Welcome to Grad School!

These last 2 weeks have been some busy ones for me! Two weeks ago I set up my research plots and applied the treatments, which consisted of mowing, fertilizing and spraying herbicide (yuck!). My research sites are on 2 different landowners properties in a small town called Twin Bridges. Both the landowners are hoping that I can find a good way to control tall buttercup. These landowners hate tall buttercup and want to see it gone, but others don't really seem to think it causes any problems. It will be interesting because there is really no research out there on tall buttercup (a good and bad thing-- easier to get my research published, but less resources for me to write my thesis!), so hopefully by the end I'll have a better handle on how to manage it, and if its really a noxious weed that we should be concerned about. 

The set-up of my plots definitely took a lot longer than we were expecting, and my plots are huge! I have 8 total replications.. each plot is 160 feet by 40 feet.. and within each whole plot are 4 different treatments, 3 different herbicides and then one with no herbicide, and within each treatment are 'sub treatments' mowing, fertilizing, mowing and fertilizing, and no treatment (if that makes any sense!) it all gets a bit complicated!

We got attacked by swarms of mosquitoes the whole time, had the wrong herbicide and no way to measure it out, one of my plots got flooded by 2 feet of irrigation water so we had to move it (and now I am just hoping that the other ones haven't been flooded since I left). Somehow it all got done, and I think I had some nice learning experiences and an excellent introduction to the many things that can (and will) go wrong while doing research!

Now the plots are sitting and waiting for me to come back in a few weeks and collect tons of data.

Last week I went with the other new graduate student in my lab to help her set up her research plots in Missoula and the Bitterroot National Forest. It was great to see more of Montana! We also had some adventures and learning experiences on her trip (like loosing the key to the car around 5pm and we were 15 miles from anything). After an hour of searching and packing up our bags to walk out, we just happened to check the glove box and waalaaa a spare key! (another learning experience, ALWAYS bring a spare key!)

Scott and I have been enjoying Bozeman. The past 2 weeks they have held "Shakespeare in the Parks" on campus. Its been going on for 40 years now, and they just travel throughout Montana performing Shakespeare plays. Cheap, and fun entertainment! We brought picnic dinners and wine and enjoyed modern takes on Shakespeare plays. Bozeman also has an event every Thursday through August called Music on Main where they shut down part of Main Street. One band plays for about 2 hours and the bars are open for you to come in and grab a drink and walk around, and enjoy good food.

Annnd finally, for those of you that don't know, Scott and I decided that we don't want to wait until I'm done with school to get married (cause that could be 3 years from now)! We are thinking we'd like to get married either next August or the first weekend in October. As soon as we get more figured out I'll let everyone know! But in the mean time, feel free to check out the beginnings of our wedding website: http://hallyandscott.ourwedding.com/

I'll post information about the wedding on this website, so you can never miss a beat ;)

I'll leave you all with some pictures :)

Noelle took an artistic picture of me mowing through the tall buttercup 

At the end of our hike last weekend, Eddy got tired so we tried putting him in the backpack.. it didn't work too well ;-)

On our hike to Fairy Lake

Eddy at Fairy Lake

An eventful weekend

As many of you already know, our first few weeks in Bozeman have been quite eventful! 

Last Saturday, Scott and I took a day trip into Yellowstone National Park (I have to say it's so amazing to have it basically at our back door). After seeing several bears, Scott decided we just had to go to Yellowstone Falls.

Pretty cool to see two right next to each other!

For those of you who have never been to the falls, you can get pretty close by walking down over 100 rickety steps, (with a million other tourists getting in your way). Scott thought that since it was cold, there wouldn't be as many tourists there, but that was not the case! We walked down as far as you can go, and he started to act weird. We were surrounded by a huge group of Japanese people taking pictures and talking very loudly. He decided we'd get a "better view" the next flight of stairs up. Once we got there, he kept acting strange (and I have to say, I kind of knew it was coming, maybe I know him too well!), and he decided that we better wait to go up until the other large group of tourists came down the stairs. Finally there seemed to be a break in the large crowds and he then proposed to me! And somehow, I don't think anyone noticed!

I have to say-- its a great place to be proposed to!

I told Scott that we have to stay in shape because on our 70th wedding anniversary we're going to walk down (and up) the 100+ stairs to look at the falls again.

At least we got someone to take a picture of us!

And here it is! I love it, and think it suits me quite well. He picked it out all by himself!

When we met at a Halloween party almost 5 years ago, I could have never guessed this is where I'd be today! I am so excited to see what our future brings, and what adventures are in store for us. 

Besides our 700 mile move and getting engaged, we've just been trying to settle in. We've decided to make a list of all the things that we want to do this summer (drift down the Yellowstone River, fishing, backpacking, hiking, a weekend trip to Glacier National Park, I want to see a wolf..the list goes on and on!) It's so exciting to live in such an amazing place with so many beautiful places to explore. We both don't even feel like we moved away, Bozeman feels so much like home. (However, the views are so much better here than in Fort Collins!) 

This next week should be a busy one for me. I'm going to be setting up my study sites and applying my treatments all in one week! Then I'll go back later in the summer to collect tons of data. I am starting to get a bit stressed out.. but I know this is only the beginning....  

First week in Big Sky Country

Hi everyone! First blog post in Big Sky Country. I figured this would be a nice way to keep all of our friends and family in the loop during our time in Bozeman, MT.

This was our first week in Bozeman, and it flew by. Last Saturday we left and moved in (thanks to the help of my parents and Scott's mom!!). The drive out went by pretty smooth besides a little accident with the bike rack (no major damage, luckily) and poor Jacque was stuck in the car with a howling Robert. Both Scott and I had to start work on Monday. Talk about jumping right into things! My week was fairly uneventful at work, but I know that will change in a hurry, so I should enjoy it while it lasts! I found out a little more about my project, and am going to be finding my research sites next week hopefully! For those of you that don't know, I'm going to be getting my Master's degree in Land Rehabilitation/Restoration Ecology, and am going to be doing my research on an invasive species called tall buttercup. Basically I'm going to try to figure out if it is a problem, and if it is, how can it be managed?? The cool thing about it is that there is really no research on the species, so it'll be exciting to be apart of some brand new research.

Scott seems to like Glass Doctor so far, he's just trying to get used to a different way of doing things, and different tools (that definitely aren't as good as the ones he had at his last job!)

Both Robert and Eddy also seem to be settling in nicely. Robert has lots of windows to sun himself in, and Eddy has his very own backyard!

I have to say that Bozeman is absolutely beautiful. Its surrounded by mountains (which way is West again??) and is so close to so many amazing things (Yellowstone NP, Glacier NP, Yellowstone River, Big Sky, etc. etc.) I know we're going to like it here. It will be hard to be away from home and all of our friends and family, but luckily its only a 9 hour drive away, and our door is always open for any visitors!

For everyone back in Colorado with the 90 degree weather-- its snowing here today!!
I'll post some pictures soon of the beautiful scenery, but for now, here's some photos of our new place!

Living Room

Kitchen

Rainy backyard

Scott assembling my cheapy bookshelf in the "study"

Guest bedroom

Our room-- have to say I am not a fan of the gothic purple walls-- we may be painting soon when we get some time.

Bathroom ;)

Here it is!

My family had to put down Brant this week. Not an easy thing to do and he will be greatly missed. He was such a good boy, and so loved. 

My sister, Eddy, Brant and I at the cabin before we left to Bozeman. 

That's all for now, will post another blog again soon :) We miss you all and hope you're doing well!