Christmas

It's Christmas time!

I went home for Christmas to spend time with my family before my move to Lansing, MI. I had a really great time and it was good to see everyone. Of course, there are photos...

The "Magic Tree" in a private yard in Columbia, MO

A beautiful gift Byron's parents sent - super awesome mittens and a Spartans tee.

Jada was definitely the star of the show!

Mom and Autumn with Jada. She was so excited.

Mom showing off Jada's new toy. Jada LOVED opening presents. So cute...

Grandma Jordison and her beautifully decorated table

The Iowa State Capitol seen from E. Locust St in Des Moines, IA

The Iowa State Capitol seen from atop the State of Iowa parking garage

A weekend in Astoria

A week ago now, I was in my car heading to Des Moines. Early the next morning I flew out of Des Moines International Airport to Portland where Byron met me with great anticipation. I was so excited to see him again! After a quick lunch, we were on the road to Astoria.

We went for coffee at Columbia River Roasters and then birded a wetland near the Astoria Airport. The cold wind drove rain into our faces so we turned back and headed home where it was warm (and dry). We dried off and changed into warm clothes then headed out to Fort George Brewery - the best place in town for homemade sausages. Byron hadn't yet been, so it was nice to share the experience with him. It's one of my favorite places in town for dinner and a cold beer. Then we were off to see Keith Anderson in concert at the newly restored and beautiful Liberty Theater in Downtown Astoria. I got to meet one of Byron's friends, which was awesome! The show was excellent! It was a small crowd which made it intimate. He sang all of our favorites and told some funny stories as well.

Keith Anderson and his mates

After the concert we went to the Voodooroom - my favorite bar in town. There I saw a friend of mine I had met during the summer. It was so great to catch up with him!

Byron cooked me breakfast Sunday morning and I made our coffee. We went hiking at Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach. It was cold and snowy but not uncomfortably so. We hiked the trail to Indian Beach but turned back halfway down the trail because it was incredibly muddy and I had left my hiking boots in Missouri since the weather was supposed to be terrible. It was funny anyway...

Looking south from the parking lot - Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock in the misty snow

Tillamook Rock Lighthouse

Byron on the trail, snow blankets the hillside in the background

Baylee giving me the "c'mon, let's go!" look

I spy...

The cowboy boot and the arch

Finally, back at the truck, I stopped to make a snowbird

Next stop was Cannon Beach for some lunch and a stroll on the beach. The sky was beautiful and as usual, so was Haystack Rock. See?

We met a few of Byron's workmates and their wives at the Columbia Theater on Sunday night to see Zach and Miri Make a Porno. It was silly and yielded all a good time. I wish we had been able to spend more time with his friends. Maybe next time...

We drove back to Portland after the movie. The roads were slick through the passes and we encountered elk in the road, which proved exciting. I said, "Deer, deer, deer..." and as we got closer I was like, "Oooh, elk!" Haha. Good thing we didn't nail one. The weather was awful. It was super windy and freeeezing. We got a hotel at the airport for the night and soaked in the hot tub to warm ourselves.

The next morning we said our farewells and I was off to Des Moines. I watched the sunrise over the clouds and Mt. Hood then passed out.

What a fun, spontaneous trip!

TIHA

Around the bend...

A couple of months ago I wrote about coming to an endless bend in the road. My job was ending sooner than planned and the future seemed grim. I thought I should write a quick update to tidy things up around here and not leave you all thinking that all in my world is hopeless and the sky is falling.

I now have two jobs in my field and when I'm not working (or blogging), I'm packing my worldly possessions. That's right, in two weeks from today, I'm moving. MOVING! Where? East Lansing, Michigan. Why? I'm going to graduate school! Yeehaw!

Michigan State University is just past that bend in the road. Things are quite foggy - I don't yet know exactly how graduate school works. It appears very different from my undergraduate experience. Soon, though, I'll learn the ropes of it and will have it mastered.

