Tag: life

Sports Parents

Forgive me this, another gripe…
My son plays for a Babe Ruth league.
He’s also played soccer and basketball
on several levels
and my daughter was an AAU Basketball player.
I have seen so much bad behavior among parents over the years
that I have little patience any more…
I’m supposed to go to a baseball game this afternoon..
and I love to watch my son in action,
but I loathe the bad behavior I might see in the adult section of the ballfield.
It’s difficult for me to keep my mouth shut
when I hear parents  ridiculing the performance of other people’s children
or complaining about coaches or umpires.
Just as bad – parents who get into arguments with opponent  parents
while the kids sit back and watch.. probably in horror!
What are we teaching our kids?..
It ranks right up there with people who put their personal grievances
with family or friends on facebook for all to see.
This T-shirt?  Says it all.
It should be a requirement that this list of rules be prominently
posted in every little league field, every basketball court,
every soccer field, tennis court, lacrosse field, etc. etc. etc.
 Just sayin.


Rain

We’re talking buckets.
..and speaking of rain…
Since it’s pouring here, I’ve had time to glance through some magazines…
 I don’t normally feel awfully sorry for celebrities
when they go through their hookups, makeups and breakups.
So often it seems so superficial, so plastic, so fleeting.
They ARE, however, emotional baggage just like the rest of us…
and THIS time I have to say,  I feel sorry for Tom Cruise.
Holy cow, talk about being blindsided. 
Some are offended by the Scientology thing…
I don’t know, is it really hurting anyone?
I’m not going to make any friends here, but
I think Catholicism has done worse harm, and I was raised a catholic.
The celebrity life?  The Entourage? 
Hey, it came with the territory, she knew that from the get-go
and actually she wanted IN on it.  
Maybe I’m alone in this,
but I think Katie was really cold in her handling of this particular celebrity split.
No…Arctic.
I’m getting tired of this barage of her well-planned publicity stunts.
Her NEW face is everywhere!…
the multiple photo shoots, interviews, etc…
all coordinated to appear at just the right time –
immediately after her phone call that shattered more than just some dreams.
A phone call. A PHONE CALL. 
While the guy is at work, after you’ve just paid a visit.  
Really, Katie?  You couldn’t talk face to face?
And just as fast as that hang-up,
the end.
Dad swooped in and cleaned up any aftermath.
Actually, it sounds as if he orchestrated the whole thing.
I’m not sure why I’m so offended…
I know this stuff happens every day
and she obviously was an unhappy woman.
 It was the method that I find appauling
and I wonder if she sleeps at night.  
Into each life, a little rain must fall
so they say.
Tom, I wish you the best, dude…
and although there might be a little weirdness on occasion…
I’ve enjoyed watching your star rise through the years..
I adored your couch jumping antics
and although I may not be in the majority,
I think you totally rocked this look.

You asked for it

   Margaret will be thrilled to know she has sparked such curiosity… actually she will probably be embarassed and think she’s done nothing to deserve any fuss… however, I know better.  Margaret has also raised five boys and helped her now deceased husband run a family business.  She still hosts get-togethers for her church group and once dressed as a lady of the night for a halloween party.  I believe that was just a few years ago.  

 SO!… Write your questions for Margaret in the comments section below and I will ask her to give me a brief interview.  I have been blessed with having been acquainted with several wonderful women as I’ve raised my family in this town… learning a little from each as I go.  They are all talented and generous in different ways and have endured life’s ups and downs with a grace and sense of humor I wish we all possessed.  Liz, Carol Ann, Marg,  BJ… you know who you are.

Neigh-bors

My girl and I took Coady & Lacey
down the driveway and across the street to
visit with our good neighbor, Margaret.
Our minis have been to nursing homes
and rehabilitation centers with me to visit those
who can’t get out into the world like they used to..
therapy horses, they were.
I haven’t done that work in years
and sometimes I miss it.
 At 89 years young, Margaret still takes care of her own home
and we feel lucky to have her as a neighbor.
She’s always got a positive outlook on life. 
 Just look at her lovely garden. 
While we stood there grazing  horses and talking,
hummingbirds were swarming the feeders and flowers.
I always leave her yard with a feeling of peace.
Some people just have the ability to put you at ease…
to remind you of the simple graces in life.
She’s one of those for sure.

Ramble along with me, won’t you?

 On the face of it, we had a great weekend… lots of summer activities, good food, great weather.  I am grateful for every single day that are able to enjoy the good things in our lives.  This weekend’s snapshots below…

The Mr. harvesting onions… 
and talking business with someone.

Did you know that the onion plant grows a beautiful globe flower?….

and this is what they look like at ground level… ready to harvest.
When the tall leaves fall over, they’re done.

We went to the Chester Sunday Market again…
the men in this house are in love with the belgian chocolate milk we get
from Smyth Dairy and the artisan bread from a local baker…
Look at these beautiful carrots…
And this really big dog!  There are dog water bowls here and there
throughout the market, I just think that’s awesome.
Such a community vibe, kudos to those who put this idea together.

This is my stash….

and it went into last night’s campfire bundles…
recipe here   http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Campfire-Bundles
You can use any variation on veggies…

There was another bonfire up on the hill….
These kids have all been friends since kindergarten..

