Badlands

This summer, on our way back from Michigan.  We stopped at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Painted Canyon.  On the drive out, we drove over the canyon at night and it was pretty dramatic so we decided we HAD to stop on the way back.

 The two Pauls.

 

I don't know nearly enough about our National Parks; even the really big ones.  I learned, from when we went to Muir Woods National Monument, that it takes longer to designate an area as a National Park  v. a National Monument.  I have no idea how many National Parks there are in the US, but I haven't been to very many of them.  I think I will put something about National Parks on my 2012 list.

Favorite Things Friday

I'm having trouble coming up with one favorite this week ..

here are a few things that make me smile

.. hearing my favorite song on the radio, over and over and over again.
.. having dinner, but not having to cook it. (thanks Brieanna)
.. finding change.
.. eating chocolate chip cookies (homemade ones especially)
.. having a smooth commute
.. helping Weezer drink from a water bottle
.. pictures of light houses
.. the smell of rain
.. a hot shower
.. reading weekend wishes, here
.. the Beatles
.. a good baseball game (like game 6 of the World Series this year).
.. my husband (it's his birthday tomorrow).

For some more interesting favorites, check out Quilting in My Pyjamas.

Keeping my eyes on the ball

In the past month, one of my NY co-workers died and the husband of another NY co-worker was killed in a car accident.  This should make me stop and think about what's important in life yet I feel like I haven't stopped for long enough.  Maybe because they are so far away and I don't/didn't have contact with them on a daily basis?

But, I'm trying to remember that so much of the stuff I deal with on a daily basis isn't important and I need to focus on what is important.  The people in my life.  From the ones that I am close to, to the those who I barely know.  From those I have fun with, to those I don't want to be around.  They all matter more than all the other crap.

So that's it for deep thoughts today.

Wordless Wednesday

Hoover Dam

While I was in Las Vegas, I went to see the Hoover Dam.  I didn't realize it was so close; just 30 miles away.  It was pretty amazing.  and on a beautiful day too!  It was a little warm but better than too cold.

This is the Hoover Dam Bypass .. it has another name, but that name is even longer -- amazingly, the bridge took longer to build than the dam.  It was finished in 2010, more than 70 years after the dam was finished.

This looks fake.

The lake on the other side of the dam.

The Nevada/Arizona border.  If it had been on the ground, I would have straddled the state line and been in two places at one time.  As it is, I was (in two places at one time), but it didn't look really cool.

Lisa, checking it out.

our feet, by the moon.

Definitely in Nevada.

The Hoover Dam from the bypass.

still in Nevada.

Viva Las Vegas!

Last weekend I went to Las Vegas for a conference for work.  It was my first time in Las Vegas, other than a couple of layovers -- and those times I was only in the airport.  Between the gate and baggage claim, I passed a bunch of slot machines and at least two Starbucks.  I think I had to walk two miles to get my bag.

This is baggage claim.  I thought I was in Times Square in New York.

The view from my room .. on the 32nd floor.

And another view, this time of the bamboo pool on the 14th floor.  Didn't go swimming but the weather was nice enough. 

This is from inside the Venetian.  They have canals too with gondolas and everything.

I would go back, but I am definitely NOT a Vegas person.  There is too much.  Just too much.   I found it over the top.  I'm glad I went, but not planning any return trips.

Favorite Things Friday

My favorite this week is being home.  I've searched my computer and picasa for a picture of home, but couldn't find one, so let's just leave it at that.

I was in Las Vegas last weekend and two weeks before that in Indianapolis.  I had a good time in both places but "there's no place like home".

So if you want to see other favorites, click here and go to Quilting in My Pyjamas .. or link up and share your favorite. 

The List

So, last weekend I completed two more items on my list for 2011.

I completed #51"go to the Shreve's wedding", which I posted about in one of my previous posts, and on the same weekend I completed #23 "Try a different color of toe nail polish".

excuse my feet but I needed to show the polish!! I normally stick with red with a flower, or even blue with a snowflake, but I chose purple with a tornado on it.

I will complete another this coming weekend when I go to Las Vegas for a conference .. I'm quite excited.

Favorite Things Friday

I have two favorites this week .. soup .. and special surprises.  I came home from work only to find out that I was going to have the house to myself tonight.  I should be sewing but instead I'm cooking (and blogging).  

After my last post where I said I made butternut squash soup, I got a comment about pumpkin soup -- apparently butternut squash goes by the name of pumpkin in Australia .. so I decided to make pumpkin soup tonight from a little orange pumpkin.  I've never made pumpkin soup before but I imagine it will be very much like the butternut squash soup.  I'm also roasting the seeds for another tasty treat.  I want to make apple crisp too .. we'll see.  Maybe I'll sew instead.

Having the night to myself is a real treat .. 

Check out others' favorites at Quilting in My Pyjamas, here.  Or better yet, join in and share your favorite.

Weekend in Indianapolis, Pt. 2

Also, while in Indianapolis this weekend, my niece Katie and I collaborated on a quilt.  and, tada, here it is ..  shades of purple is finished .. 

front

back

On Sunday, after working on the quilt, we took a tour of Indy, which took us to the library.

The library! Amazing!

Jay is almost too big to go to the library ...

The view from the library ..

We stopped for ice cream and then we went to pick pumpkins to have a "harvest" party ...

We had two different soups for dinner -- Chili and Butternut Squash.  It was supposed to be a cook off, but the soups were so different that we couldn't judge.  I worked on sewing the binding of shades of purple while the cooking was going on.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time and didn't get the pumpkins carved.  But we did finish the quilt!

Weekend in Indianapolis, Pt. 1

I spent this past weekend in Indianapolis for my nephew Joe's wedding.  The weather was beautiful and the wedding was too!

The centerpiece on the table.

The lovely corsage that I was given.  I was so honored to be even a small part of the wedding.

And somehow I didn't get any pictures of the bride & groom or the mother of the groom, so I stole this picture from here.