"Get the Bird!"

That is all I heard last Saturday, "Get the Bird!" or "No Bird! No Bird!" You are probably thinking What In the World?! The heat must be getting to her. haha. Sorry to disapoint you, but I am still sane.

Last Saturday we went dove hunting. Those are the two phrases Kyle was constantly yelling at Tucker. This time I get to say WE because I got to go along! Tucker was itching to get back out (as was Kyle I think) and I just wanted to see these 2 in action and experience dove hunting first hand. It was a BLAST.

We went south of San Antonio to Poteet (roughly an hour from our house). One of our friends dad owns land down there so we set up camp near one of the watering holes, put up some Mojos (battery powered decoys whose wings are constantly spinning to attract the doves) and we sat and dove hunted! I only shot pictures...I didn't get a change to actually shoot the gun this time. Maybe next ;)

So when I say we went on our friends dads land, we got out of the pickup in the middle of this ranch and were greeted with this:

I have no idea what kind of cows these were, but I DO know that the female did NOT appreciate us interrupting her afternoon nap under the shade tree!

I was about 5 steps away from these bad boys. So was Tucker. He didn't care though...he was already looking for the birds. I, on the other hand, kept an eye on these two.

The day was off to an interesting start and we hadn't even gotten the guns out of their cases yet! I'll jump right to it. This is what dove hunting in Texas looks like:

A few people with guns. Some spotters. Some watchers, a few coolers and that is it! Dove hunting at its best. (FYI: Limit is 18 birds per person with gun)

This is what Tucker looks like when dove hunting when no birds are flying:

Constantly standing alert, staring at Kyle (or anyone with a gun). He tens to bark and whine as well when he gets antsy waiting for the birds.

This is what Tucker looks like when the gun goes off:

He literally takes off like a bat out of hell. Pinned back, going 100 mph. I have to give him credit, though; he finds every bird!

Can you tell how proud/happy/excited he is?! He LOVES this.

And he loves doves. I think I caught him gnawing on this bird a little bit. Oops!

And of course, I had to get proof that I was actually there!

Like my boots? They are Kyles steel toe. I forgot mine. Can't you tell I'm a pro at this stuff? ;)

I had a BLAST watching these guys in action. I of course have a bazillion more pictures I would love to share with you from that day, but I am assuming by now you get the picture ;) Happy Hunting Season!

3 Years

On Wednesday, September 19, Kyle and I celebrated our third anniversary. In a way, I can't believe it's been 3 years already- it seems like just yesterday we were standing up at the alter in church with sweat dripping down because Mother Nature decided to have a freakishly hot day for mid September. But then again, it feels like I have been with Kyle my entire life. Want to know something scary...I almost have! This anniversary also marked our 9.5 years of dating. Holy cow!

We have started a tradition. Snap a picture, go out to eat at a place we have never been before, somewhere that is out of the norm for us. (When I say out of the norm I mean a splurge in price, mostly...haha). Another tradition is Kyle picks. He is in charge of finding a place and picking a time. I have to say, he has not disappointed me yet :)

This place was very cool because only locals know about it. You could drive past it 18 times and not realize it. It is a well hidden gem that I LOVED.

This year he chose the Huisache Grill and Wine Bar. It was excellent! Kyle ordered the Seattle-Style Salmon and I ordered the Quail and Duck combo meal. It was all ah-mazing. Of course we complimented the meal with a bottle of wine, and the ONLY time I allow myself to get dessert in a restaurant is on our anniversary. Kyle let me pick this, so I chose Crème brûlée. Kyle had never had it before but now he is a HUGE fan. I have to admit, it can be a gamble ordering this because so many people have so many different variations of it, but it was EXCELLENT.

 

I am still crazy about this man I married, and I think being down here, where we are, has only strengthened our relationship. It has helped us rely on no one else but each other, and that is something we can never forget. If next year is anything as fun, adventurous, and amazing as this year was, I can't wait. :)

 

Mr. & Mrs. Bruns 3 Years later.

