Grateful Friday

This Week I give thanks for...

T. Bone as Dionysus this week for a Greek God project toga and all.  Unfortunaltely, he refused to be photographed.

Words of wisdom from your children.  If you love what you do it's not work my son told me.  Then he went on to say, If I'm in the MLB, I'm going to love baseball.  If I'm a painter, I'm going to love painting.  I hope that is always the way he feels.

Miss Bit ran the mile in 9:52.  She was dreading it.  It took me back to middle school : the first time we ran the mile in gym class.  I hated it...and I had run plenty of miles before.  There was just something about that track and those 4 laps that were brutalizing.  So Yay!  She's done.

Khaled Hosseini just released a new novel.  And The Mountains Echoed should be in my mailbox in a couple days.  I am thinking about starting a book club again, and I think this would be the perfect kick off novel.

My friend is recovering from surgery and awaiting important news.  I'm going to be most grateful if it is good news.  He's due for some.

I learned how to use the gas grill!  The chicken looked and tasted as if it had been cooked by a master griller if I don't say so myself.

Neighbors who come through for you every time you ask.

Sweet lilacs.

Miss Bit was responsible for 2 RBIs in last night's game.

A weekend of baseball and bbqs.  T. Bone has a tournament all day Sunday.  I am grateful because I missed every one of his games last weekend.  This tournament is much closer.
 
Summer fruits.  We ate an entire bowl of green grapes in a matter of a day or two.  It's a good thing too because they were like $9!  The nectarines and raspberries are also all gone.

This mother/daughter journal.  I think this will be a great mode of communication between me and Miss Bit.

I finished This Is Not The Story You Think It Is...A Season of Unlikely Happiness
in less than 24 hours so it is safe to surmise that I loved it.  I took from it many nuggets which I may expound upon later, but this is the one that I think about sums it up for me:  It all comes down to this: love and fear.  And love is greater than fear.

I will pick up Katrina Kenison's Magical Journey from the library today for the long weekend although I expect this to be a quick read as well.

Somewhat impromptu plans with my oldest friend for dinner just the two of us tonight.  We don't do this enough even though we could and should.  I am very much looking forward to an evening of uninterrupted girl talk.

A long weekend.

Coach has off Tuesday.  I'm off until Thursday!

What A Difference A Day Makes

My alarm, not my cat, woke me from my dream this morning.  I was in Hawaii.  Glorious...eh?  Except I was at that part of my vacation that seems to present itself over and over again in my dreams.  The part : it is time to leave paradise NOW and I haven't done or seen a thing during my stay.  Subtle wouldn't you say?

Today is damp and chilly.  I'm marinating in the sentiment of what a difference a day makes.  It's always true.  I am wishing I'd taken time to make sun tea yesterday. At least I won't bake along with my rotten bananas when I make bread later.  I was so looking forward to another sweaty, breezy walk around the park today, but instead I'll visit my elliptical in the basement and probably Downton Abbey too.  It no longer seems like a good day to visit the nursery in search of my elusive, yet beloved strepto carpella.  That's fine really because I picked up Laura Munson's This Is Not The Story You Think It Is...from the library yesterday, and I'm a little anxious to get into it.  I haven't lost myself in a good read for a few weeks so I'm due.   But,  universe you must know that I'd much prefer to do so while basking in the rays and sipping my sun tea.

be.here.now.

I cannot hold my peace, John Keats;

There never was a spring like this;

It is an echo, that repeats

My last year's song and next year's bliss.

From To John Keats, Poet, at Spring Time

Countee Cullen

Today it's raining pink petals.  Last night as I was waiting to drift off, I heard the distant rumble and roar of thunder.  The clamor didn't keep me awake though.  On the contrary, it lulled me to sleep: a heavy, laden sleep that lasted straight through until the sun started to blaze a trail across my bed and the birds resumed their avian choir although not in that order.  The truth is the birds start squawking and chirping long before the sun seems to be on the rise in the morning.  Last night's fast moving storm is the cause of  today's crab apple deflowering.  Nature is quixotically unforgiving like that...harsh and beautiful at the same time, both severe and soft, granting peace one moment and rendering havoc the next.  There is such tame precision and also such wild abandon everywhere I look.  The mystery of it all eludes me, but not more than it fascinates me.

