weekend recap, september 30

1. Friday meeting | 2. September sky | 3. Fire pit meeting | 4. Starting pitcher | 5. Ballpark food | 6. At bat | 7. Beagle on board | | 8. Black & White Beach | 9. Blowing in the wind | 10. Windowsill herbs | 11. Tiny project | 12. Seeds | 13. Autumn leaves | 14. Kitchen witchcraft | 15. Football food

Well hello there lovelies! I've missed you guys. Even though I posted on Friday, it feels like it's been forever, doesn't it? And about Friday. I want to thank you all, so much, for your thoughtful words of support about my classes. Through your emails and comments and the dear friends I have here, I really do feel lifted up and well, okay.  That it's not personal. That I just keep plugging, and we'll see. Teaching classes like these is one of my life-long dreams, so I'll keep putting myself out there and trying. Someday it has to work out, right?

But enough about that? We had a B.U.S.Y. weekend. Lordy. A hangout with our neighbors and the first fire pit of the season on Friday is one of the many, many reasons why I love fall so very much. The chill in the air, and the smell of wood smoke permeating our clothes. It's so easy to lose track of time completely. But we were up and at it early for a double header on Saturday. YIKES! That's a glorious amount of baseball.

Fall baseball is the instructional league, and every kid gets a chance to try something new or get better at different positions. It doesn't mean they don't want to win, but winning is almost secondary to learning at this time of year. Almost.  Still, let me just say that it did not help the headache I already had to learn that Cal would start as pitcher in our first game.

I gotta say, he held it together better than I did, and he was throwing some good pitches (especially given the fact that he hadn't pitched in about two years), but it was HARD to watch. Let's just say I was glad to see him back at 3rd where he's much more comfortable. I'm proud of the poise he showed.  

We took Lucy back to the beach early Sunday morning. Cal was at a sleepover and when we picked him up, he asked, "Did she get in the water?" 
"Yes!" 
"Good girl!" he said, rubbing her head.
"One paw."
"Oh."

Poor Lucy. Still, there's so much to sniff there, her nose is constantly covered in sand! 

And as always, I'm having fun taking pictures. I'm working on a couple of projects right now. Photo #11 (above) is part of one that I just started with a couple of friends in my Thursday Morning Photography Group (now on Fridays). We're playing on Instagram, and after we get a few rounds under our belts (that shot was the first), I'll fill you in on the details. I've also been having fun continuing to play with black and white, both on Instagram and with my big camera. I'll share some shots and thoughts on that tomorrow.

I guess when I get stuck thinking about these classes, I need to just get my camera in my hand. My photo meetings are so good, and so inspiring. Those are the things I need to remember. It's about the photographs and honing my skills and pushing myself creatively. If I keep doing that, the rest will come. That's what faith's all about, I suppose

weekend recap, september 23

1. Friday hike | 2. Night light | 3. Day light | 4. First Landing | 5. In a row | 6. Autumn at the Beach | 7. Lucy meets the water  | 8. First at bat | 9. Making it matter | 10. Cocktail | 11. Breakfast sandwich | 12. Sweet ride | 13. Cal | 14. Buster | 15. Easy Sunday

It was good. We all seem to have nabbed Cal's slight cold, but otherwise, I'd clock this weekend as a good one. I'm back on my hike routine with my dear friend Tracy and that was pretty much the highlight of my Friday. I wish I could take you guys with me sometime. Wouldn't that be fun? 

Neel came home from work to find a new stretchy leash sitting on the counter. When he asked what it was for, I said, "I'm taking Lucy to the beach tomorrow. You're more than welcome to come with me if you want." It was at least the 3rd weekend that I'd wanted to go for a walk on the beach and we hadn't. I was tired of that. So we got up on Saturday and took Lucy to the beach.

I loved it. 

She remains uncertain. 

Saturday afternoon Cal had his first baseball game of the season. He's playing Little League Fall Ball, which is pretty low key. It's an instructional league, and it's giving Cal some much needed at-bats. His team had only had two practices before Saturday's game, and, well, it showed. But here's the thing. Our kids (boys AND girl) are a bunch of scrappy 13 and 14 year olds playing against SIXTEEN YEAR OLDS. Need I say more?

Those big kids had a lot of swagger. They sauntered up to the plate. They jawed with their coach (not impressed). They jawed with the smattering of parents and friends in the stands. There weren't many of us there, and since at the start of the game the sun was shining directly on the bleachers on the 3rd base side (where the visiting team generally sits)  a lot of us were sitting on the 1st base line. Parents from both sides chatted and talked. It was all very friendly; these games are more often than not.

One of our kids drew a walk, and I cheered. (To be honest, there was little to cheer for for our guys, so we were taking what we could get.) The catcher from the other team (yes, you read that right) , takes off his mask and says to me, "Wait, are you for them?"

"Yes. I am." 

"Why are you sitting on this side? You should be sitting on that side," and he cocks his head back to the 3rd base line. 

Do I need to remind you that this is the TEENAGE PLAYER FOR THE OTHER TEAM?

Perhaps, given the distance, he didn't see my eyebrows go up as I said, "I can sit anywhere I want, darling." 

Cal was next at bat.  

It's possible that I embarrassed myself with how loud I whistled and cheered when he batted in two runs with a double that went over 300 feet. Perhaps.

Boy earned himself some wings for dinner that night. And you know what? Even he and his teammates noticed how disrespectful that other team was to their coach during and after the game. They lost, but they learned a lot and they improved over the course of the afternoon, even. I'll take a loss like that, where our kids hold their heads up and respect the men who come to coach them over a sloppy win any day.

Back to the beach Sunday morning. This time to meet my friend (and photographer crush) Kim and her husband and their dog Buster. Lucy is still uncertain, but she's getting there. We might even let her off leash next week. She can't run too far, right? 

Back Friday, my sweets! This is my last week off. Promise! XOXO