Meetings in Michigan - Part Two

Last time I ended with Tuesday, November 18 - Byron, Mini-Mom and I had gone to the Frederik Meijer Garden and to the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. We went to bed early as the next day would be busy and stressful.

We ate a delicious breakfast with Mini-Mom then I got dressed up. This was the day I would meet my potential professor for graduate school. That's right, I had an interview at Michigan State University for a Master of Science project in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. I was so thankful that Mini-Mom could go with - moms have special calming powers. I was also gracious that they could take me an hour and a half over to the university.

We arrived with plenty of time so we stopped at the Dairy Store for lunch and ice cream (which happens to be right across the street from the Natural Resources building). I spent the entire afternoon with the professor and her students - two hours with her and the rest of the evening with her students. I had a wonderful time. Prof took me for a driving tour of the campus facilities that would be pertinent to the project - places like the Michigan State Disease Laboratory. Afterward, we chatted for a bit then I was off with her two graduate students. They took me on a walking tour of campus. My favorite part was finding another ice cream dairy store and the library. The library is huge and awesome with bookshelves that move at the press of a button. I was curious if they (the shelves) were smart enough to know if an aisle was occupied by a human. So, we played with it for a bit - one jumps in the aisle, I press the button and wait. The shelves told me the aisle was occupied. Smart! They took me for ice cream and introduced me to a fun group of other students in Fisheries and Wildlife and then we went for dinner at a Thai restaurant. Yumm! A quick phone call and Byron and his mom picked me up and we were headed home.

Byron and I eased into the following morning. We ate breakfast at the local greasy spoon. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs (or the diner had ridiculously sized portions) - Okay, both. I hadn't seen that much food in a looong time. I was overcome by food coma (and perhaps the seat heater) and passed out in the car on the way to one of Byron's favorite places to explore the outdoors - Pickrell State Park.

Once out of the car in the cold in the wilderness, I woke up. We hiked around the lake and had a wonderful time being silly, horsing around.

Byron on the trail

The view of the lake from atop a hill

Byron climbed downed trees

The trail

We found the handiwork of beavers

Byron, the photographer

Sapsicles!

This is what it looks like when I trip over a root in the trail - graceful!

The trail again

Earlier in the day, I wished for snow and got it! Byron told me to wish for a million bucks, so I did, but didn't get it.

Byron climbed a gnarly tree

The sun broke through the clouds just for this shot.

That night, Byron's parents took us to Graydon's Crossing for a fantastic Indian/English dinner. Everything I tasted was amazing. After dinner we went shopping for spices at a specialty spice shop. Then it was home to watch Kung Fu Panda. I fell asleep at the end.

Friday was the ultimate lazy day. I think I woke up at 10:00. Byron and I ate leftover breakfast from the previous morn then loafed around all day. We watched, rather Byron watched Kung Fu Panda again - I fell asleep, this time at the beginning. I woke up in time to see the part I missed from the previous night. Then Byron's friend picked us up and we three went to the mall. Byron and I got stuck in William Sonoma and decided to leave a 1/4 way through the store before we spent our lives savings (current and future).

That evening, his sister Marya came home from training in Detroit and I got to meet Byron's cousin and his family. Good times!

Saturday, we went shopping with Mini-Mom in downtown Rockford. We walked from their house and back - it was a cold day but still pleasant. Byron made a cheesecake for the next day's dessert.

Chef Byron preparing a cheesecake


The making of a spiced chocolate cheesecake

We went out to dinner with Byron's best friend, Arley, and his lovely and pregnant wife, Melisa. I really enjoyed them and hope to spend more time with them soon.

Sunday, we slept in again. It was a busy day! We prepped food for dinner that night. The previous day Mini-Mom had entered her name in a drawing at one of the stores - she ended up winning, so we went to pick up her prize. We then went to Herman's Boy for more coffee and bagel dogs then came home. Byron made a spiced chocolate cheesecake. We helped his mom put lights on the tree outside. Well, okay, I was the photographer. Inside, Byron's dad prepared dinner - deep fried turkey and a venison roast.

