Master's Degree in Geology and how to display your quilts in a home.

Well, our little girl has done it.  After 6 hard years of school, she has her Master's Degree in Geology.  And, all you parents can relate, she is gainfully employed!

We spent the last 6 days in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  We got to watch her defend her thesis to a packed room of professors and peers.  It had something to do about studying pre-solar system dust!  Don't ask, I can't tell you for certain, suffice it to say it was most impressive...smile.

Then, with proud grand parents in tow, we spent a day in Santa Fe.  We visited beautiful chapels, bought jewelry from Indian's selling their wares at the Governor's Palace and ate some pretty good food.  You will eat really well in New Mexico.  We ate at the Shed, the #5 on the menu was great!

Next my mom and dad went home and we moved Chelsea into her pink adobe house.  I like to decorate from the view of what do you see when you open the door.  How is your eye drawn into the space and how does it tie together.

These are 2 quilts I made for Chelsea.  You use the Command stickers to hang on a fireplace.  These are easily removable and don't ruin paint.  Plus, I didn't have a mortar drill bit to hang them.

We are proud, but most of all happy our daughter knows who she is and knows what she wants out of life.  She is carving quite a nice one out for her and her dog, Fawn.  That's one lucky dog!  For her graduation gift, she wanted cross country skis.  Fawn has a harness and they will travel off into the great beyond...smile...

So off we go back up the canyon-More Bright Angel Trail

We Spent One Night at the Phantom Ranch then Hiked the Bright Angel Trail

Onward!  That's all you can do.  Once you've made it to the bottom, you have to go back up.  I had considered riding a mule up, but, they told us that is not possible.  Teddy Roosevelt made the park and his intention was to preserve it's natural beauty.  Nothing goes down to the bottom except hikers and mules.  Unless it's a real emergency and they helicopter out 300 people a year.

There are so many things that could be done to get more people in and out of the bottom of the canyon, like having a tram to the Indian Gardens on the Bright Angel Trail.  The BA Trail is listed as one of the 10 most dangerous trails in America.  I guess people start the hike at the top where it is cooler and down at the bottom there can be a 20 degree difference in temperatures.

We made it!  We are now in the exclusive club of hikers that go to the Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon.  Whew!!  Less that 1 percent of the people that travel to the rim make the hike.  The S. Kaibab is grand vistas and a lot of red earth.  The Bright Angel is a lot more intimate views, small waterfalls and trees.

Continuing Down the South Kaibab Trail of the Grand Canyon

Feeling pretty sore by the time we get to the suspension bridge at the bottom.  Some nice man feels for me and loans me his walking stick which really saves me.

The nicest people on the trail are at the bottom.  Everyone is a little concerned about each other's welfare and stories are told of near helicopter rides out, but, by golly we hung in there!!

This squirrel tried to sneak up and steal Chelsea's lunch!