Saying Goodbye to Laramie

Well the day has finally come: the day where I packed up my car and headed out of Laradise. Since I have successfully completed my second and final year of graduate school, graduated, received my masters, and have found a job elsewhere, it was time to say goodbye. Through this challenging last leg, I never thought the day would come. But I cannot also believe that it was only about 9-months before, that I was moving myself to this city to go through with my remainder of grad school. Time sure does fly by. As much as I am excited to leave and continue on with my next chapter in my life, it was pretty hard to say goodbye to a bunch of people, places, and things. The staff at SMTC have been so supportive, flexible, and people I have come to love personally and work professionally along side of. I have definitely learned a lot from the faculty I have worked alongside of. I am incredibly thankful for the guidance, flexibility, trust, and support they have all given me. As for the new friends I have made here, I know that we will all be in touch and that the distance will not be an issue. But with every ending, there is a new beginning to a new chapter. I am beyond excited to head back to Jackson and embrace that place without the stresses and pressures of graduate school, work for Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris for the summer, and adventure with some wonderful people I have waiting for me back in JHole. Beyond Excited. Here is to a new chapter!

Peace Out Laradise, Hello Tetons!

TheChristyBel

PS. Don't worry, this blog is still continuing! Keep on Following My Journey!

JoyB and Me - Gonna Miss My Jersey Girl Sister!

My WITS Graduate Assistantship Faculty, Dr. Jacqueline Leonard, & WITS Co-PI, Dr. Saman Aryana
I was awarded the Director's Excellence Award for an Outstanding Graduate Student of the SMTC

Saying goodbye to my GA Office - Wyo Hall 416!

Leaving my Favorite Cat: Gus
Hopefully We Can Find Our Own Cat
Gus, You Have Set the Bar High!

Easter...Not-On-East

Another holiday, where I am not celebrating with family. Not going to lie, it really stinks. I miss being home for holidays. Hanging with the Burton-Juniors, going to Phyllis and Ray's, the Easter Egg 'Hunt' to find YOUR egg...but knowing where everyone else's are, the food!!!!, and just being home. I really miss all of that.

But this year's Easter Sunday, I received a gift in the mail from Mom and Dad. It was one of the infamous treats sent from Mom from the Popcorn Factory. No, it was not another tin! haha. This package was a pyramid of some Easter treats: chocolates, peanuts, and popcorn! Super yummy! It was definitely a wonderful surprise to get this in the mail. Something delicious, colorful, and happy is something that I think is needed as this spring semester winds down and gets closer to the big Defense Day! yikes, it's right around the corner!

On Easter Sunday, Facebook was blowing up with pictures of food, Easter Egg Hunts, chocolate, desserts, and Easter festivities. I was definitely getting pretty homesick. So, I went to Vedauwoo for a nice, long 2-hour hike around the Turtle Rock Trail. The weather has been absolutely wonderful and so the hike was just beyond perfect. The snow has 98% gone, so I was able to use my hiking shoes and not have to worry about post-holing like I have been the past few times I have gone there.

But, I think spring has definitely sprung here in Laramie. The snow is mostly gone (there is some still on the mountain peaks and in areas where not much sun gets in) and there are other signs of spring popping up everywhere.

My hike at Vedauwoo was pretty nice. The weather was great (warm and sunny) - I did not even need a puffy! There were a bunch of people out on the trails too which was nice: lots of families and people getting a morning hike in. As my hike strolled around Turtle Rock, the willows were blooming Pussy Willows (I love those things - you know, the little buds that are absolutely furry!), Mountain Buttercup, and little rodents have come out of hibernation and scurrying everywhere.

Then after my hike when I looped back to the car, I scrambled up the rock to a high point to get some great scenic views. As I sat there on the rock, I heard some rustling down below, and sure enough, a moose was walking through the trees! How cool is that?!? It was pretty neat to watch it trudge through the forest and notice hikers practically walking alongside of them (and they did not even know it!!!!)

Below are some pictures of my hike. Enjoy!

Happy Easter!

TheChristyBel

My Easter Sunday Mass
No Peeps, No Eggs, No Ham

Happy Easter!

Spring Has Sprung?

