2010 was a fascinating and busy year, including everything from above average travelling to urban skunks and raccoons. We started the year with a visit to the frozen WI countryside in January—my first winter visit to the Midwest. The thermometer in our rental car had negative numbers and single digits showing on it most of the time. Although it was fun to visit and see the farm in a different season, I don’t think I would handle being that frozen all winter long.
In May I was able to visit Cambodia and Singapore as part of an international context trip to complete my MBA program. It was interesting to compare the history and trials of third world Cambodia with the very first world Singapore. While travelling through Cambodia I was amazed at the ingenuity that is inspired by great need, and realized how many things we take for granted here in the United States. The differences in culture and environment were incredible, not to mention the history that has occurred in that part of the world. I definitely have a goal of going back someday, if for no better reason than to show Steph around.
After returning from my world travelling adventure, my first summer of contract work for the Forest Service began in earnest. It was an ongoing learning experience throughout the summer for everyone helping get the project done. We rapidly discovered we were in charge of pattern searching some of the steepest and roughest parts of the forest still navigable on foot. Each of the three areas we covered had 3000 feet of elevation change end to end, and in the process of traversing these mountainsides I wore the rubber completely off the inside corners of a new pair of hiking boots. I also wore out a pair of leather gloves and multiple pairs of jeans simply walking around. We managed to cover over 4000 acres during the summer, with no major mishaps. Luckily my regular day job was willing to let me work reduced hours during their summer slow time, which gave me a very different schedule with 3 days in town and 2-3 days four hours away in the forest each week. Steph did not particularly enjoy this schedule with all of my time away; especially when busyness at her job and a temporary stint in a walking boot limited her from coming along.
Having this contract was an interesting educational experience, especially after spending several years in an MBA program learning about running and growing a business. I had the opportunity to bid on a new contract for 2011, and despite my best efforts to the contrary, I somehow won the dubious low bid honors again. Steph was highly disappointed with my successful bid, and I doubt I will be bidding as the primary person in charge again in the near future. The area I have for next year is slightly larger than this year, but considerably friendlier terrain to walk across. Having a lot of the learning curve from the first contract out of the way should help, and hopefully Steph will be able to enjoy some hiking with me this summer.
During July, Steph and I again visited Wisconsin. Steph’s brother flew out to accompany her in driving her previous car (which had been sold to her parents) back to Wisconsin, and I flew in a few days later. We joked that we had sent the car to spend the rest of its days “on a farm in the country”, and on our subsequent visit we noted it appeared be happily adjusted to its new home. The trip was planned to coincide with the DeBaets family reunion (Steph’s mom’s side), so we were able to visit with a lot of family during our otherwise short trip that we hadn’t seen since our wedding. We capped the weekend off by watching a really nice 4th of July fireworks show over a small pond in the neighboring town of LaValle. Having grown up watching fireworks and going to small-town festivals in Utah, I noted that this fireworks show was not the smallest I had attended, but perhaps the most intoxicated I had seen. ?
Later that same month I learned Steph had led a deprived life, having never attended an actual rodeo. Since it had been many years since I had attended a rodeo myself, we took advantage of the Days of ‘47 Rodeo in Salt Lake. This is a large event that coincides with the anniversary of Utah obtaining statehood, and is on the professional rodeo circuit. We watched the cowboys and cowgirls compete in many entertaining and physically demanding events, and were reminded why sometimes it is better to have a desk job.
We spent the better part of summer trying to decide what was snatching goldfish from our front yard pond. After trying out several ways to deter the intruders, including solar lights and a surveillance camera, we settled on the fact that we most likely had a raccoon that enjoyed late-night swims. This was highly frustrating, and partially due to Steph not wanting to risk decreasing the neighborhood cat population, we still haven’t come up with a great solution. Perhaps even more exciting was a wayward skunk we discovered trapped in one of our window wells one evening after work. After gingerly lowering in a plank for him to climb out on, we were relieved to find no trace of him the next morning. We never thought that living in the heart of Salt Lake City we’d have so many animal adventures!
All of our yard work was a pleasantly surprising success. The lawn Steph tilled and seeded last fall has come in great, and there were abundant comments from the neighbors about Steph’s flowerbeds. The heirloom tomato project for the garden provided more tomatoes than we knew what to do with, even after giving over half of our original 40+ seedlings to friends and family in the spring. Now with the weather cold, we are just finishing off the last of some of the other successful crops like carrots and parsnips. Winter has brought an interesting change as we remember all the projects we want to complete inside the house again. (Steph is remembering this list far faster than I would like, but it guarantees we won’t be bored ever.)
Steph spent more time at the dentist this year than she would have liked. She had a baby tooth with no adult tooth to replace it and decided now was as good of a time as any to have it replaced with a dental implant/crown. She spent the later part of the year racing her father to see who could get back to a full set of teeth first. I believe he won the race, but only by a matter of days. Dental work is expensive, but it is still absolutely incredible to think about what can be done to improve quality of life. (Eating is an important part of life quality if you ask me.)
Our final visit to Wisconsin for the year was an event to remember. We surprised Steph’s parents by showing up for Thanksgiving. This is the first time I have managed to get to Wisconsin three times in one year, and my first visit over an actual Thanksgiving holiday on Steph’s dad’s side. Most of the family knew we were coming, but the secret was kept from Bruce and Laura, with the desired surprise being evident when they were confronted by Steph grinning ear to ear at a relative’s house just before dinner was served. Everyone was able to compare teeth, eat wonderful food for several days straight, and we considered it a successful surprise trip. We discovered that Wisconsin was actually warmer than Utah this year over the holiday weekend, and it made for one of the few times we could enjoy the warm WI weather during a winter holiday. It was great catching up with everyone, and provided a much needed break.
We returned to single digit temperatures and over a foot of snow in Salt Lake, which was a dramatic difference from the 30’s and 40’s we had enjoyed on the farm. After some intense shoveling efforts, things are back to normal and Christmas preparations are under way. We have a real Christmas tree for the first time this year, and Kiki is enjoying playing with the ornaments anytime she can get away with it. We’re looking forward to Steph’s parents spending Christmas in Utah this year and getting a much needed holiday break from the cows and the farm.
We hope this note finds all of you happy and healthy. Best wishes for good things in 2011!
Jason & Stephanie Baxter