Well, hello Baltimore Oriole....welcome back little visitor.  Just this morning my girl was telling me she had seen a bright orange bird in a friend's yard so I've been watching for you...scanning the trees that are leafy green explosions in just the last few days.  I am intrigued by the return of migratory birds, and humbled by spring storms, and awed by the way Miss Bit's bleeding heart has gone from a bare stalk to a flowering beauty in one week's time.  There is just quite something about the design of things that gives me pause.

Today I stopped during my walk to smell some fresh blooming lilacs, to watch a bluebird in all his brilliance flit through the treetops, and to spy on a mossy backed turtle on a log.  He was a big one...as big as I've seen in the lagoon.  The breeze is warm and welcoming, but the winds are picking up as the day progresses. My chimes are exuberantly singing.  Big thunderheads are building overhead as cool air meets warmer air.  Tonight there will likely be more rain.

Miss Bit asked me this morning where I would live if I could live anywhere.  Anywhere in the whole wide world.  Her answer was Florida...beside the sea.  Today I would have to say that I would live right here and nowhere else.

A Glimpse

 Early blooms.

 Ponding is snailing today...there's no more escargot in our near future I'm afraid.

Watching these ducklings was sweet...so sweet that I doubt we'll be dining on roast duck either.

  A little shore stroll...we had the beach mostly to ourselves.

These trees are too tempting to resist.

 Getting up close and personal with Orion made up for every frog and turtle we didn't meet.

The gatekeeper.

 Happy hour...Palomas and potato skins on the patio.

 Backdoor beggars.

2 day pass

it's sunday afternoon.
i cleaned the whole house, did a mountain of laundry and changed all the sheets and there are still hours of daylight on the horizon.
the pork chops for dinner are already marinating.
all the windows are open and jackson brown just came on pandora.
in case you don't get it...this is pretty much bliss.
miss bit is playing with her friend who came for a sleepover last night and is still here.
i have to keep calling and texting her mom to extend the visit because they are having so much fun.
their continuous giggles let me know just where they are:.up in the crab apple tree in the front, on the trampoline out back, in the playroom in the basement, up in bit's room.
the boys are on their way home from a baseball tournament.
1 win and 1 loss for the day...same as yesterday.
t. bone is not the least bit unhappy because now he can golf with uncle b. bone.
he has a whole new golf wardrobe and some new to him clubs too so he has been crazy to get on the course.
i doubt coach is bothered either because his entire weekend revolved around baseball.
he's plenty passionate about this pastime, but 3 days and nights gets to be a little much even for him.
plus the grass needs to be cut.
yesterday was a shout out of a day too.
miss bit had a baseball practice of her own so we opted out of spectating at the tournament an hour away.
then we went to our favorite place to pond, but it was a little cool and cloudy so the water creatures were scarce.
we lucked out though because the raptors were all out on the trails for photo ops.
we didn't pay the fee for the privilege of photographing the awesome birds of prey, but we were able to hang out with the great horned owl, the barn owl, and the kestrels.
and maybe i was bold enough to take a picture of my favorite...orion.
we headed to the beach to try and catch up with the bald eagle as well, but we just missed him.
to cheer me up, my girl searched the shore for a heart shaped rock.
it's our thing and special.
i don't want to sound weird or anything, but i sort of felt very blessed to be in the close, intimate presence of these birds.
it was way better than the time i met charlie sheen in an airport or saw woody allen on the streets of nyc or was shopping in the same store as joanne woodward, paul neuman and their dogs in new haven, ct.
bit and i came home and worked together to prep for dinner.
we are quite the culinary team.
it's so lovely too because it's moved beyond the it's more work and mess to have her help to the point where i dislike cooking without my incredibly pleasant and helpful sidekick.
she chops, stirs, tastes, cleans...she'll do anything really and with a smile.
my brother and sil showed up while it was still nice enough to sit on the patio with a cocktail and toast a sublime saturday night.
i juiced a pile of ruby reds and a few limes, and made a simple syrup for the sake of the cocktail of the eve: the paloma.
we decided it is a more sophisticated margarita and a make again.
the boys grilled up a true summer smorgasbord.
we rounded out the meal with sweet corn on the cob, a salad and those same homemade onion rings i'm still shamelessly addicted to.
t. bone went to bed without dinner.
after 3 ball games, he was too tired to eat.
this has been the quintessential early summer weekend and it has been such a blessing.
van morrison is on now.
and to think we have a summer's worth of weekends still in cue.

