That Great American Past-Time

Its been quite hot and humid for the last while. That means we hide in the house in the air conditioning as much as possible. Then yesterday early in the day a storm came through, rained on everything and brought some much cooler air behind it.  Since there was a baseball tournament going on here in town we decided to get out in the cooler air and take in a game. We had no idea when who was playing or who anyone was playing so we decided to just take our chances and show up at one of the bigger fields in the area.

So as it turned out we got to see about a game and a half, including the home team.  The home team was the second game so we got to see it all.  Pretty good, eh?  So we got there around 7:00 and two teams from out of the area were battling it out.  Actually, one was beating the other quite badly, though they were not shutting them out.  That game ended ten to three.

We got to see lots of action and these teams were at a level that a lot of the playing was pretty good.

Lots of pitching.  Didn't see any batters get hit. I guess that was good.  Did see a pitcher get hit once.  Another near miss.

Lots of balls.

A good number of strikes.

I thought the umps were pretty good.  Personally, I like to watch the umps as  much as anything else in the game.  A dramatic ump can be real fun to watch.

Lots of style in the pitchers.  They each have their own little "dance" they do to get the ball to the plate.  I find it amazing their arms don't just fall off by the end of the time they're pitching.  I guess they do get pretty sore and beat up.  There was one that kept losing his balance at the end of his pitch and a couple of times nearly fell down.

Saw some hits, they are the exciting parts of the game - how far will the runner get? Saw plenty of good plays out at the bases.

Saw some good plays at first base.

And quite a few home runs.  In the end, the home team did skunk the team they played seven to zero. At the last play of the game the ump mercifully called a catch at first out and ended the game.  But you know how umps are; they're blind.  It looked safe to me. 

It was a good time. The tournament is going all weekend.  We will probably go back tonight and take in another game.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Four years ago we sent Stachelbeere off on a mission to the Marshal Islands.  Two years we didn't see him.  Then he came home and within just a few weeks he took off to go to school out west. Those few weeks went by so quickly it seemed like he was just barely here and then suddenly he was gone again. Then the school year ended and instead of coming home for the summer he stayed with his brother and got a job for the summer out west. Can't say that I blame him, summer jobs at the time were pretty hard to come by here where we live. So he rode his bike every day and worked, saving money for school.  Then summer was over and he was back in school.  Even though he transferred to a different school, or at least a different campus of the same school, it wasn't around here so he was back in school and off again. This time so far away that he wasn't able to come home for any of the holidays. So when summer came this year we decided we needed to have the boy come home for a visit.  And he cooperated and came home. It was so good to see him.

So while he was here we played and those of his siblings that were close enough came to visit.  We went out to the lake a couple of times. He got to get reacquainted with the oldest of his nephews.

Got to meet one that was born while he was in the Marshal Islands that he really hadn't seen much at all before heading off to school.

And got to meet some that he had never met before, they were born while he was off to school.

And we got to celebrate his birthday while he was here. He took a bit of ribbing when he managed to blow out all the candles on his birthday cake (cheese cake, actually). That meant no girlfriends, or so the tradition goes. Maybe the shirt he got was appropriate even if less than helpful.

All too soon it was time to go back to school. He's finishing a semester and then working again so we're not sure when the next time we'll get to see him will be. But it was such a good visit. He has matured so much in these last four years while he's been away. He's a totally different person than when he graduated from high school five years ago.  Still quiet and reserved but much more able to see what needs to be done and step up and do it.  As parents its our job to worry about all our kids, and we do.  But seeing the change in him over these last few years we worry a lot less about him, or at least about different things. That will probably always be the case for all the kids.

And then, all too soon, we were at the airport dropping him off for the long flight back to school. 

Next time we must make sure we don't wait four years before we see him again.

Pizza on the Grill

We had a house full tonight because, in addition to Stachelbeere being here from school, Blaubeere and her kids came over and Erdbeere and her son came up to visit.  So its been hot here the last few days, hot and humid, and we didn't want to run the stove because that would heat up the house.  So Blaubeere had the excellent idea of trying to make pizza on the grill.  Excellent idea!  So she started from scratch and made dough.  Home-made pizza is so much better than anything you can buy and Blaubeere is such a good cook!

So once the dough was all ready it was out to the grill.  She spread it out on a cookie sheet to carry it out and then carefully slid it onto the grill.

After the dough had cooked long enough she slid it back off, turned it over and stated putting toppings on.

 

After all the toppings were on she slid it back onto the grill to melt the cheese and let it all blend it all together.  After it had been on long enough to melt the cheese it came off and it was time to eat.  She made two, one that was just cheese and the other that was chicken, peppers and cheese.  Soooo good you can't imagine!

An Afternoon at the Lake

Being a summer holiday and all we decided to go to the lake and do some kayaking and swimming.  It was a real nice afternoon, not too hot, and the bug didn't come out until after the sun got down so it was a very nice time.



Only one kayak in our family so we had to take turns.  After some discussion, it was decided and Schwarzbeere got to be first.  I know, youngest, etc.  All that stuff.  Actually it was an easy decision and off he went.

This was not a big lake we were on, maybe 30 acres. So they paddle out and back and its a good ride. Nobody went clear to the other side but they all did go way out there.

Stachelbeere went next. He probably went farther out than anyone else. 

 



 

Brombeere went last, with lots of help.  I like how these boys are so helpful with their mother, even if its questionable at the time exactly how much help they are. 



We only stayed about an hour; the bugs got bad, especially near the shore.  But it was a very good time.  A peaceful, restful time (as paddeling the kayak is).  It was a good way to spend a day of the holiday.