Geography

Today we read in The World By the Fireside about the Tartar princes going to the Chinese emperor to prostrate themselves and pay tribute. This led to looking up where Pekin/Beijing is, and reviewing where the Steppes are in Kazakhstan...and this led to Gemma pulling out her Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and turning to probably her favorite biography in the book: the falcon huntress - Aisholpan Nurgaiv.

Durer-Inspired Art

Lunar Eclipse

And, having nothing to do with the lunar eclipse, here is a picture of Gemma in the same hat seven years ago...

Christmas Pageant

Hansel & Gretel at the LA Opera

Sunday afternoon we went to see Hansel & Gretel at the LA Opera. Here is Gemma with two of the creatures from the woods.

Prior to the show, there was a scavenger hunt all around the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

And, at intermission, there was gingerbread cookie decorating.

After the show, children got to meet the performers...

...and twirl around the empty lobby.

Jiujitsu

Gemma earned her 30th lesson star patch ⭐️ 

Gemma and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Dress

So far, Gemma has stay-stitched the neck (front and back) and sewed the shoulders of the dress she’s making.

Google Mini Golf

Here is Gemma, modeling her new Google golf socks.

During what was supposed to be a quick trip to Old Navy to buy new flip flops, Gemma saw the words “Mini Golf” and dragged me into the line for the pop-up advertising Google’s Mini with - what else? - Mini Golf.

There were two courses, each with 4 holes showing things the Google Mini can do.

There is not yet a Hey Google, make me a French press of coffee; Hey Google, take my clothes out of the dryer and hang them in my closet; or a Hey Google, move my car so I don’t get a ticket on street sweeping day.

Today’s P.E. Lesson

 Today Daddy took off Gemma’s training wheels.

Gemma playing the Meux Home piano

 Gemma got to play the Meux Home’s 100 year old piano. Some famous people have played that piano, including Ethel Barrymore.😉