Take me out to the ballpark!

Baseball. An American Past Time.

I grew up watching baseball with my dad. Our family shared season tickets with some family friends to the Florida Marlins for several years after the formation of the Marlins as an expansion team in 1993. Since we have lived in Texas, we have been to a handful of Texas Rangers games. I have always kept up with baseball, well as much as a girl can. I am no expert though. :)

This year we went to a Ranger's game for Father's Day/Mom's birthday weekend. They lost miserably 5-14 to the Mets. Ballpark snacks are always a must, for our family its peanuts! It was a fun hot game, but would have been much better with a win!

 S and T!

Dad and I

Dad put his name in the raffle for post season tickets and he had Mom and I put our names in the raffle too. We thought that maybe one of us would be picked once for a chance to buy tickets for a game of the postseason. Dad's name was picked for 2 games in the American League Division Series AND 2 games for the American League Championship Series. It ended up that only dad only went to the first game of each series he was offered tickets for because the Rangers won the series without the other games.

The first game was the very first game of this year's postseason against the Tampa Bay Devilrays. It was a Friday afternoon game, so I drove up from Galveston after my morning class. I think the Rangers thought this game was a practice game... they lost 0-9. Our seats were in the upper deck in left field + late afternoon = sun in our eyes and very hot = I got a hat.

My new hat!

The ALCS game that the rest of my family went to, I couldn't go because of class, was the record breaking game with Nelson Cruz hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning! I was jealous, but glad that they were there for such an exciting game.

Obviously the Rangers have won way more games this year than they lost because as I am writing this the Rangers are up in Game 6 of the World Series. Go Rangers!

Homemade ornaments - Cinnamon applesauce

My sister and I made these years ago in girl scouts (I think) and every year as we decorate the tree, we reminisce on how fun they are and how good they smell after so many years. I was invited to a bridal shower recently were every attendee was assigned a month to bring a gift that correlates with that month. I of course got DECEMBER! As I brainstormed on what I could do on a grad school budget, I decided that I would make ornaments and this is one of the ones I decided to make.

Ingredients for one batch
1 cup applesauce
1 cup cinnamon
1 Tbsp glue

Hint: I found the applesauce and cinnamon at Big Lots at a reasonable price. \

1. Mix ingredients together. If sticky-- add more cinnamon. If dry--add more applesauce.

2. Roll out on wax paper. Coat rolling pin with extra cinnamon (use the cinnamon like you use flour when you are rolling out bread dough). You don't want to roll the ornament dough out too thin or leave it too thick. You want it about a 1/8 - 1/4 inch.

3. Use your favorite Christmas shaped cookie cutters

4. Place the cut outs on cookie sheet. Use a toothpick or straw to make a hole on the top of the ornament.

5. Place tray in the oven on 200 degrees for 30 minutes

6. Flip the ornaments and bake for 30 more minutes

7. Allow to finish drying for several days and continue to flip the ornaments so they dry evenly.

8. Use sandpaper or your fingers to smooth the edges

9. Paint in what ever way you like. I used festive Christmas colored puff paint.

10. Tie ribbon or twine through the hole and hang on tree!

Ingredients

All mixed up

Ready to roll with a little extra cinnamon

Candy Canes, hearts, and Christmas trees!

Remember to poke holes BEFORE baking.

Hearts, trees & candy canes

I made A LOT. they smell so good! and will be a great part of Christmas presents!

Ready to be hung on the tree with care!

Lessons learned from Grandma

During my 3 week summer vacation in August, my sister and I met my parents in Philly and spent some time with my grandma. She is working on regaining her physical strength in a nursing home. She is cognitively together which is such a blessing. With old age she has become very blunt and to the point. She took her opprotunity to teach us some lessons she thought we needed.

1. Bobby pins are ancient. She was shocked to see them in my hair. She told us she use to make fun of people that wore them with her sister.

2. My legs are white and I need to get some sun.

3. Trust in God in all parts of life.

4. Cant take anything with you to heaven.

5. Learn from your spouse.

6. I should be faster at finding and marrying a husband. She told me, "You are taking to long to get married. I am sorry I wont make it to your wedding."

7. Think of others and remind your self and others why life is worth living. As she is rolled to breakfast and therapy she has a good morning song she sang.

She had many many little bits of wisdom for us through out our week there.

I also got to practice my transferring skills on her and had an opportunity to chat with her therapists. In the mornings we would accompany her to her therapy and then take her outside to visit with her in a beautiful garden. Every evening we played cards with her. She enjoyed getting to beat her granddaughters and daughter-in-law; I think getting to use her mind and laughing was good medicine! :)

Me, Grandma, and Susan

Hello again blogging world!

I am alive. Sorry for my absence. All I can say, is that life happens. I guess as life got cluttered blogging is one of the balls I dropped. I think I am back for awhile now! :) In the next few posts, I will try to catch you up on life!

Took this picture a couple of years ago. I thought it was appropriate because I feel like he is bowing in apology. Plus he/she is just a cool looking bird.