Sunday, April 7, 2013
April 7, 2013. Canyon Lake, Texas. Volleyball.
The standard of the volleyball games was high, especially for girls in the 8th and 9th grades. I was astonished at the caliber of their play. Starting at 12:30, Sarah and Abigail played in a volleyball tournament. It was club volleyball. For me, it was a wonderful event, because at any time throughout the afternoon and evening, I could watch volleyball games. Four courts were active all the time so if our team was not playing, there were four other options. We finally got home at 9:00. I think I had a better time than anyone.
Our club team is primarily the same team from school but many of the other teams are not associated with a school at all. The first game I saw was a neighborhood team and were mostly Hispanic. They wore red shorts and man, could they play. We left before the final was over but it looked as if they would win the tournament. But all the teams played well and they all looked like volleyball players with their skin tight shorts and long sleeved tight shirts. And of course, every girl wears knee pads. Everyone was enjoying the games, whether they were winning or losing. That is one of the virtues of sports. When the game is over, life continues on it's merry way, whether you won or lost.
It was quite an event. 12 teams in the tournament with each team guaranteed three games. 4 games being played at the same time. Massive numbers of parents and friends were there to cheer on their team so the gym was packed. Referees, linesman, score keepers were all at the ready. I loved every minute and both Sarah and Abigail played well. I did discover that neither of my grandchildren were perfect. What a shock!!
Our club team is primarily the same team from school but many of the other teams are not associated with a school at all. The first game I saw was a neighborhood team and were mostly Hispanic. They wore red shorts and man, could they play. We left before the final was over but it looked as if they would win the tournament. But all the teams played well and they all looked like volleyball players with their skin tight shorts and long sleeved tight shirts. And of course, every girl wears knee pads. Everyone was enjoying the games, whether they were winning or losing. That is one of the virtues of sports. When the game is over, life continues on it's merry way, whether you won or lost.
It was quite an event. 12 teams in the tournament with each team guaranteed three games. 4 games being played at the same time. Massive numbers of parents and friends were there to cheer on their team so the gym was packed. Referees, linesman, score keepers were all at the ready. I loved every minute and both Sarah and Abigail played well. I did discover that neither of my grandchildren were perfect. What a shock!!
Friday, April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013. Canyon Lake, Texas. Bees.
David has installed a frame inside his new office/garage where you will be able to observe the bees at work. A small opening to the outside allows the bees to come and go at will. It will have ten honeycomb frames when it is all up and running. The new bees will arrive next week. It will be great fun to observe the bees from the comfort of the garage but it will be a trick to get the bees into the new big hive.
The bees will arrive in the mail and while wearing his bee keeper outfit, David must, one by one, fit the five sets into the frame. He will do it outside, very carefully. When the glass has been installed in the garage, David will attach the hive to the frame on the wall, then slide the opening to the outside. Evidently, bees like the dark, so both sides of the hive will be covered with a board so the bees will be happy. But every so often, David will let us remove the board so we will be able to watch the bees at work making honey.
Several years ago, David read an article about allergies and honey. It said that if you eat a spoonful of local honey every day, your allergies will disappear, so David decided to raise bees. It has worked. Every day, each child takes their spoonful of honey and now they are no longer allergic. Magic and all because of the hard working bees, and of course to David's diligence.
The bees will arrive in the mail and while wearing his bee keeper outfit, David must, one by one, fit the five sets into the frame. He will do it outside, very carefully. When the glass has been installed in the garage, David will attach the hive to the frame on the wall, then slide the opening to the outside. Evidently, bees like the dark, so both sides of the hive will be covered with a board so the bees will be happy. But every so often, David will let us remove the board so we will be able to watch the bees at work making honey.
Several years ago, David read an article about allergies and honey. It said that if you eat a spoonful of local honey every day, your allergies will disappear, so David decided to raise bees. It has worked. Every day, each child takes their spoonful of honey and now they are no longer allergic. Magic and all because of the hard working bees, and of course to David's diligence.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
April 4, 2013. Canyon Lake, Texas. Softball 8th Grade.
I loved every minute of the game at Abigail's softball team. The girls in their spiffy uniforms looked terrific with their black baseball pants and orange knee socks and orange shirts. The opposing team looked even better, wearing white pants and dark blue shirts tucked into their white pants with their blue socks. But Abigail's team won, just barely. The girls looked great with their gloves and eye shades. The only problem is that they can't catch or throw well, which in softball is a problem. And the game is so complicated that learning all the rules is difficult.
Our team is up by three runs and we are at bat with the bases loaded with two out. The runner at second base moves off the base. The umpire waits for the pitch and immediately calls the runner out at second because she left the bag too soon. The inning ended but the culprit was dumbfounded. I heard her say to the coach, "I see that all the time in the baseball games. Nobody told me that rule."
A girl hits a pop fly that she thinks will roll foul so stands watching the ball instead of running to first base. The catcher runs to catch the ball but it bounces out of her glove while the catcher is on the field. The umpire calls Fair Ball. Finally, the batter begins to run to first but by then it was too late because the catcher threw the ball to the first baseman who tagged the runner out. "I thought it was going to roll foul", said the batter. Oops.
Watching an 8th grade softball game requires a sense of humor but the girls try hard and enjoy the game. Next year, Abigail will not play softball in the Spring. "Too much standing and waiting", says our Abigail. But I loved it!!
Our team is up by three runs and we are at bat with the bases loaded with two out. The runner at second base moves off the base. The umpire waits for the pitch and immediately calls the runner out at second because she left the bag too soon. The inning ended but the culprit was dumbfounded. I heard her say to the coach, "I see that all the time in the baseball games. Nobody told me that rule."
