Travel Poll

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely LOVE to travel the world.  I generally plan one big trip per year (and as many small ones as possible!).  Since we do our big trip in May, I get into planning mode in the fall, carefully considering the finalist destinations (one of my favorite websites is i-escapes!).  I finalize plans in the winter, go on the trip in May, take a few months off, and then start the whole beautiful process all over again.  Here are the winning destinations from the last few years:

2011: China

2012: Vietnam

2013: Spain and Morocco

SOO, the big question I'm facing now is, where should I go next?

The contenders are:
Ushuaia, Argentina: Southernmost city in the world, located in Tierra del Fuego.  Highlights are hiking, glaciers, penguins!

Kodiak Island, Alaska:  It would be fun to see some of the untamed US! Highlights are hiking, boating, grizzly bears!

Svalbard, Norway:  Islands off the north coast of Norway.  Highlights are trekking, carrying shotguns, polar bears!

What do you think?  Also, if you've been to any of these 3 locations, any recommendations are appreciated! :)

Weekend Kittens

Sometimes the best weekend ever is simply lounging around the house with the kittens, watching Star Trek: Next Generation.

Ocean Sky

We stopped off at the beach for 15 minutes while we waited for our caribbean take-out to be ready.  I think I have an internal beach quota.  If I don't see the ocean at least once a week, I'm just not living up to my full potential.

Raccoons: Pros and Cons

PROS:	CONS:
* They look like little bandits.	* They are little bandits. (Sometimes they're big bandits.)
* They love cats.	* Cats do not love them.
* Rascal (boy and raccoon become best friends)	* Where the Red Fern Grows (best friend dogs hunt wily and vicious raccoons)
* They're super cute when they're babies.	* They may have rabies.

And here's the tie-breaker:
I think the PROS outweigh the CONS. What do you think? :)

A Hawk Swipes a Gopher

My Top 10 Favorite Snape-shots

In honor of Snape's 4th birthday this month, I thought I'd share a few (ten) of my favorite shots.  This sleek tuxedo kitten was once aptly described by his vet as "the most ideal cat specimen" she had ever seen.  I agreed.

1. It was hard to believe he could ever grow into those ears...

2. Unfortunately, cats don't always land on their feet.

3. Count Catula

4. This is what I wake up to every morning (unfortunately at 6:30AM sharp).

5. Once I'm awake he goes to sit by his bowl, the very picture of patience.

6.  It doesn't get much better than fancy feast.

 7. Snape loves a good book.  He's tagged my whole collection with personalized bite marks.

8.  We're a pretty tall family.

9. Caught on camera right after a sneeze.

10.  I think he's the cutest cat ever.  He thinks so, too.

Pillar Point Bluff

Pillar Point Bluff was really more of a walk than a hike, tucked between a trailer park and a neighborhood of custom ocean-view mansions.  Although its too close to the highway to feel like you're completely enveloped in nature, I did see a snake, some hawks, several rabbits, and hundreds of seals. You can go to the very edge of the bluff and look down on rocks covered in seals.  It's a great view and if the beaches below were accessible I'd be all about it. BUT, I'm the kind of person who likes to get up close! So I think I'll be sticking with the reliable Moss Beach for future seal viewings!

Evening Hawk Spotting

We've been going to the GGP archery range almost every evening.  One night a hawk landed just a few feet away from me.  The next night a coyote ran onto the field and frolicked around the archers for several minutes before sprinting back into the brush.  After that, I decided that I wouldn't be caught without my camera again, and my nightly visits to the range have become more of a combo arching/wildlife spotting.  Although there are TONS of creatures out and about, the most common sightings are of hawks.  I've come to know their favorite branch hangouts along the perimeter of the range and am at the ready to toss down my bow and pick up the cam if I see one launching toward the open field to pick up a gopher.

    

Muddy Hollow, Point Reyes

Some of the best hikes I've done in the bay area have been in Point Reyes (Tomales Point Tule Elk Preserve and Alamere Falls!), so I had pretty high hopes for Muddy Hollow.  This foggy, mostly flat (thank goodness!), surprisingly un-muddy, 7 mile loop did not disappoint!  We saw a ton of quail, hawks, and even spotted quite a few elk!