   

College Station

College Station is a town in Texas roughly 3 hours Northeast of San Antonio. It is home to one of the largest and most well-known colleges in Texas; Texas A&M University. More commonly known as the A&M Aggies. Home of the 12th Man. Huge agriculture and military influence, the college has many long-standing traditions. They have the midnight yell; students literally meet in the football stadium and practice chants and yells for football games.

Anyways, this past weekend I had the chance to visit College Station with some friends that had went to school there. It was kind of mini-reunion for these friends so I kind of stood out a bit, but it was still fun and neat to see the campus and finally see everything in person (that I hear SO much about). Kyle wasn't able to make the trip with us, but it was still fun. I have a feeling we will be going back sometime ;)

Kyle Field; the football stadium. It was AWESOME. It was even more cool to see the entire stadium participate in cheers and be in total unison.

Tailgating. It was slightly odd to me; everyone pulled up a chair and watched the game on the TV outside. Everyone had a flat screen rigged up somehow to watch the game  in shorts, tshirts, dress, tank tops and flip flops. I think that was the most odd to me- no one was searching for buildings to get warm.

Part of campus. There are certain areas you cannot walk on the grass out of respect to our military. Other areas you are required to remove your hats.

The main road coming into campus. It really is a beautiful campus.

Mat is the official Aggie and was my tour guide for the weekend. He told me so much about the campus and school!

So far my tour of Texas Universities is going well! I have UT and A&M under my belt. Next is Baylor and Texas State! (I've been living too long in the south. That was a joke and only after typing it I realized how "Texas" that sounded!)

First Fridays

The first Friday of every month there are special events downtown San Antonio. Different bars participate along the Riverwalk, as well as the "artsy" part of town. There is art on display that you can view, or you walk from bar to bar enjoying specials, or they even have a Beer Run. For the beer run you basically start at one bar, drink, then run to the next, until all 3 or 5 miles are up. Insane if you ask me. Why would you spoil your beer with running?! ;)

We met some new friends through Kyle's work that just started working in San Antonio. One guy just moved, as in, a week ago. The others have been here for a little longer, maybe since May. Either way they are all fairly new and very fun. We went out with them and got to know each other a little bit. I have a feeling this is the first night of many!

At most of the places there are live bands set up, of all different genres.

Here is Kyle, me, Kristen, and Phil. They graduated from A&M and now live/work in San Antonio

Here are most of the guys that we have met recently that work with Kyle. Phil, Jay, Eric, Jason (you probably recognize him) and Kyle! Looks like trouble if you ask me!

This was at one of the bars we went to. How cool are all those German mugs?! Made me miss Germany!

 It was really fun going, as well as hanging out with new people. I hope we go again, and when we do, I will try my best to get better pictures! On the up side, we broke a record with a 60º morning on Monday! Lowest temp on record (it was COLD. I almost grabbed a fleece!) Either way I have been enjoying amazing temperatures (low 90s), low humidity (dew point in the 40-50s), and cool (low 70s) evenings! Hope the start of your fall is going well!

Dove Season

First I would like to apologize for the lack of posts this week. You see, our Internet decided it wanted a vacation. So, without asking us, it went away. Our Internet provider couldn't make it out until Saturday to fix it, then, like a miracle, it came back! This is the first chance I have had to post.

September 1st is a major day around South Texas. It is the first official day of Dove Season. In lazy man terms, bird huntin' started last weekend. Kyle was not the only male around this house excited...Tucker was ecstatic. Kyle and him went out every day last weekend and got some birds. Kyle shot, Tucker retrieved, repeat. This is the first of many weekends but hopefully I can find some time to go out with them once and really take some good pictures (and maybe shoot a bird or two myself) ;)

Kyle and Tucker ready to go on their first dove hunt of the season!

This is what dove hunting looks like. Hang out by truck, dogs anxiously waiting, cold beverage to help pass time. When a bird comes, shoot and repeat. Tough hunting, isn't it?! HA.

Happy Hunting! (I would say start of fall, but it has been 103º for the past how many days so it really does not feel like fall yet!)