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!

A Thicc Pony & Holiday Activities

 Today's Yuletide Challenge is, "Eggnog: Thicc ponies."

I had look that word up. "Thicc" is a slang term. It generally is a postive, complimentary word that is used to describe someone who is curvaceous or voluptuous. ("Full figured" is an older term for the same thing.)

In my collection is one of the cutest thicc ponies in the world.

This little guy is Joyful Jake, a Cheval from South Africa.

He has been in my collection for 25 years or so, and his happiness, sauciness, and pudgy thicc belly always bring a smile.

That tummy!! See what I mean? 

Moving on the holiday happenings around here, we have been busy with some holiday activities the past few days. Here are a few.

Ian's Holiday Band Concert

Wednesday evening was Ian's first band concert.

He plays the trumpet but has had some training on the piano so he can already read music.

It's a long walk across a full gym of family and friends to get to your seat in the band!

Ready to be seated and begin.

The gym was packed and there was standing room only. Lukas, Mila, Lisa, Craig, Curt, and Vanessa all had seats including one for me, but there was no way I could get up to them with my walker.

And, there was no set-aside place for wheelchairs and walkers, so I finally rolled over to a line of parents and parked myself there. 

The kids played impressively well - it was hard to believe they'd only been playing since August!

Afterward we took some family pictures together.

That kid is getting so tall.

So is this girl. (I am seated, but still.)

Pizza & A Sleepover at Aunt Lisa's

Lisa excels at being an aunt. (And a lot of other things, too!) She invited us all over for cheese pizza and to watch Home Alone, and then a sleepover for Ian, Mila, and Lukas. Dogs were invited, too.

Nash and Tammo cuddled up with Mila on the floor.

Lukas and me with Mila on the ottoman before she moved to the floor.

School had just gotten out for winter break that day, and apparently everyone was tired. Either that, or Lisa's beds are extra comfy - she reported that the kids and she slept twelve hours!

Nash loves lives to play, and Ian and Lukas were happy to accommodate him.

Always ready and waiting, that's our Nash.

I think Nash slept most of Saturday recovering!

Advent Celebration with an Elderly Friend

Back story: There is an elderly gentleman that Craig looks out for. (Today Craig's driving him to the hospital for some tests.) The man has no family and lives alone in a tiny apartment. 

Last night he invited us over for another holiday activity. He wanted to celebrate Advent but his family is gone. So he asked us join him last night.

I did not know what to expect but it certainly was not this!

We sat down and he shared stories as to how his German family had celebrated Advent over the years and then read the story from Luke in the Bible to us. It was a lovely evening.

More is happening around here, but I'm going to stop now. Tomorrow I will do another Yuletide picture and share more of the 12 Days of Breyer minis.

Stay 'tooned!