SAID THE CAT: All in Less Than a Week

The rain was a steady drizzle during the first game of Aidan's soccer tournament on Saturday.

The geese liked the rain.

Aidan bonks one. (Note: Team spirit green hair.)

The Greens won that round and the rain went away, but, sadly, winning the next two games went away, too. We're all proud of the team; they struggled mightily the entire time.

Post-tournament blues. Coach doing some heavy-lifting of spirits.

Aching and sore, they managed a few smiles for the camera.

But, hey! there's still the All-Star games ahead.

On Sunday, Keoni's pre-performance heebie-jeebies were calmed somewhat when we took a walk around the property and snapped some pictures...

And, including, a little string, jammin' R & R with brother...

Grandma gets the pre-concert concert.

The solo with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra came off really well. (This is the orchestra name I couldn't recollect late Friday night.) No pictures allowed during performance. His teacher Bob de Pasquale was there and sat with us. Mr. d truly makes me think of Phil every time I see him. Keoni's making a world of friends and connections in the music realm. Listening to the musicians is somewhat like listening to old war veterans; in similar ways the musicians' conversations loop through finding where their acquaintances, backgrounds and experiences may have crossed paths or connected.

Post-performance pictures with his fellow competition winners.

And with conductor...

And with the proud mom and brother. Dad is getting the car.

The family is happy that John fixes electronic stuff; the latest was the dryer. While waiting for a part old-fashioned drying took place...

Wendy is enjoying some time in the saddle these days.

Putting away things from traveling, and catching up on rest and mail, etc., were my priorities of the past week. Rested up yesterday, I drove a little over an hour to Hawk Mountain. The drive was the highlight of the morning, but PA's rural roads don't accommodate stopping for photos of the beautiful fall landscape of farms and woods. I think, at this time of the year, some farmer might someday think to go beyond fruits and vegetables, and make an Honest-John photo-op pullout.

Hawk Mountain was a beautiful place, especially after the night's rain. I wasn't there early enough or late enough to see much raptor activity beyond what I see here at Rhapsody Ridge. But the lookouts and birders were interesting...

Bird-watchers watching birds.

It turned out to be good that I had a nice little afternoon nap. Aidan and I took a walk afterwards...

Let's look in the woods here, Grandma Judy...

Aidan's grasshopper picture.

Then, late Wednesday afternoon Keoni suddenly had free online tickets in hand to go to Kimmel Center for the Philadelphia Orchestra performance; gratis PYO filling up Verizon Hall on a slow Wednesday night. We got ready in 15 minutes and made it to the train in time. We walked to Verizon Hall from the station, and grabbed a quick meal as we headed to the concert.

Keoni's snap in Center City of the fall leaves, street light and the moon as we walked along.

My street-scape with City Hall.

We had seats behind the conductor because we wanted to see what that's like; later, changing to great balcony seats since we could hear their wonderful music better there.