Another DC Race

I just had to get this post up today being that it's Halloween and all. Tuesday night Rich and I went to the High Heel Race. Just what is the High Heel Race, you ask? Drag queens. Elaborate Costumes. High Heels. They race about 3 blocks for the Silver Slipper Trophy. The race isn't the fun part though. The fun part is before the race as they parade up and down the street. There were a few sequined gowns, a few racy costumes, but mostly theme costumes. There were a lot of Sarah Palins, one with price tags hanging off her clothes, another carrying a baby doll. Being night time, my pictures were mostly blurry, but I'll share a few. It was amazing that anyone could walk in some of the shoes I saw, forget about running a few blocks. Rich and I were lucky enough to end up right by the finish line and I have video of the end of the race. The video actually came out better than the pictures. I'll post it as soon as I figure out how. Maybe this weekend. A call to JC just might be in order. But, being Halloween I wanted to get the rest of this posted.

That Big DC Race

I'm talking about the Marine Corps Marathon, of course. Rich ran the MCM back in 1990 and wanted to see some of the race. So, Sunday morning we walked over to the starting line. It's about a mile from the apartment. It looked like this about 10 minutes before the start of the race:

We then walked up the course a bit and found a bridge where we could watch. Here are the leaders:

After a few minutes the road looked like this:

Here's a pic from the other side of the bridge:

It still looked like that after 10 minutes with no signs of slowing, so we walked over to another point to catch the leaders again. They looped around while we walked a more direct route. Here are the leaders at around mile nine:

All four of these men finished in the top ten! Not long after they passed we walked back to the apartment. All in all we probably walked close to 4 miles. Not nearly the same as running a marathon, but I did get my exercise for the day.

From Apples to Books

Rich and I had such a great time on our drive through Shenandoah, that we thought we'd head outdoors again this past weekend and go apple-picking. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. With lots of rain being predicted for all day Saturday, we completely switched gears and went to the Library of Congress. I know. Big switch.

Well, I don't even know where to start. The LOC is actually made up of three buildings. We went to the historic Thomas Jefferson Building which is probably what most people think of as the Library of Congress. The next tour wasn't starting for about an hour and a half, so we figured we'd look at the exhibits in that time, then take the tour and go home. We ended up spending a little more than four hours there. And, we never made it past the Great Hall and the exhibits. We only left because we were tired (and probably on sensory overload). We're already planning a return visit.

I think I spent an entire hour just walking around and gawking. Yes, gawking. The upper walls and ceilings of the Great Hall are covered with inscriptions and beautiful artwork. I can't even describe it. I've decided not to try. Instead, I strongly suggest you take an online art and architecture tour. Wherever possible, enlarge the picture for a full view. I have to warn you though, be prepared to spend some time. It's worth every minute.

We also spent quite a bit of time in the current exhibits. Besides the artifacts and descriptions, there were also a lot of interactive displays. There were so many people there that it made it difficult to actually experience them. And, no photography allowed in the exhibits. Can't make it to DC in the near future? You know what? The LOC website is a wonderful resource. You can experience the exhibits and interactive displays in the comfort of your own home from your computer. Besides the links I've provided you really should explore myLOC.gov to see all it has to offer. After all, it's not just Congress' library. It's YOUR library too. Check it out.

A Little Needed Inspiration

I haven't been getting much done on my projects lately. I could blame it on being too busy, or not having the space that I'm used to, but the truth is I've just been in a funk. I decided that I need to spend a little time with other quilters. Seeing other people's projects always gets me inspired to work on my own. So, last week I attended the Quilter's Unlimited Springfield Chapter meeting. What a wonderful group of ladies! There are other chapters that meet closer, but I wanted a group that met in the mornings. From their chapter page, this group is very, very active. Just what I need.

Last week's meeting had a presentation by Heidi Thayer, a certified teacher of the Cotton Theory Method. I had never heard of this reversible, quilt-as-you-go technique, but it sure looked interesting. I won't be able to make all the meetings between now and the end of the year because of visitors and traveling, but I'm really looking forward to being a part of this group.

