Elephant Seal Antics

 This past week my cousin came from Wisconsin and we played tourist, taking her places in Northern California, including Ano Nuevo, where male elephant seals are currently moulting.  Even though there are no females around, a few of the younger seals practiced showing dominance, as showed in the photo, and with their tremendous, guttural wails.

Seals flipped sand onto their backs and bellies as a cooling mechanism, as it was a warm day.  One seal became a sand mound; so he wiggled out only to start sand-flipping all over again. 

Writing Prompts:

1. Study a creature in nature.  Describe its habits, vocalizations, or body movements.  How does it relate/communicate to others?
2. Write a poem, short story or personal experience based on this being. 
3. Is your summer filled with day trips or longer travel?  Keep a travel journal.  Collect photos and paper souvenirs which can help recreate your experiences. 
4. Create art or writing based on an anecdote in your journal. 

If You Could Go Anywhere in the World . . .

 

Here’s a great site to use for your writing and for geography! 

 

1.  Place a character in a setting anywhere in the world. 

 Have fun choosing a place!

Research the location to discover the culture, foods, weather, styles, sounds, language and other details to enhance your scene.

 

2.  If you could go anywhere in the world, where would YOU choose to go?  Why?  Place yourself in this city and write a travel log of your trip.

 

3.  Write a poem based on one of the videos you see on this site. 

 

 

Around the world

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.jcdurand.ca/Monde/Tour.html

 

 

Croatia, Italy and the USA

I’ve just arrived home from a trip to Croatia and Italy.  I’ve wanted to go to Croatia since I’ve been a little girl.  Why that country?  My mother’s parents came from Zagreb in 1901 and I know very little about their world or them, both having passed on before I came along. 

Croatia is an interesting mixture of ancient and new.  We began in the northern city of Zagreb and proceeded south where it became warmer.   In the north the language reminded me very much of Russian, and the more south we traveled it felt as though there was an Italian dialect mixed in to their communication as well as the foods. 

We’ve never eaten better fish anywhere.  In Opatija, we sat down at a restaurant and asked what they were known for in their area.  The waiter brought out a platter with a large fish, complete with an interesting head and eyes.  My husband blanched.  I stifled a laugh. 

“Let’s go for it,” I said.  After all, I never met a seafood I never liked.

Our big mistake was forgetting to take a picture of our dinner before it was grilled.  It came later and it was flakey and delicious.  No bones – – only the main one down its back I guess. 

It was a memorable meal.  And since we forgot to take a photo, I found one online for you to see.  http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7034957

Writing Prompts:

1.  Which place in the world would you like to visit?  Read about this place and plan your itinerary. 

2.  Find a map and discover the places I mentioned in my blog.  Research and do a nonfiction piece about the area.

3.  Write about a trip you’ve taken that has left wonderful . . . or not so wonderful impressions upon you. 

4.  Create a short story set in an area that is not a place you are familiar with.  You must read about this place in order to learn about the setting. 

5.  Write a poem inspired by a trip you have taken.  It could be a trip a town away from your home! 

6.  Have you ever gone a long time without sleep?  How did you deal with it?  Write about it in an amusing way.  You can use exaggeration to make it more funny!

7.  Write about the most interesting or different food you have ever eaten.  What was it?  What did it look like?  Taste like?