StellaDella At Bat (108/365)

“Don't tell me about the world.  Not today.  It's springtime and they're knocking baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball.” 

Pete Hamill (American, journalist, columnist, novelist, and short story writer. b. 1935)

TIME:  2:40 PM
PLACE:  Little League Fields
SUBJECT:  StellaDella

SD had her first T-ball game of the season this afternoon.  This year, a pitching machine is utilized; the girls have 5 chances to hit the ball pitched by the machine.  If they don’t, then the tee is brought out for them.  SD made contact both times she was up to bat!  I think she surprised herself.

Pigpen's Sister (165/365)

 
"I'm shakin' the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I'm gonna see the world."

Frances Goodrich (1891-1984), U.S. screenwriter, and Frank Capra. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), It's a Wonderful Life, to Mary after the dance (1947). George says this, or a variation of it, a lot in the first part of the movie. additional scenes by Jo Swerling. Based on a story by Philip Van Doren Stern.

TIME:  4:35 PM
PLACE:  Little League Field - Bantam diamond
SUBJECT: StellaDella kicking up dust

I don't know what she likes to do more, falling down each and every play or kicking up dust running for the ball.  Whenever she made a move on the field today her feet were dragging.  She was dragging them so she could watch the dust puff up around her.  Whenever her team was on the field, she would fall down in the infield dirt on each and every play.  Her teammate would be on the other side of the infield making the play and SD would fall down.  She would be nowhere near the ball and down she would collapse in the dirt - she did it in empathy for her teammate I guess.  Sigh.  She has just 2 more games to play until the end of her T-ball season.

To a "T" (129/365)

 
“I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep both Dracula and Superman away”

Jack Handy (American Writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991-2003. Famous for his Deep Thoughts comedy sketches.)

TIME: 4:08 PM
PLACE:  Little League Fields - Monroe Street
SUBJECT: Ballfield lights

I took many photos at StellaDella's T-ball game this afternoon.  The clouds were white and puffy, the sky a nice blue, but I just couldn't capture what I wanted for some reason.  *shrugs* What are you going to do?  It was bound to happen sooner or later.

I am going out with the girls tonight.  The group I ran around with after graduating from college is meeting up and hitting the town.  I'm looking forward to it...and It should prove to be an interesting evening!

Under My Umbrella, Ella, Ella, Eh, Eh, Eh (123/365)

 
"Now there's three things you can do in a baseball game: You can win or you can lose or it can rain."

Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel (American, Baseball player and manager, 1890-1975)

TIME: 4:16 PM
PLACE: Little League Fields - Atom Diamond 
SUBJECT: Umbrella

The day started out with a little bit of sun, then became more overcast as the day wore on.  At 3:30 this afternoon, right as we arrived at StellaDella's T-ball game, it started to drizzle.  It wasn't very hard, so they went ahead and started to play the game anyway.  It rained the entire time.  Thus I was able to take this picture of the view under my umbrella.  The girls really enjoyed playing in the rain and the mud.  See my Suzy Homemaker blog for a few other photos from the T-ball game.  We came home after the game to a pork roast and vegetables that I had cooking in the crock pot.  But the best part was dessert - two types of pies: chocolate with fresh whipped cream topping; and lemon meringue (I finally made my birthday pie).  Yum!

Looking Down The Wrong End of The Barrel (116/365)

 
"ECONOMY, n. Purchasing the barrel of whiskey that you do not need for the price of the cow that you cannot afford.”

Ambrose Bierce (American Writer, Journalist and Editor, 1842-1914)

TIME: 3:28 PM
PLACE: Looking out the Little League Fence, Monroe St.
SUBJECT: Pyramid of barrels

Another T-ball game this afternoon.  It was very warm (82 degrees)and windy.  The wind was picking up the dirt from the infield and blowing and swirling it all over.  The ballfield was definitely not a place you would want to be inserting any contacts today!  It didn't bother the girls though. These barrels were on the other side of the fence that surrounded the diamond.  I liked the rust and the colors covering the bottoms of them.

We All Scream For Ice Cream (115/365)

 
"My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate.  That's my philosophy."

Thornton Wilder (American playwright and novelist, his best known work is his play Our Town, 1897-1975)

TIME: 8:43 PM
PLACE: Lebanon Ave.
SUBJECT: Neon sign

StellaDella's first T-ball game was tonight at 7pm.  It was hee-lar-re-ous.  Since this is the first year for playing, the rules basically are: everyone bats, everyone plays the field, there are no outs and no score is kept.   The ENTIRE team is sent out on the field when they play defense.  The batter would hit the ball and the kids would all run together to chase it.  Since our uniform shirts were yellow, and most girls had black or gray shorts, our team resembled a swarm of bees buzzing around the field.   The girls were all so excited to be playing...big smiles were plastered on every face during the whole game.  It was fun to watch.  I took a lot of photos and so did HandsomeHusband.  Since I've already posted a SD T-ball picture this week, I opted to post this non-T-ball photo.  Plus, this place was the highlight of SD's night!

Before the game, we promised SD that we would go get ice cream afterwards.   This particular ice cream stand is open seasonally in our town and has been around for quite some time.  I remember walking here to get ice cream when I was SD's age.  SD had a soft-serve vanilla cone and was very happy.  

Angel in the Outfield? (113/365)

 
"Innings and afternoons. Fly lost in sunset.
Throwing arm gone bad. There's your old ball game.
Cool reek of the field. Reek of companions."

Robert Fitzgerald (1910-1985). Cobb Would Have Caught It (l. 23-25). . . Western Wind; an Introduction to Poetry. John Frederick Nims, ed. (2d ed., 1983) Random House.

TIME: 6:44 PM
PLACE: W-- B-- school ball fields
SUBJECT: StellaDella

I got to take StellaDella to her T-ball practice tonight.  They only practice for about an hour.  I believe that's about the length of the attention span of a 5 year old.  The older two were with me, making it feel like a much longer period of time due to their incessant whining about how bored they were.  Luckily, I've learned to tune that out, otherwise it would have been quite irritating.  SD only had to visit the portable restroom twice during practice.  It was a nice little hike to that facility as it was a short distance from the fields.  But, if I look on the bright side; I got some exercise in; the weather was nice; and I got my picture for the day.  So it wasn't too bad of an evening after all! 

Put Me In Coach (092/365)

“I think Little League is wonderful. It keeps the kids out of the house.”

Yogi Berra (American professional Baseball Player and Manager. b.1925)

TIME: 6:24 PM
PLACE:  The living room
SUBJECT: StellaDella: T-ball player

We signed StellaDella up to play T-ball this spring.  Tonight was supposed to be her first practice.  She and I went to Target this afternoon and she picked out her glove (she chose a pink one, natch!).  Unfortunately, the weather did not co-operate and her practice was rained out.  She was slightly disappointed, but recovered quickly and was was soon engrossed in watching "Chowder" on Cartoon Network.