Coatal Research or: How I learned to Quit Worrying and Love the Marsh

You would think that someone who was just about to finish writing his thesis on coastal vegetation dynamics and begin his Ph.D. in alpine ecology would quit collecting marsh data, but no.  I can't help myself, and I returned to the coast to collect data on management practices (burn regimes) and the influence of wind waves on marsh structure.  The temperature has been in the 90s upper 80s and the wind has been howling so off I went; and yes, I did see alligators. 

Bodcau

Les, Ross, and myself took a little canoe trip through the Bald Cyprus (Taxodium distichum) swamp of Bodcau WMA in Northern Louisiana.  It's a stark view compared to the lush green landscape that is seen when traveling the same swamp in the summer time.  Although it was a good distraction from finishing my thesis it's time to get some work done.  Enjoy the photos.

Dad's 60th

This past January my dad (Gary) turned 60.  How to celebrate? Well, we coordinated flights (Justin and Missy, Lesley and me, and Aunt Kay flew in. Chris and Elizabeth drove down, and Aunt Kay picked up Grandma Elsie in Fort Morgan) and rendezvous points, purchased silly string, and quietly concealed ourselves in the front yard of their house.  ... Grandma rings the doorbell..... and

 

Needless to say, he was quite surprised.  We all enjoyed a short couple of days celebrating.

 

Mapping the Cloud Forest: Costa Rica

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica to help survey/map the cloud forests around Texas A&M's new Soltis Center for Research and Education.  It was a great experience and I hope to return soon. 

The view from my cabin

Navigating the forest
 

 Surveying the forest

What would a jungle trip be without a little vine swinging

The bat cave... I did crawl in there, but not too far.

A view of the top of the canopy

 Strawberry poison dart frog. This was only one of the poisonous inhabitants of the forest.

Another... The Eyelash viper, small and deadly.

 Lugging equipment

Arenal, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Some of the waterfalls we encountered in the forest.

Alberth with a coral snake (red on yellow kill-a-fellow).  We also saw two fer-de-lance which are among the most poisonous snakes in the world... I didn't get close enough to them to take a photo.

La Bicicletta

Jeremy's new set of wheels...

Panniers and all!

Fun with Friends on New Year's Eve!

Yeah for the friendships that we're forming in Bryan/College Station!

And, for mustache growing contests...

And, for Larry (affectionately named after Lesley-Jeremy "Lerry" by Eli, Age 4)

And, for Corinna - the hostess with the mostess!

And, for my LOVING husband Jeremy!

I love coming across pictures that "just make you smile" - this is one of those "just makes me smile kind of pictures!"

Procrastination at its Finest!

Jeremy's distraction as he studied for finals in December...

There's no better way to relieve that pent up nervous energy than to spontaneously rip up the carpet in the living room and dining room and uncover these fabulous oak floors.

They still need to be refinished, but that's a project for this summer after the master's thesis is complete.