Hiiiii everyone

Wow, I think this is the longest I've gone without a post. As you can see I've again changed my blog look, but just to the basic this time. I'm all blah right at the moment but I'll cheer it up soon.

On the knitting front, the urge to knit has picked up finally. I haven't gone full steam ahead yet, but I'm getting there.

Recently we've been doing the Disneyland thing (our sweet dear friend got us special passes they give to people who live in the area, buy one day get 2 more days for free, but you have to live in So. Cal. to get it, he gets the yearly pass and as a gift he got us the passes for free).

Anyway, we've also started hiking.. I'm up to 23 pounds shed and I've started to fall in love with hiking. We started off at Elysian Park, which is just north of Downtown LA. Can you believe you can see this view in the middle of a major metropolitan area???



Off to the left, out of the picture is Dodger Stadium.

Sadly though this park suffers from the trials of being in the middle of a major metro area, it's littered so badly and there's some creepy people hanging around. So after about 2 miles we decided to leave.

Then the next day we discovered Big Santa Anita Canyon. You drive 3 miles up a mountain road, again just outside a major metro area and you come to this...



A short and extremely steep walk down a fire road and you're in the canyon (I don't know what was worse, the walk DOWN or the walk UP)

The trailhead marker to Sturtevant Falls...



You follow a creek most of the way



It used to be mining country (though no gold was really mined in this area since a good vein of ore was never found), then it became a sort of "resort" in the early 1900's, so all the miner's cabins became tourist cabins... they're still privately owned, maintained and used (they mostly have no plumbing, running water, electricity and phone, but it's a real get away to stay here!)



And after falling in the creek on the 3rd crossing, we made it to the falls...



It's so beautiful and cool (about 20 degrees cooler than up on the main mountain road) with a great breeze. The water is cold and it's sooo nice and relaxing. It's just too bad that a lot of folks go there, leave their garbage and swim in the falls mucking up the water.

I started to channel Le Harlot herself when I was sitting there. After her many stories of knitting around a camp fire, or tipping over in a canoe and soaking her knitting. Also her biking adventures and outtings... I got inspired to knit again, and hike...

Even if you don't live near the mountains, go on Google maps, switch to the arial photos and find the nearest park, forest preserve, whatever... throw on your walking shoes and go out and walk, bring a book or your knitting, a little snack or a full on picnic and have fun!

And while I'm on my healthy save the planet kick...



See that Green Thing around my coffee cup? It's called a CupKozy. My friend makes and sells them, just click the link and help save some paper waste. They're made of felt (wool) so they insulate like styrofoam, are less bulky than styrofoam, hug your cup like a glove, save the planet and are just WAY better than those paper sleeves that still burn your hand and/or get soaking wet with the condensation from your iced coffee drink.

Face it, they're the greatest! And she makes more portable ones that fit on your key chain (that's the one I have). It rolls up about the size of a lipstick and with the little clip you can attach it to pretty much anything (I actually keep mine attached to the zipper on my purse). So check it out if you drink coffee or even occasionally drink coffee from places like Coffee Bean or Starbucks... or heck you can even use it at work if they only give you paper cups to use!!!