Campus Scenery

Some statistics, since my mind is steeped in statistics right now: From my house to the parking lot on campus where I park: 17.8 miles. Time to travel this distance, in good weather and light traffic: 27 minutes. Floors in the education building: 7, I do believe. Money for textbooks for three classes if purchased at the university book store: $241. Money I can save if I purchase these textbooks on Amazon: $47.27. Garbage bill for 3 months in Meridian: $45. Guess where I'm buying my books?

The view from where I park my car, to the Education building, which is the tallest building in this photo.

Closeup of the Education Building. Those with really, really good vision might be able to make out the word "Education" on the bricks behind the trees?

The closest you'll get to a picture of me for a while. Entering the Education building.

Today I worked at the university, in the Library. Amazing how quickly the time went by. I was able to get most of the Needs section for one of the grants written. Now I need to cut out about one page of writing! The work areas in the Library have excellent chairs. I'm appreciating chairs and tables quite a bit at this time, since I do not have a table or a chair for my office space at my house. I will be checking out the nearby thrift stores this weekend to see what I can find. Hopefully they deliver!

This is the Library. I have only been on the first floor, so far.

Here's a closeup of the entrance to the Library. That's especially for you, Jen, since you were asking about Libraries!

I may be adding a fourth class to my load. There is an Education Seminar on Wednesday evenings that would be a good one, and the professor teaching it is supposed to be excellent. It may be my only chance to take a class from him, is my understanding. I also found out that this summer I will most likely be taking three classes in the first five-week session of summer. These will, I imagine, be quite intensive classes, with all day sessions. Then I will be free for the rest of the summer, at least from academics. I will continue to work for my graduate assistantship to make up for this fall.

The view out the window from where I was sitting in the Library. This is the Boise River Walk, a green belt for walkers, runners, skaters, bikers and more. There's about 14 miles of walkway in the city.

There's a 3-day weekend ahead, and then the real work begins. Hope you all have a good weekend with warmer weather than I've been having.

Two Weeks Out

Looked at the calendar and was surprised to see that it's been two weeks since the move. Today was the first day that I felt like I was going to be okay here. Not that I've been moping around or anything. I was just...numb. Just going through the motions and trying to keep moving, trying to keep busy, because when I stopped, it got unbearable. So much has happened in the last six months, and I had been packed and living out of boxes back home for more than a few months. For so long, everything was geared towards the goal of moving, with twin layers of excitement and sorrow/loss permeating my days. With the move now accomplished, it has taken me a while to wake up and start living again. Still miss my friends, both human and equine, back home, and I've got spring break marked on my calendar as an incentive to work hard and do well and maybe, just maybe, go visit. It is nice to know that I'm going to be okay here.

Today was yet another foggy day. Maybe that's why I wasn't so homesick today! lol. Spent the greater part of the day working on the Needs sections of the two grants I've been assigned to. Now that I have all the statistics collected, the writing part comes. I did not go to the university today, because of the work I did at home. Will go in tomorrow; and maybe I'll get to see the office space that I'll be sharing with someone. How cool is that--Emily will have an office at the university!

After working all day, I went out to work with the horses. This was their second day of real work since they moved. Amazing how much they have settled down. They both have pretty good work ethics. The best part of working them today was getting to see Giovanna's real trot-canter transitions. See, I have never gotten to work her on good enough footing for her to really work on the canter. I don't count when we worked at Elaine's, because we were learning so much about working together, and she was kind of a fruit-loop and dashing off. With this footing, she was able to show me that she can depart nicely into the canter, and can have smooth transitions. Now we can actually work on the canter and get it going. She's got a lot to live up to, with her brother Maisa's near "10" canter! Sorry, no pictures of canter yet. I'm not coordinated enough to hold lunge, whip, and camera at the same time, at the canter. Soon.

Giovanna trotting. Taking pictures while they are working on the lunge is not easy. Hence the slack rope hitting the ground. Not great form on my part.

