Rice fields again?

Here's a 10 megapixel, wide format (16:9) view of the newly planted rice field near us. Click on it once for a larger picture. Don't think the blog preserves the full 10MP but anyway it's the first post from my new camera. I'm still trying to understand the camera's features.

Political promise.

So 'Onward and Upward' (you read blogs from the bottom up - you know). From now on I'll post more of my own and less stolen pictures. That's a political type promise which means it doesn't have to be kept - but I'll try to honor it if I can count on your vote.

New Camera

In October we went with the family to Boracay and maybe one of these days I'll share some of the pictures with you on this Blog. But the point right now is that a disaster occurred and wasn't rectified until just after Christmas. The disaster: my digital camera got dunked in salt water and it didn't like it one bit. In fact it 'bit-the-dust'. The rectification: I bought a new one and had our neighbors bring it back from the states this month. So now I'll have to get busy and post more of our goings on in the good ole PI.

Hey! They're movin closer to us!

Well by the time you read this, which I'm writing Friday afternoon here in the Philippines, my son and family Mike, Talisha, Braedyn and of course Dori will be in the Seattle area where he will begin a new job. Actually 1000 miles closer ( 7600 miles vs 6600 miles) seems like a lot but still too far to pick up Braedyn.

Hey I'm my favorite toy!

I thought I put my favorite toy in here.

OH! Yeah! .... I'M My Favorite toy!

Grandson Braedyn with toybox made by Grandpa Snort

Yup! There's the Big "B". Enjoying but kind of saying goodbye to his newly discovered Curly Maple toybox. Actually he's the only one on his block (wherever that is) with one just like. Infact the only one in the world. Enjoying it because he now stands up and walks around it and looks inside and laughs at his toys. Saying good-bye cuz by now he's in Seattle and his toybox remains in Denver. I'm sure he'll miss it until it gets there!

Oct 13, 2006 I went on a field trip with the Brent International School 3rd graders to the Unversity of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB). The purpose was not to get the three third grade classes registered for their degree studies but to visit the .....










International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) there so the kids could ...







well you'll see below.

Most of the activity took place at the IRRI Experimantal station.

 

After a bit of orientation as to what the day would hold...














...everyone got a real live demonstration of a laser controlled leveler. This is the modern way of preparing the irrigated rice field. The laser is on the tripod to the left. It's being steadied by one of the Brent third graders. Don't want that laser bouncing around - or watch out tractor driver you're in for a ride.








And by the way he did a good job of holding it in one place.

I think Dea is really admiring that laser on the tripod. Maybe I'll get her one for Christmas - but don't tell her Please... 

Preparing the rice field is necessary before planting. The third graders got to experience three different ways of doing that.
















No diesel fuel required this way.
















All in there together plowin' the field!













Which do you think was the favorite?

Then the kids got to actually plant rice.
















At least that's what I think they're doing. Anyway whatever he's doing he's got a big smile.
Sure beats sitting in a class room. Right! 

It wasn't all just heavy duty learning - there was fun too! Look! I found a pollywog.


Also a frog and....

















A great big Worm. 

Entrance to the International Rice Research Institute Riceworld Museum.

They cleaned up after the soil prep and rice planting experience then went over to the Rice muesem. Before going in they got to learn some interesting facts about rice.