All Star!

This is Little Red in the ready position, waiting to make that great catch at second base!  He had a fun baseball season as well.  He's in a tough age bracket of kiddos because there are all different levels of focus at his age and many different age groups on the team.  They range from 6-9, and that's quite a span in maturity level.  And, Little Red is not the most patient person, but he's done pretty well with this big age range of boys to play with.

His swing has gotten so much more confident this year!  And this was his first year with kids pitching, which can be a little scary since some of them don't have the best control of where the ball will end up once it leaves their hand!  He did get hit once this year in the back of his ankle, knocked his feet right out from under him.  And he gets nervous when that happens and for a while will be afraid of the ball again.  This picture is one of my favorites because it shows Music Man in the back.  The one in the jeans and tan fleece.  He was coaching first base.  Music Man truly enjoys coaching the boys.  He wasn't able to do that with Maestro's team this year as there were too many rooster in the coop, if you know what I mean...so he decided not to tackle that this year and focus on Little Red's team. 

And he hit it!  He's off to first base, and his dad...kind of a cool thing to see and I truly hope that the boys remember doing all this with their dad.  It's definitely something Music Man didn't have in his childhood and he gets a lot of fulfillment out of doing that with his sons.  And hey, I even caught the bat in mid-drop, good job not throwing that bat, Little Red!  He's also a pretty decent pitcher, he's had quite a few strike outs this year as well.  He's played a lot of different positions, one of the things that made this coaching team a great success this year.  If a child wanted to pitch, they got the chance, if they wanted to play first base, they got the chance, if they wanted to catch, they got the chance.  And at this level that's the way it should be.  They tried their best to let the boys try out all the positions and learn from them.  Some of the other coaches like to put boys in one position and leave them there for the season.  At this level, that doesn't make for well rounded players.  Really all it does is make for frustrated boys in the outfield.  Movement and change are good right now.

 

Little Red was chosen to be one of the players on the All Star team this year!  Three boys from his team were chosen to play in the game.  It was a fun time, even though it was 95 degrees outside!  Which, for New Hampshire, is crazy hot.  We're not ready for that already this time of year.  After a very cool spring, we've got to work in to that kind of heat!  But the boys were troopers.  Here they got to have their names read and come out on the field together.  As you can see 4 different towns made up his team.

 

 

The boys had a good time meeting new kids from other towns in the dugout.  This is our three players from our town.

 

 

Maestro was even able to come and watch some of his little brother play.  We had to leave to go to his first play off game right from this field.  Maestro needed the umbrella, like I said, the sun was very hot that day!

 

 

Little Red got a hit in the game as well as made a great throw to home from second base!  He's had a fun season so far.  His playoffs will start soon and we'll be taking the summer off from baseball after that.  And maybe some fall ball once the weather turns a little cooler. 

 

Take me out to the ball game, ~Peacemom







Lilac Apple Jam Season!

Lilac season is in full swing here in New Hampshire!  Oh, beloved state flower!  As you're driving around, you can smell little pockets of it's wonderful scent wafting in through your now open windows.  Blessed heavenly scent!

And if you pull them from their stems, they are a key ingredient to a most amazing spring tradition around here.  Lilac apple jam!  

All you need is two cups of blossoms, add 2 cups of hot water, let steep and you have an amazing floral infusions.  Well, let me give you the recipe...

Lilac & Apple Jelly

2 c lilac petals, removed from the stem (try to keep the entire blossom intact, the nectar is in the center part)
2 c boiling water
1 pkg powdered pectin
1/4 c freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 c finely diced, peeled apple (I used empire, which was a great flavor with the lilac)
4 c. sugar

Rinse flowers well. Put in heat resistant bowl and pour boiling water over all. Steep over night. Next morning, strain petals using either a fine mesh sieve or cheese cloth. Discard flowers. You will need the liquid to be exactly 2 cups, so if the flowers soaked some up, add enough cold water to make 2 cups.

In medium saucepan combine flower infusion, pectin, and lemon juice. Using a whisk, mix until the pectin is fully dissolved. Add diced apple. Bring to a boil. Add sugar and stir until fully dissolved. Return the pot to a rolling boil, boil for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.

Using sterilized canning jars and lids, ladle hot jelly into the 1/2 pint jars (5 in all). Put in a water bath canner and process for 10 minutes after the boil is achieved. Remove from canner and place on counter on dishtowel to cool. Listen for the wonderful sound of the "POP!!" as your jars seal!

There's no better jam on a hot, buttery English muffin, I guarantee it!  And, it's really quite easy to make, no special equipment needed. Whip up a batch while the blooms are blooming, it's wonderful on pancakes and waffles as well.  No better treat on a February snowy morning then this slathered on a breakfast treat.  Enjoy!

Take Me Out To the Ball Game!

