Utah Review

As promised, here are a small sampling of the photos that Jim took while backpacking with Tucker. As a reminder, they spent 4 days in Paria Canyon in southern Utah, canyon country. Paria Canyon is noteworthy for being a place you do not want to be caught during a flash flood. There is no way up and out. Hikers have to check the weather forecast for the Paria Canyon drainage, and if there is any chance of rain, the wise hiker postpones his or her plans. Fortunately, Jim and Tucker had great weather as seen in these photos. 

If you want to see more photos, leave me a comment and I will send you a link to Jim's photos on Kodak Gallery.

Trying for that perfect reflection shot... I tried a lot!

Tucker at Slide Rock Arch.

Wandering through the Narrows of Buckskin Gulch.

Noting the 'bathtub ring' from the last muddy flood through the Gulch.

The unbelievable colors and shapes of slot canyons.

A muddy, watery, narrow, and dark section of Buckskin Gulch.

The intrepid explorers!

Now in other news:We are having glorious fall weather here. I may ride my bike to school tomorrow! And this great weather is supposed to continue through next week.

I received wonderful news today at school. I won a $250 scholarship for my PE program. This scholarship comes from a local law firm, one of those that advertises, "If you were hurt in an accident. . . " During the NFL football season, this law firm gives away 10 $250 classroom scholarships each week as a promotion with the Buffalo Bills (who, by the way, are off to a 2-0 start!). Teachers can enter this drawing each week by filling out an on-line form. Pretty easy! And today I got the call that my name had been pulled in this week's draw! The amazing part is that I have now won this scholarship 3 out of the last 4 years!

I've been knitting away on my New York State Sheep and Wool festival sweater. The pattern is fairly easy and it is on fairly large needles so I am please with my progress thus far. This sweater is knit with 2 yarns, one a regular worsted weight yarn and the other a mohair boucle. Both yarns are dyed with the same variegations of purples. Maybe I will take a progress picture so you can see how it is coming and cheer me on!

I bought a new vacuum tonight. Corey took my old canister vacuum from the basement so I replaced it with another low end Sears canister. The old vacuum was indeed old, I got it when we first got married. We've duct taped the hose in a couple of places and one of the wheels cracked and fell off, but it still worked. Since I had such good luck with one low end Sears vacuum, I decided to go with another one. This new one is not fancy, it just sucks (in a good way, for a vacuum).

Corey's former track coach, Chad, called us tonight to say, "Thanks" for the baby gifts. He and his wife Jamie, just had a beautiful little girl, named Olivia, who was the recipient of the baby sweater and blanket I just finished knitting. It was good to talk to him and hear all about his little girl!

I made an apple crisp tonight, using the apples that I picked after school last Monday. We haven't eaten it yet, I hope it tastes as good as it smells!

Time to knit.

Hope all is well.