the latest trick

We like to make Paloma smile, and she seems to like these sound effects (yes, that's me making those noises, not her!).


New crocheted outfit comes from Aussie Grandma - very cute!

By the way, we would love to hear from you! Please comment on our posts so that we know that somebody out there in internet land is listening to us... {Click below where it (probably) says "0 comments" and then type in the box that pops up - thanks!}

The close of another field season

As there remains only a few days left in the year, I thought it would be good to combine some of the best photos from this years field work and post it on the blog.  I would have included some of Ayesha's field work too but she does not have any photos on this computer.  The majority of the field work I did this year was on the San Juan River which meanders through the Northwest corner of New Mexico into Colorado and then approximately 120 miles into Utah before becoming a part of Lake Powell.  We survey 140 miles of river via raft to see if two endangered species of fish (razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus, and Colorado pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus lucius) are reproducing.  Our evenings are often spent hiking or playing horseshoes or sitting on our ass recouping, and drinking beer.  The photos that follow are some of those hikes, no need to see pictures of us drinking beer around a campfire.

These are some views from an area around Aneth Utah during the April survey.  April is often cold and windy and few of the trees along the river corador have leaves.

In the distance beyond the San Juan River is Ute Mountain.  When the mountain is visible I get cell phone coverage and am able to talk to Ayesha.  I give cheer aloud to the mountain when I see it.

Spring finally arrives in May.  You can see leaves on the cottonwoods along the floodplain.

This is a facinating area surounding in the river on the Navajo Reservation.  In this one particular area there are Anasazi ruins, petrogyphs, dinosaur bones, and strange geologic formations.  The mountains in the background are the Carrizo Mountains in Arizona.

To give some scale to this landscape is my compadre, Adam, making his way to the top of the hill.

Back down along the flood planes are some very old large cottonwood trees, I wish I had Adam as scale for this photo as these trees are massive.

Farther downstream and yet another month (June) the San Juan River flows into a very different landscape.  The San Juan River has carved a meandering path through towering limestone cliffs as it makes its way to the Colorado River (currently Lake Powell). 

Although the lake has swallowed much of the amazing landscapes and canyons of the Colorado River there is a facinating website in which you can see these places pre-Glen Canyon Dam.  As one gets closer to the Colorado River the limestone cliffs are replaced with monolithic sandstone cliffs.  One of the highlights of this years field surveys was to see the aftermath of two huge rockslide which occurred in late May in the lower canyon.  Below you can see the fan of rubble and boulders that have extended out from this canyon (yes, all that material used to not be there!).  If you look hard enough you can see our raft parked along the newly deposited debris

                                                                             

Farther up the canyon was a train of huge boulders all new additions from the rock slide.  Again, Adam is good scale to the size of material that was moved by this event.

Father up the canyon still we went.  Adam is located a little left of center.

The view from the portion of the canyon where we had become cliffed out and had to turn around.

back downstream the next morning to continue our work...

The July trip started out with strong upstream winds and rain.  It seems like many of our field days were overcast or rainy this year!

This area is just upstream of the Four Corners.  It is one of my favorite camps in this area as the canyons and bluffs provides lots to explore...

such as petroglyphs!  This design was etched into the sandstone above the remains of an Anasazi dwelling.

Here are images of what I think are big horn sheep and bear prints, a dogs paw print and other shapes and figures...

...turn around and see the view over looking the river valley and the Carrizo Mountains

The veiw from the top of the bluff, there are so many moments that are absolutely breath taking.  It is now time to get back to camp, cook a lot of food and drink some beer!

Further downstream we came across this large ruin set upon a bluff over looking the San Juan River, upstream of the town Aneth, Utah.

Sunset that night at camp.

In August I found myself back in the canyon bound reaches of the San Juan River.

We saw a herd of big horn sheep, some of which have radio collars.

Here is a picture of our trusty raft.  It has been through over ten years of river work, a couple pins on rapids and trips through Russian olives, it is still holding strong.  On the back of the boat is our firewood for the night.

Now an introduction to the fish we are studing, in their adult form!  In their larval form I would need a microscope to show you what they look like.  Viola, the razorback sucker!

In September we were helping some agencies out with their non-native removal efforts on the San Juan River, attempting to rid the river of channel catfish and common carp.  Rafts are equipped with generators and raft-mounted electrofishers.  Yep we shock em'!

 

This is a photo of the other endangered species Colorado pikeminnow.  This is only a young fish, like the razorback sucker these fish get really big and live up to forty years.

 

All the shocking boats await departure in the morning.

 

Lastly, my last trip down the San Juan River in September, the last larval survey of 2009.  The view from above our camp downstream of Mexican Hat, Utah.  Our raft is located in the lower right corner.

 

We took another evening hike up Trimble Canyon, the site of the second of the rock slides that occurred in May.  Prior to the rock slide there was a beautiful spring located up the canyon.  We hiked up to see if it still remained.

 

The source of the spring was unaltered however to pool which held water was completly scoured out.  There was still a pool and tadpoles and invertebrates swimming around.