Autumn Leaves

A couple of weekends ago Rich and I drove out to Shenandoah National Park to see the beautiful fall colors. I don't think we could have picked a better weekend. We drove along Skyline Drive, which rides the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, stopping here and there to take pictures.


We stopped at the Visitor Center to pick up information about the park and saw this long line of cute little sports cars. I counted 30 cars before the line disappeared around the corner so I have no idea how many there were. And, I don't know what they are either. I'm sure someone will tell me. Bob? JC?

It was a little cooler up in the mountains, but being such a beautiful day we thought we'd take in a hike. While it would be nice to just drive along and see the leaves, we thought it'd be even nicer to get out and hike along a trail and see them that way. We picked up a couple of booklets about hiking trails in the park. Hey! There are hikes that lead to waterfalls!

We followed a 2.3 mile trail to see the Whiteoak Canyon Falls. That's 2.3 miles one way. Going in wasn't too bad as it was mostly downhill. The 86 foot falls were absolutely awe-inspiring. There's a rocky ledge that makes a perfect spot to sit, relax and enjoy the superb view. I think the trail was longer on the way back. Not really. It just FELT longer being that it was mostly uphill. I'm not in the best of shape so 4.6 miles of walking along a trail was a little tough, but it was oh so worth it.

We only drove about halfway along Skyline Drive and then exited the park at a different place from where we came in. Just as we were leaving we saw a deer on the side of the road. I so wanted a picture, but there were cars behind us, no place to pull over and my camera was in a bag in the back seat. That was dumb. I vow to keep my camera in the console or glove compartment for quick access from now on.

I had a really hard time deciding which pictures I'd post as there are some absolutely beautiful ones. Not that I'm a good photographer or anything. And, not because I have a wonderful camera. It's a good one, but it's just a point and shoot type. The scenery was just so beautiful that if the pic was in focus it was hard to get a bad shot. You can see all of my pictures from Shenandoah here.

Albuquerque Wrap-Up

Dad and Bob both left over the next couple of days. I had just a few more days before leaving Albuquerque. I was able to get together with a group of friends who sit and stitch on Thursday evenings. I went to my LQS Saturday Sampler class. I went to brunch with my friends Olive and Liz to celebrate Liz's birthday. I was able to attend an Applique Society meeting. And my friend Anna had me over for dinner one night. It was so much fun to catch up with everyone. I hardly felt like I'd been gone.

While I was in Albuquerque I finished another block for my Thru Grandmother's Window quilt. And, I finished six more pumpkins for the pumpkin quilt. That means I'm already a quarter of the way through my pumpkins. They are so much fun and they really are quick to do.

One last thing, on Columbus Day I went and voted early. It was super organized and there was practically no wait. I don't know if that's still the case now that we're closer to the election, but I encourage everyone to check into voting early. Back here in Arlington County I've been by one of the early voting sites (it's in the same building as the library) a couple of times and the lines are long. Who knows what it will be like on election day?

BALLOONS!!

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place every year in early October. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it's my favorite time of year in Albuquerque. All of the balloon events happen early in the morning (before 9am) or in the evening (after 6pm), making it fairly easy to take in an event without having to rearrange your entire day.

Even though the mass ascension was canceled Sunday morning, the weather cleared up enough for the Balloon Glow and Fireworks show Sunday evening. We wasted no time getting down to Balloon Fiesta Park as soon as we heard that it was a go. When we got there, the balloons were just starting to inflate. After a time, the sun set, the balloons were all inflated and tethered and then the burners ignited. Wow! What amazing colors. Lots of cheering from the crowd. Kind of magical really. We stayed for the fireworks which was also an awesome show.

We headed down to the park Monday morning hoping to see some balloons launch. While it wasn't a mass ascension, we still got to see a couple hundred balloons go up. One of the things I love about Balloon Fiesta is that spectators can walk through the field, around and between the balloons while they're inflating and launching. It's a much different experience than watching them from a spectator's area or bleachers.

After seeing the balloons, we headed over to the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. So much information about the history, science and sport of ballooning. Plus, it has beautiful views of the Sandia Mountains and Balloon Fiesta Park. The museum has only been open for three years, and it has really grown in that time. Here's a picture of Bob and I in a gondola. We're ready to fly!

