Dogs at Tallarook

This week at Tallarook PS the kids made wooden dogs. Even though the body shapes were all identical, the kids were able to personalise their 'doggies' a little with ear positions and adding spots to the surface. Their were also a few collar colours to choose from. There was just enough to go around, much to Peter's relief. It was encouraging because Peter prayed that it would turn out just right. The kids learned a little more on the nature of the glue. There were a few tears when the head kept on falling off the body but in those cases Peter was able to show how the glue needed a little more time for the pieces to 'bite' together.

Race Horses Whittlesea

For a theme connection with the Melbourne Cup, Peter prepared eighteen race horse kits for the next day back at school. The kids seemed to enjoy making them. The quantity of kids making them meant that they had to figure out how the pieces came together without help. Except for a few persistent ones, they put the parts together themselves, hence the strange but elegant horse above, a totally new way to assemble the head. Nice to see.

Vehicles Whittlesea

Over a number of days and using a door hole cutter, Peter had enough wheels for yet another wooden vehicle design. Once the kids made the chassis they could rummage through the trays for shapes to make their own unique design. This turned out very well.

Helicopters

Peter eventually was able to make three helicopter kits for three boys who were patiently waiting. It was a bit of hit and miss and the models held together remarkably well. It actually took a number of days of preparation to make all the pieces (times three). It was good to do it though and the boys had a good time making them, taking just 30 minutes to accomplish the task (one recess).

Menergy 2015

In the middle of the month Peter went to the annual Menergy gathering, this year 161 men willing to grow and learn with the heart (as opposed to the head). Peter's workshop choices proved helpful in many lasting and deep ways: learning for transformation, art therapy, five rhythms dancing, open heart meditation, and joining a conversation on domestic violence which will flow throughout the year.

Part of the Opening Ceremony... at 5 am

Licola Campsite for the gathering

The camp managed by the Lions Club

Some very tribal aspects...

On the wall of one of the workshop rooms.

The Chai Tent

Chai tent in the shadow of the afternoon sun

Peter's art therapy effort

Deck Chairs at Tallarook

The beach scene idea continued on another week at Tallarook PS woodcraft club. There were still plenty of miniature umbrellas. This time the construction parts were for the deck chair and the umbrella base. Little craft jars, without their caps and with wire handles attached were good for buckets. Coloured paper was used for sea, sand and grass. Some scenes had dried flower sprays included as miniature trees. They all sat on a plywood base. This relatively unpredictable project went well. There were just enough kits, around 33 of them for the kids that came. That's always the tricky part.

Beach Tables at Tallarook

For the next woodcraft club at Tallarook PS, Peter obtained a large collection of miniature umbrellas, the sort one sticks in cocktails or something like that. Prior to that, a girl had requested that there be a woodcraft project that was a beach scene. Now that was a worthy challenge. This was Peter's answer to that request, less a beach but more a beach restaurant look. The umbrellas worked a treat. The little table cloths were "starched" with a watered down glue which stiffened nicely to the miniature tables, the construction part of the project.