Winter Adventures

     The new year is supposed to start off cold so I've been trying to enjoy this unseasonably warm weather as much as I can before the numbers of layers needed makes walking near impossible. Today that meant pulling on heavy boots and heading into the woods to look for turkey tale and Usnia scouting (of which I found none, unfortunately). Surprisingly, my parent's old dog-- although forever a puppy-- followed me out.

 

Red Squirrel paw prints. There's only one section where I've ever seen them in the woods; everywhere else there are only Grey Squirrels

Ash trees bowed by an ice storm years ago

A stand of noble White Pines



   Finally got a self-portrait with him, he doesn't get many chances to go out past the fields, even though he has the freedom too. In the end it started to rain and I was almost dragged back to the house. He kept turning around to make sure I was still following him.

The path goes around and over the drumlin, and has a loop that runs across the top through stands of white and red pines, as well as Norway spruce and the odd hemlock trees and a few large larches.

Deer paths are the best for spontaneous adventures here.

Even found some yellow slime moulds!

 

      It's been going slow, but the beacons are coming along. I hope to finish the third tomorrow, and the fourth by the weekend at least. I'm also working on opening an Etsy shop to sell photo and art prints, as well as some other exciting things (an orange-rose lip balm proved to be a huge hit over the holidays, not to toot my own horn but it's the best I've ever used!). However, the decision will come down to finances and stuff, and the final choice will come out in the next few days with any luck!
     Finally, here's a slice of summer from my internship. I hope everyone had a wonderful Solstice/Yule/Christmas if you celebrate and has been staying warm and illness free!

Feeling like winter

     Well, we got some snow. I also got my two-man tent from Poler Stuff yesterday, and wishing I could try it out outside, but for now my parent's dining room will have to suffice. I hope all of you are staying warm!

Almost There!

     I've probably said this a dozen times already, but I received a Bachelors of Science this last Friday! Of course, to maximize attendance of the convocation they have it before finals, so I have two of those and projects/papers to finish up this week before I can really say I'm finished. These last 3.5 years have been horribly busy (amazing and informative but still busy and painful) and I'm looking forward to having at least a week or two before looking for jobs and other adult things where I can truly relax and not have anything serious going.
     Although I may be pursuing publication of my research on "The Efficacy of Gastric Lavage in Redback Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)" and that will probably take a few weeks/months/who knows of more advanced data analysis and writing. At least that won't be directly related to school per say.
     In the mean time I have mycology to study, forensic entomology lab reports to put together and a paper to write, so here are some pictures from Thanksgiving break two weeks ago. (One of the pros of insomnia I suppose is frequently seeing, and occasionally enjoying, the sunrise)

The birds are back, so far I've seen blue jays, juncos, cardinals, morning doves and woodpeckers.

LotR fans: the Beacon of Amun Dim.

MYCOLOGY

Friday Flashback

     This is the last one! If you're in the states I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and if you're Jewish a great start to Hanukkah!
     We've entered the single digits towards the count down to graduations and moving back out of the city, after next week I'll have more time (even if I get a job, which I hope will happen) to paint and really buckle down and learn about stuff I really want to, like classic cars, tracking and German. And snowshoeing! Woke up to three more inches of snow this morning; which was gorgeous and making me excited.

Friday Flashback

PS: guess who graduates in two weeks!

Mid semester; or when group projects become the death of me

     A study of when I avoid doing what I should be doing. By the way, I graduate in a little less than a month! I still have two group projects, two exams and a lab practical left; not to mention editing and finishing my honors thesis (Which my advisor really likes so far so that probably won't take long), but then I'm free. Which will no doubt mean looking for jobs and hoping I get an interview down in Virginia, but I don't care because it will be better than school. :)

     In the mean time, I've been making linoleum prints for the Love Bags my mom and some other ladies have been making. Think I went through almost 60 this afternoon- my arms are sore and I lost count. 

 

 

     And here are some more of my October Challenge paintings. Still haven't gotten around to photographing all of them yet. That might be a project for after graduation... (I'm good at procrastinating... or more accurately, really bad at procrastinating)

Challenge progress

It got darker than I expected in my room, oops! These are some of my works in progress, the others are hanging in the darkest corner, so I'll photograph those in a few days :) Also yay figure studies!

Updates

Expect one tomorrow night! I promise. Sorry, had three projects to finish this week and one of them was writing my honor's thesis that I found out was technically due the 15th from scratch because nothing saved from the last time I worked on it... My challenge focus shifted a little but it's chugging along :)

Flashback friday and other going-on's

     Hoowee, October has been a bit of a doozie for me, but should be wrapping up within the week! Sent out the fellowship application yesterday, wrote half of my honor's thesis this afternoon (why was I procrastinating again??) and finished up the last of my mycology flash cards in preparation for Tuesday's exam. That is what I am most worried about now, although I'm trying to have the rough of my thesis sent out Monday afternoon at the latest. I had to made almost 300 flashcards for mycology because all of the terms are new, even though I'm a senior- mycologists have their own language.  While I am brain-dead for the night, tomorrow brings adventures and more chances to study until my eyes bleed.
     I'm trudging though my October challenge, after next Wednesday I should be able to get back on schedule, and just in time to finish up! Until then I'll be curled up on my blanket with a four-inch stack of index cards and grapefruit juice...

Friday Flashback