Happy Birthday Kitties!

So Two years ago (as of the 18th... yeah, we're a little slow to blog) our cats turned 2... well, insomuch as they came to our as our adopted kittens two years ago!

Weren't they adorable?!?

Also.... http://tinyurl.com/RowansPaper YAY My first paper (as a first author!)

The actual traveling involved in our recent vacation

So there have been many photos and stories already from out recent vacation to Utah and Arizona, but for those that are interested, here is the route we took plus most of the small day trip destinations as well.

Trip Map (click me!)

Lookit, I made a thingy!!!

So for my birthday my mum got me a fancy sewing machine and until now I hadn't done anything terribly exiting with it, unless you count figuring out how to thread bobbins exciting. When we were at Zion there was a a quilt patch with some directions for a tote bag and so my mum and I choose some fabric and last night I made my first sewn item (since that quilt I made when I was like 8). I am excited about this tote bag for several reasons:
1) it is actually functional as a bag
2) nothing went terribly wrong
3) my stitches are relatively straight
4) as far as first projects go, this was pretty quick and painless
5) the fabric we chose reminds me of the petroglyphs and the ponderosa pines from our trip!
6) Look how much yarn it holds!!!!

The Journey of a sock

This pair of socks was cast on in Nevada and I knit on it through Nevada, Arizona and Utah, finishing it after we had visited Bryce Canyon, Zion and the Grand Canyon.

Random Vacation Fun Facts: 2800 Miles, 4 states, 5 national parks, 5 national monuments, 2 state parks, 3.5 pairs of socks knit, 2 hats knit, and over 8000 feet in vertical elevation (max-min, I wasn't keeping track THAT much).

Last Day of the Vacation

For our last night in Flagstaff we stayed in a fabulous B&B called Conifer House Bed and Breakfast. It was a great way to relax and finish off the vacation, and this place had the bet 2 person jacuzzis in the rooms... we lounged in ours for an hour!

Walnut Canyon

Also in Flagstaff are the Walnut Canyon Cliff Dwellings.

There are ~5 cliff dwellings in this shot, how many can you see?

Wupatki National Monument

While in Flagstaff we visited Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater. Wupatki has some of the best Pueblo ruins I've ever seen!