Prepare for convoluted: When I was in college, the guy I was dating at the time took one of the 300-person biology classes at the University of Nebraska. One of their projects for the semester was to "adopt" a tree. They were to pick one tree out on campus (which has an arboretum, but essentially is one) and watch it. They wrote essays about it, took samples from it, documented its reproductive cycle, well, you get the idea. My bf was a serious overachiever (as if this isn't obvious because I know this much about a class project he was doing at a college that I didn't even go to), and we spent a significant amount of time with that tree that semester.
The building where I work isn't in an industrial park, exactly, but it's definitely not neighborhood-ish. Above is the tree that I can see out Andrew's
window. I can't show you, because I can't get it to work with the phone, but right now it's literally the only green thing out the only window I can see from my desk. I've become a little
obsessed with it, and I thought I'd take it to a new level. So, in the spirit of
Dr. Janovy, expect to see it show up here from time to time.
They've recently chopped the heck out of it, and it's partially tangled in whatever lines are on the telephone poles that go up the street, but the shape of it
intrigues me, and it has glimmers of the tenaciousness of those at the treeline in the mountains.
The full introduction to my tree: from the left and the right.
And a couple of close ups:
And don't miss that the sky is
so blue today! :)
Another New Year's tradition, the shrine. Paper and pencils and lighting implements: write down things from the past year that you'd like to leave behind, and symbolically burn them. (It's amazingly difficult to keep paper burning when it's 13 degrees...) :)
And I bet there aren't many Christmas trees with Flying Monkeys for toppers...
I've been in many ice storms, but I can't remember one where there were icicles on all the trees.
A tree in my front yard that will offer less shade next summer (took these while I was home for lunch):
And a few random icy limbs of the mimosa (took these this morning before I left):
And, of course, couldn't have an ice storm without a windshield shot: 
On the way back, it was totally down and they were waiting for the clean-up crew.
So, rest in peace, Tree...
The sky is SO BLUE today. This is my mimosa tree, again.
Slept in my own bed for the first time at the new place. (Commuted less than 5 minutes this morning. Wahoo!!) I was feeling kind of sad to leave the flowers I'd discovered in Lawrence, but I walked out in my backyard this morning and these were there waiting. 
And, my new favorite tree has *flowers*!
The tree outside my front door is quickly becoming the replacement for "my tree." I just really like it. I'm working on what kind it is. It's leaves close up at night, and it's all pretty and frond-y during the day. This isn't the cardinal that I saw in my back yard before, but this bird was making a lot of noise, and sat still to let me photograph him. :)
Taken in Khaentlahn and K.C.'s yard just as the sun was starting to fade.
After a windy Kansas day.
My tree basks in the sun...
Posing for the camera
Goofing for the camera.
And putting a stick on Wolf...
Prepare for convoluted: When I was in college, the guy I was dating at the time took one of the 300-person biology classes at the University of Nebraska. One of their projects for the semester was to "adopt" a tree. They were to pick one tree out on campus (which has an arboretum, but essentially is one) and watch it. They wrote essays about it, took samples from it, documented its reproductive cycle, well, you get the idea. My bf was a serious overachiever (as if this isn't obvious because I know this much about a class project he was doing at a college that I didn't even go to), and we spent a significant amount of time with that tree that semester.
And don't miss that the sky is so blue today! :)