Byron and Mini-Mom stringing lights on the tree

Cute!


The tree lit up! It's Christmas time!

Back inside, we finished preparing food for dinner. Sadie watched all the commotion from the great room.

For dinner we ate deep fried turkey, venison roast, sweet potatos, fresh green beans with almonds, roasted potatoes, fresh veggies and a whole lot of things I'm sure I'm forgetting...

So pretty...

Monday morning we woke up knowing it would be a sad day. It was the day I left for home. It snowed overnight and the birds were perched at the feeders for breakfast. We watched them as we ate ours from the warmth of the nook in the kitchen.

I packed and prepared for my evening flight back to Des Moines. It was a sad day. I think we all cried at the airport when we said good-bye. I absolutely loved every moment of this trip! I am thrilled to have met Byron's wonderful family and can't wait to see them again!

Meetings in Michigan - Part One

I took a vacation to Grand Rapids, MI from 16 - 24 November. Why on earth would I "vacation" in Michigan in November, you ask? Well, because Byron planned to be there for the Thanksgiving holiday and it was time to meet his family. And so the story goes...

Mom drops me at Des Moines International Airport (I always snicker at the "International" portion of that) early Sunday morning. Let the feverish text messaging begin! Byron was at the Portland Airport boarding his flight eastward. Soon after arriving at my gate, I noticed my departure time was delayed by two hours - which would cause me to miss my connection in Chicago. I was almost panicking. Texting Byron, who was now airborne, I told him that I wouldn't be making it that day. Finally, after changing the departure time two more times, I was boarding as originally scheduled and we were on our merry, yet bumpy, way to the fine, fine city of Chicago. I texted Byron to let him know I was on schedule. Yippee!

In Chicago's O'hare airport I played with some LEGOs that were provided by a wind-energy company while I drank a delicious strawberry shake from Johnny Rockets Diner. My flight to Grand Rapids left with no problems (from the very same gate when I flew to Tokyo two years ago). Twenty one minutes later, my flight landed a few short minutes ahead of Byron's and we met his parents in the middle of the airport just like in the movies. It couldn't have been more perfect. Byron introduced me to his parents, we grabbed our luggage and were off to his parents house in Rockford where his sister, Marya, and Grandma awaited our arrival.

We ate a delicious meal - white lasagna with garlic bread and amazing hot tea after dinner (I don't remember the variety - it had pomegranate in it. Yum!) We all chatted for awhile and then went to bed. After a long day of travelling we were tired!

The following morning, Byron made breakfast then we were off to see Madagascar 2 at the IMAX. This was my second experience at an IMAX and it was superb! The opening trailer was for an undersea movie about coral reefs - such a tease! (Especially after I had spent a fair amount of time with Sport Diver magazine on the airplanes - it's a scuba diving mag that writes about the hot scuba spots in the world as well as new gear and other dreamy stuff.) The movie was fantastic and so HUGE! I love the IMAX!

After the movie, we went to Robinette's Apple Haus and Gift Barn for apple cider. This was definitely a hands-on type of place. The apples were beautiful in their shades of reds, golds and greens. The aroma of sweet apples and baked goods hung in the cool air. They offered samples of all their varieties of apples. We were lucky enough to have visited while they were making cider and got to see the process first hand. A conveyor belt moves the apples to a machine not unlike a wood mulcher. Then, the pulp gets folded into these canvas-type cloths and a hydraulic press squeezes the juice out of them. The juice then runs into a collection vat. Then it goes in my belly. ;) So cool! Here's what the press looks like...

This is the up close and personal view of the press. You can see the layers of cloths holding the apple pulp and the juice pouring out. Delicious!

