A Fish in the Crop

The best part of living 1200 miles south of my family and spending Christmas in the still green area of Central Texas? Receiving packages!! I love, love, love receiving mail, especially packages. Usually my mailbox is just full of junk. Two presents have come my way, including a pair of binoculars. Thank you very much, wonderful parents. Blake and I went to Aquarena Center yesterday, where Spring lake and the source of the San Marcos River is located, to test them out. We spotted a green heron stalking slowly in the water before gobbling down a fish. Dozens of turtles perched on logs in the lake to soak up the December sun. The turtles piled on top of one another. Some had a green symbiosis of some sort of photosynthetic organism on their shells. Through the lenses of the binoculars, I spotted pied-billed grebes, double-crested cormorants, black vultures, a song sparrow, a plethora of Carolina chickadees, Northern mocking birds, and a lone yellow-bellied sapsucker. What a wonderful and very much appreciated gift. Someday when I finished with my degrees, I will add "ornithologist" to my job description.

I have spent some time this past week to explore the eco-region that I now inhabit. Blake and I ventured Northwest of Austin to the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. The day trip was just fantastic. We have never seen anything like it before. We were both in awe at the landscape. I was fascinated by the trees growing out of the rocky hillsides. Very little soil here; the limestone reigns on the Edward's Plateau. Blake enjoyed maneuvering his 1987 BMW through the steep and winding roads carved into the hillsides. We hiked 5 miles through the bluffs. Not too many organisms out since we went in the late morning through mid-day, but the scenery was worth the hike. I would like to go back in the spring to search for two endangered songbirds, the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler.

What an opportunity! Living in a unique eco-region complete with endemic, rare, and endangered species! AND, I am studying birds for my Master's thesis! What a dream! Just think, I found this school on a search that had no direction, just the goal of finding somewhere, anywhere that would accept a graduate student with a not so great GRE score. I found exactly what I had been searching for; a program with talented and genuine students, wonderful faculty, a lovely landscape, and hills that tone my calves.

It still feels like dream. When do I wake up?

The winds of change

It's been a while. I apologize, but life has been busy for this graduate student lately. And the following was too important to write in just one day. It required a great amount of thought. 

The wedding.

I was lucky enough to spend a weekend in Minnesota and stand near the altar to witness my brother's nuptials.  Those four days were some of the best days of my life thus far. It was filled with reunions, laughter, happiness, and love. I cried many tears, mostly tears of joy. I cried when Nancy walked down the isle. I smiled the entire time. What an experience! Celebrating my brother's marriage with our families and friends! What an event! Full of love, joy, and beauty. 


I cannot recall a time when I felt so many positive emotions simultaneously. I don't think that I have ever been so happy. The bride and groom looked exquisite. Their faces beamed with joy. My face was glowing. Crystal, the photographer, posted the photos this week. She is truly talented. Emotions were captured perfectly. The joy, the laughter, the happy tears. I am privileged to have been there to share it with you. The colors were gorgeous; perfect for a snow-covered Minnesota autumn. The oranges, the reds. And Goldy the Golden Gopher in a tuxedo at the reception. Dad! What can I say? You are the best. 

Joshua, your speech was excellent. You had no reason to worry. You looked as handsome as ever. One of my favorite memories is you dancing, no vest or coat, just your orange tie and those suspenders. I love it. Diana, your speech was splendid. You are a very charming sister of Nancy, and I am glad to call you a friend.


Mom, you looked beautiful. Blake said to me (a few times), "Erin, your mom looks so good. Everyone looks great."


Ladies, you were gorgeous. The men were handsome, indeed. Nancy, you were breath-taking.
Well, at least I know I have a shot at looking good when I'm older.


My father made Nancy's engagement ring, which she accepted after a bike ride to a park near my mother's house. Joshua made the wedding bands.


I am grateful for the time I was given to spend with my family celebrating such a wonderful affair. I was lucky enough to reunite with my parents, my brothers, my grandparents, all other family members and some friends. It was brief, but what a magnificent opportunity life has provided me. 


Christian, over Independence Day at our family's cabin in 2008, you told me that you were going to propose to Nancy. I was incredibly happy for you. When I heard the news of your official engagement, I shed a few happy tears and was glowing. Ask Sehoya Cotner; I was at her house when I got the phone call from mom. 


Once, a wise person told me,  "at every celebration, there should be dancing."

Dancing there was. I danced for hours with my brothers, cousins, parents, friends, aunts, uncles. Shannon, now we have a song. Dancing with you will be with me for the rest of my days. I remember scenes with an incredible amount of detail. The song, the things I felt, the joy emitting from my preteen cousins dancing with us. 

Blake danced with me. He rarely dances but he held me close and danced with me. It was romantic and wonderful.

We were all there together. What a wonderful way to spend four days. I wish we had more time together, but I am glad for the time we had.

Leaving was extremely difficult. Minnesota is still the best place on Earth, to me. Home is where the heart the is.


A blizzard rolled into the Twin Cities last night with cold, windy might. It might sound crazy, but I miss it. I wish I was there. The last blizzard of this scale was Halloween of 91. Oddly, I wasn't there because I with my mom visiting my grandparents in Fort Worth, TX. 


For the first time here, I felt like an outsider. And I had an intense longing for Minnesota. 


I miss you. Everything about you, -25 F and two feet of snow. All or nothing. 


I have a sister-in-law, officially now. But to me Nancy, you have always been my sister and my family.


To Mr. and Mrs. Feichtinger, I wish you all the happiness and love in the world. Congratulations.