KK-Ville Photo Journal

The oven cooled in time to salvage dinner. Whew!

Joe is out of the dog house ...

for now.

... on the way to the dinner table.

I'm making a chicken dinner tonight and planned on having rice and asparagus to go along with it. Unfortunately it doesn't look like it's going to make it to the dinner table.

Joe decided that he wanted to look at what was smelling good and instead of pressing the oven light button, he mistakenly hit the oven "clean" button. The chicken is now locked in the oven and the door won't unlock until the temperature lowers.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, anyone?

The time is near. The beginning is almost here. Oh sure, right now everything looks almost desolate and even a bit lonely but I can assure you, the beginning is almost here.


The bleachers are empty ... for the moment. Soon, however, they will be filled with cheering parents, friends and family. Soon you will hear the crowds saying things such as, "Wait for your pitch, Tommy." "Go! Go! Go!" "Nice pitch." "Play's at second!" or "Ump, I think you need glasses!"


The field is empty ... for the moment. Soon there will be outfielders, infielders, runners, pitchers, catchers, coaches and umpires.



Instead of blank scoreboards and bare bases, there soon will be runners rounding second and heading for third. Soon the board will be alight with numbers that tell the story of the game.


Right now the only thing on second base is the photographer's foot.


Soon all kinds of activity will surround the base. Can't you see it? The pitcher looks back to keep the runner in check. He throws but the runner returns and is safe.

Can't you see it?

Things are going to change soon. They're getting ready.

The players are busy warming up their arms.




They're stretching.




They're running.


Soon the dugout won't be empty but will be filled with boys anxious for their turn at bat, cheering their teammates as they score runs and bragging about the great plays they made. They'll be guzzling Gaterade, spitting sunflower seeds and chewing gum.

Can't you see it?


Instead of the ballpark reminiscing about yesterday's activity, a new year is about to begin and will bring memories to last for its own season. People will be going here and there, looking for seats. Looking for food. Looking for shade. Boys and girls will laugh and cheer and, at times, cry over a hard loss.


Yes, the bleachers are empty now, but soon, very soon, they will be filled by spectators to witness the thrill of little league baseball.

Can't you hear it?


"PLAY BALL!"

Ok, maybe I should entitle this post, "My Healthy Favorite Snack." I don't know if I would choose this over ice cream. But it is so good and satisfying!


Take some plain yogurt and plop it into a bowl. I'm using homemade yogurt but you can use whatever plain yogurt you like. By the way, making your own yogurt is extremely easy but it just takes a little bit of time. The recipe I use is here and it comes out creamy and delicious.


Then I take some honey and give it a six second squeeze. I'm talking one Mississippi, two Mississippi and so on until you reach six Mississippi, then stop. It probably works to about a tablespoon but I don't measure. The honey gives it a sweetness and takes the tartness of the plain yogurt out because, quite frankly . . .


Feel free to skip this step if you like it on the tart side.


Then I take an apple and cut it up and mix it into the honey/yogurt mixture. I've been into Gala apples lately but I'm sure whichever apple floats your boat will be good.


Adding about a handful (or more) walnuts makes this dish supremely good.

And that's it! Most of you probably do something similar to this anyway but I've just recently stumbled upon this simple but satisfying snack!

The weather here in my section of the world has been fantastic! So fantastic that today Joe and I did most of our schooling outside. We took our books and a blanket and headed out to the yard to enjoy the weather while schooling.

Before we could get started, however, there was the matter of the dog. She came running up to us with her satisfied, happy-go lucky-face and wanted to join us in our day. But then the smell. The smell of why she was so satisfied and happy. She had been rolling around in some other dog's ... (hmm, how shall I put this?) ... poop. I really don't understand this dog. She won't go to the bathroom in our yard even though it's about an acre, but she'll roll delightedly around in some other dogs stuff.

And here's something else I don't understand about her. She loves to roll around in muddy water and have fun with Joe when he's on his slip n slide, but heaven forbid when we get the hose out to cleanse her of dirt and other obnoxious stuff. How does she know the difference? Anyway, it was funny watching Joe try to catch her and hose her down.

We started reading our lessons for the day and then discovered we had placed the blanket on a small ant hill. This did not discourage us! On to the front porch! While I was reading aloud, Joe was going hither and thither and I was thinking he couldn't possibly be getting any of this. But he did. He narrated back to me almost word-for-word what I had just read. It amazes me at how much he pays attention when he's allowed to move around rather than sitting quietly at my feet.

Although, he's never sat quietly at my feet.

Never.

So school is done for the day and now we get to enjoy the beauty and warmth in our little section of the world.