Giovanna walking. The webbing going from the saddle, to her bit, to the D-ring on the girth is to help her learn to balance and carry her self in a way that will make it easier for her to carry a rider. They are called Balancing Reins. It is not natural for horses to carry weight on their backs, so if you can teach them to use their back, hind legs, and abdominal muscles in a certain way, it will be better for them. Also more comfortable to ride.

Giovanna walking the other direction. Pretty mare.

Berhwood walking out. What a handsome boy. I think this is actually a downward transition from trot to walk. When I started taking the picture he was trotting, but when it was done, he was walking.

Berhwood trotting. A round boy.

Georgia now uses the doggie ramps that Stuart installed, 87.53% of the time. It is pretty cute, watching her. Arcy still thinks they are for old dogs, and she is not interested in admitting that she is an old dog!

Arcy:"Um, Emily, I believe it is 6:07, and we get a can of food now, don't we?"

"No, I don't use ramps."

Georgia thinks she ought to model these doggie coats for the catalog. She cuts quite the striking figure, doesn't she?

Correction: Eagle Island IS an island. I looked at the park on a large map last night, and found that the park, including the lake, is an island in the middle of the Boise River. The river splits in two, and forms a north and south fork. On the other side of the island, the two forks merge again. So, I stand corrected!

Okay, back to statistics.

Bureaucracy and Nice People

No pictures today. Same dreary fog that stays all day. I know that later on, I'll be complaining about the heat, but right now, I look forward to sunny days. Feel free to remind me of this when I'm wishing for fog later on!

Wish I'd had my camera when I was out picking up manure. Giovanna likes to do laps in the arena. She likes to run, and run, and run. Just for the sheer joy of it. So she's cantering around the arena, in an effortless glide, narrowly missing some turns, and almost sliding through the mud puddle in the corner a few times. And behind her is Berhwood, doing his best to keep up. He's got a lovely canter, too, but he makes smaller circles to try and catch up. She knows he's following her, and she loves being out in front of him.

The rest of my day was spent with paperwork. I have my new Idaho driver's license, and I have the information I need to get in order to get the Jetta registered. Was supposed to take care of employment paperwork at the University, but I have to go back tomorrow. Who knew they wouldn't accept a laminated SSN card? Mine I've had since I was twelve or so, and a few years ago I had it laminated because it was getting pretty thin. Kind of frustrating to have gone all the way in, and now I need to go in again tomorrow. Luckily I do have a valid copy of my birth certificate, which they need instead of SSN card. Hey, I'll take my computer and enjoy WIFI for an hour while I'm there. It sure seems like a luxury to zip along at high speed, compared to the dial up I have at home.

I must say, every person I dealt with today, at DMV, Sherriff's, Albertson's where I asked directions, Petco where I asked directions, the woman behind the counter at the University, the kid at the parking garage... Everyone is nice, pleasant, talkative, kind. It's really lovely how nice people are here. Not to say that people aren't nice in Humboldt County. No. It's just that I haven't run into anyone who isn't nice. I haven't run into anyone who is taking their bad day or troubles out on others. Even driving--haven't come across road rage yet.

By the way, the girls love their new Hill's Prescription H/D dog food. They think they need a can every couple hours, thank you very much. Talked to their vet, he said total of three, or one and a half each, per day, was plenty. I try to ignore Arcy's pointed barks and "buff"'s, and try to ignore Georgia's running up and down, yodeling. I tell them, "No, you need to wait until 6. You had a can at noon." They don't believe me. They say my watch is broken.

The music last night was quite good. Folk guitar with lots of other instruments, like other guitars, rattles, flutes, violins, drums. The music would probably be found on a Christian music station, or country/folk. Was good to be out in public, in a crowd of very happy people. It isn't a pub that I'd visit again, necessarily, unless they had a show I wanted to see. And I successfully navigated there and back, in the fog, at night. Getting good at this driving in the city thing. :) If you want to check the CD out, it is by Jenny Willison, and is called First Steps.

Living in the Fog Belt

Looking out the front door. Yes, there is a road there, and a field across the way. Reminds me of the Arcata Bottoms.

Fog. They get fog in the Boise area. Boy, howdy. Fog to rival the fog of Humboldt County. On the weather report lately, I'd seen "fog" listed, but had not seen any real fog. Lots of overcast sky, heavy cloud cover, etc. But no real fog. Well, when I was driving down I84 this morning, I could have sworn I was on Hwy101.

