Is it really that time of the year already? Have y'all bought your gifts, wrapped them up fondly, and baked your holiday pies? (And not necessarily in that order?)
The past 2010 year had seemed like a blur at times, and had seemed sluggishly slow at times. Most of the year was spent working at New Mexico State University, for their local PBS station, KRWG-TV. We actually started back in October 2009, and officially ended in November 2010. The show we produced was about agriculture, about how your food (and other items) gets to your table or home. Here's a write up from one of our bosses, Glen Cerny describing our project.
Here's Madeline and cameraman Eddie Hernandez shooting during cotton harvest back in October 2009.We managed to produce 13 half hour episodes. Initially, it was just the two of us, with the occasional help from other cameramen, like Eddie Hernandez. But after a few grueling months of trying to produce 13 episodic half hour shows, KRWG hired a second camera/editor, Joe Widmer, to help us along.
Jeff and Madeline at a cattle ranch near Playas, New Mexico in December of 2009.Not all of our year was spent on this project (though it felt like we were often times consumed by it). We've had an addition to our family...a puppy! We came home after work, and while washing my hands at the sink, I looked out the kitchen window and noticed a puppy moving around the flower bed. I yell out, "Holy $#@! What the hell is that!?!" And Madeline raced in madly to see what the ruckus was and I point outside toward the puppy. Well, to make a long story short, we named the puppy "OhNo", cause he's a little terror around the house and we'd always shout an expletive everytime and any time he did something.
The many faces of OhNo. (We really did decide to get rid of him. And that lasted all of one week!)We also adopted a cat from the Anselmo Family in Upland, CA. Her name is "P.O." or "PeeOh", cause my Dad and sister Jenny found her at a post office many years ago. She's a tiny, old cat; and seems right at home here in Texas.
Here's P.O. helping us go through our laundry. Man, I really have to put those clean clothes away!And so, after finishing such a monumental video project, we're glad to have some time off, and we got to visit some friends and family in California before the holidays. (And Madeline even made time for a short visit with dear friends in St. Louis! I'm going with her next time :)
Cousin Naomi, sister Jenny, nephews Aaron and Loren enjoying some Japanese BBQ at Gyu-Kaku in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
We joined our friends Tom, Lee, Marlene, David, Mark, and Crystal for brunch at the Coyote Grill in Laguna Beach, CA. We even took a stroll at the beach, to glimpse the Pacific Ocean.
Afterward, we traveled to Monument Valley to help out Nathan and Christy for their monumental move to Elephant Butte, NM. It was a bittersweet move for them as they said their goodbyes to lifelong friends in Monument Valley, packed up the trailer, and headed out for their new life in New Mexico.
Nathan, Christy, and their dog Gizmo at their old Monument Valley home. The first of two trailers they packed, amongst the monuments. Merrick, Vivi, and Dessa strapped and ready for the long drive.
All in all, through some challenging times, we've felt very blessed and very lucky. We have family and friends that we love and love us. And that's what we're really thankful for. The next year holds really good promise for us. (And there may be a few surprises along the way!) We wish y'all love and happiness in the coming year.
