Christmas 2012~California

Jeff and I had a great time in California spending time with family and friends.  We spent a week in Oxnard, CA at the World Impact beach house and driving up and down the Pacific Coast Highway.  We also spent one week at Jeff's parents home where we relaxed by the fire, visited friends, and spent time with his grandparents!  Many great memories were made and now we are trying to get back into a normal routine!  Enjoy the pictures!

Dave, Jeff, Sam, and Samuel

Jeff at Mt. Baldy Zen Center, close to where we got engaged.

Funny family picture!

Jeff and I

Sister's picture!

Jeff and I in Malibu

Visiting Jeff's Grandpa and Grandma Vanderbilt

Sabbath breakfast, made by Laura, yum!

At Malibu

Malibu

One of the many starfish we found!

Unknown Sea creature

Beautiful!

Harbor by the beach house!

Longfellow House

Over the summer, I've been volunteering at the Longfellow House State Park--editing a couple of the finding aids for the archives.  Tonight, Beth and I sat in the public garden behind the house and watched the sunset.  There are also Concord grapes growing beside the garage!

Stained-Glass Windows

Beth recently went to Iowa for a cousin's wedding.  While she was there, she saw the new stained-glass windows that Lauren and Barb put in the new Events Center in Orange City. The plant designs in the windows are hand-made by dripping glass on the window panes.  Enjoy!

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New Jersey Trip and Thomas Edison's Laboratory

Last weekend, Jeff and I went to New Jersey for the annual booksale, to see family, and to visit the places that we enjoy.  During this trip we visited Thomas Edison's laboratory, William Carlos Williams' (Jeff's dissertation topic) house, my cousins (with great food), and we stayed in a very nice hotel!  It was a great weekend away with only one set back: we got rear-ended with only minor paint damage.  

One of the first video cameras

Edison's desk in the Library

In the production room

Phonograph demonstration

Laboratory

Edison's Chemistry Lab, considered the most high tech in its time.  Edison used many plants and was currently working on making rubber from the Golden Rod Plant; there were many spies during this competitive time.

View of the full Chemistry lab

Bottles in the Chemistry Lab still filled with materials

The Black Maria, where Edison shot the first movies to get the right light balance; it also rotates.

Jeff at the gate to the Laboratory

Edison's Laboratory

William Carlos Williams' house

Memorial Day Fun: A Walk around Walden Pond

Today Jeff and I took an early morning walk at Walden Pond, near Concord, MA.  This is the location of Henry David Thoreau's book, Walden.  We walked 1.7 miles, enjoying the beautiful and quiet scenery.  Also, if anyone can tell me what the flower is, I would greatly appreciate it, I have googled it, but I have not figured out what it is!

Randomness....

Jeff and I often say that we don't update this because what we do is not very exciting on a day to day basis, however, here is a highlight of what we have been doing.

Jeff has been working on his classes and a few side projects. He recently went to California for a week to give a paper at a conference, but was able to stay with his parents and see his brother Dave's family. I wish we had pictures of this, but the camera was accidentally left at home. Here is a common sight that I see!

I have been busy with work, church(Bible studies, women's retreat, and singing), and attending rallies at the state house for a salary increase.


Two random thoughts....

First, what do you think the thing in the picture is? I received this at Bible Study tonight and thought it was neat...I was in for a little surprise! Hint: It was patented on Feb. 15, 1853!

Second, Jeff and I can paint our bathroom any color we would like...what color should we paint it?