Movie Monday…

Squints: I’ve been coming here every summer of my adult life, and every summer there she is oiling and lotioning, lotioning and oiling… smiling. I can’t take this no more!

~The Sandlot (1993)

{Images (Clockwise): Above 1,2,3,4 Below 5}

Friday Five…

“It’s not a big thing, but I guess it’s true–big things are often
just small things that are noticed.”

― Markus Zusak

Here are a few of the small things I noticed from my week…

{I love baseball at night…}

{…and adore the ballpark during the day}

{Lots of summer b-days to celebrate}

{Flowers from the Farmer’s Market brighten up my office}

{Cranberry cheddar is delicious..and addictive}

…What made you happy this week?

Have a lovely weekend!!

{Images by Me}

Friday Five…

“Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
and the pleasant land.

Thus the little minutes,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.”

― Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney

Here are a few of my humble, little minutes this week…

{Visited beautiful Miller Park…}

{…and historic Wrigley Field}

{Enjoyed time with Mom}

{Remembered an amazing man…}

{…and met a friend’s darling little one!}

…How did you spend your week?

Have a lovely weekend!!

{Images by Me}

Friday Five…

“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things… I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.”
― Leo F. Buscaglia

Here are a few of the little things I got enthusiastic about this week…

{The rumble of thunder}

{Lilacs…my favorite scent}

{Colorful & fun new running gear}

{Reading when I should be sleeping…this & this}

{Packing for a baseball trip to Milwaukee/Chicago}

…What made you happy this week?

Have a lovely weekend!!

{Images by Me}

Literature Snippet…

 

“Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;

But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.”

—Ernest L. Thayer, Casey at the Bat

 

{Click images for their source}

Tuesday Inspiration…

Finally,  the baseball season is back in swing…

Don’t tell me about the world.  Not today.  It’s springtime and they’re knocking baseball around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball.  ~Pete Hamill

Life will always throw you curves, just keep fouling them off… the right pitch will come, but when it does, be prepared to run the bases.  ~Rick Maksian

Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem.  ~Saul Steinberg

It breaks your heart.  It is designed to break your heart.  The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.  ~A. Bartlett Giamatti

The other sports are just sports.  Baseball is a love.  ~Bryant Gumbel

{Click images for their source}

Movie Monday…

Ray Kinsella: I bet it’s good to be playing again, huh?

Shoeless Joe Jackson: Getting thrown out of baseball was like having part of me amputated. I’ve heard that old men wake up and scratch itchy legs that been dust for over fifty years. That was me. I’d wake up at night with the smell of the ball park in my nose, the cool of the grass on my feet… The thrill of the grass.

~Field of Dreams (1989)

{Click images for their source}

Friday Five…

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
― Robert Brault

Here are some of the little things making me happy this week…

{Melting Snow}

{Cheery New iPhone Case}

{Running Outside Again}

{Twins Spring Training}

{Eating Lots of “Cuties”}

 …What made you happy this week?

Have a lovely weekend!!

{Images by Me}

Thome’s 599…600th!

{Photo by Duane Burleson/AP}

There hasn’t been much to cheer about this season for my beloved Minnesota Twins…but Jim Thome just changed that!  Last night with back to back at bats he hit home run #599…and then #600!!!

{Photo by Duane Burleson/AP}

He has joined elite ranks with only seven other players hitting the milestone: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa.  And he’s done it without being tied to steroids…something that unfortunately not all can say.

In the words of my favorite little Cuddy Buddy (aka Michael Cuddyer):

“Jim Thome is the definition of class, talent, work ethic, and longevity. Congrats to a true superstar, one I will always look up to!”

{Photo via Star Tribune}

Congrats Thome…so incredibly happy & proud you hit #600! The fact that it was in a Twins uniform is icing on the cake!!

{Click photos for their source}

…thanks to all the Dads!

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. 

~Clarence Budington Kelland

It’s Father’s Day weekend…time to give a big thanks to all the Dads out there!  Below is a quote from Harmon Killebrew, one of my all time favorite baseball players.  He was considered a “killer” at the ballpark because of his huge swing (which became the iconic MLB logo) but off the field he was known for his huge heart.

Harmon recently passed away and it was touching hearing all of the tributes from his former teammates as well as current players who were influenced by him.  Everyone who knew Harmon (even if not personally) was somehow touched by him…and always in a positive way.

But the most special of all was hearing his children and family speak…despite his celebrity he was clearly a wonderful father, husband and friend.

{Image via The Sports Cubicle}

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. 

Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass.” 

“We’re not raising grass,” Dad would reply.  “We’re raising boys.” 

~Harmon Killebrew

{Image via We Heart It}

…here’s to many happy memories tearing up the grass with your loved ones!!!

{Click photos for their source}