For our wedding anniversary in February, John handed me a small bag. Inside was a gift certificate for a couples portrait session with Audree Larson, a talented photographer whose work we love.
We finally rolled into Audree’s new studio in New Bo, not far from John’s shop, in July. She got right to work, effortlessly arranging lighting backdrops and putting us at ease.
At one point, she asked us to look adoringly at each other. This was the result, as we dissolved into laughter.
This was my favorite of the two of us…
John’s been booked solid all year, work-wise. This spring, he designed this outdoor chime installation for the Cedar Rapids Symphony and collaborated with a metal worker on building it. Last month, he wrapped up two large conference tables for a local PR firm.
I’ve been writing code like crazy all year for clients. I joined a group of developers testing generative AI tools that assist writing code. I’m now figuring generative AI into all my future projects.
So much for being semi-retired…
Our big project this year was a new solar panel installation. The system is an array of thirty-eight roof-mounted panels. It covers more than eighty-five percent of our annual energy needs.
I’ve been working with 3D printing for a couple of years. Mostly I print things to help me in the garden.
Here’s my design for a seed germination tray. Each tray has six hexagonal cells, each of which has a removable bottom. I pack the tray with potting mix and start seeds. Once the seedlings are ready for planting, I push the bottom out of the cell, freeing the plant, which I pop into the ground.
Even though we were in severe drought conditions this summer, we had a great harvest: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, salad greens, squash, and herbs. We’re still eating on the bounty: I canned more than twenty pints of pasta sauce, and I have January lettuce growing both in cold frames and indoors.
Our best to you in the year ahead!