Map Pins

We've had fun marking all of our travels on a big U.S. map and decided to begin marking one of the U.K.  Large map posters are about $12 from National Geographic.  With a little spray adhesive and foam posterboard, they're ready for pins.  We've been using silver glittered map pins to show where we've been.  This isn't the greatest picture, but you get the idea!

Jerusalem

Also while we were in St. Louis we attended the new IMAX movie, Jerusalem.  It is showing at the St. Louis Science Center and a few other places around the county.  The film is presented by National Geographic, so the cinematography is gorgeous.  It explores some of the holiest sites in Jerusalem and their relation to the three major religions that exist there.  This is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and below is the Dome of the Rock.  Very fascinating.

Wild Squatters

I just saw the cutest story in National Geographic about wild animals living in abandoned cottages in Finland.  "Once Upon a Home" features incredible photography, like this picture of a Finnish squirrel with pointy ears.

Unseen Titanic

Have you read the latest issue of National Geographic yet? There's a fantastic article about the Titanic, complete with new images of the wreck. I thought that this ring, found in a leather pouch, was exceptionally beautiful. Check out the images here.

Orphaned Elephants

Do you subscribe to National Geographic? The latest issue has a story about elephants that have been orphaned because of poaching. There is a group that cares for the little ones. This elephant is wearing a raincoat. They typically wear blankets to comfort them. They are very sweet.

National Geographic Camera Obscura

Did you see the article in the latest National Geographic on camera obscura? It was fascinating. Abelardo Morell constructed a pinhole camera that projects an image, like this view of the Brooklyn Bridge looking out a window, onto a surface, like this bedroom wall. The images are so intriguing. Check them out.

Map Project

We recently made a map project to track our travels (and to plot new ones). We used a map from National Geographic and some foam core. Then we covered the heads of our map pins with silver glitter and marked all of the places that we've been together. We ran out of pins and will have to get more... (I think I got the glitter idea from Cathe Holden's blog, but I can't seem to find it.)