Looking back to the pasture from my doorway. Can't even see the arena fence, let alone the horses!

The trees next to the driveway, fingering the fog.

Went to the university today to meet with my Graduate Assitantship (GA) professor, Scott. A GA is a working position for graduate students. You get assigned to a professor, and do work with that person; anything from teaching classes, research, special projects... It is a way to get experience in different aspects of being a professor, so you know what you'd like to do, and you have the experience, as well, once you complete your doctorate. I feel pretty fortunate to have my GA, because part of the stipend takes care of my university fees and my out of state tuition. It also seems like Scott is going to be a good person to work with, and will encourage my research a great deal. Evidently I will be teaching an undergraduate class in the fall. Very cool.

While at the university, I also picked up my text books for my classes. I have three classes: Field Experience with Under Achieving Learners (aka, Blue Heron... lol), Intermediate Statistics in Education Research, and Learning & Cognition. For the first class, we will go out into the schools and do observations and projects. I also picked up my parking permit, and obtained my student ID card. Knowing me, I got lost several times on campus, but also knowing me, I asked for directions and met very nice people.

This evening, I am going to The Reef, which is a "tropical lounge getaway" in downtown Boise. Why? Because my GA professor's wife, Jenny, is having a cd release show there tonight, and I was invited. I figure, if my professor invites me, I should probably go. Jenny plays guitar in a folk style. Should be good. Plus, seems like a marvelous way to battle the homesick blues. The menu lists "seafood, steak, and killer jerk chicken." Here's a link to the story of the place: http://www.reefboise.com/reef/our_story.cfm

Working Horses

Our day began with a visit to the dog vet, to introduce ourselves and get updates on medicines. We went to Treasure Valley Vet. Quite nice folks, with one of the most efficient, organized "behind the desk" people I've ever met. Was able to get a referral for an equine vet, as well, since two of the office folks were also horse folks. The vet there is from California, and he specializes in exotics as well as dogs and cats. So while we were there, a large snake came in, and two turtles. One of the turtles requires surgery for an abcess. The woman who brought them in said her grandson needed to get a job to support his turtles, or she'd just own his allowance for a long, long time to come. I can't imagine performing surgery on a turtle the size of a silver dollar!

After the long vet visit- 1.5 hours all told- the girls came home and wolfed down the new, highly expensive food the vet recommended. H/D for heart problems. Then they went down for a nap. Once they were settled, I headed out to see how the footing was for working with horses. Brought out Berhwood, and trimmed his feet. Then I groomed him, which was a workout in and of itself, given the mud encrusted everywhere. How he got mud all up under his jaw, I'll never know. It seems physically impossible...

Here he is, all pretty and ready for work. Boy, he's a tank.

While I had Berhwood out, Giovanna proceeded to act like a nut. She ran up and down, sliding into her stall, slipping around corners, bucking, rearing, neighing. Basically acting like an insane herd-bound horse. She could see him the whole time, because the hitching post is in plain view. But she insisted on running around until she got tired of that and stood in her pen watching him. I closed her pen gate so she wouldn't interfere while we worked.

Here's the mud princess, impatiently waiting for her turn.

Berhwood was a model horse, not a single fuss, and he looked pretty good. Footing not the best, so we just walked and trotted on the lunge line.

I switched horses. Wasn't going to take Giovanna out because I was a bit tired after trimming, grooming, and working with Berhwood. But it was clear that she expected to be next, the way she followed me into her stall and intended to follow me right out the gate. Got her tied up to the hitching post, and you know what Berhwood did? He rolled. He went into the middle pasture to eat. He couldn't care less where Giovanna was. And Giovanna? She didn't care that Berhwood was out of site in the middle pasture. What a nut.

After all the grooming, here's the de-mudded Giovanna, ready to go.

