The Viking Voyage: Day 4

     I paddled like a berserker warrior, my arms felt like lead but looked pumped with the iron of Thors hammer! Leif would be proud if I could just catch up to him. Aye! His crew paddles hard while I have no crew at all except for me new dog that howls at the stern. Njorours' winds were on my side for I caught up to Leif's boat but how would I flag it down with my little dingy floating upon the side of a real warrior ship!
     "HALO? BOYS!? DO YOU STRONG, BURLY MEN WVANT SOME SCHNITZEL…….ON A SCHTIK?" I yelled as loud as a chief viking ordering his men to battle.
     "HALOOOOO?" What is it with these men can't they hear?
     I was in a pickle, how was I going to get their attention. Then the idea struck me like lightning. I shall schtuff the schnitzel in me old handy dandy marketing cannon along with coupons for "Grunka's Sea Saloon Half Off A Schnitz N' Fritz" so I packed and I jammed all the schnitzel I had made for the day into the cannon then I paused, "Oh dear what have I done! Whvat a waste!"  after more thought I finally concluded that this was for Leif! (and sales purposes) so I decided to let it blow anyways.                                  
      "LUNCH LAUNCH NUMBER VONE……… FIYA (fire!)"  Oh what a beautiful golden schnitzel ball, it was raining down crispy, porky heaven on their deck. I heard shouts of terror turned to joy and then silence as I knew my delectable message made its target. Finally Leif peered over the boat happy and full, still gnawing on a schnitzel schtick.
     "Grunka….you know the way to a mans heart." He jumped down onto my boat with a bang, me heart jumped as he stepped near me "Grunka, I have fallen in love with your schnitzel… and you!" Suddenly I snapped out of my daydream due to the grease dripping from Leifs mighty beard onto my forehead. Crumple frumps! What he really said was, "Grunka you're slowing my voyage down by the minute, what do you want?!" Before I missed him again I shrieked, "I NEED YOUR BOOK OF CREATURES!"  He peered at me in disbelief, "For that little thing?" He said pointing to my dog, " It's a Schnauzer puppy."
     " I STILL NEED YOUR BOOK TO READ ABOUT THIS 'SCHNAUZER' AS YOU CALL IT."
     "It came from Eagle Point, Germany what more do you need to know?" Leif replied.
      I stood in my boat in awe, "I WHVAS IN GERMANY?"
Leif stared at me in disbelief and snickered, " You didn't know where you were?… HA."
     "I DON'T HAVE A MAP!" I retorted.
      "If you don't have a map what are you doing on the seas? You're surely not a sailor!" He laughed again.
     "THAT'S RIGHT I'M NOT A SAILOR, I SELL THE BEST SCHNITZEL ON A SCHTICK ON THE SEAS!" I fumed.
     "And the ONLY Schnitzel seller on the seas." Leif said.
     Oh that man he's clever, but I'm better! "Well, You're eatin' it! I can tell you like it because you got bits of it in your beard for later, you can't get enough! If you want more you know where to find me, TOOTALOO BOYS!"

The Viking Voyage: Day 3

      I craned my neck to get one more look at the head spinner Leif, as I stepped out of the dainty little shop I stumbled over a round basket and almost spilled my schnitzel! As I was dusting off my skirts an adorable tiny dog sat front and center on the last step of the shop behind it. I looked up and saw a carved wood sign that read 'The Cat Caboodle' I picked up that little scrumptious ball of fur and my heart jumped once again, oh how I wanted to take that puppy on my little dingy. "Oh, but I have no room," I thought. As I was setting the puppy down to say good bye, the doggy licked my cheek, and that's when I knew I couldn't live without it.

     I strode into the store and asked "How much is this little pooch?" the store clerk looked puzzled "I have never seen such a dog before, we only sell cat's here. You can take it for free."  it must have been fate for me to trip into a cat store, find a dog, and become it's owner for free! I was curious as to what kind it was it had a little beard, and floppy ears, the cutest little sausage of a tail, and a fluffy belly. "I know who could help me!" Leif Ericson has a large book of all kinds of creatures, surely he would have a description of this dog. I scooped up the little creature and ran as fast as my legs could carry me so I could catch Leif before his ship set sail. Now my heart was pumping triple time as I saw Leif on the mast of his ship, I should have a doctor check me heart before my voyage continues. "LEIF!!!!!!" He turned and his good looks almost slayed me! Oh, me eyes! I lifted up the little dog as I was standing on the dock and said, " I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THIS CREATURE IS!"  He looked at me with a confused stare " It's a DOG!"  I couldn't hear him, his voice was too soft against the waves. "WHVVATT?" this conversation went back and forth five times before I vigorously pointed for him to come down, but his ship set sail. The distance between us was frustrating, I must know what type of dog this is!