This fine strapping boy is Maestro, catching 5 innings out of 6 for his team last night.  He did an amazing job having only caught once before the whole season for two innings in the first game.  The coach decided to have him pitch in the 4 inning after catching for 3.  You can imagine that he was tired, he is young and had not been conditioned for this.

After catching 3, pitching one, he was put back at catcher to finish the final 2 innings behind home plate. 

This kid could not love the game of baseball any more.  It is clearly one of his passions in life, which he's fortunate to have found so young.  His little brother is also very fond of it as well, and as soon as he's played his first game, which is very soon, I will be posting pics of him as well.  But Maestro...oh, this child has the sports gene that is prevalent in Music Man's siblings kids as well.  He most certainly did not get it from me. I showed horses and did drama club, I was not an athlete per se...though, there were stints of it when I was young, gymnastics, baseball and basketball, but none of it stuck, I was horse obsessed.  My boys are dedicated to the game.  There's nothing they like more then playing, out in the field, fresh air and sunshine. 

And Maestro played an absolutely great game last night.  The best part about it for him was certainly not the loss, which was by quite a large margin, but the fact that he played a great game, struck some guys out at the plate, tagged more then one runner trying to come home, and hit a double to get 2 RBI's.  He caught for 5 innings and pitched one, was so exhausted by the end of the 6th inning, he could barely get his hand out to grab the ball in all the gear, but he plays with all his heart and gives it everything he has, and gets that it's not all about winning, but surely, how you play the game.

And he slept like a log last night after that workout.  Dang, I love my boys.

Wishing you peanuts and cracker jacks of your own, ~Peacemom

Taking Stock

I woke at 5:01 this morning, restless and unable to settle down. As is habit, I decided to turn on the radio on my MP3 player to NPR and listen to the news. It was then that I learned that one Boston Marathon bomber was dead and the manhunt was on for a second.  Cambridge was where it all began about 10:30 last night when these two, brothers these, robbed a 7-11 and the terror ensued for so many people in that moment.  A police officer was killed, another critically wounded.  My heart literally stopped as I looked over at my dear husband, sleeping soundly next to me.  I had an overwhelming rush of thanks to God as I put my hand on his warm arm and looked at his peaceful face. 

See, my husband, partner, father of my children was in Cambridge at 10:30 last night, watching a show at a club with a friend of his.  It is not something he does very often anymore.   I had a rush of emotions as I realized that he so easily could have been at the 7-11 stopping for a soda for the ride home, or on the street when a fire fight broke out.  I woke him gently to tell him the news.  He was across town from where it all took place.  They had noticed a distinct lack of traffic when they left the club, but did not know why, taking it as stroke of good luck as traffic can be a bear at times in the city.  I silently remembered telling him before he left home that I wasn't sure if it was a good idea for him to be going to the city after what happened Monday.   He had assured me he would be fine.  I paused for a moment for a quick prayer for his safety after I kissed him good bye.  Since a dear friend lost her husband years ago in a car accident, we don't let the other leave without a sincere, look-you-in-the-eyes goodbye, I love you and a kiss.  Life can change in an instant and without warning, I know it to be true.

I had the thought that I didn't want my children in school today.  I wanted them home with me.  Of course, it's not really a rational thought, is it?  But after the terror of Monday, not so distant from a school shooting that took 26 lives, and now this, it didn't matter to me if it was rational or not.  I had to talk myself down from that ledge.  We are a bit of a distance from Boston up here in southern New Hampshire, and it's not realistic to think that the man or his associates, for I am sure it was not just the two of them acting alone, would come to my children's school.  But after having had my husband down in Cambridge in harm's way, it took me a little while.  I rely on my faith in these circumstances, and was able to calm down enough to be sure the kids were fed, had on clean clothes, brushed their teeth and were ready to meet the day.  I told them briefly about what happened, not beleaguering the point that their father had been down there.  The asked some questions and we were on to breakfast and other topics.

I made the mistake of checking facebook and some of the folks on my friend list don't live here and aren't steeped in the horror of it all.  My niece goes to school at Boston University and in fact was near the finish line when the bombs went off.  It's pretty personal to me.  That she could have been hurt or killed and that my husband was in the very place that it continued last night, well, yes, very personal indeed. 

I am someone who believes in the right to own a gun.  My husband hunts and this could provide food for our family.  However, I'm not a person who believes that any form of automatic weapon belongs on anyone but the military and police (and I'm not sure about my support of that except that in those times, I suppose it's necessary).  I've been patient with people's comments about the right to bear arms, and heck, I'd just blow the bastard away with my AK47, things like that.  I feel very trampled by those comments today.  Because, I realized that they feel justified in their view, it's a them or me mentality.  Putting 100 bullets into one person would kill them sure, but what about the scores of other innocent people who would go down with them as a result of that? And if we all have those weapons of mass killing firing at each other, does that justify it all?  Makes me sick to my stomach and sad for my children that this is the world they are inheriting.  I won't be here forever and this is what I have brought them into and left for them.  I don't even know what to say to them about it, how to comfort them and mean it in my heart. 