Giovanna has a few things to teach Ber about where mud can go and how thick it can be caked on. Combing out her mane alone took 15 minutes, at least. The mud gobules surrounding individual hairs...mud not only around her eye, but on her eye lashes, like mascara. After tacking her up, I lunged her. Ber stayed in the middle pasture, eating, so I didn't lock him up. Giovanna worked well. The footing didn't bother her as much as it had Berhwood (can you say athlete?), but we still stayed with walk and trot and transitions.

Just love how she opens up her shoulder and lets those front legs swing forward. Lovely.

All in all, not bad for the first day working in our new place. I was pleased.
When I arrived back in the house, the girls insisted on another can of their new dog food. I guess it might be worth that price...

Eagle Island

The Treasure Valley has been under a lid of clouds lately. The weather calls it "partly cloudy." Here's yesterday evening's sunset picture. No luck on the moon/mountains. I'm sure I'll get another chance at some point.




Today, while out working in the pasture, I met two large birds of prey. They hung out in the large tree along the fence of the pasture. I am not sure what kinds of birds they are, but they made the typical cry of a raptor. Seeing them reminded me of my goal to visit Eagle Island, which is a park near the city of Eagle. Eagle is north of me, and this afternoon seemed like a good day. So after a couple hours of raking sticks, leaves, and cow pies in the pasture, I headed to find the 545 acre park called Eagle Island.

From the park--The two black shapes in the field are some sort of large wing-spanned birds. I thought they might be herons, or vultures.

Closest I came to seeing any eagles at the park were these nests, which could be found in most large trees. I heard the skree of a hawk at one point off in the distance.

Turns out the park's name is a misnomer. Eagle Island has no island. Instead, it has a lake, which is an old section of the north branch of the Boise River. Like an oxbow, but it incorporates two curves, so would that be a double oxbow, or is there another term for that? I walked the trails for about an hour. It was rather desolate there, being the middle of winter. In the summer, the place must be hopping, with a water slide, concession stands, and a frisbee golf course. Most exciting, there's a place to park horse trailers, and the 5 miles of trails are all open to horses! I could see Berhwood and I cruising around there someday...

Winter cattails, doing their fluff release.

Lichen on fallen log. This is the shade of yellow that I saw on the Albert Rim. So maybe it was lichen...

In the park there are some interesting buildings. I wish I'd taken photos of them; not sure why I didn't. The prison dormitory, dairy, slaughter house, and prison warden's house all made me wonder what the history of this place truly was. After a little net-search, I found out that the land was given to the local government in 1977 and turned into a park. Before then, it was the Eagle Island Prison Farm. The purpose of the farm was to help the main penitentiary be self sufficient. Idaho Prison Board bought the land in 1922 for $72,000. There is a fish hatchery built on the land in 1939, which is still in use.

Beautiful white birch. Made a striking contrast against the gray sky.

I found this link to interviews with guards from the "old pen" as the main prison is known, and two of the interviews are from a guard who worked at the Eagle Island Prison Farm. The farm and Old Pen closed around 1973. I will be listening to the interviews on a day when I have wireless high speed access, because it says it will take 2 hours to download and watch it on dial-up! Here it is for the curious: http://www.boisestate.edu/history/issuesonline/spring2005_issues/gallery_remember/gallery_remember1.html

There are videos on youtube of tours of the old prison farm, as well, for those interested in seeing more.

As I was driving away from Eagle Island, I saw this multi-shafted light in the sky to the west. Has a "Close Encounters" feel to it, eh?


And here's tonight's sunset, snapped through the windshield at a stop sign. Best I could do. By the time I stopped, it had faded.


9 Days Until School Starts!!! WooHoo!

Abert Rim and the Alkali Lakes

Stuart arrived safely home, and sent pictures of the geological features on the drive across the alkali flats (eastern Oregon).


There are many amazing sites along the high desert, including some of the largest sand dunes in North America, which were formed from ash from the eruption that created Crater Lake. A main feature is the Abert Rim, one of my favorite visuals along the drive from Humboldt County to Boise. One time, traveling through there, Sam, Sharon, and I saw yellow along the upper edge. We couldn't figure out if it was a yellow lichen of some sort, or sulfur. At the time, the sun was beginning to drop, and the yellow was glowing brightly. Just mesmerizing. I studied it and studied it, wishing my mom was there to see it, too, because she so loved lichens. When I got to the hotel, I did research for a couple hours. Never did find out exactly what it was, though lichen seemed to be the most possible source, given the photos on this page:

http://www.southernoregon.com/lakeabert/index.html.