Plan B

The Mass Ascension that we had planned on going to was canceled due to weather. So, we slept in a little and went to Flying Star for breakfast. I think I've mentioned before that I love their breakfast burritos. They also have free WiFi and it gave Bob and I a chance to catch up on email and stuff. Since we were going to be gone for a year, Rich and I saw no reason to pay for cable and internet with no one there to use it. Of course that means that when either of us fly in for a bit, we have no internet and only get network TV. I digress.

With the whole day open, we decided to go to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center . I hadn't been there in almost 10 years. I hardly recognized it. The museum has been expanded. The gift shop has been expanded. A wing has been added for changing exhibits. A restaurant has been added. The entrance is completely different with landscaping and sculptures. Do you live in Albuquerque? Have you been recently? No? Go. Go now.

We saw the current exhibit, "Walatowa Sculptors: Shaping Our Stories ," featuring the works of six sculptors from the Jemez Pueblo. Walatowa is the traditional name for the Jemez Pueblo. The works included bronze, clay and stone. Some pieces were more traditional, some more contemporary, some combining elements of both. Some were just exquisite.

After a couple of hours there we headed over to Old Town.  I always enjoy walking around the plaza. Of course, it was really busy being a Balloon Fiesta weekend. Dad and Bob did a little souvenir shopping and we headed home to relax a bit.

Lunch and a Lot More Driving

When we left Trinity Site we were all getting just a little hungry. What better place to stop for lunch than Owl Cafe in San Antonio, NM? Their green chile cheeseburgers have been rated the best in the state I don't know how many times. I had never had one. It was soooo good. And, it should be. The meat is ground on site (no fillers!). The patties are formed by hand. And all the ingredients are fresh. One really big down side. The service was absolutely terrible. I know San Antonio is a small town (pop. about 800), but there are lots of big events (like the Trinity Site open house) that have people going through town often enough that you'd think it'd be a little better. Probably won't stop me from going back though.

Instead of heading north back to Albuquerque, we went to the Very Large Array (VLA) about an hour west of Socorro. What is the VLA? It's part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory . It consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration. Each is 82 feet in diameter. The data from the antennas can be combined to give the same resolution as an antenna up to 22 miles across. Isn't that exciting? (I know, I'm a geek.) If you happen to look at the pictures on the website and it looks familiar to you, that might be because you saw it in the movie Contact with Jodie Foster. 

 You can go anytime for a self-guided tour, but two days of the year they offer guided tours. Not so coincidentally, those two days just happen to be the same as the Trinity Site open house days. We missed the last tour by about 20 minutes. We didn't do a self-guided tour either. The weather had gotten cold, windy and rainy during our drive there. I hadn't been there since the kids were little and there was hardly any Visitor Center to speak of. The Visitor Center is so much larger and has so much more information now and they're still expanding. There's even a gift shop. We looked over all the information at the Visitor Center and then headed back to Albuquerque. Don't you love this tile? It was on the wall, in the bathroom.

Having a Blast

Trinity Site is open to the public only two days a year. In October, that day also happens to be the first day of Balloon Fiesta. So, instead of going to Balloon Fiesta park to watch the mass ascension, we drove to an empty lot about a mile away and watched the balloons for a little bit. Then, jumped in the car and made the two hour trek to the northern end of White Sands Missile Range, near San Antonio, NM.

We got on the bus that shuttles visitors to the McDonald ranch house about two miles away. This is where the plutonium core of the world's first atomic bomb was assembled. The master bedroom of the house was used for the assembly. To keep dust and sand out of the instruments and tools, windows were covered with plastic and tape was used to seal cracks in the walls and around doors. It's kind of amazing when you compare that to the "clean room" technology of today.

We then headed over to Ground Zero. A 12 foot lava-rock obelisk marks the spot where the nuclear device was detonated atop a tall steel tower. Here's a picture of Dad standing next to it. While walking around the area we found several small pieces of Trinitite, the blue-green glass formed from the heat of the explosion. Most of it was bulldozed and buried in 1952 to clean up the radioactivity, but I guess small pieces remain and find their way to the surface. You're not allowed to remove it from the area, but it's cool to see nonetheless.

