Going Green

Towards the end of April my great friend Kat and I attempted a trip to the Onslow County Farmers Market, the closest one around here. We wanted to find fresh produce that has been grown without pesticides and that has not wasted fuel and energy coming to us from all over the world. As the market is only open Tuesdays and Saturdays April through October, we got up early on a Tuesday morning to see if we could beat everyone else to the fine selection. We found it easily around 9am and besides the vendors selling plants, some broccoli, and little else, we were the only ones there. We briefly surveyed the situation and left discouraged. I have done much complaining that in California it was so easy to find good food and that there is nothing here. I could just take a seven minute trek to the market down the street, open every day, and grab delicious looking vegetables, homemade granola, and tons of other organic goodies. We have not been back to the Onslow Farmers Market. We have however gotten our hopes back up and have been scouring the area for fresh, local produce. It's just not as obvious here as it was in California. There, the farmers were successful and their produce was greatly desired in high demand. And of course, in the San Diego area, the climate is perfect for growing great crops year round.

I'm still trying to learn about growing food in my own garden and have so far only had successful herbs and peppers. So, Kat and I searched the eastern part of our area the other day and found green peppers, corn, cherries, blackberries, and sprite. Not the soda, the melon. Which I found out I am not allergic to and ate with great delight. The following day another friend of mine came blueberry picking with me, a summer tradition I picked up in Florida with my dear friend Peggy Ann who could pick bucket loads all season long. We also found seedless watermelon at $4 a piece and trekked to a small Mennonite grocery store for some fresh baked goods. The more I look and the more people I talk to, the more great food I find! Hopefully, I am getting us another step closer to being healthy and helping the planet.

Summer so far

My Summer Session II classes have not been too bad so far and Adam has not been flying much as he waits for his squadron to return, so our weekends have been less busy and have given us time for exploration. Fourth of July weekend Adam's parents had a beach house in Emerald Isle (about 45 minutes due east of Jacksonville) and we spent Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning there with them. The weather was nice, we ate good food, explored some of the coast, and watched fireworks on the beach.

This past weekend Adam and I explored on our own and went south to Snead's Ferry where we ate hot dogs and drank special recipe root beer at Dr. Rootbeer's Hall of Foam. It was a nice little dive with root beer memorabilia all over the walls and a nice staff. The special recipe root beer was excellent too. I have a feeling we'll be back.

Later that day my brother stopped to spend the night on his way to Charleston, SC for a Coast Guard Boarding Team School. This was especially exciting to me because due to distance, money, and schedules around the holiday's (ie. Greg not having off Christmas) I have not seen my brother since the week before I moved to Pensacola, two years ago. He got to see our house, check out the Cobras up at Adam's squadron, and swim in some warm water at the beach. I think that was his favorite part since Cape Cod summers only elicit 55 degree waters at the beach. Hopefully another visit will occur soon and maybe I'll make it up to see him in Cape Cod before he gets stationed elsewhere.

In other news, I am still waiting to hear about a teaching job, but am trying to be hopeful. Your prayers are always welcome. I am still enjoying being a nanny and watching this little boy grow up, but I want so much to be in the classroom again. And, as always, things are up the air with Adam, but at least we know that he will switch to another squadron on August 5th and will hopefully get back in the cockpit soon after that.

Thanks for reading!

In case you were wondering, I did get an A in my video class. I also got an A in graphic design. I also started two new classes on Monday. It's been non stop, but as long as I work a little every day, it all seems to get done. I love school so much I'm not sure I'll ever stop. I am definitely in the right profession for it!

Lately, I've had some time off work as the family I work for has been visiting family. I'm more than happy to go back next week, but the last two weeks have afforded me time to get some much needed gardening done and spend more time with Adam. I think he's very thankful that I've been home during his lunch break and have had more energy to cook. I've been trying out new recipes and using herbs from my garden. Yesterday's experiment was with lemon thyme. There's something so satisfying about using ingredients that you have grown yourself. I've already requested a green house and vegetable garden when Adam is retired and we're settled down. He said it could go next to his airplane hangar.

We have quite a while before that happens though. And there are many possibilities ahead of us. Right now we are just waiting for Adam's squadron to get back from Iraq so Adam can join them. Then it will be up in the air as to where and when he will be deploying. We won't have any official word for at least a few weeks. For now, we'll just enjoy this long holiday weekend!