     The viking spirit of determination welled up within my heart, before I knew it I was running towards my 'Battle Dingy' as soon as I reached it I leaped on board and went through my usual departure procedure in lightning speed and finally pushed off, "WHVVVAAAAT?" IM NOT MOVING! SCHNITZEN FRIKS, I KNEW THIS SHIP WOULD FAIL ME SOMEDAY!" I retraced my steps, mumbling under my breath (occasionally kicking the ship) as my new pet stared at me in wonderment, when I noticed the rope still attached to the dock! I pulled out my best schnitzel knife and cut it immediately. I let out a viking victory grunt only to see my ship was sailing away with out me! I dove in and swam after the ship, when I got back on board I looked as if I had been drowned in a sewer, my poor little pet was terrified. Bedraggled and wet I took my oars and rowed fearlessly, "I WILL FIND OUT, I'M COMING FOR YOU LEIF!"

Viking Voyage: Day 2

     It was a good day on the Sea Saloon. I caught wind of a gentlemen named Leif Ericson, he is on a journey to find land but his supplies are low so he is going to meet me at the Eagle Point Stop N, Shop. I am on my way to this well known destination. Finally, I arrived at the wonderful village of Eagle Point, the shops were filled with prizes and wonders, the tackle and the bait alone would make your head swim. I brought myself to find the Stop N, Shop, I couldn't keep myself away from the store fronts. Right then and there I saw the most brutal, handsome, raider of a viking. His large behemoth muscles and prize animal skins had raided the inner chambers of my heart and left the scars of a battle axe. Grunka like!
     I immediately strode over to ask about his rock chiseled biceps when he turned around with a big gleaming smile and said "Im Leif,"that's when my heart flopped like a fish, I almost Schnitzeled! Let me tell ya, I was floundering for my words, "SCHNITZEN," I blubbered out. In reply he said "It must be hard being named after battered meat, believe me, I was named after a plant." That's when I realized my error, I probably appeared to have the I.Q of a starfish! "Oh no, no, no, no, My name is Grunka!"  I was so embarrassed, I had just corrected the almighty Leif Ericson.

     Oh that man with his charms, we got to wheeling and a dealing over the supplies I was going to provide him, when we got to the seal meat part of the deal he almost bamboozled me on the cost! I was so preoccupied with his sea kissed sun burns, I almost gave him the seal meat for a sand dollar! Im telling ya, if I keep meeting brutally handsome heartslayers, like Leif, Grunka's Sea Saloon is sunk! 

The Elizabet Ney Museum

    I visited the Elizabet Ney Museum for a homeschool art field trip. The museum is located on Forty-Fourth Street and Avenue H in downtown Austin. The museum is a limestone structure that was originally designed by Elizabet Ney to be her residence. The house was very striking and even has a bank of windows that would allow her to open up the back wall of her main room studio so she could move large objects into the area. What surprised me was that Elizabet focused her house on art more than living purposes. For instance, she refused to have factory made furniture in her house so she had a group of carpenters piece together minimal furnishings. One interesting part of the home was a skinny flight of steps that lead to the top of the tower where Elizabets husband had his writing studio. Another interesting fact about her whimsical nature involved the creek behind the home, she had it dammed up in order to create her own personal lake to be a backdrop for the entertaining of her many guests and clients.

Elizabet Ney
Photo By: Chandra Brown

Edmund Montgomery
Photo By: Chandra Brown

     When I first walked into the studio the middle of the room showcased the self portrait of Elizabet Ney and her husband, Edmund Montgomery, in the medium she was best known for, sculpting marble.  What intrigued me about her self portrait was that she waited until she was older to begin this piece which is a depiction of her younger self. She toted around a plaster cast of herself for years as she traveled from Germany, Portugal and Italy before she came to Texas where she sculpted the piece. I also liked the sculpture of her husband because of the amazing detail she displayed in his hair and sideburns.

