#100HappyDays :: Day 98

Soccer season has officially begun.  They have a team camp this week each night from 5:30- 8:30 pm.  When I went to pick Charles up last night, a combination of the still warm humid air, and the wet ground from our sudden afternoon storm, made conditions perfect for fog.  As I watched the boys finish practice, it was cool to watch their forms in the twilight morph in and out of the mist.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a morning person, up and getting my day started between 430-5 most days, so the soccer pick up was late for me.  I was glad to go and see all the parents that we have been on this club soccer journey with over the last four years, along with meeting some new.  When I turned to leave, I caught this sunset, a very happy spot at the end of a long day.

#100HappyDays :: Day 96

This week, Fall soccer starts.  Charlie has a team camp all week (at least until we head out of town), and then next week is the official start to practices.  A handful of the boys participated in a  3 v. 3 soccer tournament yesterday.  A good experience and a great warm up for them to get their heads and bodies back in the game.  The kids doing what they love makes for a happy day every time.

#100HappyDays :: Day 32

Yesterday was the last game of the 2014/2015 soccer season.  The boys played a solid game and won decidedly.  They have tryouts this week for next season, then get a short break before the new seasons practices begin in August.  Many of our kids take advantage of that break by playing in the summer fun 3 v. 3 league.  Why?  Because they miss it when they do not play and they want to keep their foot skills fresh.

It was a bitter sweet ending as we had the season end celebration at the field.  Next year they move on.  As U13 they will go to a full size field and play with the full eleven players plus goalie.  They will also move on from their coach, who has been such an important figure to them in their development, not only in soccer but in important life lessons.  He has taught them to be respectful,  good sportsmen, disciplined in their thought and training and how to have fun while doing what you love.  

With a final cheer they move on.  Charles was so fortunate to have had this coach for the last four years.  He is well prepared to move forward in this game he loves.  It makes me happy that this dedicated coach will not just disappear, we will see him around as he cheers our boys forward.

#100HappyDays :: Day 4

Being sick sucks, thankfully it is a rare thing for me, but as we approached this big soccer weekend away, I knew that I needed to make sure I was functional.  May I say, a Z-pack when you have pharyngitis & sinus infection is the bomb!  Mother's Day weekend has been a soccer weekend since Charles started club four years ago.  These kids are dedicated, and I must say that their parents and coaches are equally so, as we travel with them, watch them grow, and cheer them through the high and low...always encouraging.

I think we find little families throughout our lifetimes.  Having this soccer family makes for a happy day.

{this moment}

{this moment}  A Friday ritual.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple special extraordinary moment.  A moment that I want to pause, savor and remember.

A few words this week.  Wishing the happiest of birthdays to my inventive, caring, smart, busy, musical, athletic boy.  It's hard to believe you are twelve!

Linking with SouleMama

#tbt Player

#tbt circa 2009  Fitting as we had signing day today for his fourth year in club ball to look at his 2nd year playing as a six year old.  Future FIFA player?  I don't know, but in his graduation book he wrote about where he would be in 15 years....

"In 15 years I will hopefully be a soccer player.  I don't care if it's minor or major league or if I'm just a coach, I just want to be playing soccer.  I will probably have a good degree from college.  I hope I will be somewhere close to my family and friends.  If I can't get drafted into a team, I want to be a farmer like my parents."

Random Five Friday

1.  We are officially in the midst of soccer season.  What could be better than to watch his dedication coupled with pure enjoyment.

2.  These brown sugar oatmeal cookies of PW Woman, are fantastic!!

3.   Remember our bumper garlic harvest??  Well, I sold 60 heads of garlic to a local organic grocery store this week!  So exciting!

4.  Our larder is filling nicely with beautiful canned goods.  My hope is that we can keep our energy high through mid-fall to increase this exponentially. 

5.  One of the first things that we did when we moved to the farm was have a big party and to give it a twist, we made it a chili cook-off.  Over the years it has taken on a life of its own and tomorrow is our 6th installment.  We are running around finishing last minute preparations for around 80 people (almost half of who are children)!   This year we have 7 chili entries and 5 pie entries for their respective competitions.  Who will get to keep the chili pig and the golden rolling pin this year??  What better way to spend the final weekend of summer!?

Linking up with:

 

Alway's Look on the Bright Side

In case our afternoon of scattered torrential rain has gotten you down.

Remember, it has put a damper 

 on our current pollen problem! ;-)

 AND, you could be out practicing soccer in the torrential rain.  The kids love getting wet and muddy,  I've gotta give full credit to our dedicated coaches!

Silent Sunday ~ Milwaukee Wave

Silent Sunday~ Tournament Weekend

A Spring Saturday

A little glimpse of a spring Saturday, leaves me breathless but fulfilled. 

It can be hard to get out of bed for the day, but boy scouts called with soccer immediately following.

Goals were scored and the kids played very hard, ready for next weekends tournament game.

The herb bed was weeded and new markers placed.

The rabbit hutch was assembled.  We took the easy way out on this one and found a great quality one on sale.  We are going to use all of our wood to further refine the chicken coop and build out a pig stall!

Pork Chop (Chi Chi) is in her new home and will remain in there until we get our Mini Rex, and then she will be moved to an enclosure below.

Chopped asparagus slaw with supper.

And as we got a soaking 2 1/2 inches of rain here, B's folks were taking cover.  Thankfully, the tornado touched ground again about a mile and a half from them, but the two pink heavy areas, basically flank their house...made for some tense moments!  Hopefully our warm up and storms later this afternoon will be all show and no crazy!  How was your Saturday?

The Light Is Magic

We noticed at soccer this weekend that the sun at mid-day is significantly lower on the horizon. When it is not blotted out by clouds, it shines on our faces not on the tops of our heads. It now illuminates those trees that have yet to give up the fight, and bleaches out camera shots of end of season soccer games.
Last night I was at a friends house and her husband called us outside. The sky was streaked with a deep burgundy, though suspicious, we weren't completely sure of what we were seeing. This morning it was confirmed. We glimpsed the Northern Lights. This photo of what we witnessed was in an ABC news article this morning and is not my own....must figure out how to take nighttime shots....but this is what we saw none the less.

The light is magic this time of year.