This afternoon was by far the most beautiful of days! And from what I hear, this weather is NOT normal for Laramie, Wyoming. It felt like I was back on the East Coast for a 'normal' spring day. But apparently, the East Coast is not having the same kind of weather right now...looks like Brenna just texted me saying 'it's snowing and I hate you right now.' Well...maybe this, shall I say the forbidden words, 'climate change' has really done something to prove something interesting and scary is happening?!? Who knows, I just know that this afternoon, it was bluebird sunny skies, the warmest sunshine, and 65+ degrees! You know what that means, I laid out in the park near my house! It was super nice out, and it is apparently supposed to be snow on Thursday. So......it was my only opportunity to get out and just soak up some happy Vitamin D and just let the sun hug every part of my body! Sun really does make you feel happy, so go outside and be happy!

TheChristyBel

Dreaming of the Day I Get a Cat

Had an adventure all over the town of Laramie in search of Betta food. Every store was out of stock, including Walmart! So, resources told me to go Pet Pantry near my apartment. They had what I needed, except they only accepted cash...how weird is that. I never carry cash anymore! But before I left to go to another store, I encountered the most adorable and friendly cat ever. Once we locked eyes, it followed me all over the store, rubbing itself against my leg, purring, meowing, letting me scratch it behind the ears and on its back. And if you didn't give it the attention you wanted, it would jump up at your legs like a dog would! Haha. It was adorable! I want a cat sooooo bad! Hopefully in a few months when I am back in Jackson! Marc, please!?! 

Xo TheChristyBel

Take Off Just a Trim

After 2.5 years...I finally allowed someone to put scissors to my hair and cut it! Well, TRIM it!

Now I look a little more well-groomed and less like a Rag-A-Muffin!

I have been having this urge to cut my hair. I mean, not drastically short like in 2012, but just to chop off all the gross, dry, dead ends. When brushing my hair, my brush gathers so much hair in the bristles. It's disgusting! Not to mention, even after a deep conditioning, the hair just feels super gross! So, one of the SMTC staff, Lindsay, recommended a hair salon downtown, called Visions! The hair stylist who did my hair was perfect! She respected my wish to salvage as much length as we could and added some long-hair layers and some fringed-bangs. She was wonderful - totally reminded me of my old hair stylist back in Delaware!

So incredibly pleased with the cut. I know that a TRIM is nothing compared to other cuts, and the pictures do not really show a change, but you must realize: my long hair is my clutch. It's a big deal when someone tries to cut it. But I think this cut has been a complete success!

TheChristyBel

My Hair Feels So Healthy Now!
I Love Running My Fingers Through It!

Back to the Drawing Board

Positive and Negative Drawing of a Chair Still-Life

Well, I am super pleased with my spring/last semester of grad school. Not only am I assisting a Biology (LIFE1020) course and working on my Plan B/Defense, but I am also taking another art class! No, I did not continue with Ceramics, since there were no classes being offered to non-majors. So, I went back to the original ember that lights my passion for art: Drawing!

I got into a Drawing I course. I was actually the first person on the Wait List! How awesome is that?! I tried to get into a higher level course, but even after showing my portfolio to the Drawing Professor, he thought it would be a better idea to start in Drawing I. I mean, Drawing I is a great class! Even though I already have a 'ChristyBel Drawing Technique,' Shelby (the professor) explained that this course will help my technique be even much more refined and better.

Even after four classes already, I am loving this Drawing I class I am in! I am approaching it with a 'forget what you already know how to do' and 'keep an open mind for new techniques.' And after 4-classes, I have learned some new ways of approaching my sketching/drawing.

The past few classes we have been focusing on Observation and Negative/Positive Shapes. It's great - totally reflects back to my STEAM - Plan B topic and how observation is key in science! Ahhh! I love how both of my fields are overlapping!

I'll post more of my 'progression' later this week...

But More to Come in Time, so here's a Sneak Peak - Back to the Drawing Board!

TheChristyBel

Another Beautiful Morning!

Where did all these beautiful sunrises come from? Maybe they have been here all this time, I am just never up at 6:30am in the morning to be awake-enough to see them! As I was getting ready to head to my 8am Drawing class (yes, I got into another art class!!! - Super excited for it - more details to come on that later), I saw hues of purple, yellow, orange, and magenta. It was peaking into my window's field of view through the tree branches and rooftops, that I just had to run outside while my pot of water was heating up to get a better glimpse!

Again, the sky was incredibly beautiful. The photos below do not do any justice to what I actually saw, but it was a great way to start my morning.

Have a great day!

