Gone back to Ohio: Christmas 2010

I'm sitting here on our couch this morning, warming myself by the wood stove and the sunshine streaming in the window; the dogs cast about me like so much flotsam. It feels great to be home again. Sarah's still trying to squeeze a couple more moments of sleep out of day, but the coffee's on now, so she'll be up soon and we'll be off. I just want to share some of the better photo's that were captured on our camera from a great weekend with family. We hope you all enjoy the rest of your holiday together and welcome you to our house any time. All the best.

Sorry I cropped her head here, but I love the smile!

Ian took this one. I think it looks like we're racing!

Ah History, the Destroyer of Hope.

Just a quick story about today, before my mind purges the information in its on-going quest to save space for my mailing address and phone number.

We've been learning about the industrial revolution and the labor movement in the United States in the late 19th century for about three weeks now. It culminated today with a guest lecturer talking about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the Uprising of the 20,000. She spoke at length about the conditions in the garment factory, about the age and wages of the women, about the 78 hour work week and the fact that two strikes failed to change conditions at the Triangle Factory. Finally, the revelation that the courts failed to indict the co-owners of the factory was too much for one young man in my class.

"God, everything about this sucks!" he blurted out, then looked back to find me smiling.

"Couldn't have said it better myself."

Next on the syllabus, immigration and city life with such stupendous topics as tenement life, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the rise of the Klan, the nadir of race relations, and race riots. A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi.

For all my friends lucky enough to still be teaching science

I found this really cool site that allows you to scale up and down and see many important objects from our lives relative to one another. Have fun with it.

http://primaxstudio.com/stuff/scale_of_universe/

Just another Sunday...

Horse bus

The Man: Rambo at his new home.

Sarah and The Man having a chat.

I think he approves of our carpentry.

Sarah riding Murphy, Pat's horse.

Murphy trying to pretend he's not interested in his new pasture mate. He was really funny at first, all aloof and looking back over his shoulder or peaking around the corner of the barn, but he quickly warmed up and they were soon standing side by side.

of having a dream fulfilled!

Exciting weekend

So, we had a pretty exciting weekend (still one day to go!). Two of our main ambitions came to fruition this weekend. Below, find pictures of the new wood stove and Rambo, infused with supporting images.

Rambo doing his best Zhora impersonation.

The view from Rambo's new pasture! I think he'll be happy. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Rambo's new digs

So it's a long story, but it ends with us adopting a great Morgan named Rambo from our friend, Kathleen. Job one, figure out where to keep him. Fortunately, our friend Pat has an awesome place out in Lodi and has practically laid out the red carpet for us. She already has an appaloosa named Murphy who's in need of another friend. We spent last weekend riding, and this weekend preparing Rambo's new home. We had to build a second stall off of one side of Pat's barn. The pictures that follow chronicle that process.

The barn, all ready for a second stall.

Nailing up supports

The pond, fenced in and ready to go.

Yesterday, the girls put up the fence to divide the front pasture, took pictures, and rode Murphy while Nick and I put up the first side of the shed.

Sarah looking beautiful on a cold Sunday.

The Murphinator trying to figure out what the heck we we're doing and why it's so noisy.

Sarah utilizing the miter saw

Doin' my best to look manly.

The (almost) finished product. Just add horse!

Fall in B-Dale

As you all know, chopping firewood is one of my favorite things to do. I find it very therapeutic to focus so hard on not burying an 8 lb. maul in my shin.

Sarah took this picture. I just think it's really cool. I like the way it's framed and it seems to capture the season really well. At least in my mind.

I always have help. Eva works hard to keep the wood chips from piling up.

This is from a walk that we took on Sunday morning at the Ornithology Lab. The lighting was only mediocre, but the walk was great.

Continuing to learn about the camera Mom and Dad donated to us. Messing with the F stop here.

Fall maple leaves.



The hills by the house
Male Downy on the feeder
His woman-friend