Soccer Then and Now

Fiddling around with the video publishing possibilities I found YouTube actually will send your video to Blogger. Haven't figured out yet how to plop them into an open blog draft. A post is made for each video. But you get the idea. Aidan is so enthusiastically into the soccer scene. It was fun trying to capture a little of his efforts. They are the two posts just before this one this evening.

We do eat late here. I am trying not to think about it since I'm getting sort of snarly. I don't mind from the standpoint of waiting until John arrives from work which usually is seven if he's early and as late as eight if there is a traffic slowdown on the turnpike; yet, it is a challenge. The man works a long day.

We had a couple of Keoni's friends stay for supper night before last. There was plenty of laughter and lots of music all afternoon and evening. They were all six or seven years older than Aidan. Reminded me of when the kids among the family and neighbors were all younger than I. Aidan and I could commiserate a little. Then, suddenly age went away; Aidan and cello joined in an impromptu quartet they put together after supper. It really came out well.

Elizabeth, Grant, Keoni and Aidan.

Yesterday, the bugs drove us back from our walk before we completed our round of the nine acres. Austin and the goats were in the run-in shed...

The rain passed on through and gave us a chilly night. Another walk this afternoon was prefaced with bug repellent and hats. Aidan was ready for honeysuckle blossom gathering so he could extract the tiny nectar droplets when we got back. Most of the vines were threaded among the considerable wild raspberries along the edge of the woods. (The neighbor on one side is turning a huge swath of his woods into firewood; ostensibly, we hear, to make a road. Aidan and I think the road will go to a cleared area we found in the woods. Perhaps there will be a house built there.)

Blossom by blossom Aidan dripped each honeysuckle flower's minuscule droplet into a glass. After he was through half the pile he drank the one little drop that had accumulated in the bottom of the glass. Makes me so glad for bees.

Speaking of bees, there are so few. There are great numbers of clover blooms everywhere and copious flowers of all types, but I've never seen so few honeybees. Now and then, one or two can be spotted. The North American bee colony collapse seems to be what has happened.

Further bug report: Lightening bugs! Fireflys! They are everywhere tonight and are charming the family who stands out on the porch/deck to watch them. Aidan reports hearing frogs again.

After a couple of falls this past week--one from my bicycle--I decided to hang up my helmet and resume walking for exercise. My beautiful bike went back to the shop where I bought it. The crew there was very considerate and refunded the majority of what I'd paid last winter. I'm sort of sad, and at the same time there is some relief in making the decision. I just don't balance as well as in youthful times; some bruises and aches, but nothing serious. Tai Chi remains on my agenda.

Time to contemplate some dust fuzzies. Goodnight.