One more storm cell to move over our camp on the last night out on the San Juan River.

Christmas time with Paloma

Christmas means a lot of different things to different people. This is what our Christmas means:

Christmas time is family time
Even though we made a huuuuuge effort to decorate our house in Albuquerque, we headed north to Taos to spend a few quality days with Howard's family. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of Paloma in front of Claire's magnificent tree, so I guess we will have to leave that page blank in the Baby Book. It wasn't as snowy as last year, so there was no opportunity to build a snowman, and Semilla didn't get to chase snowballs. Still, we had a perfectly wonderful Christmas. I think that Paloma may have been everyone's favourite Christmas present...

Here is Aunt Cathy, getting in her share of cuddles. Who wouldn't want to cuddle such a cute baby?

Thanks to Megan for the wonderful cardigan that almost fits our teeny-weeny girl. 

 

Grandmommy Claire certainly wanted to cuddle that cute baby! Here they are, snuggled up to keep warm (after something went awry with the furnace).

 Aunt Cathy's rug made by Aunt Shari. 

Of course, Daddypapa can't keep his hands off the cute baby either. He wants to hold and play and cuddle and kiss and play and cuddle and feed and play and cuddle all day long. Here he is, with Paloma dressed as a Christmas elf.

 Thanks to Lorraine in Wickliffe for sending us this beautiful hat! (And a matching jumper.)

Christmas time is friend time

While we were in Taos, we took the opportunity to visit our good friends, Ben and Angela, and their sons, Enzo and Max. Max was born in July, and he seemed to be very interested in Paloma. It looks as though Paloma already has her prom date set! (Unless Alexander or James or Boo or one of the Davenborne twins gets in first.) It also looks as though she has a lot of growing to do in the next three months!

 And thanks to Helen K for the wonderful new hat!

Enzo wasn't all that interested in the babies - he was much more interested in being a shark attack with a light sabre - a frightening prospect...

 

 Note the yummy mummies in the background.

Christmas time is play time!!

As Enzo was keen to demonstrate, Christmas is all about playing. Paloma was pretty happy to oblige. Her playing is not quite as energetic as is Enzo's, but it's still a lot of fun. It's amazing how much joy watching Paloma laying on her mat and smiling brought to all of us.

 

 Playmat made by Grandmommy Claire. 

One of Howard's Christmas highlights was that we finally had toys again! Paloma slept through most of the unwrapping in the morning, and Daddypapa was more than happy to open all of her gifts on her behalf. Later on in the day, he encouraged her to play with some of her toys. I wonder who had more fun?

 

 Nesting set from Brian, Sarah and Abby - thank you!

Sometimes, the simplest games are the most fun. Paloma is now old enough to enjoy a game of peek-a-boo with Daddypapa.

 

 Cute baby made by Brandenburdett - good work!

Season's greetings

Merry Christmas everyone!

We have been getting into the Christmas spirit here in Albuquerque. Howard and I made a wreath to hang on the front door - we used an eclectic collection of dried bits and pieces that we found in our garden. It was the first wreath that I had ever made and I was quite pleased with it. [Do people make wreaths in Australia? It seems to be a bigger deal in the US.]

Then, I finally convinced Howard that Paloma needs a Christmas tree to celebrate her first Christmas, even though we will be in Taos on Christmas Day. After much nagging from me, we compromised and got a live pinon (from the wonderful Plants of the Southwest, just up the street from us). It's a little different to the pine tree that I'm used to, but it will grow over the next couple of years and we will be able to just wheel it inside in December. Besides, we don't have that many ornaments (yet!), so a small tree suits us just fine.

Finally, here is a photo of our little dove, snoozing in the afternoon. Peace on earth...

photo updates

It seems as though we never put up enough photos on this blog, so I'm going to try and fill in the gap with lots of photos and not many words.

Here are Howard and Paloma, getting ready for bath time! She's getting used to baths, and is actually starting to enjoy it. Now she isn't so keen on getting out, but we're mastering that with a few secret tricks (namely, drying her hair before pulling her out of the tub).



And here she is, wearing one of our favourite, favourite hats (sent to us from Lorraine in Wickliffe!). We can't decide whether she looks more like a Christmas elf of a gumnut baby.



We carry her around a lot in the baby carrier. She likes the motion and likes to peek out the side. It gives us the opportunity to get things done while still having her close - on sunny days, Semilla and I take long walks around the neighbourhood with Paloma nestled on my chest.



As we all know, there is nothing better than an afternoon nap... [Isn't it cute that they're holding hands?]



Every now and again, Paloma is entertained by the bouncer (aka 'neglectomatic'). Generally, she would rather be in someone's arms, but every now and again she will happily bounce away by herself. Notice how much she has grown since we put her in that pumpkin suit for her first Halloween!


Finally, we have been enjoying the festive season with lots of friends over the past week or two. Of course, Paloma gets to come along and party as well. Here she is, playing peek-a-boo with George and chatting with Aaron and Leslie over a glass of wine...