Picture Challenge Day 21: In Motion

Well, we're finally in the final few pictures of this horrid idea to do a picture challenge.  After this challenge is over it will be the perfect time to start introducing my out-of-town readers to my little town, as we will be approaching Indian Summer Rendezvous time, my favorite time of year here in our little town.  There is an arts and crafts show, food venders (most I can't get myself to try because they aren't of the healthy persuasion), a few concerts in a big tent in our parking lot for the downtown businesses and all around just fun atmosphere. 
This time of year at the store time goes by quickly as I enter contracts on top of my normal office duties.  I like being busy at the store and the challenge of always having something to do.  I think I have done my last "showing" of the year (going to schools to rent out instruments) and they are always fun.  My showing from last night was different than any I had ever done, because it seemed like everyone was skeptical of renting, so I felt like I had to really put on my best "salesman" face to get them to rent.  I'm not a very good salesperson, but we did get a few in the end.  And I got to meet the new band director for that school, which is always a plus when you are answering the phone at the store.
Things at home have also been pretty busy.  Lessons are still at full capacity and we are still working on our yard.  In the next couple of months we are looking at putting landscaping wood around our flower beds (our large ones are left to do yet), putting down "roof rock" in the flower beds, removing the dead tree in the front yard and planting two new Heritage Oak trees.  We are also hoping to get the front yard seeded and the back yard, which is now completely dead, at least raked up to be ready for planting in the spring.
I've also been working with goodies my gardening friends have been giving me.  Rachel has been providing a slow and steady stream of cucumbers, zucchini and tomatoes.  I've been making pasta sauce with the tomatoes, some onions from the farmers market and fresh basil from Analisa.  I've also been cutting up the cucumbers and zucchini to freeze and use.  The thinner strips are for vegetarian california rolls, the chunks for zucchini are frozen for fall chilli, the thicker strips are for Jim's favorite fridge pickles and the coins are for an Italian casserole.

Mary Jane provided us with the largest watermelon I have ever seen and another watermelon on the side.  We have been eating through our Colorado peaches without doing anything but washing them off before we dive in.  I'm a bit addicted to peaches.  Just a little.  Only a three times a day habit.  Shouldn't be hard to break when peaches are no longer in season and they aren't drip-down-your-chin-good anymore, right?
Tonight, we went to the local band expo night.  As an active member of the band boosters I get to come support the kids in these things.  So, for my in motion shot, a little bit of marching madness for you.

Picture Challenge: Trees

Well, this tree irritates the living day lights out of me (I don't even know if that's really how the saying goes).  It is dead.  It's pair, that was on the other side of our entrance to our home, died last year.  We cut it down and it is now a stump.  This tree needs to come down and we need to install new trees.  However, the main man for the main tree service here is ill and no one else will return my phone calls.  So, I might have to live with my dead tree and stupid stump for another year.  Even though we have been working a ton on our flower beds.  I'm hoping that eventually we will have a great looking yard so we don't embarrass our neighbors anymore!

These other pictures are more for Shannon than anyone else.  She has asked a couple of times what my smoothie recipes are.  But because I never follow a recipe exactly and just make things up a lot of the time, I have never given her a definite answer.
Here you go, Shannon.  Just know that I didn't measure anything exactly.
1 Handful frozen fruit of choice (this was a berry medley)
today I also added 1 peach, cut up
1 large dollop of yogurt of choice
fill up blender almost to top of fruit with water, so it blends easier.
1 "dash" of vanilla extract
I added a little too much water, so have a little more fruit showing for a thicker consistency.  I basically had a thick juice this morning.  But, it was delicious!

Last night we had the first showing I was a part of.  Because we got home so late, Bob asked me to stay home (probably so I wouldn't fall asleep at the computer at work!).  I have to admit, though, that this having a cloudy, rainy morning off thing is messing with my brain.  Hot chocolate sounds great, my book sounds great, staying inside sounds great...

