The Hunt

The Flying "P"

Kill Em and Eat Em in the Country

The Flying "P" Ranch was our home for the last 24 hours. It was exactly as I expected....100% TEXAS. Marilyn and Denny are the owners, and they live, breathe, and speak just as you'd imagine for middle-America country folk. Marilyn is 63 with 'big' hair, full make-up, and a super sweet southern accent. She loves baking and shoots a Berreta over-and-under shotgun. Her husband, Denny, is 77 and is a soft spoken, tall, ex-alcoholic, big-game-hunter who lives simple, drives a big truck, and prides himself on his (many) mounts. The food they served up was just as I expected as well: steak, potatoes and buttered rolls. There was a salad too that was in a bath of Italian dressing and to wash it all down was some homemade Sweet Tea. For dessert was fresh baked blueberry cobbler, sugar cookies and some snicker doodle brownies. Yum, middle America! After supper we sat by the fire, enjoyed some hunting tales and then tucked ourselves into bed a little after 9pm.

We woke up to a winter wonderland. I wasn't even aware that weather like this happened around these parts- but to see it is to believe it. We were in the middle of an ice storm, with below freezing temperatures and steady falling sleet. Hunting didn't look like it was going to be much fun, and I felt grateful that I wasn't a part of the birding adventure...feeling perfectly content to sit by the fire with my book. As everyone sipped their coffee and ate breakfast (which was a spread of Bob Evans microwaveable burritos, sausage and biscuits, sweet buns, and instant cinnamon apple oatmeal) the sleet stopped and the weather stilled a bit. Hunting was on! Mom, Andy and Bobby (the hunting guide) bundled up and headed out into the fields with the dogs, a Brittany and a German short hair. I got to sit in the warm truck with the old man Denny for a bit and witness the excitement and managed to snap a few photos. I'm not much for hunting, but I have a huge respect for hunting and gathering your own food- an appreciation that I learned from my Dad who was the ultimate Renaissance man- always providing for our family. Also, to watch a dog move on their pure instinct, doing as nature intended, is beautiful. After snapping a few shots we headed back to the warm house and waited for the hunt to finish up. They got back with a full bounty, windburned cheeks, and smiles from ear to ear. They relived the hunt over cookies and ice cold beer, and the shit-talking continued until we packed up the car to head home.

Southern hospitality is as real and inviting as the hot buttered biscuits they serve up down here. Marilyn and Denny never treated us as customers, but instead as family. When we left, hugs were given out and I swear to you that the hug I got from Marilyn was warmer and more sincere than those I've gotten from my own family members. I look forward to the next time we come out to the ranch...I'll just be sure to pack some vegetables for myself....

Deep In The Heart of Texas

So here I am, down in Dallas, Texas with one of my dearest. oldest friends Andrew. He's in the process of opening more offices in Philadelphia and LA, so he wanted to take advantage of this transition time and bring me down for a few days. As always, he's pretty busy with business but lucky for us both, I'm great at entertaining myself. And lucky for me, there's heaps of yoga studios around here....

I got off the plane and Andy scooped me in the (bulletproof) G-wagon and took me out for a five-star seafood dinner in downtown Dallas. The next day we had breakfast in Deep Elem, the hipster part of town, at All Good- which not only has delicious food but also doubles as a badass music venue. He had work to do so I headed to yoga. I went to Sunstone Yoga which came highly recommended via Facebook. I wasn't impressed. Hot yoga just doesn't do it for me. I kept reminding myself during the class something that one of my teachers once told me: "It's up to YOU to bring spirituality into your practice". Really though, Sunstone embodied everything that I don't like in a yoga studio. Bright lights, military style instruction, oppressive heat, totally impersonal, and optional savasana. It's a factory for westernized yoga. Wow. Forgive me. Rant over. Alas, I just took it for what it was, enjoyed the complimentary hot tea and did my own meditation when I left. Andy scooped me up and we headed back to his office so we could book our next adventure together...KEY WEST. Andy's treating me to a scuba certification for Christmas. I can't wait!

The highlight meal has definitely been at HG Supply Company in east Dallas. HG (Hunter Gatherer) is a PALEO restaurant with an outrageously delicious menu, filled with fresh, delicious and innovative dishes that are organic, free range, grass-fed and best of all...candida friendly! Tamra, Andrew, Mike and I chowed down on one tasty dish after another. The garlic GINGER hummus was surprisingly unique and yummy and my duck confit with spicy broccoli and sweet potato hash was deeeeelicious.

To fill the time I've given Andrew guitar lessons and both the boys yoga lessons. The yoga was interesting, apparently it doesn't matter how much money you make or how old you are, fart humor is just as funny as when they were little boys.

We picked up mom late last night. She's been investing in Andy's company so she came down to take care of some business and to go hunting. This morning when they were in the office I hit up a class at Exhale Spa and goddamn goddamn...the class was unbelievable. So good. Challenging, unique, inspiring and nourishing. And now...with the two of them high on good business deals and me high on yoga, we are headed deep into the heart of Texas to go bird hunting.