     Elizabet did many portraits of historical people such as King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It has been noted that Ludwig did not like to sit for long periods of time, as a result Ludwigs sculpture was less detailed than most of the other pieces. She had also sculpted a portrait of Jesus which I thought was outstanding. The fact that her house was built strategically next to the city brought many politicians to her residence for their sculptures and interesting discussions. Some well known historical Texas figures in her repertoire include Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. She was excellent at depicting the details of anatomy in the human hand. While I was studying her work I realized how accurately she had chiseled them to look like the real thing, this made me think that her sculptures of her human subjects were a very close rendition of what they really looked like.

'Jesus Christ'
Photo By: Chandra Brown

      When I visited the museum I spotted a picture of Elizabet standing in front of her house, the house as you may realize is beautiful, however, the landscape was very bland as it is today. I can see why the keepers of the museum would want to keep it as original as possible but I do suggest a magnificent garden graced with a commissioned sculpture of Eizabet Ney to make the area more appealing in order to attract more visitors. Also, it has been said that Elizabet had her own personal lake, I think if they take advantage of that fact and get the lake up and running again, add some picnic tables and a lakeside bench it would make the museum more of a destination.
     I was fascinated to find an amazing female sculptist and painter who could have chosen any place in the world to live here in Texas, I wish she could have lived longer so she could add to her collection of amazing sculptures for the publics enjoyment. If you love art and are visiting Austin, Texas it's worth venturing off the beaten path to peruse the Elizabet Ney Museum.

Art Field Trip
Elizabet Ney Museum
Photo By: Chandra Brown

The Viking Voyage: Day 1

    Life on the seas is hard, nobody was buying my Wienerschnitzel and the fish are stinking up the hull of my Battle Dingy! I knew I shouldn't have gone to sea on my own, I probably wouldn't have gotten lost and forced to sell wienerschnitzel, fermented fish and more at Grunka's Sea Saloon. I was supposed to set up shop in Germany. I know we haven't conquered Germany yet but it is the weinerschnitzel capital of the world! It has always been my dream to not only conquer the country but its schnitzel industries in order to be Queen Schnitzen of Schnitzels! But alas my sales are poor so my dreams will have to wait another day.

Black Beauty Theme

         I read 'Black Beauty' by Anna Sewell, this book depicts a horses life, the theme is set on kindness, respect and proper treatment of animals. It shows the relationship between animals and humans. The book mentions bearing reins to hold the horse's head high for looks and show. Although this looks regal, it causes pain in the animal. This autocratic practice for the pleasure of humans is one example of improper treatment.  On the other hand, the book describes the kindness Black Beauty experienced  while under the care of the Gordon's through compassionate caregivers and a loving family.

Black Beauty Book Report: 3 Paragraphs

Black Beauty
Photo By: ktylerconk

     I read 'Black Beauty' by Anna Sewell. This book was written from a horses' point of view and also depicts the relationship between animals and humans. In the book, Black Beauty meets two other horses named Ginger and Merry-legs. Ginger was mad at Beauty for taking her prized stable, however, Merry-Legs warmed up to Beauty quickly. This interaction between animals showed the struggle Beauty had with his own kind. After a while Beauty was sold again and again due to issues outside of his control. During his time with with different owners Black Beauty experienced the ramifications  of relationships with humans.
     At one point in the book a man named Rueben Smith drank too much and took Beauty out to ride, the results where fatal, Reuben had fallen off and died. Beauty ended up with ruined knees, a split hoof and a missing shoe. After this horrible event Black Beauty was taken care of by a nice young man called Joe Green whom he knew from his past. As soon as Beauty was healthy again things started going uphill.
      One of the strongest themes in this book is how good and bad behaviors effect the people and animals around us. When Anna Sewell died, her mother respected her daughters wishes by requesting that the horses pulling Anna's hearse did not wear bearing reins due the strenuous load it inflicts on the necks of the horses. Anna wrote about this practice and how awful it must have felt in her famous book. The fact her mother honored her daughter by eliminating this brutal, customary practice shows that Anna was successful in her writing endeavor at educating her readers in how to behave towards animals.