Friday Night Lights - the Extended Version

Since we moved back to Indiana in 2006, our Fall Friday nights have been spent at football games and watching Craig's high school play. This year is different. For us, football begins on Thursday and extends to Monday nights.

Thursday Night Lights

Late Thursday afternoons are spent watching Ian play for his middle school team. He plays defense and has made some good plays for his team.

Since the roster was handed out publicly to hundreds of people at the game, I probably don't need to cover up the kids' names, but I'm still cautious. Since I had that scammer a few days ago  I feel less inclined to put things online in a public format. Especially kids' names. 

It was 90 degrees and despite a lovely woods on the far side of the stadium, we faced directly into the sun. We were hot, the players were hot, the cheer squad was hot.

The final score was 0-14 with Ian's team winning. I don't think that I have ever been so glad to get back into an air conditioned car!

Friday Night Lights

This past weekend was Homecoming for West Lafayette High School. 

And that meant that Craig was invited to the alumni BBQ and other festivities.

When Craig was named to the Best of 100 Years Football Team a few years ago, Sarah had tee shirts made for him and our family to wear as we cheered for him when he was honored. He wore that tee for Friday night.

And he walked in the alumni parade between the first and second quarters.

It was a fun night and we were very proud of him and happy he could participate.

His team hasn't won a game yet this year, and that probably won't change, but we are loyal fans and hang in there during both the good and the bad years.

All Weekend Fantasy Football

I was predicted to win this week's fantasy league game by a lot of points, despite the fact that I was playing football master Todd's team.

I started strong with 40 points from my quarterback Thursday night.

But by the end of play Sunday evening, Todd had overtaken me and I'd lost. Ah, well, there's always next week!

There was still fun to be had despite my Fantasy loss. My "sister of the heart," Lorna, is a huge football fan. We text daily and even during football games. It's fun to watch the same game at the same time, especially when we are rooting for the same team.

Lorna was a colleague when I taught in Illinois. We became very close, and during that time she coined the term, "sisters of the heart." I like that even better than "besties."

A recent photo of Lorna and her daughter visiting Lorna's sister who lives in a care facility.

We were okay for the Cowboys game, but on different sides for the Chiefs/Colts game. I like Andy Reid (KC's coach) and George Karlaftis, who plays for Kansas City, is a West Lafayette alum and once or twice a season comes back home to catch a football game on a Friday night.

I'll root for Kansas City until they play a horsey team - the Colts, the Broncos, the Cowboys... It was a tough game that went into overtime, and Lorna got the bragging rights at the end. (Not that she bragged; she's too kind for that!)

Oh well,  the football cycle starts over on Thursday and I have some time to check my Fantasy team's players, maybe do some trading. I'll think about that as I stitch up another bedgown today.

Stay 'tooned!

Thursday & Friday Night Lights

"Caught by Isenbarger and he's down at the..." I heard as I hustled into the stadium just as the football game kicked off.

Wait. What?? That was Ian the announcer was talking about! And he'd caught the ball in the very first play of his very first football game?! That sure sounded promising!

I hurried into the stadium and settled onto a bench right behind the team's sidelines. (He is #2.)

I texted Curt and Vanessa that I had arrived

and soon I had company.

Together we watched the game between the Southwestern Wildcats (Ian's team) and the East Tipp Trojans. (East Tipp is the sister middle school to Hershey Elementary where I taught.)

That was not the only time I heard Ian's name announced. 

Curt pointing Ian out to me; he's walking the sideline there on the far right.

He also had a tackle and a sack and something else that I can't remember at the moment.  

Southwestern won 14 - 0!

Ian is a pretty quiet guy, but not after the game! (Aunt Lisa had come out to watch, too.)

He even gave me a big hug and thanked me for coming. 

And thus, Thursday Night Lights begins for us, at least for the next two years while Ian plays middle school football. (Although Lukie is coming up not too far behind Ian.)

And then...

Friday Night Lights began last night with Craig's alma mater, West Side (West Lafayette)

playing my alma mater, Harrison.

But that's okay - we're all family, right? And so I donned a red West Side shirt and sat on the West Side bleachers with Craig and Lisa.

The place was PACKED and yet we were still able to secure seats on the 50 yard line, Craig's preferred spot.

 

The game was a good one

and very much a nail biter.

One team would score, and the other team would respond in kind. Over and over again.

One thing I love about Friday Night Lights is watching evening spread across the sky

and how the field settles into night

during the course of the game.

The score continued to switch back and forth to the very end of the game

where West Side lost in the last minute.

So, my alma mater won (again) this year, but I won't remind Craig of that repeat win. LOL 

Now, to get ready for Mila and Lukie's soccer games that are later this morning. It's really turning into a sports weekend!

Stay 'tooned!

New Ponies!

New ponies! But let's start with one that's not really new. The picture is, though!

That's Leslie and Cee at Fort Ouiatenon circa 1978 or so. Leslie is digitalizing old family photos and sent me this one, one I had never seen before. I think she should print it and frame it.

Next, thanks to those who reminded me that my new "decorator" Jumpy was smoke, not charcoal. I knew that, but why I wrote charcoal is beyond me. (And yes, I did proof read. Just didn't catch the error.)

