Wednesday, July 19, 2006

More of the pics

Here is some of the fun stuff I have been doing with my new camera. I have always loved the long exposure shots. I looked at lots of cameras before I bought the one I got. I really wanted a bulb setting (which means you can have the lens open as long as you want) but those cameras were about $800 at least. So I went with a less expensive camera with up to a 15 second exposure. And this is what I got...


It took A LOT of shots. My goal was the headlights to run the whole length of the road, but the cars just weren't going quite fast enough. But in this picture, you can't tell that there is more road towards the top of the hill. I am pleased.

Okay on to some scenic pictures:

Here I am at the top of a small rock that we hiked up to during sunset. We had a larger hill in the way of the setting sun, but there were some fabulous views and it was nice with a warm breeze. It may be very hot here during the day, but the evenings really cool off with thunder storms and nice wind. It is really enjoyable!


Here we are during our Hummer trip. There are also a lot of pictures from this time. I was busy with the camera. The red rock mountains are really nice. I get a little tired of too many scenic pictures, so I won't post many of them. I like to try to get people in them, because they all start to look a little the same.


This picture is from Arcosanti. We went there yesterday. This took a lot of the day because it took about an hour to drive there and then the tour at 3 that we were just in time for was cancelled. So we waited around for an extra hour for the last tour at 4pm. And this started late the what should have been an hour was nearly two. It was great though. Kyle was really excited by it. I will talk more about the details later, but I need to wrap things up because we have to get busy doing stuff today.

I got to relax a little this morning because Kyle went fishing. I am still in my pj's in bed. NICE! That is what I like to do on vacation!! So I got out my knitting and tore out the bind off on fetching and reworked it. I did it wrong which is wear the unhappiness was coming from. So here is one complete (except for those stupid ends).

Sorry it is not the best picture, I was not feeling it!! Better to come later. I have to go now because Kyle is back and pressuring me to get moving!!

Bye!

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Some more vacation pictures

We are having a good time. We did not do too much today, we went to a free breakfast this morning that was a showcase of the tours around here. Then we went to a presentation/sales pitch on time shares. We only did this for the free gift. We choose to take the train through the Verde Canyon on Wed. It should be fun.

Tomorrow we are all set for our jeep tour through the Red Rock Park. We choose to go with the Hummers which Kyle and I are usually VERY opposed to, but were very excited by the "most environmentally friendly" claim they made. This is because the only use bio-fuels. We have been having afternoon thunder storms and I tried to get some picture of the lighting bolts.

We did take a hike through some surrounding (Cactus covered) hills. So here are the pics.

No knitting today, but I may check out some local yarn stores on Wed!! Always nice to see if there is some local stuff I can't or don't get at home!!

I have been getting lots of new laptop and camera use. I even did 45 minutes worth of work this afternoon. I need to put the hours in, even while away to pay for this trip and the new toys!!

The top picture is a set of 6-8 pics (I already can't remember how many) that I fit together. It is just another new function of the new camera that I am trying to figure out. I didn't do anything with them but lay them overlapping.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

We're Here

It was a rough day, we spent some money to get the van in good working order to make the trek across the desert, only to overheat yesterday. We turned off the AC just a little too late and then went up some hilly roads. The steam was pouring forth from the beast. We got to the campground, turned it off, opened up the hood and let it cool!! The temps in this po-dunk town we stopped in for gas were at least 110. Then the overheating began. So we took things much easier today, turning off the ac (which we only ran on the lowest setting yesterday and today anyways) whenever we were on any moderate climbs. It helped, we made it to Flagstaff and wondered around for a few hours before heading south to Sedona, our destination. We are checked in to the little condo and it is NICE!

I did some knitting and completed one fetching glove. However, I am not happy with the bound off edge, it was picot. I think I will tear it out and rework the final row. I am not entirely done, I have not knit the thumb hole. It is just a stitched up bit with scrap yarn.

I am off to clean up, I need a shower!!

Monday, July 10, 2006

I should have more time.

It seems like since I am out of school and I used to find the time to post while in school, that I should have plenty of time now. However, I find myself ALWAYS busy. I am working a second job (I can't remember mentioning it before) but am still not full time between the two jobs. I am actually entertaining the thought of a third, but maybe that is a bit too much. It would only be an additional one five hour shift per week and I could work less at the karate school to compensate. BUT then school will be back in and I will feel like I have too much going on!!

So we are off to Sedona on Friday. I can't believe how fast this came upon us. We will be gone from this Friday for the next full week and then return late Monday. Back to work on Tues. Then Tara dropped a little last minute wedding on all of us and I am off to Alaska on the Saturday at the end of that week. So I work four days this week, off for 10 days, then work another four days before jaunting off to Alaska for nine days. Then back for about two weeks and then school starts (maybe three). WOW - BUSY!!

We are all excited about Tara's wedding. She could have given us more notice, but she is kind of a last minute, when the mood hits her kind of lady. Hopefully she won't be offended by anything I just said. (Sorry Tara!) It will be a good time. My parents are only going for about four days, but my brother and I are staying for the full week plus the weekends. Poor Kyle can't go... he could not take so much time off from work so close together. I however will be working while in Alaska. There is a lot of stuff I can do for the karate school from my new laptop. Now it is already being put to good use!! Since so far... mostly just used for games. I mean, of course once school is in, I will really be able to get a lot done on it.

So Kyle and I have been VERY busy planning the trip, figuring out what we want to see and cleaning the house in preparation of being gone. My parents are going to come and check in on the cat. I can't wait.

Not a lot of knitting going on. It has been SOOOOO hot. 107 yesterday. Alaska will be NICE! I did buy some hemp twine to make a couple of market bags while we were in Sacramento two weekends ago. I bought some thick stuff thinking I could make a basket type bag. I need to get some bigger needles, I am struggling with the bulky, stiffness of it. But I also bought some very lightweight stuff. These will be good summer projects!

And I checked out the new Knitty and found one pattern I am really interested in... Fetching. And lucky for me, I have a little bit of X-Mas gift certificate left over AND my lys is having an anniversary sale. I may head down and see about a few balls of this debbie bliss cashmerino. I know the pattern only requires one, but I was thinking about extending the arm length. We'll see!!

Alright, I must go, we are taking the van in for a big tuneup before we cross the desert. It's AC is not working very well, and I don't think I can take the traveling heat!!