Picture Challenge Day 18: Black and White

I first want to apologize for the lack of blogging I've been doing lately.  This picture challenge thing really didn't help anything.  I thought it would give me more to blog about but really I just get annoyed because I can't think of what I want to blog about that has "sky" or that is "inspiring".  So, I avoid it and now my numbers are all off and at some point I will have to play catch up.  Good thing life in a small town is pretty exciting so I have plenty of opportunities to get pictures caught up.
Well, I have a road bike to join my husband on his rides.  I actually went slower on it yesterday than I normally do on the mountain bike.  I am absolutely horrified of it.  The first thing I did on this bike was fall trying to get off.  I'm still not the greatest at dismounting, which scares me because if I need to stop in an emergency situation it is going to inevitably end with me in a pile on the ground and possibly a bent up bike.  I'm worried this may not have been the best purchase.
I practiced yesterday and seem to be getting better at the whole stopping thing, but I'm still going pretty slow.  I'm a chicken and going fast it kind of scary.
Here is the new bike

This week is going to be a busy one.  Band season has started, so we are busy at the shop and with Luis gone for another week it means more time at the store for me.  I also have a new student starting and a new schedule for lessons.  And, our yard is at the ugliest stage of being redone, the part that means we are closer to the done side of the project but the part I want to hurry through because it looks like we are ripping up our yard pretty bad.  If I haven't mentioned it, we are re-doing our flower beds.

Mary Jane moved in across the street for a couple of months.  She has stopped by a couple of times in the evening to say "hi".  It's nice to have a neighbor from church and a good friend across the street, even if we are all too busy to do anything about it right now.  When the yard is over (ha! As if I would be lucky enough for yard work to ever be over!) I will have more time.

As for black and white, here is a picture of me, black and white, preparing to get on the scary new bike.

Photo Challenge Day 17: Inspiring

 I don't know how inspiring this is, but I'm proud of it.  This morning, I got up super early (not as early as Jim!), rode my bike downtown and met Nikki to drive to Imperial.  I ran my first official 10K.  I had no idea what to expect time wise.  I've run the distance a ton of times at a ton of different speeds.  So today, I was hoping to make it across the finish line.  Even if it meant being last.
Turns out, I didn't have to worry about being last.  I came in first for my age group.  There were only a few people ahead of me.  I did it in a decent time, at a pace I'm happy with.  

Not nearly as impressive or inspiring as my husband who got third overall at his 100 mile bike ride!  I am so proud of him for getting to interested in his new hobby and being so healthy.  I love seeing him succeed so early on in his biking career.
 
To celebrate, I got a new road bike.  Okay, it wasn't to celebrate, it's in preparation for next year.  If I'm going to be joining him in biking across Nebraska (a goal of his), I need a good bike.  I love doing something my husband loves, even if it isn't my *favorite* sport.  The problem is, I can't get off the darned thing!  I biffed it in the parking lot at the store, then I didn't so well at home afterwards.  I will get it eventually.  Or we've just wasted some money...
pictures of the bike to come tomorrow.

Photo Challenge Day 16: Something Old

When I was in 4th grade I had to decide which instrument to choose in band.  Being in band wasn't a question-- of course I wanted to be in band, I just had no idea what I wanted to play.  I did two of the things that are often time discouraged-- first, I asked my best friend what she was going to play and decided on that.  Then, I was able to find a really old one to borrow from my aunt.
After a few months I broke the poor clarinet beyond repair.  A new clarinet was purchased and this one sat in a closet and I carried it for every move, had it in my locker in the music building at the college.  It was my first instrument.

I finally decided to do something with it and turned it into an art project.

The keys to my first clarinet. :)

Photo Challenge Day 15:Sky (and Shannon)

Before I get to sky, I want to share another picture.  On Wednesday, Jay Taylor and his band played for a while at the Open Range (that place is starting to become a regular mention in this blog... I really don't eat there once a week or anything).  Anyway, Shannon and Ryan danced the night away.  I got this shot with Jim's phone.