TheChristyBel

First Hike of the New Year

My knees are slowly allowing me to do all of the fun things I enjoy - but I must dive back into all those fun activities one step (literally) at a time. Friday, I got a text from one of my friends back in Delaware informing me he was passing through and wanted to see if a visit was possible. Having anyone come through Laramie from home is just awesome! So, of course I said yes! 

Saturday morning, my friend, Wyeth, stopped by for a some brunch and hopefully a chance to check out what Laramie had to offer. So after having breakfast burritos at the Prairie Rose, we drove over to Vedauwoo for a hike around the formations. It was so beautiful there! I had not been back to Vedauwoo since Marc left for Jackson and when the first snow came and stayed. 

Below are some photos from our 2-hour hike in Vedauwoo. Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

Snow Dusted Rocks!

Rock Scrambling Selfies
Photo Credit to Wyeth Schiffelbein

So Pretty!

Hiking Again & It Feels Great!
Photo Credit to Wyeth Schiffelbein

Fantastic Views

Let Me Just Capture This Moment!
Photo Credit to Wyeth Schiffelbein

The Sun Finally Came Out For a Smidge

Narnia

Scrambled to the Top of a Formation
This Is What We Saw!

Found a Frozen BathTub!
Photo Credit to Wyeth Schiffelbein

Back in Laradise

Woke up early this morning, despite not getting a lot of sleep the past few days, to try and get back into a Laradise mind-set and routine. Peeked out my window and saw beautiful shades of pink, red, and purple. So, grabbed my boots and walked outside to the street and this is the view I was greeted with this morning. Incredibly beautiful! The most beautiful I have seen here since I have been in Laramie! 

Well, it's not Jackson Hole, but this place does have some beautiful sunrises!

Good morning,

TheChristyBel

Traveling Back to Laradise

Leg Room for Days!

Nimbus Wants to Come to Laramie with Me!

This morning, I woke up and had to officially pack to go back to Laramie. It's such a bittersweet - I had such a wonderful winter break, that I just don't want to go back to school and be away from my friends. But at the same time, this semester is IT! Hopefully! Hopefully, if all goes as planned, in about 4-months, I should be defending, graduating, and getting back to the life I've missed! I actually now miss working and having free time to live life again. So, the drive to finish is there, but also wanting to stay and play! Haha.

Before heading back to catch some flights, Chris took me to the Leonardo in Salt Lake City to see the BodyWorlds exhibit! That exhibit is one of my absolute favorites! I originally saw it when I was in Philly back in 2006. So to see it again, and different and familiar specimens were just really interesting! I could sit there all day and draw. I remember doing that last time I saw this exhibit. Unfortunately, we only had an hour before I had to go to the airport and check-in.

Salt Lake City (at lunch time) is a little hectic (despite what Chris said). I barely made it to my flight (even getting there an hour and a half early...next time, 2-hours). United was incredibly slow getting checked in and checking my bag. And the security line...wow. So many people...and everyone looks so unhappy!!! I mean...I was tired, so I was pretty exhausted, but not unhappy! Wow...talk about a million stank faces. Haha.

Landed in Denver safely and had a 3-hour layover. I know, I could've gotten a ride from Denver to Laramie in probably a shorter time than waiting for a flight. Oh well, it was relatively cheap! During my long layover, I had a brief power nap, charged my phone, and read more articles....the constant reading. Which, I'm not going to lie...put me to sleep again.

My last leg of my journey back was somewhat interesting. I boarded the tiny 24-passenger plane, and come to find out my seat had been double booked! It was really challenging as I tried to get the flight attendants attention, while trying to dodge the unhappy-looking people who were trying to board. But in the end, I just waited in the back until everyone boarded, and the flight attendant let me choose my seat! There were plenty of seats to choose from, but I chose the exit seat, which had PLENTY of leg room! Boom!

The 30-minute flight was pretty smooth, despite my uncanny nervousness of all the wobbling this propeller plane executes. Landed in Laramie around 7pm and was greeted by a friendly face! The awesome Brady came to pick me up and bring me back to my apartment! Finally, back in Laramie. My plants are doing great (thanks to Ceira) and I'm able to not have to live in a suitcase anymore! Or at least not until May/June. Haha.

Bring on Spring Semester!