A girl hits a pop fly that she thinks will roll foul so stands watching the ball instead of running to first base. The catcher runs to catch the ball but it bounces out of her glove while the catcher is on the field. The umpire calls Fair Ball. Finally, the batter begins to run to first but by then it was too late because the catcher threw the ball to the first baseman who tagged the runner out. "I thought it was going to roll foul", said the batter. Oops.
Watching an 8th grade softball game requires a sense of humor but the girls try hard and enjoy the game. Next year, Abigail will not play softball in the Spring. "Too much standing and waiting", says our Abigail. But I loved it!!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
April 3, 2013. Canyon Lake, Texas. Simple Pleasures.
Ken and I have spent two afternoons this week watching Murdock Mysteries. Dave and Irene gave us the new discs for Christmas and we have saved them for just the right time. It seems as if we are playing hooky, when we watch in the middle of the day.
This simple pleasure starts with a nap. Normally we do not nap but we are both getting over our allergy sneezing and coughing problems so we both decided to take a nap both yesterday and today. It was a great and simple pleasure. Then we watched two episodes of the mystery each day. The plots are engaging plus the series were filmed in Hamilton and Toronto so we are always watching for places we recognize, which lends us added pleasure.
I had just read a review of the Murdock Mysteries in The Weekly Standard when the gift to us arrived. I was delighted. And I am more delighted now. We can't recall where we left the beginning of the series but eventually they will turn up. In the meantime, we are thoroughly enjoying the Murdock Mysteries in Canyon Lake on a rainy cool day. It is a perfect simple pleasure.
This simple pleasure starts with a nap. Normally we do not nap but we are both getting over our allergy sneezing and coughing problems so we both decided to take a nap both yesterday and today. It was a great and simple pleasure. Then we watched two episodes of the mystery each day. The plots are engaging plus the series were filmed in Hamilton and Toronto so we are always watching for places we recognize, which lends us added pleasure.
I had just read a review of the Murdock Mysteries in The Weekly Standard when the gift to us arrived. I was delighted. And I am more delighted now. We can't recall where we left the beginning of the series but eventually they will turn up. In the meantime, we are thoroughly enjoying the Murdock Mysteries in Canyon Lake on a rainy cool day. It is a perfect simple pleasure.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
April 2, 2013. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Deer.
Once upon a time, a river made a small canyon. The whole area was wooded except for the river at the bottom. The woods were full of deer. In the early 60s, the Corps of Engineers, made a dam which made a lake, now called Canyon Lake. It has been a huge success for the people who live and fish and swim and boat. The Texans think it is a big lake but it really is a small lake, at least by Ontario standards.
The deer are still here. They wander the streets and yards and eat everything in sight, except oleanders. The deer are very small, about as tall as your waist and they are very tame. Ken and I went for a walk this afternoon and the deer don't even move away as you walk not three feet in front of them. And they are sweet too. People feed the deer. When you bring groceries into the house, the deer are right close, waiting for a hand out, or rooting into the bags when you are not looking. Bit by bit the empty lots are being built on. What then will the deer do next? Right now, they hang out in the woods on the empty lots but soon there will be no empty lots. The lake has been great for the people but not so good for the deer.
The deer are still here. They wander the streets and yards and eat everything in sight, except oleanders. The deer are very small, about as tall as your waist and they are very tame. Ken and I went for a walk this afternoon and the deer don't even move away as you walk not three feet in front of them. And they are sweet too. People feed the deer. When you bring groceries into the house, the deer are right close, waiting for a hand out, or rooting into the bags when you are not looking. Bit by bit the empty lots are being built on. What then will the deer do next? Right now, they hang out in the woods on the empty lots but soon there will be no empty lots. The lake has been great for the people but not so good for the deer.
Monday, April 1, 2013
April 1, 2013. Canyon Lake, Texas. April Fool.
It is no joke. Both Ken and I like Texas. This afternoon we arrived at the lake house and we were both delighted to be here. Now I know that the house has a lovely view and that the facilities are comfortable but it is certainly not fancy but we do enjoy living here. We left the time share today due to the weather but Ken commented to me while sitting on the deck this evening that this view was certainly better here than in our little log cabin in Flint, Texas. He was right. It is better here, even though the hot tub is not working.
Perhaps we like Texas so much because it was the first place we lived in the US. In 1964, we drove with all our belongings in our new fancy car to Galveston. People were friendly and welcoming and we fit right in. We loved it, especially the warm evenings. It is always a bit chilly in the evenings in Ontario but in Texas, you could sit outdoors all evening without a sweater. We lived there 6 years. Both boys were born in Galveston. David gets great credit by being a BOI, born on the island, and attending Baylor for his MBA. Eventually, he tells the real story, that he only lived in Galveston for 11 months and returned for college and graduate school. But he is a true Texan and I think Ken and I are too. Now for the month of April, we will be living in Texas and we will enjoy every minute.
Perhaps we like Texas so much because it was the first place we lived in the US. In 1964, we drove with all our belongings in our new fancy car to Galveston. People were friendly and welcoming and we fit right in. We loved it, especially the warm evenings. It is always a bit chilly in the evenings in Ontario but in Texas, you could sit outdoors all evening without a sweater. We lived there 6 years. Both boys were born in Galveston. David gets great credit by being a BOI, born on the island, and attending Baylor for his MBA. Eventually, he tells the real story, that he only lived in Galveston for 11 months and returned for college and graduate school. But he is a true Texan and I think Ken and I are too. Now for the month of April, we will be living in Texas and we will enjoy every minute.
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