There was a fair parade downtown this afternoon and I spotted Shannon busting some moves again... okay, she was handing out water.  But it was fun anyway!

And for the sky... a quick shot from the top of Harney Peak.  Pretty, isn't it?

Picture Challenge Day 14: 5 Facts About Me

Most of these you will already know if you read this blog, and you will most likely know the others if you know me at all.

1. I'm married to my best friend, high school sweetheart and love of my life.  We've been married a little over 5 1/2 years and I have loved every minute of it.  He picked the ring out himself and the one time I thought I had lost it was the worst few hours of my life.

2. I like to exercise.  I like to run.  This is the charm Danielle gave me when she ran the full marathon (sorry I had half written in there, Danielle!  I just cut your work in half and didn't mean to!).  I wear it on my bracelet I got while we were in Ireland.  This bracelet is now a representation of my favorite vacation and place and my favorite past time and reminds me of my dear friend.  It kind of also represents my whole lifestyle... exercising, eating healthy, taking care of my body and mind.

3. I like to be organized.  Almost every drawer in my house looks like this one.  I became somewhat obsessive about organization and now my life is so much easier because of it.

4. I play a few instruments.  I don't like to list my instruments because someone who plays more than me will think I'm bragging and then feel very superior because they play more than I do.  This is just a part of who I am.  Pictured are my flutes, oboe, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, accordion and guitar (and my tackle box with reeds and mouthpieces in it... I call it my "bass" [like the guitar, not the fish] box, because I'm cheesy like that).  My clarinet wasn't in the picture somehow and a few other instruments don't go in the closet.  I love music... I love teaching it, performing it and writing it.  It is my passion.

5. I love my puppies.  I never thought I would post a picture of me about to go to sleep. Since Jim and I don't have children yet, our dogs are kind of our kids.  They never cease to make me smile.

Picture Challege Day 13:Technology

I am married to an Electrical Engineer.  Most often, his occupation doesn't mean a lot to me... I can now explain what a capacitor does, though I don't know how exactly, even though it's been explained to me a thousand times.  I do know that him being a smarty-pants makes electronic meltdowns a lot easier to handle and makes me completely useless when he isn't around.  I'm surprised I know how to use the TV/sound system/ Playstation.

My little music room is full of electronics.  My cool blue speakers were a college buy to make my then blue laptop look super cool.  Thy still work great and I still like the cute blue lights on the side, even if it makes me obviously a girl.  I also love my new laptop, though I admit that it's primarily been used for online surfing and blogging since I got it for my birthday two months ago.  I am not using it to its full potential.  The printer is super frustrating, though handy because it's wireless so I can print even when I'm in the other room.  I just hate home printers because they are just designed to die.  Anyway, My little electronic corner helps with lessons and I am very grateful for it.

Picture Challenge Day 12: Scene 4m a Window

...?  Really?  4m a window?  I guess I didn't check this carefully for stupid "cutesy" grammatical errors.  I'm sorry, but if you can't write the word "from", you shouldn't make a list.  I hate text talk.
Now that my mini rant is over, on to the picture.
Today is a cooler day than has been the norm the past few days.  Thank goodness, I'm so tired of the heat (and being sweaty everywhere I go!).  Because it was so nice, I walked to the bank today (okay, so I would have walked to the bank anyway, because I am, after all, the crazy walking lady). On my way back, I was just walking down the sidewalk when a lady started yelling at me from her car.  I've never seen her before as far as I know, but she called me a couple of choice words something about being a skinny "fill in the blank", flipped me off and drove past.  I was a little shocked, being from Ogallala where most people would pull over and offer a ride, not yell mean things! It made me laugh, though, because I just kept picturing Stephanie from Full House saying "How Rude!".
Anyway, this isn't technically looking through a window, but David was.  When Jim is outside, David is very concerned with keeping tabs on him.  He isn't allowed on the couch, except when he does this, because it's so darned cute.

