Last Baseball Game of the Season

Last night fall ball ended for another season. This was the best season we have ever had in Fall ball and it is due in large part to Greg's coach Mark. What an awesome coach and great baseball enthusiast. His team grew so much together in that even Greg said this is the first year that he knew everyone's name on the team and something about them outside of baseball. You could see it in the way they interacted when both winning and losing.

They finished the season 6-5-2 and Greg had a fantastic season mostly catching and playing 3rd until his coach found out that he could pitch. In his first outing he pitched 3 innings of no-hit baseball and only faced 9 batters (he picked the kid he walked off of third).

Watching how Greg was such a team leader made me smile every time I went to a game. You never saw him being negative - only wanting to play his best. The final game was no exception when it came down to bases loaded, 2 outs, full count on the batter with Greg behind the plate. The batter swung and missed at the ball in the dirt thus striking out. However, the ball skidded past Greg to the backstop. Greg hustled back to get it to underhand to the pitcher covering home plate for the out. The pitcher wasn't there!!! So what does Greg do? He full out slides head first into home beating the runner and sealing the win for his team. It was unbelievable, but just a final exclamation point on the outstanding season he had.

By the way, the temperature at last night's 8 pm game - 42 degrees. Boy was it cold!!

Autumn Love

Loving how our front entrance looks this year. The scarecrows were made by Kevin and Casey in early September and the pumpkins were picked out by Larry and Greg later on. The mums look better now that they are getting regular water (it's been pretty dry up until last week). Loving the new glass doors. I have wanted to have storm doors on there since the time we moved in (17 years ago). Now we have them and every chance I get I open the doors to let the light in.

A Quote I Like

"Embrace this right now life...take your bites with bravery and boldness since the learning and the growing are here in these times, these exact right nows. Capture these times. Hold and kiss them because soon it will be very different."
-----Jill Scott

Today's Sunrise

Getting up and out by 6:30 am every morning has made me remember how beautiful the sunrise is. This morning I grabbed my camera (actually Greg's since mine died), and captured a few pictures. I have stopped using my ipod in the morning because it is very dark and I want to be able to hear what animals are lurking in the yard. Yesterday, Kitty and I came upon a herd of deer on our sand mound. Of course, Kitty wanted to follow them through the evergreens, but my fear of getting stomped by a buck stopped us from following them.
I have to learn how to take good pictures in the dark. I haven't figured out the settings on Greg's camera and I probably won't since I know I am getting a new camera for Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I started my Holiday planner today so that I can really enjoy the season without too much stress. I just have to keep it from prying eyes. I want to try some new things this year (recipes, crafts, traditions) so I need to start sooner.

Also, I am trying to find my "passion" in life. I am passionate about my family, but I'm not so sure what else I'm passionate about. Those early morning walks allow for lots of time to think about this. I'll update if I find out what my passion is.

So Lucky They're Mine

Before Casey went back to school in September we celebrated her 19th birthday. About a month before, Larry and I were in Superfresh and decided to order her a pirate birthday cake. She had seen it before, but never in a million years thought we would get it for her birthday. So the night before she left for NH we had a special dinner, opened some of her presents and had cake. This was probably the richest cake I have ever had - but boy was it delicious. The icing as about an inch thick and being that icing is my favorite, I overindulged. The left over cake was taken to school with Casey and enjoyed by her and her friends (even though it didn't travel very well in the heat and was dropped in the parking lot[in the container]).


Casey is back for her sophomore year and I miss her. We had a nice trip up to school and worked hard to get her dorm room all set up. I think her room was full of character and a nice location.
Since the beginning of September we have been busy going to Greg's baseball games. This is about his 5th year playing fall ball and I have to say one of my favorite coaches. His coach Mark is such a nice guy and thinks the world of Greg. Of course, Greg is so coachable and willing to play any position and play it well. Mark has had him mostly catch and play third, but last Friday he had Greg pitch. Greg pitched 3 innings allowing 0 hits, facing 9 batters, and only throwing about 33 pitches. A fantastic outing. Mark was shocked.

The next day they had another game and Greg caught the entire game and played exceptionally well having many plays at the plate and catching a popup to end the game with a victory. He pitched again last night with less success, but his team's defense did not help him at all. He had 2 singles and a triple (which once again Larry missed because he got there late). The game ended in a tie, which was fine for as hard as both teams played. One thing that was so nice about this was that I was trying to take pictures of Greg through the netting and the other team's coach at third offered to take them for me. I passed the camera to him and he stood there taking pictures of Greg. I thought that was so nice.

I Miss You Dad

Hard to believe it's been 4 years. I miss that smile of yours and how you were always puttering around the house. Whenever, I work in the garden I think of all of the gardens that you planted and how you took such pride in it. Those years after your stroke must have been so hard on you when you lost something so dear to you - your ability to be out in the yard and the neighborhood.

This picture was taken when Dad was stationed in Japan. If you look closely at his shoes, they are Japanese slippers. The picture folio it was in is full of Japanese writings.