Camera Practice

Last week Derrick and I took Crosby out to play some frisbee and practice with the new camera's sports setting. Here are a few of my favorite shots.

I love how she looks like she's stalking the disc in this shot.

This is our best mid-air catch shot.

Pure joy.

Crosby could go all. day. long. We have to make her stop so she doesn't run herself into the ground. I love these pictures and how clearly you can see the intensity she has.

Garden Inspiration

My dad has a beautiful yard. He is the main reason I want my yard to look presentable in the very least. I don't have all of his skills but I really want our grass to be green if possible and I try to keep the weeds at bay as much as possible. Curb appeal is so important in how your entire house feels and my dad is the king of curb appeal! Or...in his case, lake appeal!

While I was home over the 4th I took a few pictures to share because he really has done some amazing work! I should have asked him for a before picture but just picture a whole lot of nothing rolling down the hill into the lake.

He has hidden little surprises around the whole backyard. This guy is one of my favorites.

I love the maple tree arch leading down to the dock. This used to be a very perilous journey.

Putting Derrick to work hauling up a log we found in the lake.

Crosby loves it here. As soon as she gets out of the car she runs down the stairs to the back headed for the lake.

Every time we come home the yard looks better and better. My dad has turned it into an impressive hobby and it really is amazing what he's done. It's also nice to have an on-call garden expert whenever I have a new project in mind or accidentally order way to much mulch!

Fireworks!

There weren't actually any fireworks but "Fouth of July" sounded so generic.

This past weekend Derrick and I headed home to Hickory to spend the holiday weekend with family. Jack was house sitting for a friend so we left him in Raleigh but Jay and Adnan were also able to make the trip down.

It was a lazy, fun weekend which was perfect! Their house is right on a lake and this was the first time I felt like we were really able to enjoy being on the water which made me really excited for future lake visits!

Dad's garden is absolutely amazing. He's got little spots to sit everywhere and the view from each spot is different. I love seeing all the changes he's made since the last time I visited. I took a lot of photos which I'm going to share in a separate post.

This was taken right before my near drowning trying to help Crosby up on the dock.

I promise Dad and Derrick were there! They just didn't make many photos apparently. I actually didn't take any pictures at all...these are all stolen from Jay and Mom.

We were also able to sneak in a visit with Aunt Barbara, Uncle Randy, and Kelly which is always nice. I also grossly overestimated the amount of baked beans we needed for this cookout. Mom and Dad will be eating beans until Thanksgiving.

Overall the weekend was so chill with no sort of agenda. Holidays are nice with work because most clients are also celebrating the holiday so I can unplug for a while without feeling like I'm not being there for someone.

Frisbee Team Changes

So.....Derrick and I don't play for Raleighwood anymore. Long story, short the governing body for ultimate frisbee (USAU) disbanded our team. It wasn't for bad behavior or anything that we did wrong...it's a policy thing that we aren't able to comply with.  I would go into it but it would turn into a nasty rant about how unfair I think USAU is. Bottom line, most of Raleighwood is extremely upset about this and, in my opinion, USAU has no right to disband teams. Their job is to expand our sport...not crush the souls of 20+ loyal supporters.

Not loyal anymore. USAU is the worst.

Due to the betrayal of USAU Derrick and I were left without a team at the beginning of this club season. We weren't sure what we were going to do. We considered taking the season off, traveling for another team, or playing mens or womens. Derrick could have maybe played with Jack which would have been cool but I haven't played women's since college and wasn't sure I was ready to go back. I've been spoiled by getting to play with Derrick for the past 6+ years.

We were both surprised to be asked to join a new club team forming in the area called Toro. Surprised and a little nervous on my end. We were so used to the people on Raleighwood. We played 3 years with Raleighwood and a lot of the people on Raleighwood also played on wHagonweel with us in the 3 previous years. So six years of playing with the same people. It was sad, and still is sad, to change up who we play with.

That being said, we've really had a positive experience with Toro. They are a great group and a talented group. We've won a lot of games so far and we came in third in our latest tournament. It's been interesting to learn how to play with new people and learn their different views about strategy. We've been lucky to have a local group to be able to play with after the upsetting decisions about Raleighwood.

We still tend to wander to our Raleighwood friends during breaks and byes. They are our closest frisbee friends and will always be our teammates. We're thankful to have a team to play with though even if they do practice twice a week! Twice a week! Raleighwood did one scrimmage MAYBE once a week. We are getting back into good shape though!

Happy Birthday to Crosby

Our sweet Crosby turned 8 yesterday and it was especially sweet after the recent health scare she had. Crosby has completely stolen our hearts and she's the absolute center of our universe. I can't believe it's been 6.5 years since we got her and I'm so glad we took a chance that that wimpy little dog she once was.

Typical walk these days....a stop in the shade to rest.

 

Happy birthday sweet girl! Here's to many, many more!

Signs of a Good Week

There have been a lot of good things happening recently but they are all a little random so I'm doing a random dump here today.

First off, the happiest news of the week! Crosby's tumor was a low stage two and the surgery removed it all! What this means is we aren't looking at any more cancer treatment for this particular round. It does mean she will likely have many future surgeries as almost every single lump and bump will need to be removed and it's very likely more tumors will appear but as long as we catch them early she should have a good, long life ahead of her. We are SO relieved! Her stitches come out next Wednesday and then we can move on from this scary discovery for the time being.

Due the incision on her neck I've been walking Crosby without a leash. That means we go on the SLOWEST. walks. ever! She just dawdles and takes her time 15 yards behind me.

Jack and I finally got thin mint martinis together. We'd been talking about it since his 21st birthday but the place I wanted to go was in Winston Salem. Last Saturday we had exactly 7 minutes before Mom and Dad were meeting us for dinner but we were in Winston together and had to take the opportunity. Derrick grabbed the car and waited outside with it running while Jay, Jack, and I ran in, threw our credit card on the table, and said we need 3 thin mint martinis FAST! We then chugged them and ran off to dinner. It was hilarious and and worth it.

Fathers day dinner with Dad. Since Jay was in town visiting we all drove down to meet for dinner. The service was terrible but the food was delicious. We were there for almost 3 hours just talking and hanging out.

I got to meet Birdie! My friend's adorable puppy!

Crosby got the most adorable get well card from one of her BFF's Roxy. It made my day and hers.

This. Jack showed us this picture that his teammates dug up of Jack at his first tournament. Flat footed, plain white T, just hoping the disc would fall into his hands while he's getting completely skied. Hilarious.