Guest Play Means Being Dad

This past weekend B guest played with an area 12U team in the NCUSFA State Tournament for 14U travel softball. With a break in our sports for a bit, B had the chance to guest play and I got a chance to sit my wife C and be a Dad for change. Our softball weekends have seen me being coach/manager for as far back as I can remember. It was a nice change. This young bunch of girls had a good weekend as well, finishing 5th in a 14U tournament.

First thing Saturday morning,one of our girls sent a line drive screamer to the foul side of third base and struck one of our Moms just behind her right ear. Upon answering questions and a quick checkover by a bystander that was an ER nurse, we belived all to be well. Within the same inning, she had lost conciousness and began to aspirate. In the end, she was taken to the hospital and later released with thankfully, only a concussion. Bottom line, any blow to the head should be assumed to be life threatening. No matter how minor it may seem at the time.

First Show of '09 Under Our Belt

It was a long time in coming, but we finally got enough clearance on our calendar to actually sneak in a horse show. Our first of 2009. School and travel basketball as well as rec and travel softball have dominated our "free time" since last fall. Friday evening we visited Wonderland Farms for a quick practice warmup. Saturday we kept to a simple class sheet with only four entries. With very little practice or lesson time in recent months, B and Apollo came home with a 3rd, 5th and 6th place finishes out of the four classes. Not too shabby, all things considered.

A Sight Seldom Seen

Anything more than an occasional flurry or a light dusting of snow is a rare event in southeastern North Carolina. Since moving to the farm some three and a half years ago, I cannot recall even an honest dusting. This week we got an legitimate snowfall. We love it, the horses, I think, don't.

A Child is Born

Christmas has always been about the birth of a baby. This Christmas added a new twist. Our first Grandchild, Hunter, was born to our middle Daughter, AB, on December 23rd, just a few minutes before 4:00am. It was a long labor but all went well. I do want to give kudos to the new children's wing and birthing facilities at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. It is a fantastic facility with a great staff.

'08 Lady Pats Start Hot

B's middle school bball team opened up their season this past Monday with a 49-14 win over Waccamaw Academy. B is the starting PG this season. Despite only getting to play for the first quarter due to the coach not wanting to run things up, B scored 11 points had 4 assists and 5 steals. The 2008 WCA team is loaded as we all knew they would be. They only lost one regular season game last year and then lost the championship game of their tournament. And the thing about it is, they are even stronger this year. It should be a load of fun. Two of our toughest games are next week on Monday and Thursday. Can't wait!!

Starting Our Arena

After talking about it a lot and dreading it even more, we finally got started on our riding arena. The tractor upgrade and purchase of the PHD attachment will prove to be a lifesaver, I'm sure. Longer range plans will include, hopefully, installation of lighting and running a water line to the arena. Materials will not be a challenge for the project as all of the rails will be constructed from the materials recycled from our stables that we disassembled when we moved to this location. I'm sure my back will give out long before the substantial pile of 2X6's runs out.

Still Here

Seven months since my last entry and only one in thirteen months. Lots of excuses. None of which hold much water. Lots of changes. Obviously, there's no way to catch up thirteen months in a single blog. Well, unless you have a lot less going on than do we. As I get back into the blogging mode, I'll catch things up a bit at the time. My first update will be on Brady. The hope we had for Brady's recovery when last I posted was not to be. Within a week of his return home from N. C. State, his condition worsened and one of the toughest decisions of our life had to be made. Brady was special. Brady was loved. Brady is missed and he will never be forgotten.