved hands as they toured the room. We also stayed for the Birds of Prey show which had oodles of hawks, a kestral, a peregrine falcon, and a Barn Owl. Some of the birds were skittish with the big audience, but it was really cool to be able to see them up close like that.

The display at the top of Main Street.

Walking down Main Street, Essex toward the river to see some eagles.

Some of the scopes were pointed at the eagle nest across the river, but this one had something else in its sights:
My camera isn't half so powerful, so I guess I'll have to tell you -- those lumps at the right end of the rock or log are harbor seals.

Art Gala

Time for the homeschool Art Gala again -- this time the kids submitted some items for sale. We made hummus with veggies and some molasses cookies and headed out. Lucia danced to the fiddle music for a while, and the storytelling ladies were a big hit. Dante was bummed he didn't win the raffle -- he was so sure he would.

The whale rider.

Dante (in cranberry) awaits the raffle drawing.

Rex Leo

For Lucia's fourth birthday, coming up April 23rd, Lorraine bought tickets to the Lion King in New York. She dropped us off right in front of the theater and picked us up afterward, which was a treat. Especially since as we walked out of the theater, big, sticky flakes of snow were whirling about in a blizzard-like fashion. The snow squall was over pretty quickly, but it coated the trees we passed on the way back to New Jersey.

This huge mask (which looks like Mufasa when he talks to Simba from the stars) loomed over us as we headed up the escalator...

...and again back down on the way out.

Pretty detailed mannequin of Rafiki in the lobby. With some random people posing for a pic.

Front row aisle seats! Yipee!

Mufasa and young Simba on Pride Rock for "Circle of Life". Mufasa and Scar's masks were interesting in that they were mobile and controlled by the actors almost like a bike brake it seemed. Sometimes the masks came down to almost cover their faces. All the shots of Scar came out super blurry though, since I was taking these on the sly and his scenes tended to be darker.

So you can see the costumes if you haven't before, this is a picture from Time Magazine, Nov 24, '97 Samuel E. Wright plays Mufasa. Photographer: Joan Marcus.

Simba sings "Hakuna Matata" and eats bugs after running away.

This machine was very cool and appeared twice in the show -- in the beginning with antelopes, and here at the end with the antelope skeletons, with a system of gears to make the animals leap.

Grown up Simba wonders who he is.

Timon the meerkat with Pumbaa, who raised his bum and wilted jungle plants and hyenas alike with his virulent vapors. Eliciting lots of giggles from the crowd. Every time.

Zazu, sitting on the hat of the actor who operated him. All the puppets and other animal costumes were pretty amazing in their detail and design.

ABC's -- adorable bunny cuteness

Claire came bearing bunnies last Friday to our craft day where we never seem to get to the craft. How adorable they've gotten!

Please can I keep them? Please? Please? Please?

The two-headed angora rabbit.

Princess Sweet Pea with a lap full of love.