Composting How To

One of my personal goals this year is to get a compost started for my classroom and my home. Here's a handy "How To" that I found on the prAna blog.

Chicks and Ducklings

I was just looking over my past blog entries and realized that I never posted pics of this year's flock.

This was the third year that I attempted to hatch chick with my Kindergarten class. After last year's dreaded half chicken incident, I was a bit nervous, especially since I would be adding duck eggs into the mix.

Luckily this year's hatch was a success. Only full chickens and ducks! When all was said and done we had 4 chicks (Batman, Robin, Lila, and something else) and 5 ducklings (Mario, Mac, Vincent, Uncle Quaker, Katilina).

I can't express how wonderful of an experience this is for the children. Something they'll remember for the rest of their lives.

The night before hatching day.
I was a bit excited to test out my costume, which I wore most of the week.

Our first two chicks

Chicken hatching video!

Lila

We put this photo in the chicken trough to keep them company.

Duck eggs!

We had given up hope on this one and turned off the incubator.
3 hours later, he made a go at it.

Duckling breaking through the shell.

Mac

The ducklings first swim.

Rock and Ice issue 197

Rock and Ice issue 197 will be coming your way shortly.

Check out the new cover.

Dumpster BBQ, Rifle, CO
photo by Duane Raleigh

"The Show"

I've been going to the Outdoor Retailer Summer Trade Show for a few years now. The idea is for outdoor companies to get together and showoff all of their new products. But for me, OR is a time to chat with old and new friends, check-in with my companies, and otherwise have a blast.

The highlights this year included the premier of "The Scene", a movie by Chuck Fryberger, dinner with a prestigious crew of climbers, lunch with my dear friends Big H (Greg Houston) and Dario Ventura, peddling around the city on a borrowed cruiser bike, attempting to win a paddle board, dancing at the battle of the bands, and catching up with Chris Sharma and Daila Ojeda.

Saturday night dinner

Amy Pickering signing with the BD band.
These guys rocked!

Daila Ojeda and myself
photo by Andrew Bisharat

Mobbing Salt Lake City
Photo copyright of Keith Ladzinski

Home Sweet Home

Carbondale, CO
photo by Andrew Bisharat

Carbondale Mountain Fair

This past weekend was the Carbondale Mountain Fair. Think booths filled with hand made crafts and art, New Belgium beer, copious amounts of tie-dye and flowing skirts, live music, fair food, and tons of people.

I've always attended Mountain Fair as an observer, but this year I let my friend Kelly Philbin of Mountain Love talk me into bringing my journals and origami earrings to the fair to sell.

Needless to say it was a fun, if hot, weekend in the park.

I swear I was jumping just before this picture was taken.
 I don't actually this this is a "cool" pose!
photo by Mountain Love

I've plenty of journals and earrings left over. Let me know if you'd like me to send them your way!