Herman's Boy Bakery and Deli was our next stop. It was my introduction to two fine foods, married as one - the Bagel Dog. Leftover bagel dough wrapped around homemade sausages and baked. Mmm Mmm Goodness! I especially loved the poppy seed bagel dogs when I was lucky enough to end up with them. We ate bagel dogs A LOT during out visit. This day we took our bagel dogs to Grandma's house where we drank water and chatted with Grandma. She told me all about downtown Rockford and then she mentioned the yarn shop there. I had to go! So we did. Downtown Rockford is beautiful with the cold, clear Rogue River flowing lazily next to the boardwalk. After shopping a bit, we took a brisk walk down the boardwalk. This is the dam that is downtown.

I spotted a pair of Mute Swans, though they are majestic creatures, they are introduced species and don't belong here. They are very territorial and aggressively push native waterfowl out of their habitats.

The ever elusive Coasty on the trail ahead...I finally caught him!We came home and prepped potatos for a potato soup dinner. Byron and I sat side by side and watched House, M.D. on DVD while we cubed potatos with beautiful, sharp chefs knives on equally beautiful wooden cutting boards. OK, he did most of the cutting while I got sucked into House (it's my addiction).

Tuesday Byron's mom spent the day with us. It was a beautiful crisp, sunny morning. She made a delicious breakfast and then we were off on our adventure! We went to Frederik Meijer Gardens. This place was absolutely gorgeous! Outdoors is beautifully landscaped with sculptures along a walking path and indoors was a desert-scape with more bronze sculptures. For the holidays, they had Christmas trees representing countries from around the world.

We began outside to take advantage of the sun while it lasted. This pond had iced over in places. The waterfowl in the background dabbled in open water and preened on the thin ice. There was another pair of mute swans here with cignets. The only ducks I could pick out without binoculars were mallards.

We stopped to photograph Leonardo da Vinci's Horse: The American Horse by Nina Akamu which stood 24 ft. tall. Very impressive!
A shot from under the right hind foot of this beast. In the background is the indoor garden (left) featuring tropical plants and an arid desert scape, and the amphitheater (right). Byron is photographing the horse and me.

A picture of Byron and me with the horse thanks to his lovely mother and her photography skills.
Sculptures by Jaume Plensa - each sculpture is made of stainless steel letters fit together to form shapes of people sitting with their knees drawn to their chests. Crown Fountain in Chicago's Millenium Park is probably his most well-known work.

Byron and his mom exploring the possibilities of the english alphabet...


Nature contributed art to the sculpture garden, too...

We headed indoors to investigate the tropical garden. Here's what we found...




Next we visited the desert-scape which housed a very large variety of cacti, aloe and other succulents. This is a macro shot of dried chilis that was part of the holiday decorations.




I was quite fond of this bronze peccary sculpture. It's neat how an artist can make an animal like a peccary look so elegant.This is the indoor garden - I really like the architectural design of the building. This photo captures how beautiful the day was.

Looking up in the atrium at a glass sculpture.

Looking down in the atrium at (brass?) designs laid on the floor. Each design was different and represented parts of plants.

The holiday exhibition was impressive. Yours truly in a glass ornament. Merry Christmas!

I was quite fond of the Japanese inspired tree. I've always been fascinated by Asian cultures and traditions. I -loved- the crane chains and the Origami star.

More detail of one of the woven ornaments on the Japan tree.

A glass light-catching decoration hanging in the hall of trees.
Our next stop was the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. I had been here a few years back for the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference social event. I love this place! A fin whale skeleton hangs nearly the entire length of the great hall. Here we learned about the start of the furniture industry in Grand Rapids. We also learned about fossils and natural history stuffs. Some of us even learned how to tell east from west. ;)A self-portrait with Byron at my side taken in a piece of glassware from a science/medical exhibit.

Then we were off to the old town where Byron took me for a spin on his lovely bicycle. He sure knows the way to my heart!
Finally, the gears of a very large clock.

Byron, his mom and I had a very fun day being kids and enjoying our time together. We finished the day off with another trip to Herman's Boy for, you guessed it, bagel dogs and pulled pork (for dinner later that night).

I'll pick up with Wednesday through the last part of my vacation later when things on my end calm down a little. Why things aren't calm in and of itself is a whole 'nother post - stay tuned!