I hope they’ll always remain good friends..
one of the jewels among the thorns in the crown of life.
They gathered again on Sunday at the Brownstone Quarry..
We did some of this…

..and there was some intense baby bunny watching…

..wonderful weekend, but I couldn’t get away from
something that’s been bothering me for some time now.
A small group of people in a particular political party
have turned debate on any big issues we have before us
here in this town, into a nasty spectacle.
They slander, they accuse, they use scare tactics
and personally attack those who are trying either through
elected office or through volunteer work  – to improve
conditions on many levels here in town.
It’s one thing to disagree and state your grievances and concerns..
quite another to personally attack, slander, spew out misinformation
and leave comments on news forums that are snyde and sarcastic.
Ironic that the ones who complain the most are not often
the ones who are actually trying to do something to fix the problems.
Sad that this is the climate in our little town…
 and the problem isn’t just here.
 
On a similar note…have you watched The Newsroom yet?
If you have the time and are so inclined, watch this video below…
..just a few minutes long.
It’s disturbing, yes… but profound as well.
tell me what you think.
But please, be kind in your response. 
http://youtu.be/lIffq85zMI4

He did it again!

I haven’t looked up at the sky yet this evening,
but when I do I’m sure I’ll find a blue moon up there
and three unicorns out in the fields
with purple and green  good karma waves buzzing all around us…
…because the Mr. agreed to another kayak ride,
yes he did, no foolin.
..and on a WORK DAY!
OK, it was early evening,
but still.. this is an accomplishment, folks.
I’ll take what I can get.
For those of you who live near the shoreline,
we started at the little launch area near the base of 145(the bridge) in Westbrook
and paddled all the way down to the marina area
 next to Bill’s Seafood and the singing bridge.
This is himself, all still and zen-like…
 enjoying the osprey and blue heron viewing along the shore… 
It rained hard this morning, making the brackish water murky.
There were hundreds of fiddler crabs on those muddy banks.

This is the railroad bridge….

We went under it…and looking back you can see the train coming across…
Now if I had my GOOD camera, this would have been an awesome shot.

In certain areas the water was smooth as glass…
hard to explain the peace I feel out there. 

 An Osprey nest.. there were several..
this one had baby birds peeking over the side and mom and dad
flying in and out with fish.
 It’s a beautiful thing.

Morning Light

It’s my favorite part of the day…
when the world is just waking up.
I’m up at 5am, just about always..
for no good reason other than
it is what it is.
When I was young it was the sound of the cicadas on
a summer morning,
 or the garbage truck clanking down the road
with the sound of metal pails being tossed aside.
(good ole City of New York sanitation doesn’t care that it’s 6am)
Here on the farm it’s the dew on the grass and flowers..
the restless whinny of the horses
when they spy me ambling up the hill,
chickens clucking for treats right behind me.  
Even on the rare occasion that we take a vacation…
I’m always first up.
If we’re on the Vineyard
 I  walk down Water Street in Edgartown
in search of coffee at Espresso Love, joining other early risers
who are doing the same.
We used to visit my grandmother
on Panama City Beach…The memory
that stays with me the clearest is
the  morning jogs up Surf Drive…
listening to pool maintenance crews
and sidewalk sweepers do their thing,
the smell of salt and chlorine and the grind of sand underfoot.
There’s a certain peace in the early hours..
but what I love  most …. is the light.

Red, White and Blue

“As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.”
 – George Washington
I hope so too, Mr. President.
 As screwed up as this country seems at times,
we’re still in far greater shape than many out there…
I am grateful and I hope we persevere.
Happy Freedom Day, All –
I’m making one of these versions today for tomorrow’s family picnic…

Sport’n Short

 I’ve had longish hair for most of my life…
except for when my mother imposed that hideous
Pixie cut on me back in the day.
Between sporting the Pixie and
those striped matching  Danskin outfits…
you know.. that weird material kind that never wrinkled, EVER?…
..I still bear the emotional wreckage.
Love you, Mom!
So….
a few weeks ago I looked in the mirror and saw
a scraggly haired middle aged woman
whos face looked a bit pulled downward.
Gravity is not our friend as we begin to age…
and it was plain as day that I was avoiding
something that needed doing.
That little voice inside.. you know the one..
said loud and clear…
The HAIR, Karen… DO something about THE HAIR.
Normally this decision is made over long periods of time
as I hem and haw and browse magazines and celebrity pics
searching for that much needed haircut.
Somehow, the two times a year I might have wandered into the salon…
…no matter what the picture was that I had in my lap…
my insistence that it still stay “longish” worked against me
and I didn’t look much different coming out. 
I think it’s sort of a shield, the longer hair.. a layer of protection
between you and the bad stuff. 
 Or something.  
ANYWAY.
a few weeks ago I said.. enough.
I called my kids’ hair stylist because she’s really really cool.. just ask them..
and she said.. how about 3pm!
TODAY??… (gulp)
Yes, today!
crap.  
And so THAT VERY DAY.. I went in.
No plan!  No pictures! Just did it.
And I said… Just cut it. ….Shorter. ….I mean it.
She meant it too…
With the very first snip there were four inches of hair in her hand.
and you know?  It’s just liberating.

The above is when I put effort into the cut…
This below is the reality most of the time.
Still messy yet uplifting in some spiritual way I haven’t yet been
able to put into words. 
I feel LIGHTER….
and lighter is good.  

Today the temps are supposed to soar to godawful.
So I picked peas and squash before high noon…

and I think I’m going to make these tonight…

recipe HERE

Let them eat cake

I love cakes, cupcakes…. send me to a good bakery
and I am a happy girl.. especially with a good cup of coffee in hand.
(although now that I’m eating gluten free it just really sucks to be there)
I also like to bake, and the creative side of me loves
 the funky decorated kind.
With Fathers Day rolling around, I got to thinking about cakes again.
Mike likes his cake real simple.
..but just look at the fun cake designs I found on the web…

This one is just so beautiful I had to throw it in.

Do you have a fathers day tradition for the Dad/husband/father in your life?