Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

"Lovin', touchin', squeezin' each other

You're tearin' me apart

Every every day

You're tearin' me apart

Oh what can I say

You're tearin' me apart"

Were the lyrics that popped in my head as I walked the booths of the local farmer's market. All the onions, oranges, tomatoes, peppers, and peaches were so tempting as I squeezed, smelled, and sampled the goods. Beyond the produce, the farmer's market offered several booths of fresh baked goods, soaps, honeys, nuts-mainly pistachios, dried fruits, and grain fed meats. I was thoroughly impressed with the abundant selection and all the wonderful colors bursting from the bins.

I couldn't pass up a wonderful trail mix including dried peaches and strawberries or some Kentucky bourbon roasted pecans in support of our future region. I also picked up some rustic sweet potato cornbread, a plump purple eggplant, and for Jay (that's right I didn't forget about him in my harvest haze) a smoked jerky that was so potent I was afraid all my other goods were going absorb the smokey flavor. I held off on the produce because I foolishly forgot to prepare menus for the following week and wasn't sure what we would need. I will definitely remember that next week.

And speaking of next week, I already have my eye on several groceries that will be making it into my green HEB bags. They include: agave nectar (which my friend Joanna has pointed out is a delicious sweetener for just about anything, a must try!), any fruit or vegetable, fresh honey mustard, and of course pistachios (I've got to get these, apparently they are the local nut here--hmm, a title Jay might be vying for soon) hehe. But the most important fair we must try are the tamales. I haven't mentioned them yet because they sounded so delicious, I figured I should save the best for last. There were a couple of venders selling tamales and I couldn't help but stalk them to see if they were possibly giving out samples...unfortunately no luck, I didn't notice any offerings. The descriptions of the varieties were mouth watering. Just take a look for yourself...click on the menu picture...and tell me those don't sound tamale-rific!

So sad the market is only open once a week.

"Nanananananananana"

Household Duties

Taking a break from the lyrics, lets talk home economics. In our efforts to make this temporary duty furnished apartment more like our home, Jay and I purchased some homely effects. We are now growing herbs including basil, oregano, rosemary, and parsley. We also hung some curtains to fight the sun beaming in the house in the afternoon hours. They are helping tremendously with the temperature in the house as well as creating a more convincing movie theater atmosphere.

We grilled again on our second night with tasty results. The fish tacos were delicious and their southwestern flair was reflective of our new territory. We topped them with a refreshing citrus jalapeno coleslaw and made a black bean-corn salsa to accompany them. As you may be guessing, Jay and I love to cook together. He has become very experimental and open to new foods and combinations. Cut to us sharing apples and fresh almond butter yesterday. I'm so proud of him.

We toured base so that I could locate the Gym, Library (where you can rent movies), Commissary (grocery store), PX (everything store like Target or Wal-Mart), hospital, and where Jay will be training most days. It is a very small base set at the base of a huge mountain range. It's a very awing site since I come from Texas where the highest peak is in the hill country.

Lastly, yesterday was laundry day and Jay and I ventured out into the big city of Sierra Vista to the Snow White Launderette. It was obviously not the popular time for laundering since we had our choice of 30 or so machines. A few pages of our books flipped by along with an episode of the new and improved (uh not so much) Price is Right on their TV. Before we knew it we were so fresh and so clean. We had a folding party, one of my favorite kinds, and then headed back to the house/movie theater. Here are some photos from our launder-venture

Sierra Vista

Sherlock Holmes and homemade popcorn made for a great afternoon ending Jay's mini vacation before training starts Wednesday. I'll try to keep up the regular updates even if they are lacking the thrills of excitement and catchy lyrics you are used to reading. hehe

Faithfully

"Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind..."

Oh yes Texas you are on our minds and forever in our hearts. But we have to leave you behind right now. Our family has some ground to cover, but don't worry, we'll be back someday.

Take a look at the journey from Texas to Arizona through the lens of our camera.

Road Trip to AZ

Don't Stop Believin'

"Just a small town girl...Living in a lonely world"

...NOT ANYMORE!!!

That's right everyone we're back! together that is. Jay and I have joined forces to take on the world once again. It has been a long time since we spoke over this communal world wide web. When we last left off, we were saying goodbye to our angel, Abigail Jane. Well so much has happened since then, if you can believe it. Yes I know we have set the bar extremely high for life altering experiences in the first few precious years of marriage, however, don't underestimate us. Since last August, almost a year ago, Jay and I have acquired a new member of the family, Daisy Duke, a beautiful yellow lab.

The adoption story is quite entertaining, involving an ever anxious Jay enthralled in his first experience bidding at a live auction. He was quite successful, which is most often the result when Jay is determined. Consequently, we (Killer hesitantly included) are enjoying her tremendously.

Also since our last visit, Jay began Officer Candidate School (OCS) January 8th while I stayed in Seguin with my ever hospitable parents. He began his training at Fort Benning, GA. Of course in army fashion, Jay's start was delayed two months and he completed what was supposed to be a three month course in May.

May 14th, 2009 Jay Warren was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. YEA!! You would think at this point we could reunite and start a new chapter. But oh wait, he's not done, no he has two more training courses to complete before he can be assigned to his next duty station. He then moved to Lawton, OK to complete a very futile course lasting 6 weeks. We could both taste our reunion. It was so close, just a few weeks away. We could do this, hell, we'd done 7 months when he was in Afghanistan, and we didn't even get to see each other then. But the time did seem to drag especially since Jay's training was not a sufficient distraction for him.

Jay and I had decided that the family would rejoin in Arizona for the last leg of training. We were willing to fight the heat and claustrophobia to be together again. Killer, Daisy and I prepared for our adventure with our soldier in a furnished TDY (Temporary Duty) apartment expanding only 625 square feet at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ.

The bags were packed and the truck was packed, I mean PACKED, and we had one thing on our minds...Luling barbeque. Gosh it was going to be so hard to drive past it without stopping! Yeah Jay was on our mind too, but come on, you guys know how hard it is to resist those ribs!

So here we go, the Journey begins...

"Oh the movie never ends...It goes on and on and on and on"