Monday, December 27, 2010

The Blizzard of 2010 - An Epic Tale of McHale Adventure


We were lulled to sleep by flurries and awoke to a window half obscured by snow and wind whipping the flakes into MOMA worthy sculpture.


We opened the door to reveal a snow fossil.  The imprint of wood in snow.  That stayed put.  Like an icy child safety gate.


The base of a "snurfing" run or an alternate view of the police precinct? You tell us.


We decided to bundle up and brave the elements.  Lulu chose leopard.


And Cavan, Mommy and the dogs discovered the street was better suited to walking than the sidewalk.


Daddy + Lulu = Sugar Sweet Snowshine.


The 'hood.  Looking down Loisaida.


A snow angel testing out her wings.


The big news of the day?  A city bus grounded for 14 hours. Skidded, swerved and....stuck.


Mama and Lulu survey the scene.


As does big Brother Cavan.


The sun shines over the disabled bus as workers (on the opposite side of the vehicle) work to clear snow and traffic and allow the tow truck to clear the scene.  The bus driver is tired.


A giant, shiny orange snow plow pitches in to help.  St Nicholas Carpatho Church stands stoic in the background making sure all is well.


 We retreat to Tompkins Square Park where Cavan engages in snowball warfare. A battle ensues.


But Mommy captures the soldier and forces him to hug and pose for the camera.


Meanwhile our snow leopard battles a runny nose.


Mommy and Cavan found an unfettered batch of snow covered ground that we decided to adorn with snow angels.


Cold, tired and hungry, the crew returned to home base for hot chocolate, marshmallows and doughnuts (with white powdered sugar according to Cavan's lips).  The sustenance of champions.


Once the chill wore off we decided to check out the roof and turn the guard dog loose.  (If you guessed that she's embarrassed by the argyle sweater, you've guessed right).


We didn't last long out there (it was cold!!).  But long enough for Lulu to spot something funny...


The end.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Lulita the Eskimo

Livin' Like the Iroquois

As part of the their Iroquois study at NEST+m, third graders were asked to construct their own model of an Iroquois longhouse.  Cavan and Greg went to Tompkins Square park and gathered sticks, wood, stones, grasses and sand to use in the model. Then they planned where everything would go and set to work building the main structure.  They added a stream, trees, fire pit, rocks and paint.  


The finishing touch was the addition of a turtle above the longhouse door.  The Iroquois used animal names for their Clans.  Behold the abode of the Turtle Clan.