Santa Fe - "The City Different"

After pulling into my driveway, we didn't give Bob much time to stretch his legs before jumping in the car and heading to Santa Fe. At least he didn't have to drive and it only took about 45 minutes to get there.

Our first stop was lunch at Tomasita's. I've always loved Tomasita's but the last several times I've been there they've had incredibly long (sometimes over an hour!) wait times. We got there between the lunch and dinner rushes and still had to wait about 20 minutes. But, it was worth it. I love this mural in the waiting area. This wonderful light fixture is also in the waiting area. Notice the ceiling?

Next, we headed to Museum Hill. Bob wanted to go to The Museum of International Folk Art and see the Girard Collection. I don't know how many times I've seen this collection,   but there is so much to see that every time I go I see things I didn't notice  before. We would have stayed longer than we did, but they were closing and very politely asked us to leave.

Unfortunately, all the other museums were closed too. I've never been to The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture . I always spend too much time at one of the other museums and just have never made it to that one. I think next time I'm going to go there first. We did spend a little time looking at some of the sculptures in the plaza area. It's hard to get a sense of how large this kachina is, but I'd guess that it's about 15 feet tall or so. See the jingle bells around his knees? A bird had built it's nest in one. My close up pic of it didn't come out though.

We drove back to Albuquerque. It didn't take us very long. I don't know why I always think it should take longer than it does. Because of that I don't get up there but once or twice a year. When we move back home I'm going to make sure I go more often. I love Santa Fe. It really is "The City Different."

Back in "The Land of Enchantment" (for a few days)

When planning our move to DC we discussed my making a couple of trips back to Albuquerque to check on the house and take care of a few things. We figured a trip in the fall and another in late winter. Well, if you're going to go to Albuquerque in the fall, what better time than the first two weeks in October? Balloon Fiesta has to be my absolute favorite time of year in Albuquerque. And, to make it even better, I had a couple of visitors! My dad flew out from Yorba Linda, CA. And my brother, Bob, drove out from San Francisco. Doesn't Bob have the coolest car ever?

We had a great time visiting. I'll fill you in on our adventures over the next couple of days.

United States Botanic Garden

I took a quick trip to the US Botanic Garden before leaving for Albuquerque for a couple of weeks. Am I glad that I did. It really is a place you need to see at various times of the year. I'm going to try really hard to plan my adventures so that I get to walk by at least once a month. Well, maybe not in the dead of winter since almost nothing blooms at that time, but it would still be nice to walk through the conservatory I'm sure. Also, there is an annual holiday exhibit that I hear is not to be missed.

I entered through the National Garden which features a native plant garden, a rose garden, a water garden, and a butterfly garden. There were so many beautiful things in bloom, I wish that I'd gone by earlier in the summer. Who knows what I missed. I also wish that I'd made note of the names of the plants and flowers that I took pictures of. Unless I happened to get the marker in the picture, I have no idea what most of the flowers are. Still, they're very beautiful.

Next, I walked across the street to Bartholdi Park . The park was created in 1932 and named for the sculptor of the beautiful fountain in the center. When I went there was no water in the fountain. I sure hope that is only temporary. It is too beautiful to not have water flowing. With benches and tables spread throughout, it looks like the perfect place to bring your lunch.

I then walked through the conservatory. All I can say is, "Wow!" It is divided into sections and houses permanent collections of plants from different regions - tropical, sub-tropical, arid. A section for medicinal plants. A section for rare and endangered plants. A section featuring plants from Hawaii. A reconstructed Jurassic landscape. The section that really blew me away was the one dedicated to orchids. There must have been at least a hundred different varieties.

I've uploaded all the pictures (well, the ones that came out anyway) here . As I mentioned earlier I don't know the names of too many, so the captions are kind of vague.

The summer exhibit for this year was entitled One Planet - Ours! and focused on sustainability. There were displays scattered throughout but tying it all together was Cool Globes , an exhibit of 40 sculptures designed to promote solutions to the problem of global warming. Each globe is five feet in diameter. I only took pictures of about half of them which you can see here .

After spending the afternoon here, all I can think about is how much work I need to do on my yard in Albuquerque.