Now, on to the new ponies. There are two:

The first is Dalarna. I am seriously thinking of giving Emily Dalarna for Christmas and so when Breyer held the second chance sale, I bought another so I could. 

The other piece?

Aquavit!

I was hoping for the bell tail version, and that's what I got.

I'm not much of a mule collector aside from the vintage Balking Mule.

But I do like the Winifred mold and when Breyer announced that there was a bell tail version...

I took my chances and bought one. Luck was with me.

Tonight is the first Friday Night Lights of the year, and Craig, Lisa, and I are looking forward to it.

But this year, we have THURSDAY Night Lights, too.

Stay 'tooned!

Kalamazoo Week: Music & Packing Up (with Help)

Second Post of the Day

At last! It's Kalamazoo week! And as always, I have to post one of my favorite Big Band songs, (I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo.

The first minute is a jazzy intro; the lyrics begin at about 1:00. (Someday I am going to name a model horse, "A Real Pipperoo." LOL)

We lived in Michigan for two years and our oldest, Sarah, was born there. After finishing at Purdue, Craig taught at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. And, he taught a weekly satellite class at Western Michigan University which is located in Kalamazoo. Another reason this song is near and dear to my heart - Michigan was home for a while.

I was very overwhelmed when I began packing up my tubs and clothing. Getting it all downstairs was going to be difficult. Craig has back and knee issues, and while he is more than willing to help, I protect him as much as I can from anything that requires stairs or lifting.

Getting Jolis Chevaux to the car requires both.

I needed to carry all these garment bags (with one more not pictured) downstairs and to my car.

I'd already gotten two boxes and a tub into the back seat, but still in my office were three more tubs and an apple box of things that needed to be taken downstairs.

To say I felt overwhelmed would be an understatement. Thankfully, Ian came over for Sunday dinner and took all the remaining items downstairs for me. 

By himself. 

With no complaints, even when a hanger caught his hand and pinched it badly.

He packed everything into the trunk and back seat and was finished in about fifteen minutes. I thought I would cry from the sheer relief of having that job done for me. Thank you, buddy. XO

The next step is to drive my things up to Leslie and Rick's farm and help them load the trailer. They will put their own things in first and then add mine in around theirs. (Rick plays a great game of trailer Jenga.)

They head up Wednesday; I don't leave until Friday morning. 

Lucky me, when I arrive, my things will all be inside the building and ready at my booth for me to unpack and set out. That is an enormous help for me. 

It takes a village of muzzleloaders, blacksmiths, leather workers, sewists, tinsmen, and more.

And I am very, very grateful.

Birthdays, a Balloon Bash, & the January Give Away

First Post of the Day

It's only January 11, but already we have celebrated two family birthdays.

Lisa's birthday is December 30, but due illness in the family, her celebration was postponed a week.

Craig and I were healthy, though, so we took her out for lunch on her birthday.

We went downtown to The Black Sparrow, a local restaurant in one of the historic downtown buildings so it has a lot of ambiance and charm inside. Plus, all the food is made from scratch and is delicious!

We spent the day together watching football (Illinois played in the Music City Bowl and won!) and had gifts and Hershey pie that evening.

The next Sunday was a big day for both Ian and Mila. In our church, twelve year olds are invited to begin serving during meetings, help on service projects, etc. Ian turns twelve this year and so his name was read to the congregation and then he was sustained by everyone present.

Good night, when did this guy become a young man?? And so tall? I predict that by my birthday in August he will be taller than me. (Although at the rate he is growing, it may be well before that.)

It was also a big day for Mila. She was celebrating her birthday that day!

We gathered that evening at her home for dinner and gifts and then just hung out as a family.

Gus is always delighted when there are more people around who are candidates for throwing a ball for him. I have never seen a dog more obsessed with catching and running after balls.

He will bring one to you and plop it in your lap. 

Ignore it! Don't even push it onto the floor or throw "just one"; Gus will consider that an invitation and repeatedly put balls into your lap. (Ask me how I know that.)

If a ball in your lap doesn't get you to play, then Gus will put the ball in a spot where it is more visible. Just in case you hadn't noticed the bajillion balls that had already been plopped into your lap.

Since this was a birthday party, there were balloons. And suddenly this delightful interchange happened between Gus and Lukie.

That dog is actually batting the balloon with his nose - he's not trying to catch it! He's hitting it back to Lukie!

Both Lisa and Mila's birthdays were celebrated that evening and master cook Curt made their favorite dishes. Lisa asked for carnitas. To enter the January Give Away, guess what he made for Mila. Here are some hints:

~ It is her favorite, most requested dish.

~ It is not a main dish. (Although, if you're Mila it would be! LOL)

~ This dish is often found at picnics.

As always, comment on any blog post (starting with this one) posted between now and Tuesday evening, 1/13 at 11:59 PM Eastern. I'll spin to win on either Wednesday or Thursday. If someone does guess correctly, they will get a special prize but you don't have to guess correctly to win.

What's the prize? I'm still choosing something. 

Stay 'tooned!