Funny thing is that I have not seen the yellow since that trip. Must have been perfect timing or something. Please look for it if you ever travel along HWY395 from Lakeview.

Abert Rim is a 30 mile long fault that rises up 2,000 feet above the alkali lakes. It is one of the longest exposes fault escarpments in all of North America, and was formed by geologic upheaval many millions of years ago. Evidently, it was "discovered" in 1843 by some explorers, and named for a commanding officer. Bighorn sheep were transplanted to the rim in the 1970's... OH! I knew it! When I was driving past with the dogs, I thought I saw Bighorn sheep. I forgot until now. At the time, I did a double take, but I was driving and there wasn't anywhere to stop. So I just figured it was a figment. Now I know those round white things that looked like Bighorn sheep horns may have actually been what I thought they were! Very cool.

To the west of the uplift are the Alkali lakes, which have no influx our out flux of water--no streams empty into them, and no streams empty out of them. So any water there is from the rain/snow. As a result, the lakes have high salinity and other minerals. Not sure if you would float if you got in the water. One of the lakes is Lake Abert, and it is full of brine shrimp. They say that over 10,000 birds come to feed at the alkali lakes every year. Lake Albert is the only one of the alkali lakes that has water year around. The others tend to dry up, and you can see the white, salty residue on the rocks where the water evaporates.

Enough of the geology lesson for the day. Did you know that it is hard to pick up horse manure when the ground is frozen? The manure becomes one with the ground. A secret seems to be picking the manure up as soon as it is dropped, so it doesn't have a chance to freeze. Just spent an hour and a half picking up frozen manure with rubber gloves. Lovely image, eh? I wouldn't be so worried about it, except the horses have been in the arena, and I don't want the arena sand filled with manure. Other than the clumps that are immersed in ice and impossible to pick up, the arena is now clean. I am going to try locking the horses up in their pens/stalls at night, and in the morning, letting them out into the middle pasture and giving them their breakfast there. Hopefully that will encourage them to stay out of the arena.

You may wonder why they've been in the arena in the first place. The quick answer is convenience. The arena is where their stalls/paddocks open in to, and their water trough, with de-icer, is in the barn. The footing is much better in the arena, with less chance of the horses slipping. Once the freezing stops (it will stop, right?), I can put another water trough out in the middle pasture, and they can just stay out there and come in at night for grain/feed. Atleast that's the plan, now.


The moon over the rim reminds me... I'm going to keep my eye out this evening to get a picture of the moon over the snowy mountains to the north/east of my house. Last night the snow caps were glowing pink from the sunset, and the full moon was perched above them. Just breathtaking. Hopefully I can post a picture tomorrow.

On Our Own

Today is Friday. Not a cloud in the pale blue sky. Just a lovely day. Though the sky is clear, and the sun shining, the ground is frozen solid. What were puddles yesterday afternoon are now sheets of ice. A new world.

Stuart headed out for points south, including Death Valley. As he packed up this morning, the dogs started moping. Stuart said, "Georgia's going to have a hard day, we can just tell that's where it's going." Poor Georgia. Being an empath is never easy.

Here's our group pictures, before he left.




Horses and grain bucket


Friday Portrait #1


Friday Portrait #2


Giovanna being a "Far Side" horse.


Here are sky pictures from today. I wanted to show people the mountains and panoramic views from the house. Perhaps I need a different kind of camera, because the pictures just don't capture it the way it looks.
Out the Front Door:

Out the Back(dog yard) Door:

Out the Side (Main) Door:

Looking back towards the Barn:



This is it. We are now officially on our own, in the middle of a new urban/rural area. I have work to do, including the CAMP and HEP grant needs sections, finishing unpacking, cleaning the horses, picking up manure, going to bank and post office, etc. Good to have a list of to-do's, as it is probably a good idea to keep really busy today!