Hope you have a wonderful day!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Last week, I set traps up at Weldon Springs State Park. I'd never been there before, but had heard a lot of great things about the park.
It definitely did not let me down. Its a beautiful area with lots of trails for hiking and some great fishing spots. There's a campground and the lake also has paddle boats you can take out. One of the things its most well known for however, is its memorial called Veteran's Point.
There were a few visitors when I was there and I didn't get a great photo of part of the memorial, but here are a few notes about this beautiful site:- Veterans Point honors all veterans for the sacrifices they have made, are making, and will make in order to secure our freedom.
- Twenty tons of granite honor and memorialize fourteen hundred veterans from at lest twenty-four states. A footing along the Veterans Point walkway accomodates the addition of memorials in perpetuity.
- Fifty "Flags of Freedom" are flown on Memorial Day, July 4, Flag Day, Labor Day, Patriots Day, Veterand Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
- "Freedom is not free" is inscribed on the base of the sculpture created by Marianne Caroselli of Fair Oaks, Texas.
- At a cost of more than $150,000, Veterans Point was completed after four years of planning and construction.
- Black granite recognizes supporters of Veterans Point in honor or memory of loved ones.
- Sincere gratitude is due those who sacrificed in many different ways to make Veterans Point a reality as an enduring tribute to all veterans for all time.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
I'm pretty lucky, I get to work with things with wings everyday. Here are a few of my favorite shots from this week in the field.
Check out more entries over at Sunday Stills
Check out more entries over at Sunday Stills
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Now that summer is here. I've been on the road putting out insect traps. One program I'm running this summer is for 3 invasive moths. We are putting traps out in orchards, nurseries, and parks....which means I get to see some pretty cool stuff. Before I share any road trip photos, I though you might like to see what the traps look like.
This is called a trap liner. Its covered in a clear glue. When insects fly into the trap, they are stuck to it. To attract the insects to the trap, we use a pheromone. This is a synthetically produced pheromone that is identical (or almost identical) to the natural pheromones the insects produce to attract mates.
The trap liner slides into the traingle shape trap (this is called a delta trap).
The entire trap is then hung in a tree or on a fence or post. I come back every 2 weeks to replace the liner and take the other back to my lab to see what we caught.
This is called a trap liner. Its covered in a clear glue. When insects fly into the trap, they are stuck to it. To attract the insects to the trap, we use a pheromone. This is a synthetically produced pheromone that is identical (or almost identical) to the natural pheromones the insects produce to attract mates.
The trap liner slides into the traingle shape trap (this is called a delta trap).
The entire trap is then hung in a tree or on a fence or post. I come back every 2 weeks to replace the liner and take the other back to my lab to see what we caught.
Monday, June 22, 2009
It's been hot. Really hot. We finally broke down and started the air conditioner on Saturday night. It's oh so nice in the house now. We still kind of wish we had a pool to cool off in.
But what's a pool really? Nothing more than water, right? As hot as it's been, this almost looks appealing....almost :)
But what's a pool really? Nothing more than water, right? As hot as it's been, this almost looks appealing....almost :)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The object of this week's challenge - color and lots of it. I had big plans to hit the fabric store this week. Nothing says color like bolts and bolts of fabric. So many different colors and patterns. But, alas, I ran out of time.
Instead, I grabbed a few swatches of my current projects. I hate to say current as some of these have been sitting for quite some time (and am afraid they'll be there for awhile).
Now, since I work with insect, I get to see lots of color in many shapes and form. Here is a parsleyworm....soon to become a beautiful swallowtail butterfly.
A newly emerged monarch....
It's not all work and no play. We managed to catch a Cubs game last weekend and looking over the crowd, there was color galore.
For more Sunday Stills photos...head on over here
Instead, I grabbed a few swatches of my current projects. I hate to say current as some of these have been sitting for quite some time (and am afraid they'll be there for awhile).
Now, since I work with insect, I get to see lots of color in many shapes and form. Here is a parsleyworm....soon to become a beautiful swallowtail butterfly.
A newly emerged monarch....
It's not all work and no play. We managed to catch a Cubs game last weekend and looking over the crowd, there was color galore.
