Raincharm’s Weblog

The weekend was way too short.

I need another day or two. On the other hand, I probably did more than on a usual weekend.

Saturday was the annual Backyard Baseball Film Festival. This meant folks for the weekend, four at our house this year. Food preparation, although nothing intricate. In the end, the most intricate part of the food was fitting it all onto the patio table. Sheeting the screen using the ever helpful binder clips. Chair setup and ice for the cold drinks.

The show was great. Although the screen location was changed from south to west at the last moment. The setting sun needed to be behind the screen. Luckily it was sturdy enough to pick up and move.

We left it in the east until we got home on Sunday and it had tipped back against a neighbor’s ornamental tree.

Dennis Nyback, film curator and archivist

Sunday we were treated to a pancake breakfast by a few of our guests. This fueled the clean up, sorting of the trash/recycling/compost, and returning chairs to their respective homes.

What remains is to dismantle the screen into a size that will fit into the garage.

Carl also had a game on Sunday evening. The field looked like a kid’s sandlot field. The umpire had to call a dead ball for a ball lost in the clover at the backstop.

The field was in the flight path for Sea-Tac airport

We got home after 8, had dinner and generally collapsed.

And, should I forget- it’s been one year since we were let out of the hospital and got to celebrate what was left of Carl’s birthday at home. One more trip around the sun!

We got out of Seattle today, and onto the island. Whidbey Island.

Our destination was Ebey’s Landing prairie ridge. Aimee lead our party of five. The hike started across a field, transitioning to a path along a high bluff overlooking the Sound. We followed this path for more than a mile, and then down some switchbacks to the beach. Back along the beach until we reached the Landing area and then back up to the field and back to the car.

The vistas were beautiful. The jets from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station were numerous and noisy.

An eagle was spotted in a snag. I know the limits of my phone, but snapped a pic anyway.

Here is the real deal, taken by Mark with a real camera.

Nobody was voted off, but we did part company after the hike, heading to our respective ferries.

What is missing?

The viaduct!

It is still in the process of being torn down. But boy has it changed the view from the waterfront.

We came down for a walk when they started the demolition, but that was just a small taste of what they have accomplished now. And it was quieter, even with the continuing tear down activity.

The occasion was touristing with a sister and brother-in-law. The Pike Street Market, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, Aquarium and several other sites along the way. We took transit all day to avoid traffic and most of all, parking.

I am stealing a picture from said brother-in-law for a family photo.

This is actually yesterday, with Aimee and Mary Beth after dinner out at the Magnuson Brewery. The food was good, the beer better, the weather was grand, although Mary Beth and I got doused by some glasses of water that didn’t quite make the table. This was followed by some desserts at Aimee and MB’s place, including home made sesame balls. I had to hold myself back from clearing the plate.

Tomorrow we’re off on another adventure.

That should be films on the 29th.The annual backyard baseball film festival is scheduled for next Saturday. With a venue change, to our backyard.The program is curated by our friend, fellow Kingdome curmudgeon and film archivist, Dennis Nyback. This year’s program includes films from the 1940s through the 1980s.So we had to figure out what they could be projected against.Another friend to the rescue, as time is getting shorter. While we were out wandering around the city, celebrating the summer of ’69 with the Seattle Pilots

and Seattle Men’s Chorus,

Jim showed up with some wood and tools to create a screen frame. All it needs is a sheet, and we’re good to go.And no rain.

It’s Carl’s one year heartiversity!

That is one year of becoming bionic or cyborg or something slightly better than before.

That’s Turkey meatloaf, in case you’re wondering.

Can you spot today’s theme?

Only one year ago. Sometimes it seems much longer.

Here’s to many more heartiversitys.

West Side Story was our show this week. It was true to the original songs and choreography. If only I could have seen the entire stage. About 1/3 was blocked by the tall person in front of me. Usually I can find a view corridor, but not this time. And it was well attended, so shifting wasn’t an option either.

Temperatures have been rising as well. It was 95 at work when I left yesterday. Only 90 at home. The rest of the week is predicted to be nice, in the 70s.

I am not in the habit of watering, yet. This morning I watered the chives and a few other selected plants. I didn’t have time for the raspberries, and assigned them to Carl.

Carl has been doing a lot of yard work, weeding and pruning (hacking). Maybe the lawn today.

Raspberries

Chives

So the garlic experiment is still a bit of a mystery to me. Some new plant parts appeared (grew), so perhaps my expected timing of the harvest was way off. But they are in the way of my tomatoes.

Hard to tell the new bit from this picture. Like a flower.

Nice day for a walk, so we put together a short list of errands together and set out.

Home to U Village to Metropolitan Market to Ravenna Park to home. About five miles in all, with lots of ups and downs. Toner, chicken and cherries.

And a few trees or at least trunks of note.

Who knew gnomes and dinosaurs coexisted?

This was a huge street tree. I wonder if the original planting envisioned the trunk extending from curb to sidewalk.

Lovely day.

An odd theme for a Saturday, but sometimes it just happens that way.I was undertaking the weekly ritual of refilling the pill tray when I realized that the blood thinner was out. I actually knew this, and had reordered last week. But the refill had not arrived! So now there will be a trip to the pharmacy…On the other side, I am donating a pint of the thicker stuff today. It’s been a while, and I think the last time I tried they turned me down. But today they are taking a pint.Really I do this for a valid excuse to not have to do yard work this afternoon.Later this afternoon Carl has a baseball game. It looks like the weather will cooperate for a nice time.

To one of the lights of my life.

No, not the Mariners. They’re too young. These are over 60 folks. Many are professionals, just not in baseball.

And the season is finally underway.

Carl pitched the middle 3 innings, and I think he pitched well.

In the end their team lost, but playing is the point.

Last year Carl played just one game before the doctors shelved the season in favor of open heart surgery. This year we are going for ice baths instead.

The first game was Friday night. Their next game is Monday night, so we’ll see how he does.

And … it’s Monday night. Carl is busy keeping score, and there have been many hits to tally. I heard a rumor he might be pitching in a bit.