Photo Challenge Day 11: Faceless Self Portrait

The top picture finishes the challenge for the day.  The bright green shorts and bright blue shoes/top is what I typically wear at a race because it's some of my cute running attire.  Since today was Jim's first triathlon, I wore my race gear in case he needed a running companion.
These pictures are not in order but I'm too lazy to switch them.  Jim did very well in all three events, especially in the bike (his best event and he beat everyone in his age group by minutes).  Gail, Jim's little sister, and I watched him swim, then ran to the car and parked at the north side of town to watch him bike, then back downtown to watch him run. 
I was supposed to be ready to run with him, but when we got to our meeting point, it just so happened that Jim was already running by.  So I hastily stopped the car, jumped out and sprinted after him with a kleenex (he said his nose was stuffy while he passed us biking).  He was already a couple blocks ahead of me so I was having to go pretty fast to catch up.  I also dropped the kleenex once and had to chase it the wrong way down the street.  I then ran with him for a little while.  Found Gail again, poor girl abandoned at my car, and we rushed to the finish line to cheer him across. 
He got third in his age group and a good time of 1:38.  I was impressed and exhausted from just watching him (and taking off after him). 
We then went to the lake with Gail where we had a picnic lunch and played in the sand... then got the car stuck in it.  After calling Bob to come rescue us, which I tried to avoid since he was working, someone happened to come along and save us.  It took us a while to navigate out of the area without getting stuck again but we made it. 
The rest of the evening will consist of watching movies, making dinner (Asian Glazed Chicken!) and spending time with my awesome sister-in-law and my triathlete.

Picture Challenge Day 10: What I'm Wearing

It was a few weeks ago that I realized I had been wearing one of two shirts every single Monday since the beginning of summer.  When I thought about it, I was wearing the same outfit for every day of the week again and again.  I even made a comment about it on facebook, saying I wish I was more fashionable.  I had quite a few comments that I wasn't expecting come back from that... so if you commented on there, I really just meant I wish I were a little better dressed more often.
Since I have been all healthy-runner-lady for a while and my body has leveled out at it's happy place, I think it's important to dress well.  I mean, I spend a lot of time working on this body and if I hide it under a baggy t-shirt every day that would be kind of silly.  Not to mention, if I am blessed with children someday there is a chance I won't look like this again and I recognize that. 
Anyway, people who see me everyday may not have noticed that I am taking a more serious interest in my attire.  I admit that I still do t-shirt and shorts a lot, but at least I try to wear some earrings or something to make it a little less "blah".  I have noticed that I'm treated differently when I care a little more about what I wear.  I had a guy flirt with me the other day, which is rare and uncomfortable.

Anyway, this is my outfit for today.  For those at work, this is the skirt that originated the Super Cute nickname.  And let me tell you, I still think it's super cute AND it's super cool on days like today.

Photo Challenge Day 9 : Flowers

This picture doesn't make it look all that bad, actually.  If it looked this good in real life we wouldn't be worried about it.  But as it stands our yard is pretty disgusting.  So when flowers was the next subject for this photo challenge I knew exactly what I needed to talk about.
I hate yard work with a passion.  I would rather shave my head and eat my hair than pull weeds all day.  I hate it. 
So when grass started growing in our flower bed and weeds became more common than flowers and it looked generally disgusting, I wasn't too happy with the prospect of re-doing the areas.  But, in the next couple of weeks, we will be pulling up gravel, replacing fabric, putting down new gravel (unless someone has a great idea for cleaning dead plant stuff out of gravel because our ideas have not worked) and putting landscaping timber down.  I kind of hate myself for deciding to do this, especially since it's super hot and we are super busy.  I still think we should hire someone.

Anyway, that's my flower story.  Tomorrow, I will post again to tell you the adventures of today.  I give blood over my lunch break.  This will be my first attempt at blood donation.  So we'll see how this all goes.