We drove Daddy to the airport on Sunday morning. He flew to El Salvador to lead a team for the Fuller Center Building Blitz. 300 volunteers plan to construct 16 homes in one week. Wow!! From the looks of the blog I've been following on their progress, I'm certain they will reach the goal. Yea God!!

While Bruce is basking in the 80's, we had to really break out the winter clothes around here. We made it half-in-and-out of the box for a couple weeks, but this week we were forced to wear hats, gloves and even boots for the kids when they played outside. The dogs are even wanting the heater on for a while in the garage before bedtime!

For school, we've had a great time learning about the artists of the Renaissance. It's been especially interesting to zero in more of the things that made each one stand out. The detail and perspective of Leonardo da Vinci. They gave a try to writing backwards, encoded, like much of Leonardo's journals. The fact that even though Michelangelo didn't like to paint, he managed to work for over four years in painting the 10,000 square foot vaulted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. An amazing accomplishment, he worked much of the time laying down, without eating, and sometimes throughout the night.

Some of my favorite painters of the time were of flemish roots. Jan van Eyck, who was known for his unbelievable detail and use of depth, painted the sobering scene of The Arnolfini Marriage. He even captured a reflection in the background mirror! The kids and I had a good conversation about one of the first known surreal painters (before his time) Jerome Bosch, and his painting The Ship of Fools which represented mankinds foolish groping for something more to life. And lastly, Peter Bruegel's rendering of The Tower of Babel, filled with unique perspective, realism, and action.

One final project we have planned to cap our learning experience is to make homemade paint brushes, and give them a try at painting on their backs like Michelangelo!