Out of the woods and the fieldwork went well. For the most part it was hot and dry. But we had one day of hellacious electrical storms that rattled both me and the elk. At about 5:15 in the morning when I got in the pen, I couldn't hear the thunder yet, but I could feel it in the ground...in the form of serious tremors. It was the strangest sensation and one I've not experienced before. About an hour later, we starting hearing it and seeing it. I've never seen a storm quite like that...it was literally constant thunder and lightning. I think several storms were combining. Streak after streak of lightning with some of it going horizontal across the full sky...again a first for me. The elk were getting nervous as it got closer and closer. So was I. I finally sent my tech out for cover just before it hit but the elk made it clear that I was not to leave them. A bit nerve-wracking I must say. This exclosure I was working in has huge, tall Ponderosa pines scattered all through the pen, as well as tall snags. Not many places I felt safe. Luckily right when it hit, the wind picked up and pushed it through fairly quickly. Long enough to soak me to the bones, but that period of feeling seriously unsafe wasn't too long. For the rest of the day, we got hit fairly constantly until dark. Nothing quite as bad as that morning...though it came close. Not a good day for fire season.
Otherwise, the data collection went well. This is part of a very long term study looking at effects of herbivory...using different intensities of grazing pressure by elk and cattle. Because we only collect data at one time of year, we do a VERY intensive effort. Pretty much if it's light out, we are collecting data on what the elk eat. It's the fourth year and already we are seeing some interesting things in terms of the diets and in terms of the vegetation response.
I have to share one thing. We typically meet many types of folks out in the woods. Doing the research that we do (using tame animals) really is unique and it normally catches many folks off guard. They don't know what to ask and more often than not, they end up asking something that is rather absurd. I got one of these questions this week. For this research, we are working in exclosures that are built to keep out grazing by the wild/domesticated herbivores. So they are 7 hectare 'pens' built with 8 foot high game-proof wire. Within the main exclosure, we have 7 individual pens that are separated with electric wire for different grazing treatments. I was standing around waiting for the girls to get up and feed again late in the evening when 2 guys walked up to the pen. So I'm standing in the pen with the elk and am talking to these guys through this game-proof fence. They asked me if we were in a pen. I didn't answer for awhile wondering if it was a trick question. I almost responded 'no, actually you are'. But I didn't want to be mean. That, and I tend not to mess with dudes in the woods when I'm out there alone.
As for knitting news...despite the fact that I feel like I haven't knitted in a very long time (I can't take knitting in the field with me...I work pretty much constantly if it's light out and that doesn't leave many hours for sleep...and I simply can't stay even remotely clean for the life of me...most people can use those wet-wipes and stay presentable, but I pretty much stay brown..not good for yarn). Yet somehow, today, I ended up with an FO. My Prairie Tunic is finished! But you are going to have to wait a bit until I can get some modeled shots. I've got another 2 days of partial fieldwork this week and then leaving for Vancouver for a couple days for meetings. I hope to have at least one more thing finished by the time I get home...as we have 16+ hours of driving ahead of us to get there and back. And I plan on knitting as much of that as I can.
If you've stayed with me this far, I have to share a photo of the amazing quilt that my mom made me for my
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Now Playing: We are sitting here listening to an old LP called 'Earl Scruggs His Family and Friends'. This album has Joan Beaz, Doc Watson, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, the Morris Brothers, and Earl, Randy, and Gary Scruggs. Banjo-pickin' from Earl Scruggs and guitar pickin' from Doc Watson...need I say more?