For more Sunday Stills photos...head on over here
Thursday, June 18, 2009
On Sunday, we headed north to the windy city to catch the Cubs/Twins game. A beautiful day for baseball -- sun shining, a slight breeze, and of course, a Cubs win! Which, believe me, was much needed.
There's several things that Wrigley Field is known for -
1. Harry Carey (and even though he may be gone, you can see how his spirit lives on).
2. The outfield wall, ivy, and bleachers (great seats, I should add)
3. Old Style Beer
4. Good times with friends
You'll notice that we let a Twin's fan come with us...poor Dawn, its really too bad her team lost ;)
There's several things that Wrigley Field is known for -
1. Harry Carey (and even though he may be gone, you can see how his spirit lives on).
2. The outfield wall, ivy, and bleachers (great seats, I should add)
3. Old Style Beer
4. Good times with friends
You'll notice that we let a Twin's fan come with us...poor Dawn, its really too bad her team lost ;)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
On Saturday, Ron had a class trip to Starved Rock State Park. His field botany class has 4 trips this summer and this was the second one (we missed the first). There's nothing like throwing 2 aggies out in the middle of forest to try and identify some plants :)
We actually had a pretty good time (even with the homework that Ron had to do while hiking). We saw a lot...but then again we hiked a little more than 6 miles that day. Most of the paths are wooden or paved with gravel. Be warned there are several steep staircases - but what goes up must come down! Needless to say, we were a little sore the next morning. Here's some photos from our day at Starved Rock. If you ever get the chance to go, we highly recommend it. There are some spectacular views!
Monday, June 15, 2009
It was all about survival last week....and we made it. You may have noticed the lack of blogging. Life had taken over!
Work was well, work and we earned every penny last week. The good news, my pest detection program I coordinate is receiving extra funding this year. The bad news, I had to write 3 different work plans last week on top of trying to function normally. Throw in wedding dress shopping with a Dawn and girls, hiking 6+ miles on Saturday for Ron's field class, and then the Cub's game yesterday. Boy oh boy, I'm wiped!
Never fear, I've got some great photos to share and will hopefully keep up this week. I know (wink, wink) that you all are excited to keep up with us!
Work was well, work and we earned every penny last week. The good news, my pest detection program I coordinate is receiving extra funding this year. The bad news, I had to write 3 different work plans last week on top of trying to function normally. Throw in wedding dress shopping with a Dawn and girls, hiking 6+ miles on Saturday for Ron's field class, and then the Cub's game yesterday. Boy oh boy, I'm wiped!
Never fear, I've got some great photos to share and will hopefully keep up this week. I know (wink, wink) that you all are excited to keep up with us!
The challenge this week water towers and/or grain silos. I didn't get a chance to head to a nearby town to get a photo of a classic water tower that I wanted, but here are a few photos of some silos here at the university farms (we'll see if Ed stopped by these last week when he was in the neighborhood).
For more Sunday Stills photos...head on over here
For more Sunday Stills photos...head on over here
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The challenge this week's challenge - silhouettes. This first photo is one of my favorites from my friend Adrienne's wedding.
This is from last night's sunset here in central Illinois. Windfarms are becoming more common in the local landscape.
For more Sunday Stills photos...head on over here
This is from last night's sunset here in central Illinois. Windfarms are becoming more common in the local landscape.
For more Sunday Stills photos...head on over here
Monday, June 1, 2009
Summer 2009 weddings have started. We'll be heading to weddings over the next couple of weeks - all former students that have worked for us here at the university. I guess that officially makes us old. Too bad we'll be unable to head to Croatia for Gabriela's wedding in August, it's definitely wedding season nonetheless.
First up...Nick and Kristin. Beautiful wedding and lots of fun with friends. A great idea for anyone planning a wedding - they had a photo booth. Guests took turns taking pictures, they got a print out for themselves and the happy couple gets a CD at the end of the night of everyone's photos from the reception.
First up...Nick and Kristin. Beautiful wedding and lots of fun with friends. A great idea for anyone planning a wedding - they had a photo booth. Guests took turns taking pictures, they got a print out for themselves and the happy couple gets a CD at the end of the night of everyone's photos from the reception.
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