Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Near miss

I don't have any pictures to upload since I am here at work but it has been a few weeks since I've blogged so I thought I should atleast type something.

I was on rain shelter duty the weekend before last (there are plots that are being drought tested so if it rains, we have to put up shelters and withhold the water). Skott came up to visit for the weekend. It was so much fun!

Last weekend went by so fast. I went home but before I knew it, it was time to head back to work. I actually made it back in the dark without getting lost -a first! I seriously have gotten lost every time! Pathetic, I know.

Skott found an amazing Mongolian BBQ and Korean food restaurant in Eau Claire and we went there for our (belated) anniversary. It was SO GOOD! We haven't had mongolian stir fry since we left Washington. So glad something unique came to Eau Claire.

While I was home this past weekend a tree limb up where I work broke off and fell, almost landing on my tent! The only thing holding it back was this little grape vine. Quite the mess. I am just glad it happened when I was gone. I probably would have had a heart attack if I heard it fall in the middle of the night! So anyways, I had to take down my tent and move into some stinky old dorms until someone can get out and remove the tree. I am pretty bummed about not being able to sleep outside but on the other hand, I don't want to get smashed either!

So that is my excitement. Food and broken tree limbs! haha
Oh, and our dishwaher broke. Sad times.

We are headed to Door County for the fourth of July weekend so I will have tons of good pics to post after that.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Saturday morning market

My absolute favorite summer activity in Eau Claire is the Farmers Market in Phoenix Park. The big day is Saturdays but they also have it a couple days during the week too. We don't live too far so we usually ride our bicycles down every Saturday morning. We start out buying kolaches to eat while we shop. Kolaches are delicious, giant, sweet dinner rolls filled with egg, cheese and various meats or vegetables. We also love to stock up on fresh produce and cheese curds at the market. A couple weeks ago we bought a "Hawaiian" tomato plant. I have never heard of it but it is supposed to be a yellowish tomato with a sweet pineapple flavor.

The river that runs behind Phoenix Park was like glass this Saturday. Here is our view as we sat on rocks and ate a pumpkin bread muffin and sesame rice balls (great breakfast combo, I know).


Skott enjoying his ham, swiss, and onion kalache:

After the market we went on a bicycle ride. This is a view of Phoenix Park and the market area from across the river. The market area is to the left (you can't really see it). The big building is a business complex and the park wraps around more to the right. Such a beautiful day!


On a different note, intern work is still going good. It rained really hard last Sunday night and I woke up to find my tent had fallen in on me. I propped the center crosses up on a chair I had in my tent and made my way outside. Somehow the rain fly got tweaked and it was causing the tent to twist and collapse. I managed to get all the poles put back together and upright, then had to tie the rain fly down differently to counter-act the twist. I was completely soaked and so happy to crawl back into my warm sleeping back and catch a few more hours of sleep!
I was able to take a break from weeding and collect research data for two days this week. It is a little intimidating at first, as the machines we are using are $30,000 each, but they are starting to make sense and we completed our first round of collection for one campaign. Two more campaigns to go with three rounds of collection each. Everyone I work with is great. We all get along really well and there is lots of interesting conversation.
Next weekend I am on call so Skott will be coming up to spend the weekend with me. I am excited to show him around. I won't be able to post again for two weeks until I get home.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

My commute to work

I survived my first week with only a few minor bumps and cuts.... and a couple major bruises! hahaha.
The nights are still really cold! My Dad loaned me a really nice sleeping bag that has been a lifesaver. I just bury myself in it and try not to roll around too much during the night. I am usually awakened by the birds around 5am and I just doze until 6am or so before forcing myself out into the cold air. I have to report for work at 7:30am and we are usually done by 4 pm. This is my tent site:


I absolutely LOVE my commute to the field every morning! We have the option of riding bikes or riding in the 'Burb (suburban). It is about a mile out to the fields on a gorgeous path through the trees. There is a funny crooked bridge over a marshy area too.




Fortunately, it has been quite dry so the bugs have been kept at a minimum. We did get rain this weekend though so it will probably be a nightmare next week. I came home this weekend but have to stay up there next weekend for rain shelter duty. There are some plots that are involved in a drought study so whenever there is a chance of rain, they have to be covered. I work with a lot of great people and I am looking forward to the rest of the summer!