Ugh. I do not enjoy waking up early. Early being defined as before 6am. There are other earlies, of course, but today was 5:15. So, after a few hours of email checking, facebook stalking, and online shopping (no purchases – I did our monthly budget and savings before I shopped), I am updating the blog!
Our blueberry plant has berries! Waiting impatiently for them to turn blue.
We replaced the dead blackberry plant (so sad!) with a matsuma orange tree (on sale at Lowe’s!)
Rob built a frame for our tomatoes to climb, and I painted it pretty. We strung twine between the frames to support the tomatoes.
So, there’s much to love about Abilene! Last Sunday afternoon, our milk and eggs supplier hosted a “customer appreciation day” at their farm about an hour outside of Abilene, complete with a homegrown lunch! I fell in love with the baby goats, beautiful pigs, hilarious turkeys, and chicken awesomeness!
Take a good look at the chicken coop! It’s an old cotton wagon and they drag it around the pasture giving the chickens new places to eat and fertilize the ground! The sides open from the outside so Joy can harvest eggs without having to go inside the coop and they just close up the ramp at night! Rob and I want one! (but you know, smaller)
Yoga classes are forming their own identities. The 5:30 class is my most difficult class to teach as the students vary greatly – some are energized and ready to try anything, while others get frustrated with the sun salutations. I remind people to listen to their bodies, but it’s hard to make everyone happy.
The Wednesday morning class is more moms who enjoy the challenge and we go to a lot more challenging places.
The Dyess AFB classes are always fun because everyone is capable of most things and willing to try! Although, I often need to remind them that yoga isn’t about doing the “hardest” every time…
I’m going to start more marketing to get more people to my classes – it would be nice to make a profit so I could buy blocks for student use and cover the cost of the upcoming yoga workshop I’m going to in Dallas. …and of course buy some stuff for myself.
More Abilene stuff, Thursday, Rob and I took Gus downtown to the monthly ArtWalk event – this month was DogWalk! A lot of the vendors and stuff were raising money to go towards the in-process Dog Park in Abilene – maybe they’ll get the money and finish it before we leave town.
See us behind the guy in the quilt? We’re marching in the dog parade!
Friday, Rob’s B-1 class had their squadron night. Basically, they all find out which squadrons they’re going to after Dyess. Rob got the 34th Bomb Squadron (Thunderbirds) in Ellsworth, SD. We’re pleased – although the anticipation wasn’t anything like assignment night – we already knew South Dakota and the B-1… hopefully the new squadron will be cool. I do really really really miss the awesomeness of the 95th Fighter Squadron at Tyndall – everyone was proud and enthusiastic to be a Bonehead!
It’s kind of like attending a school with amazing school spirit (Texas A&M) – you love it, it’s fun, you’re proud to be a part! On the other hand, a school with no spirit is lame, boring, and no fun. I like it when it’s fun.
Rob and I had a great weekend! We went to the movies and enjoyed Iron Man 2 and Robin Hood. Although I think the editing room floor got a few key pieces of characterization in Robin Hood that would have made it make more sense, there was plenty of action.
We went to the Beehive Restaurant for dinner (finally!). It’s a lot of people’s favorite place to eat in Abilene. While it was good, it threw me for a loop a few times – escargot was on the appetizer menu and they served drinks in mason jars; nice linen tablecloths on tables with paper menus that looked like old-time newspapers; and a classic cocktail served on a wanted-poster-style cocktail napkin… just some unusual choices, you know?
I like Abilene, but it does make me a little pouty when I think about my family and friends in Houston, Austin, or even College Station and all the wonderful restaurant choices they have. Not fair.
But, we don’t eat out as much, or when we do it’s often not too expensive – ie, amazing burritos and tacos, military Monday at Chick-fil-A, etc. AND, we eat at home more, which is healthier anyway. Can you tell I really miss restaurant selections? :-(
Anyway, I have made some great meals recently! We got some amazing spinach at the Farmer’s Market and I got excited and bought a watermelon at the commissary – top your spinach with chopped watermelon, add a few fresh basil leaves from your garden, sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan cheese (not from the green can), add walnuts, and drizzle balsamic vinegar and oil and voila! beautiful tasty summer salad.
Sunday, I made sticky pecan caramel rolls from my “Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day” cookbook and YUM! Totally worth it! Rob and I feasted outdoors on our rolls and farm fresh eggs!
We’re having a great time living here and hanging out together! I enjoy teaching yoga but still get a little nervous every once in a while. Rob is flying today! So, if you see a big B-1 over Big Bend this morning, that might be him!