I'm a bit all over the place with my emotions today.  I also woke to have one of my chickens dead this morning.  Tulip, the first we've lost and I'm not ashamed to say, I cried for her.  And cried as a release of the fear for my husband's safety and sorrow for my children's world, and I softly said a prayer for all of them.  It's been quite a roller coaster of emotions here for me today.

Unsettled, ~Peacemom

Cub Scout Fishing Derby

Today was the Pack 163 Fishing Derby pack meeting.  The pond only had ice out last week, so the water is still cold and the fish were elusive, but the boys had a good time anyways.

The boys getting a lesson on how to cast from Mr. Dave.

Maestro dusting off the casting skills.

Little Red learning the art of threading the worm onto the hook...eeewwww....

The dads all tackling up the lines.

It was a fun way to spend some time outdoors enjoying the boys and each others company today, even if the biggest catch of the day was a leaf!

Wishing you fishing adventures on your shores, ~Peacemom

Spring Beach Day

The boys had early release from school yesterday, ending their pursuit of organized academia at 12:30.  On these days, I try to plan something fun for them to do, make it a bit more special then every other day.  We used to always go out to lunch at our favorite Chinese food restaurant, but unfortunately, it recently closed for business.  So, I needed to come up with something else for their entertainment.  It was a beautiful sunny day with just a touch of breeze, so I thought what better way to spend the afternoon then at the beach!

What follows are a few pictures of a chilly but fun afternoon spent at the beach with my boys, cold water be damned!  Up here in New England, we'll go in the water no matter what the temperature is.  Luckily, the boys are actually splashing about it tide pools that have been sitting warming in the sun bringing them to a temp that doesn't make the arches of your feet hurt because they are so cold...you New Englanders know what I mean by that, don't you? Hope you enjoy the sun and waves and boys.

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 





Spring has indeed arrived when we can hit the beach in shorts, even if they need to be accompanied by a winter coat and hat! 

Thankful for melting snow and sunny days, ~Peacemom

Great Grains Granola Bars!

I'm always on the quest for things I can make the kids for snack for their lunch boxes.  You must understand that this comes with tremendous pressure to put in there what's "normal" food, like their friends eat.  I get repeated requests for string cheese (nope, too much packaging and growth hormones in the milk), rice crispie treats (I don't really even think I need to explain this one, but processed cereal and high fructose marshmallows), crackers and cheese packets (that don't contain real cheese, too much packaging, let's just not even go there), etc, etc, the list goes on and on.  So, I decided after Little Red's 24th request this month for something "normal" in his lunchbox for snack (is there something wrong with baby carrots now?), I decided to set about trying to perfect a good and mostly healthy granola bar for them.  I had to come up with one that is peanut and tree nut free because, though they aren't allergic,  they have nut allergies in their school.  I think I did pretty well with this one...

Great Grains Granola Bars
Makes 24 bars

2 cups whole oats
3/4 cups wheat germ or ground flax seeds (or a bit of each, which is what I did)
3/4 c sunflower seeds
1 cup peanuts (or chopped pumpkin seeds if you can't use nuts, I increased the sunflower seeds to 1 cup and chopped 3/4 cup pumpkin seeds as a replacement)
2/3 c brown sugar
1/2 c honey, maple syrup or agave
4 T butter or coconut oil
2 t vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 tsp kosher salt (like table salt, not coarse grind)
8 ounces of dried fruit (I used cranberries, raisins and dried apples combined)

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2.  Line a 13X9 inch pan with waxed or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
3.   If using, crush peanuts in ziploc bag with rolling pin or other heavy item.
4.   Mix the oats, wheat germ and/or flax, sunflower seeds, and peanuts if using on a cookie sheet and place in the oven.

5.   Toast them in the oven for about 10-12 minutes.
6.   In a medium saucepan mix the brown sugar, honey, butter or coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.

7.   Cook over medium heat until butter and honey melt and the whole mixture is bubbly.  This will be the "glue".
8.   After removing your oats from the oven put them in a large bowl, then add your "glue" and the dried fruit.

9.    Mix all the ingredients well.  You want everything to be well coated with the "glue".
10.  Dump all into the prepared 13x9 pan and using another sheet of waxed or parchment paper, press the mixture into the pan (I like to use a pot holder on top of the waxed paper as the mixture is quite hot yet).  You want to really press it into the pan or when you cut them into bars they will fall apart.

11.  Cool completely in the pan, the remove, peel off the waxed paper and cut into bars.

12.  Wrap the bars in either plastic wrap or waxed paper and then you'll have individual granola bars ready to go.

Lots of good for you things along with a bit of sugar.  They are chewy and pretty good.  And, most important of all for the boys, they passed as "normal" food.  Phew!  We've got a winner!

Enjoy some oat-y goodness, ~Peacemom