TheChristyBel

Laramie & The Nutcracker

This evening, my neighbor, Holli, and I went to see The Nutcracker here in town. This was such a treat. We went with a bunch of her colleagues in the Law School to the College of Arts & Sciences' auditorium. I have not seen The Nutcracker in ages, so I was super pumped! Brings back memories of dance. The performance was great - there's a lot of dancing talent in Laramie. However, I am not sure if the cast was just small, but the choreography seemed more basic than usual. I did not notice anything more difficult than a double pirouette and not that many lifts. It was interesting. But nevertheless, the whole show was beautiful. Also, they made the show 'Laramie-themed.' The mice were dressed up as cowboys and Mother Ginger definitely appeared to be from the west as well with her guns, cowboy hat, and a flask of whiskey! It was interesting, but very clever to make it feel like the story took place here in Laramie!

TheChristyBel

Welcome to Winter...Again!

Woke up and there was frost all over my windows and my thermometer on my window said 'Lo.' So I went online and this is what The Weather Channel said it was outside.

Can you believe this?!?!? I am totally not ready for the extreme weather yet! It's also a good thing that I have heat in my apartment!

It just makes me remember the cold cabin of Cloudveil back at Teton Science Schools. And it made me wonder how Paige is doing (the current grad that is living in my old cabin)!

Stay Warm, everyone!

Welcome back to winter, ChristyBel! 

Downtown Laramie

Had some time before a meeting with one of my professors at her house. So, we took a brain-break walk to downtown Laramie and just walked around the shops and the railroad tracks. Marc took his camera to take some random photos to play around later with on his photo-editing software on the computer while I was in my meeting. Below is one of the silly moments captured and touched up by him while I was chatting away with Professor Kate Welsh!

Look at my lion's mane hair!?
Do you think I need a haircut?!

TheChristyBel

Photo Credit to Marc Sweet

Jack O'Lanterns Time

So when Marc and I went to Boulder (the first time) our friends, Meg and Matt, carved some really awesome pumpkins. So feeling the Halloween Spirit, we bought some carving pumpkins at Whole Foods. It took us, what, two weeks later to actually sit down and carve them. I was studying and doing homework all morning today, and for our 'Brain Break' we decided to sit down and plan out what to carve, and actually carve our pumpkins! Made a pit stop at Safeway to buy a pumpkin carving kit and got back to plan what we were going to do.

It was so nice out, that we carved our pumpkins outside my apartment! Marc decided to carve out a scary Jack O'Lantern face, named Fred, while I wanted to draw out an owl. Marc found a really cool idea online and so I just free-hand drew it from the screen. Check out our process and photos! And!!!! Our FINISHED Products! We were totally excited to light them this evening when it got super dark out! Enjoy!

The Blue Prints for Our Pumpkins

Taking Out the Seeds...the Gross Part!

Carving Time!

The Finished Products?!
We Have a Potential Career in Pumpkin Carving, Right?

My Owl!

Fred, the Scary Jack O'Lantern

The Night Glowing-Finale!

Happy Early Halloween!
TheChristyBel

Finally Hiking in Laramie!

Now that I have been given the OK to try hiking again, I am getting as much outdoorsy time as possible before that snow comes. So, exploring Happy Jack and Vedauwoo are pretty much a priority! I was told about the Summit Trail at Happy Jack starting at the Headquarters Trailhead. It's a pretty steady incline up to the top and not that bad on my knees! Takes about 45-minutes to get to the top. It continues on over and down the other side, but I only had a 2-3 hour time period before meeting Brady for dinner and then going to the Mountain Film Festival on campus. So, I got a good hike in! Got to see the fall colors, collect some leaves for an art project, and stretch out/test out my new and improved knees! Want to know the best part: my knees were not hurting! 

Physical Therapy is Paying Off...Yea, $1,500+ of PT! Worth Every Penny! haha.

TheChristyBel

Summit at the Top of Summit Trail at Happy Jack

New Art Medium: Western Cast Iron Art Conference

This weekend, the Western Cast Iron Art Conference is being held on the University of Wyoming's Campus. Our ceramics teacher was telling us about it in class and all the students are welcome to attend. So Friday night, they held a Night Pour Performance. 

The Pours Were Like Fireworks!

This event was super cool! Marc arrived from Jackson just in time to head on over and see the action up in full process. There were an assortment of groups all doing their pours at the same time. It was really fascinating to see all the people in their heat protective wear and all the coal and fire going on.

There were all sorts of molds taped up all over the performance and poring area. As the night went on, you would see groups putting coal into their tanks to heat up and melt. When the ore was ready and melted, they would carefully pour the molten hot, liquid metal into their molds. As the liquid poured, the surroundings lit up with the orange, reds, and yellows into the night atmosphere. It was really beautiful, looking like fireworks!

