Mimosas in the countryside

Preface: I like mimosas. I like mimosas even more over an outdoor brunch in the countryside. The Krimmenel had us over to his new swanky spot, which happens to be out in the middle of nowhere. Perfect. He's got chickens, horses, gardens, copious (and delicious) prickly pears. We stopped by the Winters Farmers Market along the way for some fresh local fruit. I must say, I am mighty envious of his chickens... need to get my hands on some of those. What a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Finding time to relax is important!

Wonderful Davis and Midwestern nostalgia

I'm settling into Davis very well. Here, in no particular order, is a brief list of things I am enjoying:

1) Biking EVERYWHERE (and saving money on gas)
2) Farmers markets selling produce that is actually local
3) Having these at home again: a real table to eat on, big kitchen to cook in, and backyard to garden
4) Amazing housemates (and they cook!)
5) An incredibly professional, supportive, and welcoming graduate group
6) Big green trees
7) Friendly people and a slow way of life (despite the hustle of grad school)

On the other hand, I am waist-deep in grant writing season. :/ It would be nice to score some cash this year ... we will wait and see, wait and see.

In other news, I took at trip to my alma mater (Ohio State) recently. It was great to catch up with old friends - those that are still around town. I also had the chance to meet with some colleagues from my old lab. I felt nostalgic.















The campus looks great, too. Renovation of the main library is complete and the new student union is almost done. I felt nostalgic.















It rained the whole weekend, but what better representation of Columbus? I hadn't sat and listened to a thunderstorm in over a year. I felt nostalgic... but in a good way. :)