Carson River Snapshot Day 2007

2 weekends ago Justin and I volunteered as team leaders at the Carson River Snapshot Day. This is a day when the public come in and volunteer at 10 different sites along the length of the Carson River and take field notes and samples to access the River's health. It's also an outreach so that people can better understand how what they do effects the river. Kinda cool. Anyway, Justin and I were the "professionals" at the confluence of the East and West forks of the River out near Genoa in Carson Valley and we only had 1 woman show up...although we narrowly escaped an entire boy scout troop!!

L: East fork C: West fork R: Justin and our 1 volunteer

L: Me and volunteer take water samples C: bank erosion and an attempt at stabilization R: View along the Sierra's near the River....yes, all those of you back east, I know it doesn't look large enough to be a river, but it is according to standards out here.

Sunday naps

This was TOO funny, I had to take a picture. I was doing something in the office Sunday afternoon and I walked out to the livingroom to find these two boys napping.

Jumping through volunteer hoops

So I recently volunteered to be a lector and Eucharistic minister at church. I attended training sessions for each and that was just the beginning! Due to the fact I may be around children at some point, I was required to take a 4-hour "Protecting God's Children" course, get fingerprinted at the Sheriff's station and sign a FBI release form for a full background check. Wow. I'm all about doing whatever we can to keep the kids safe, but it really detracts from those that volunteer! It's all done now and I actually got to serve as a Eucharistic minister last week.

Carson City scenic views

Just a few photos I've snapped over the last few days near my office.

Fall in Carson City, NV...impressive storms coming over the Sierra's and yellow cottonwoods around the rivers.

Willy and the stick

A few funny pictures of Willy playing with a stick a bit too big for him!

Sample prep for winter

Saturday Justin, Willy and I went up to Tahoe for some sampling. This time we were checking the rain jars and also installing the snow buckets. In some places there's already 2-4 inches of snow!!

L: Justin and Willy at the Tyrol site with new snow bucket installed C: Me, in the snow R: The last view of the Incline Summit site before we moved it.

We ended up driving down some of the ski slopes at Mt. Rose Ski Area in search of a spring...a lot of the ski trails are merely dirt roads. No wonder I feel so claustrophobic on them. L: View of the real Mt. Rose C: Justin checking things out under a culvert at the base of a slope R: View down a slope with snow machines already in place...Reno in the distance.

L: Crazy grass I found that grows in a circle! R: Glimpse of Lake Tahoe

Manon & Ian's wedding

I was not able to attend my cousin's wedding, although Mom did send me a few pictures. I heard it was a wonderfully elegant day.

L: Manon looks beautiful C: The couple's first dance...Mom said they danced very elegantly. R: Cake festivities

L: Father/daughter dance R: Aunt Mary, Uncle Gary, Aunt Terri, Uncle Rich and Brittny...notice the baskets on the table as favors...the women that Manon worked with in Nicaragua made each one of them!

Difference a day can make

It's amazing how much more you can get done in a weekend if you just have a 3-day weekend!! The long Columbus Day weekend allowed me to finally get a handle on the rest of my stuff that was still in the garage. I can now report that I am completely moved in and most things are put where they should be. Of course, there's a few more random things I still need to find a good spot for. Here's a look at the outside of the house at least.

Few PA trip extras

Thursday night at home on the deck. L: Me, Sue, Justin and Ed Tassey R: Me, Justin and cousin Lacretia at the wedding reception R: Aunt Teresa & Uncle Jack are happy to be at the reception!

L: The Newlyweds! R: Justin and I do a little west coast swing!

PA trip, last post

Ok, now we finally get to the wedding, which was after we got back from Cabela's. :o) The ceremony was in Monongahela...an beautiful 30 minute drive from the hotel. And then we struck up the hotel room party for a bit until the reception started.

L: Uncle Bob and Aunt Pam C: Mom, Lacey and Aunt Janet R: Aunt Mary and Uncle Gary

L: Mom, Dad and Rob C: All of us R: Brianne and Ben & Uncle Jack and Aunt Teresa (Brianne's parents)

Happy Columbus Day!

Yup, that's right, I'm at home today. I am a federal worker. Just getting paid to celebrate the day dear 'ol Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas and met the Native Americans, whom he called Indians because he thought there was no other landmass between his sailing port and India. A truly valid occasion for me to get paid to sleep in and do some of those projects around the house I just haven't had the time to get around to, don't you think?

PA trip, post 2

Thursday night some of the Green's and friends of Green's came over for dinner. I don't have pictures yet, because Mom and Rob were the only one's to take pics that night.

Friday we slept in and then drove down to Pittsburgh to the hotel where Brianne and Ben's wedding reception would be on Saturday. We ended up having a nice sized hotel room party with some of the Cypher's that had also arrived. Saturday morning we all drove to West Virginia (only about 25-30 miles south) to the Cabela's store. Dad was very excited.

If you've never been to a Cabela's store, it is quite the experience. Not only do they carry about everything, they also have large exhibits of real stuffed animals. Justin helps display one such animal...if only he'd brought the bear repellent!

PA trip, post 1

Justin and I just got back from Pennsylvania Sunday night after spending a few days with my family. The main objective was to attend my cousin, Brianne's, wedding on Saturday. We flew home on Wednesday and then visited McConnell's Mill state park Thursday morning.

L: Dad and Justin near the covered bridge C: Justin, me and Dad R: Slippery Rock Creek that runs through the gorge

Justin on the creek

Let it snow!

Justin and I now have our season passes to Mt. Rose, so bring on the snow! I heard it snowed for a few minutes down here in the valley Friday night...

Happy New Year!!

Today is the first day of water year 2008 and therefore our fiscal year 2008. Woohoo!!