vancouver

Wow, there has been so much to catch ya'll up on yet so little time to do it. I've finally parked myself at the Vancouver airport waiting for my red-eye flight to Chicago (and then connecting to New Hampshire).

So, what have I been up to? A bit of everything. The beginning of August was a mad cap rush to finish some landowner meetings and surveys for the MFWWC. I really enjoyed meeting all the landowners - they were all very enthusiastic and many were extremely committed to seeing successful restoration happen on their property (which included countless hours of their own time and funding projects and plant purchases). I was very encouraged.

I also did some intense last minute work on a poster to take with me to the IAHR conference in Vancouver, made an incredible effort to remove the nasty bindweed from taking over my garden, and collected and spread alpaca manure in the open garden beds. Ah yes, and while Cameron was still away working in Knowles Creek (the Coast Range), I planted 13 ferns that Larry and Ann removed from around their house. They are a great addition to the area behind the cottage that Cameron cleared earlier this year. All-in-all, it was a very productive time and I earned a vacation.

Last Saturday, I caught an early flight to Vancouver and spent the afternoon visiting the Museum of Anthropology on UBC campus and wandering around Wreak Beach. The totem poles were amazing, the collection a real treat to visit. Some day they too will be gone, so I feel lucky.

The conference took up most of my time, but it was well worth it. Those in attendance were from all around the world - this has probably been the most diverse conference (as in nationality), that I have had the pleasure to attend. Apparently my subject of study - vegetation resistance to flow - is a particularly hot topic. I had dozens of people visit my poster and ask questions, all of my additional copies disappeared before lunch, and most importantly, I had the chance to talk to several leading scientists about how to tackle some particularly difficult problems I have been having. On top of all that, some great leads and opportunities. In other words, I think this was one of the best conferences I have attended for sharing my work and communicating with others in a similar field.

Besides the work, there was plenty of fun. I wandered around town visiting the touristy spots, walked down Marine Drive near campus to get a few of the city from afar, visited with friends Debra and Kent and had a fabulous dinner with them full of funky sushi at The Eatery, did more walking, went to the Vancouver Art Gallery to see the Emily Carr exhibit, had some fabulous conversations with folks from all over the world, and slept very little. What fun!

Anyhow, gonna start boarding here in a few. I'll have to add those photos later. Off to Rhode Island for wedding fun....

before the sun

As most mornings these days, I'm up with the sun and set to the tasks of the day. Unlike most evenings, last night I stayed up later than normal so my morning is slower than usual. Once the chickens are fed and the ball thrown for the dogs, I am happy to sit and relax. Even the strong cups of tea don't have me bolting around the yard trying to complete my to-do list.

Whenever Cameron is gone I create these enormous to-do lists "to be completed by the time he returns". I'm not sure if I have ever really completed everything on the list, but that never stops me from trying. It probably doesn't help that I usually double the length of the list while he is gone by adding everything that comes to mind.

Though I love my husband and miss him while he's gone, I can't help but enjoy a little alone time. Guilty pleasures!