Tag: celebrations

Uppity Easter Softball Taught Me a Thing or Two

Uppity Easter Softball Taught Me a Thing or Two

Cousins are Cool!
Cousins are Cool!

Well, another Easter in the hollow has come and gone, but we had a great time in Blue Jay with loads of family and fun (and I have dozens of photos to prove it). We made a long weekend out of the holiday celebration and managed to cram in two entire days full of playing, eating and visiting with family.

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We dyed and hunted Easter eggs, played multiple games of Scrabble, played croquet, bashed a chick-shaped piñata and even got up an impromptu game of softball in the cow pasture. Ah, how we have progressed through the years — we actually used old burlap sacks instead of cow patties for the bases this year. How’s that for uppity?

After not playing softball since I got married almost 12 years ago, I have to tell you that I learned a few new things about the game this year. First, I never realized that playing softball took so many muscle parts to pull it off. I am so sore from head to toe that I’m either going to have to start playing more regularly or permanently retire my bat and glove. Since I don’t see the latter as a viable alternative, it looks like I’ll be hunting up a few folks for a rec team soon. Run while you can.

Secondly, I still got it, but I shouldn’t get it in cute little crop pants. I think I stopped every ball that headed toward me, but I’m not looking forward to washing the green smudges and mud spots off my knees. I liked getting dirty so much better when I wasn’t the one shouting out the stains.

Lastly, when you play softball over the age of 40, a bathroom break is required after you run the bases. In fact, I probably could have used one before I rounded third. . . but who cares when you’re focused on home.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend for family and I have a fabulous family to celebrate. Days like these make it so easy to thank God for His blessings and for His sacrifice.

 

My Perfectly Not-So-Romantic Valentine’s Day

My Perfectly Not-So-Romantic Valentine’s Day

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Well, I can’t say it was the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever, but it definitely was a good one because I got a little boy time, a little girl time and even a little just-me time.

I woke to Valentine wishes from my husband and son and the aroma of blooming paper whites and tulips before I  barely wiped the sleep from my eyes. I received two pots of flowers, two wonderful cards and one mega-fast portable phone charger. Utilitarian? Yes. Needed? Definitely! After all, I only gave my husband two mini boxes of candy and a folded slip of paper tucked inside a card. Okay, the paper had a big ol’ bass on it and a promissory note for an out-of-state fishing license. Romantic? Not really, but he thought it was pretty cool.

Since this was the second weekend of the month, which means Second Saturday Sewing at the church, my boys took me to breakfast at IHOP (which we now call Pancake City for some strange reason lost on me) before dropping me off for a morning of quilting and girl talk with the church ladies. It was a small group, but it’s always fun. Thankfully, I finally finished piecing the quilt started over three years ago (no thanks to a Jo-Ann’s quilting class) and I started the border.

After my boys picked me up, we had a quick lunch and both of them went down for a nap. I weighed my options and decided to set up shop in the basement and continue sewing. By the time the boys awoke two hours later, I was sewing the last of my border pieces and was thrilled (and I do mean, very excited) to finally complete my quilt top! Next step? Pull out The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Quilting. Yes, I own it.

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The day was capped off with a botched attempt to eat at Dave & Buster’s by a really large crowd and a  very rude patron, but dinner was salvaged by Chick-Fil-A, which is always a winner for our son.

Chicken nuggets + Indoor playground A good time.

 

photo credit: Catrin Austin  via photopin (license) and altered by Small Talk Mama

Spreading Last Year’s Christmas Cheer

Spreading Last Year’s Christmas Cheer

While we might have used some “warmer” days to decorate our home’s exterior for the holidays, the inside has yet to see a lick of Christmas cheer. Things are about to change today but who knows how long the whole decking of the halls could take, so I located a few photos of last year’s decor to share with you today. I hope it gets you in the mood to throw a little tinsel or beautify some boughs of holly of your own.

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I used artificial greenery, pinecones and splashes of red to create a simple but welcoming entrance.
That’s my old childhood sled leaning by the door and I purchased those white ice skates several years ago just for this purpose.

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 I love the vintage toy soldiers and Santa that light up the yard at night.
Our son loves those silly little gel clings and moves them around the windows all season long.

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 The fireplace is decked with greenery and pinecones, which is the perfect backdrop for stockings, angels and of course the Christmas tree.

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