Glows in the Night

Continuing to Pour!

The next day, we went back and were able to make our own cast irons! For $5 the give you this sandy, grit mold that you are able to scratch out your design in. The key to this is making whatever you want to pop out the deepest in your scratch block. Marc was doing a summer beach scene, while I of course, scratched out a moose.

Marc Carefully Scratching Out His Piece
He is so Incredibly Talented!

Mine! Pretty Proud of My First Mold!

Our Finished Pieces!

We then turned in our scratch blocks, coated them in this liquid to prevent sticking. We were then able to watch the cast iron people take our molds and pour the iron into the molds from a safe distance. The next day we were able to pick up our cooled pieces and we were so impressed with how they came out. It was such a cool experience to see the night performance and then come back and try it on our own.

So glad I am slowly getting back into the art world. It is bringing me such happiness and a great brain break from school. Maybe art is a true calling of mine. I guess I should get more immersed into it and I'll be able to find my answer.

TheChristyBel

Birding in Laramie

The Place-Based Learning Class met on Saturday morning to get to know their new home better. Kate Welsh, our faculty, took us around the downtown for a tour and to get us familiar with Laramie. Not to mention, this was prep for when we get to introduce the 21st Teton Science Schools Graduate Students to Laramie in a few weeks! 

On assignment for today's class, Kate had us do some research about Laramie: from presenting information found about many of the really cool murals painted on downtown's buildings to little natural history and cultural history about Laramie.

Of course, mine was: Name five resident and any migratory birds in your area.

Well, theChristyBel still does not know birds really well, at least in the West...so I did some interviewing and asked one of the professors here on campus. I found Matt Carling, a professor in the Zoology and Physiology Department and a few other resources that helped me answer my question.

Resident Birds:

Northern Flicker, Clark's Nutcracker, Horned Lark, Mountain Chickadee, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Turkey Vulture, Great Horned Own, Eastern Screech Owl, Snipe, Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, American Coot, Red-Tailed Hawk, & Raven

Migratory Birds:

- Winter Here: Pine Siskins, Townsend Solitaires, Northern Shrike, & Rough-Legged Hawk

- Summer Here: Ruddy Duck, Great Blue Heron, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Common Nighthawk

Here on the University of Wyoming Campus, the large green areas are the perfect place to spot birds. Turkey Vulture and Great Horned Owls have nests in some of the trees, as well as Red Crossbills are common in the conifers spread throughout campus. When fall and winter come around and many birds start to migrate, the Pine Siskins and Townsend Solitaires are more common, along with many songbirds such as: warblers, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and thrushes.

If you go off of campus to Hutton Lake, part of the National Wildlife Refuge, the 1,408 acres of greasewood and grassland and 560 acres of open water and marsh serve as a habitat for a variety of waterfowl during the spring and fall migrations. Wilson’s phalaropes, willets, American avocets, black-necked stilts, black-crowned night herons, eared and pied-billed grebes are common on and near the water. Many raptors migrate and reside over Laramie as well, including Swainson’s Hawks, northern harriers, and golden eagles.

On my way to meet everyone at Coal Creek Coffee, a great local coffee shop on Grand Ave in the Downtown, I spotted one of the residential birds of Laramie. Looks like I don't have to travel far to do some birding here! haha.

TheChristyBel

A Fat Northern Flicker Found Outside My Window!

Works Cited:

Emailed Matt Carling (University of Wyoming Dept. of Zoology & Physiology) and he gave me some insight on his favorites and pointed me to a book in the Chism Reading Room

Faulkner, D. (2010). Birds of Wyoming. Greenwood Village, Colo.: Roberts and Co..


Laramie Audubon: Laramie Birding Blog
http://laramieaudubon.blogspot.com/p/laramie-birding.html

Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Website:

http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/WildHabitat.cfm?ID=65522

First Snow...in Laramie

This time last year, a few days before my birthday, white stuff fell from the sky in the Tetons onto the Kelly Campus. I am not at all surprised that snow has started to fall roughly the same time this year!

Great....

Little Blue, I know Laramie is going to be different many aspects, but are you ready to handle another Wyoming Winter?!?! It seems the warm seasons here are just too short. Hang in there, Girl! We got one year already under our belts, another year is gonna be a little bit easier...I hope!??! We're already used to it and know what to expect!

But, let's celebrate my birthday first...then snow can come!

Thanks!

TheChristyBel

Little Blue, Are You Ready?!?!?