It has been a year.....

Can you believe it has been a year since we arrived home? Tomorrow (the 4th) is the day we arrived back to a wonderful place, with a newly elected wonderful president, and wonderful family and friends waiting with open arms. I wish I had time to reflect back on this year as I write this blog. I have so much I'd like to write about. Our trip follows me everywhere I go. I think about it everyday, all the time.

On another whim, I submitted another photo to the National Geographic "your shot" and in celebration of our "one year" back - it was picked in the daily dozen! That was a nice present. I know it isn't a GORGEOUS photo, but it is a photograph that shows something you don't see everyday with neat, stormy, monsoon season light.

Tomorrow I"ll be giving a talk at the town library on our travels in Myanmar. I am hoping to focus a lot on the government so I can educate people about the state of the country, the wonderful people, and the horrible government (if you can even call it that). Because of this talk, I've been forced to finally go through our photos and pick out the best. The complete slideshow can be found here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdimond/BestOfMyanmar#

Here is the National Geographic shot!

Here is the caption I put with it: While tramping in Myanmar, we were able to watch these men playing a game of chinlone. Our Burmese guide explained to us that it was very similar to volleyball, except you use your feet and head rather than your hands. Now that's talent!

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/daily-dozen (you may have to scroll through the photos at the top to find this one).

And here is a sneak preview of some of the best shots in the album....

Evening paddle

There was a break in the wet weather today so we were quick to take advantage of it and go out for an evening paddle. This time we launched at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park. We paddled out to a small island and were treated to a sighting of what we later determined to be a bunch of Heermann's gulls. They are very unique, dark colored gulls with red/orange bills. Apparently, 90% of the population of this species breeds on a single island group off Baja California. They spend the rest of the year anywhere from California to British Columbia. This is an exciting sighting!

Splish splash at last for the new kayaks

Today we finally got out for a paddle in our new kayaks. It was awesome. We put in at Shannon Point and went around Washington Park, across Burrows Pass to Burrows Island for a quick lunch, then back. We were pretty pleased with the handling of the boats...they do pretty well against current and are fairly comfortable.


We saw loads of birds, some of whom must have come somewhat recently to overwinter. We saw common loons, red-necked grebes and possibly eared grebes, marbled murrelets, surf scoters, oyster catchers, two bald eagles, a kingfisher, two great blue herons, and plenty of cormorants and gulls. We also saw a tiny little wren (winter wren?) while having lunch on Burrows Island. And we saw a few seals and sea lions too. Can't wait to get back out there again.

We watched this loon try to swallow what looked like a flounder...not sure it succeeded but I bet it did.


Surf scoters are such clowns aren't they?

This heron was balancing on kelp fronds floating on the surface.

Andy and Jen visit from Victoria, BC

Last weekend we were treated to a visit from our friends Andy and Jen. It was important to get a visit in with them because the ferries stop running between Victoria, BC and Anacortes, WA for the winter months! Although we are thinking of meeting up on the Olympic Peninsula for some winter fun, but that is months away. Last time we saw them it was at their wedding, and before that it was in Borneo! It is the beginning of a great friendship! On Saturday we took them to our farm share and checked out all the fall colors and proceeded on to lovely La Conner where we hit up the brew pub for some nice local beer. The day ended at chilly and lovely Deception Pass State Park, with short intertidal lessons and a good view of a red-necked grebe! Anyone who likes beer that visits us is forced to head out to the Rockfish Grill - our local brewpub. Lucky for us, there was a great blues band playing that night. So not only did we take advantage of the FOUR IPA's they had on tap (or cask), but we got to boogie as well!

On Sunday, I was imprisoned by work and forced to stay home and make up lectures while Jay got to go play with Andy and Jen in the mountains. This was frustrating, but necessary so I didn't stand up in front of the class and go "duhhhh". One day, in my dreams, we will find the time to go through our wedding pictures (we are still hoping to drag some copies out from more friends hint hint hee hee) and honeymoon photos.

That's all for now. No huge things happening this weekend because Jay has a cold and I, as usual, have to write lectures. Ugh.

Andy and Jen lived in Japan for a number of years. Can you tell? =)

At the farm

Checking out the intertidal zone, Deception Pass State Park

This almost makes me wish I was sick too

Lester wanted to get in on the fun

Allison and Jim!

How bad that we haven't posted these photos yet! We went back east for a long weekend to be the happy son and daughter-in-law at Allison (Jay's mother) and Jim's wedding!!! Yipee! October 3rd, 2009. Congratulations to the most wonderful couple!!!

There was the beautiful ceremony, followed by....

lots of laughter....

dance shows....

and Windsor knot tying lessons.

My dad came too, my mom was missed but she was having fun in Florida with her girlfriends.

Oh - and we managed to find time to run into Buzzards Bay for a dip! Most fun, since we can't pull that off in Washington!

More of Canada

Well, the Rockies anyway...

It's about time I, Jay, posted something, especially since Julie is slacking off these days with her plush teaching gig (sarcasm).

Anyway, here are a few more pics mostly from the Banff area, where we spent most of our time after Jasper.



Julie sampling the barleywine at the Grizzly Paw brewery in Canmore

Fall was just starting to show itself.

Curious Mr. Marmot peaked up from the roadside and we snapped his picture.

The trees against Peyto Lake, with the afternoon shadow from the mountains quickly advancing.

Glacier Lake, which we had all to ourselves for a night.

Days two and three in the Canadian Rockies

Don't forget that Sean's photos can be found here:
http://www.seanneilson.com/juliejay/index.html

You can tell that I'm going through the photos one slow day at a time. And I SHOULD be working on my lectures for the biology class! We spent one day in Jasper hiking up Bald Hill for a massive view of Maligne Lake and the craggy mountains surrounding it. Somehow our rainy hiking luck left us behind for our honeymoon and we scored on almost perfect weather. the day it did rain, I was almost glad. Mountains seem to have different moods in weather, and we love the misty colors that rain gives off on the peaks.

Jasper National Park

Jay fly fishing

Cooking dinner

See little Julie?

Gray jay

yipee!

Here's a special treat for all of you.