Finn takes a time-out. 

Tsuki chases Finn. 

This is the box Braden's dad made us for Christmas. It's about the size of a wine bottle and made out of curly maple. (That accounts for the shiny lines you can see.) 

Ooo, dramatic. 

Tsuki spent most of vacation napping.
(Actually, she does that a lot anyway.) 

Tsuki thoroughly enjoys the heated sunroom floor. 

Camby and Tsuki keep watch together. 

Camby, just relaxing 

A close-up of my new saddle--thank you "Santa" (Mom & Dad), relatives who gave me bonds at birth, and AMVETS 99 for the scholarship bonds I got in high school. 

Ta-da! Me and my new saddle... 

Fall Semester...

Hi everybody,

So it's been a while. Braden and I are both busy, well into the fall semester. My classes and job and research are going well, and Braden's working at his job and dissertation research. Tsuki is getting into mischief and shedding. None of these things make for really great pictures. At any rate, here are a few shots from the ropes course my department takes the new master's students to every year. (This was in September.) As a GA in the department, I get to go along, too. We did a lot of team building activities and some high ropes stuff. And then there are the obligatory shots of Braden and Tsuki, demonstrating the extent of the excitement around our place recently.

Most of the first-year master's cohort, plus some faculty and Nicole and me (the GAs).

Everyone goes over the spool... (I forget what the background story to this one is)

The infamous "build a bridge across the lava to get your team members to the other side" exercise.

Low ropes team traverse. (We were pretty crappy at this one.)

Some people did the high ropes part of the course.

No, Tsuki--go back.

Braden is multi-tasking.

First Day of School

I have always liked the first day of school. The anticipation of a new semester and learning lots of new things, buying piles of new books, the fresh pens and notebook paper, and (in the old days) unused crayons and pencils with full erasers. In the tradition of first days of school everywhere, I present the first-day-of-school photos. It was Braden's first day of not having classes to go to in about 19 years. It was also my first day as an instructor with my own course to teach (history of higher ed). I'm happy to report that all went well. To Braden's mortification, I also threatened to have our parents scan and send me photos of our first days as children... it looks like he will be spared. This year.

First day of class as an un-student.

First day as an official instructor with my own course.

Final Horse Show Weekend

This is the third and final installment of the horse show series from Summer 2006. We ended where we started, back at the Cayuga County Fairgrounds in Weedsport, NY. Saturday it lightly rained or poured all day. Sunday the weather was great, but the footing was slop from the day before. The conditions added to the debate over which was worse: showing in 95-degree heat and sun, or showing in 75-degree rain. The jury is still out. Braden came on Sunday and took some pictures, while simultaneously trying to stay away from the horses (to whom he is allergic, it turns out). Ariel and I had a pretty successful weekend, and showed improvement from the beginning of the summer. We wound up with reserve champion for the weekend in both of our divisions. And it turns out I can braid a pretty mean mane. (If you look closely at the first photo, I think you can see the 33 little braids... it only took me an hour and a half.)

A quick shot after all our classes were done on Sunday.

Going over cross-rails.

More cross-rails. What is that face the judge is making?

Ariel and I waiting for a class to start.

Cantering through the mud...

Trotting along in the mud...

Wisconsin Wedding Weekend!

We made another quick trip to Wisconsin for the wedding of Braden's friends Drew & Amber. It was quite reminiscent of ours (same church, pastor, reception location), and we had a great time. We also got to visit with our parents, siblings, and relatives, and ate a ton of great food (capped off by Kabul's and Babcock ice cream at the Union). We also went road bike shopping for Braden, with the help of our dads and Andrew, the excellent manager at Budget Bike. Our new purchase/family member arrives later this week... pictures of Braden in the biking outfit are surely forthcoming.

When we got back, Braden was feeling kind of sick...

So he slept on the dog.

Now I think Braden's getting annoyed at me for playing around with the camera in the low light. But this one was worth it, no?

Apparently when you're married long enough, your gestures become increasingly similar.

Braden's parents at the reception. (Note Quivey's Grove wedding planner extraordinnaire Mary Lou in the background.)

Drew & Amber's first dance

Happy 13th birthday to my "little" sister! It seems like just yesterday you were sucking on Coke cans in your car seat...

Self portrait of the three of us... taken a while ago on some hot night, judging by the sheen on our faces.

Relatives vs. Mountains

I just thought I would share some pictures my dad and brother sent of their recent bike trip through Montana, British Columbia, and Alberta. They joined my uncles Paul and Bruce and my cousin Brian for the six-day, 450 mile ride. They apparently had a great time, and it looks like it!

Gorgeous scenery...

According to Dad, the guys became known on the trip as that "Wisconsin family peleton." (Back: Uncle Paul, Uncle Bruce, Cousin Brian, Brother Josh; Front: Dad)

Dad and Josh

More beautiful landscape

Wildlife and baby wildlife...

July Happenings

Here's a big batch of pictures from this month. In early July, our college friend Sarah came to visit for a few days. We did a number of hikes at state parks, visited Ithaca (and the Moosewood Cafe), had a picnic, and went wine tasting. I was also in another horse show last weekend, conveniently located at the barn I ride at.

I showed Ariel in the Gallop On Farm show last weekend. In the 90-plus degree weather, the judge excused the wearing of the wool hunt coats. We did quite well, though the classes were not very big (reserve champ in maiden division and champ in short/long-stirrup division).

Ariel and I jumping cross-rails...