Merry Christmas
2008

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
This time last year,
Christmas 2007,
Araminta was 11 weeks
old.
A lot has changed since
then....

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Araminta is now walking
(running too!); talking
(dad, cat, zebra – but
not mummy to Ruth's
annoyance!); eating
solids (feeding
herself with her
hands); and learning
all about the world.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
In April, Araminta
went on her first
camping trip – to
the Karoo National
Park.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
In December we
travelled to
Ceres for a
break – and to
pick some
Cherries.
We discovered
that Araminta
LOVES

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Of course, 2008 saw the celebration
of Araminta's first birthday.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
October saw Ruth fly to San
Francisco on a business trip
with her new job with
Synthasite.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
A few weeks later Jeff flew
to Chicago to attend
meetings of the American
Academy of Religion and
then to Oshawa in Canada
to present a paper at a
symposium on conscientious
objection. He saw a few
birds & got to drive on the

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
In October Jeff managed
to go on his first pelagic
trip. It was amazing!

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Ruth managed to write off
another car after an
altercation with a dump
truck! We are grateful that
no-one was injured.
We now drive a VW Jetta.
(Fingers crossed....)

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
We have managed to find a little
time to escape work & visit some
scenic spots.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Some of the local
flora.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
and fauna:

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Jeff managed to see 33 new
birds this year, including
Ground Woodpecker, Protea
Seedeater, Yellow-bellied
Eromela, Layard's Tit-
babbler, Grey-winged
Francolin, Wandering
Albatross, Black-bellied
Storm Petrel, and Yellow

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Ruth managed to find a little
time to pursue her creative
muse—having most recently
taken up spinning.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.

Jeff, Ruth, & Araminta – South Africa 2008.
Merry
Christmas
2008