Grateful Friday

Today I give thanks for...

Miss Bit's prowess on the softball field and what a game well played has done for her love of the game.

Teachers who take the time to make a difference in our kids' lives.  There are so many, but this week we felt and applauded the contributions of the music teachers.  T. Bone's choir director does such a great job encouraging and teaching the kids, and showcasing their talents all while keeping it fun.  This week's program featured mostly pop music like Shakira, Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.  My favorite was when they sang Blackbird.  I love that song and used to sing it to T. Bone when he was a baby.

A chat with Miss Bit's teacher about placement next year.  I'm thankful that she sees what I see and that we can communicate openly.

No more store bought lunch meat filled with preservatives and sodium.  I baked a turkey breast for sandwiches this week.  It's easier and better in taste, texture and quality.

Yogapris.  It's what Miss Bit calls her capri length yoga pants...duh!

The Great Gatsby is finally in the theaters.  I suspect that the movie will be even more entertaining than Fitzgerald's classic novel.

Finally getting serious with regard to my need for a new camera.  I'm ready to take the plunge.

Smoothies for breakfast.  My favorite is coconut milk, kefir, a banana, 6 or so frozen strawberries, 1/2 a pear, 1 T. chia seeds and 1 T. ground flaxseed.  I think I may start adding kale or spinach too.

Resilience.

My son's confident nature.  I'm thankful that he is secure, yet humble not haughty.  Pretty handsome too!

 
Open window, middle of the day naps and birdsong wafting through the breeze.

Bluebirds in the park during my walks this week. I understand why they are a symbol of happiness.  I feel it when I see them.

Mother's Day cards made with love from my two.  They each gave me a new cookbook too.

Plans to hike the Audubon with my girl tomorrow morning.  We'll wear old shoes and bring our nets for ponding.

Lots of baseball the next couple days.  The boys have their first tournament team event.

Miss Bit and her friend are outside right now playing catch.  They are on rival teams, but they cheer one another on.

There was a message from Miss Bit's coach on the machine today telling us that she will be honorably mentioned in next week's local newspaper.

It's going to be a beautiful weekend, but it's the perfect damp and chilly night for lounging in my yogapris while I write and enjoy a glass of wine.

Keeping It Real

Apparently both T. Bone and his personal shopper/laundress/stylist missed the memo on wearing a bright colored shirt for last night's choir concert.  Yep, that's my boy in the crisp blinding white golf shirt!  He was one of two out of a hundred plus in such stark attire so he was easy to pick out of the middle school crowd.  What I love about him is that he was completely oblivious to his non-conformity, and then when it was brought to his attention: utterly unflappable.  He is in no short supply of confidence.

If you forgive the fuzziness of this photo and simply observe the body language of these three, you can not mistake the way they feel about missing baseball.  For the hour and a half they were glued to the risers  instead of their bases, Coach was good enough to keep them apprised of scores.  I believe it may have been harder for him to miss the game than the players. Go figure.