NaBloPoMo #27: Friday Links

*Friday links are a selection of some of my favorite posts, recipes, articles, and photos from this week.

• Yesterday we had Thanksgiving dinner at the Washington Duke Inn (our annual tradition) and as usual it was amazing. Here are a few photos:

View as we walked down the hall to the banquet room:

Line to get it in - it moved quickly.

Yummy food:

Dessert!

Standing near the pie table:

• Yesterday afternoon we watched the Carolina Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys, so the hype surrounding their undefeated season continues.  Here is a funny video of the quarterback Cam Newton mic'ed up.

• My husband read this entire book yesterday! I got it from the library and was 3/4 through it, when he borrowed it. Since it read it so quickly, I didn't mind.

NaBloPoMo #26: Giving Thanks

For the many blessings in my life.

NaBloPoMo #25: Expertise

From today's writing prompt: Do you think it's better to be a recognized expert for one thing, or known to be really good at lots of things?

I think it's better to be really good at lots of things. I'm good at my job, but I'm also good at quilting and knitting, which makes for a more varied and interesting life.

NaBloPoMo #24: Thankful

Joining Carole for Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things are you thankful for Right Now

1. Physical Therapy - I injured my back ~10 years ago taking care of a horse and for the most part it's ok but every now and then I feel a twinge and I can't stand for long periods of time. I've seen 3 different PTs about it and the exercises they said to "fix it" work but it never completely goes away. My friend started seeing a PT and she said his approach is not like any PT she's ever seen before.

I figured it was worth a shot so I saw him last week. He said the muscles involved have been sort of "frozen" so he's giving me exercises to strengthen the area. He uses his phone to video me doing the exercises as he explained them then emailed them to me which was SO helpful. He also constantly asks "where are you feeling this" to make sure I'm working the correct muscles. Fascinating!

2. Church Choir - We're down to two more rehearsals until our performance. Cue panic!

3. Family - I'm blessed with a wonderful family. Loving parents, my sister and her husband and my niece who is 9 and keeps us all on our toes, and my sweet husband.

4. Coffee - enough said.

5. My devices - being married to an Apple Geek has increased my number of Apple devices.  How did I live without them before he came along? The phrase a luxury becomes a necessity comes to mind.

6. The library - despite missing my bookmobile, I am thankful I access to a very good library.

7. My job - I love what I do and that's a blessing.

8. The first frost - I know it means winter is coming but I do love the early morning light of winter.

9. Food - so much great food this time of year! Every year I bring a cornbread casserole to our annual work party and every year my boss raves about it so I've started making an extra batch for him to take home and share with his family.

10. Sleep - the older I get the harder it is to sleep some nights, especially during the busy holiday season, so I am thankful for medications that help when I need it.

NaBloPoMo #23: Perseverance

From an earlier prompt: What is the hardest part of a big project: getting the energy to begin, finding the time to work on it, or feeling down that it's over?

The hardest thing for me is getting a new project started. In science, sometimes this involves learning new techniques and sometimes it takes a while to quit researching the best way to do something and just try something! If it fails, you try something else.

A recent example: I was trying a new technique called CRISPR where you knock out a gene permanently and I used a product that turned the cells green (called green fluorescent protein, which was really cool) but ultimately it didn't work. 

I went and talked to a faculty member in our department about how he did it and I used his system and I have gotten it to work 3 times now. 

This figure shows that the protein I was trying to get rid of is gone in my two cell lines (B9 and C8) but is still there in our parental/control sample. We also checked for another protein which should be present in all 3 cell lines and it was.

NaBloPoMo #22: Birthday Brunch

A wonderful day with great food, beautiful fall colors, and the company of my sweet husband. We didn't get a photo together but he was there :)

NaBloPoMo #21: Potpourri

As the holidays approach, it feels hard to get settled since the thoughts of all the things I need to do keep running around in my brain.

Here are some random thoughts that have been running around my head today:

Baking: I'm making cornbread fritter casserole for a work party next week. I need to figure out if should make it the night before or get up early the day of the party.

Cooking: We go out to eat for Thanksgiving day, but I do like to cook a small turkey breast and a few sides for my husband and I to munch on during the rest of the weekend. I'm also making some treats as gifts so need to get those made too.

Work: I need to get all of my experiments to a stopping point before the break. I have a rough idea, but sometimes cells don't always do what you think they will do and adjustments may be needed.

Birthday: My birthday is tomorrow and since it's so close to Thanksgiving (some years it's the same day) it's hard to decide where or how to celebrate. I finally decided Sunday brunch at the Washington Duke Inn would be fun and something we've not done before.

Knitting: I need to work on a Christmas gift, seam a sweater and would like to work on my shawl.

Reading: I just finished a really good book so it's been hard for me to switch gears, but I did start this one today. Interesting they both have to do with water!

  

Christmas cards: We need to get our photo cards ordered so we worked on those this morning.