Midland

Okay, where did the first month of 2012 go?

This sign is just silly. What it should read is, "Drive at your own risk - entitled drivers of Texas 

A gift for Derek - a map of America that we picked up at Pike's Place in Seattle. I sewed the route we traveled this summer. In just a couple of weeks, we will fill in the rest of the drive from Midland to Atlanta. 

Dust Strom....sinus infection...same thing. 

We've now had several of these dust/sinus storms. And at first we were brave and would venture out, now we know to stay home and snuggle instead. Who really needs groceries when you know it's going to cost you a week of being stuffed up?

Derek went on a hunting retreat with the elders the same week we moved to Midland. Now, this is what you would call a "blind." Derek got to sit in this blind during the wee hours of the morning to hunt/kill/gaze at the various 4-legged things that walk around the 3,000 acre ranch of one of our elders. Derek's one sentence summary of the venture: "Pretty freakin' fascinating." 

The end of Derek's pork eating days...just kidding, but definitely the end of Anlee even considering trying pork again!

Okay, so the above picture was never a conceivable picture in my mind! I married Derek Fekkes, not pig-killin, red jumpsuit wearing, woodsman! I can't take this picture seriously, but I do enjoy it! Grandpa would be proud!

The ranch in Texas 3 hours east of where we live. They actually have trees! 

Waiting in line for opening weekend (hunting) BBQ. What's the most common color in this picture? 

How many dead animals are on this plate? Hum...sausage! 

The view of Midland (aka "flatland") from the 12th floor of an oil company. This is our new home! 

Okay, what you have all been waiting for! The OIL TOUR!

Derek and I have been on three oil field tours with the amazing Mr. John. First, when we visited, second with my parents and third with Derek's parents. We have learned something new each time out. Mr. John is literally the best in the business and an amazing tour guide! These tanks are used to separate the oil, natural gas and water. The tanks are used so that the water sits on the bottom, then the oil sits on top of the water and the natural gas is vented into another pipeline. How do they separate? Temperature. These tanks are kept at a steady temperature in order to separate. They have to get the oil down to 99.9% oil without impurity. That is alot! But, pretty easy to do. The smaller white jug is filled with chemicals that help kill bacteria in the oil. The rising mound of dirt around the tanks help prevent spills.

This oil jack literally pulls oil out of the ground 10,000 feet deep. The small rod in the far right has oil inside. This is a hydraulic pump that is connected to power lines that enable the motor and weights to pull the oil out. This machine will pump anywhere from 40 to 70 barrels of oil a day, depending on how rich the well is.

The oil jacks pull the oil out of the ground and pump it into these large holding tanks that store the oil until a truck, as you see in the picture, arrive to take it to a refinery. These trucks run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If the tanks overflow, everyone loses money and all of the pumps shut down. One of these tanks recently caught fire due to lightning, but was extinguished quickly. These tanks would full our car for years! I'll blog about Fracking some other time!

Most of you know this picture from our Christmas card! 

We couldn't resist poking a little fun at ourselves and our new home! Who ever would have thought that Derek and I would end up in Midland, Texas after our life in Korea! We traded an 11 million person city with public transportation and bike paths for middle of the desert mesquite land with one city bus and zero bike paths! But, it's home and we are loving our new city. Just so you know, the clothes were borrowed!

Our new life in Midland...home sweet home!