A little boy...

...at the edge of a big ocean.

Sunday Baseball

James and I went on our annual summer baseball outing today. Instead of the usual Lowell Spinners game, we decided to take in a double header of the 19th Century Base Ball Association.  The games between the Newburyport Clamdiggers and Portsmouth Rockinghams were played at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, MA.

Baseball is baseball, but in 19th century base ball, things are a little different.  The battery consists of a hurler (pitcher), striker (batter), and behind (catcher). Innings are frames; outs are hands; a run is a tally. The uniforms consist of scally caps and high stockings, and one umpire keeps everything straight. You can read more about the history of 19th century base ball here.

 Newburyport Clamdiggers

 Newburyport Clamdiggers 1886

Striker up!

The gentleman in the vest is the umpire!

A view of the outfield. Yes, that is a cornfield in the background.

The Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm was a wonderful setting for the games on a beautiful Sunday. With the ocean not far away, the high 80s temperatures were hardly noticed with the constant sea breeze blowing through. You can read more about the farm here.

The manor house at the farm...

And some of the animals at the farm...

And, promptly at noon, the beer wagon arrived and was greeted by cheers from all!

Outside the Back Door...

Pinks and Petunias

Outside the Back Door...

Cosmos & Verbena

The Kiss

With celebrating Father's Day, Teddy's birthday (his first), and my husband's birthday (his 78th) this past week, our iPhone cameras were working overtime. Lots of great memories captured and many smiles and laughs as we looked at the shared photos.

For me, one picture stood out and is my favorite of the week--maybe my favorite ever--as my daughter and grandson share a kiss.

Linda & Teddy

Kimball Farm, Sunday, June 15

Teddy James Is One Today!

Father's Day

The original Owl with the original Motif #1 in the background.

Rockport, MA ~ September 1966

I was always fascinated by my father's large, square Irish hands. Hands that made sure our home was always safe and secure; hands that drove big rig trucks on highways; hands that could make a drum set sing; hands that guided me down the aisle on a beautiful May day; hands that reached out to touch his newborn grandchildren; hands that held mine when sorrow touched our family.

I was particularly struck and saddened the day I first noticed these hands looking old. Recently, I read a book that, while not noteworthy for anything else, did have a passage that brought back so many memories and thoughts of my father, John Murphy. 

Age had compacted him, making his work-scarred hands and thick knuckles look too large for his wiry frame. When she was young, she used to believe he could hold up the sky with those hands.

~Elizabeth Lowell, Night Diver 

Reading with Teddy...

Despite the forecast of rain, the sun was still shining brightly late this morning. So Teddy and I headed out for a walk to the library.  

Here are some of the things we saw along the way.

Lots of flowers...

Inviting tables for a little sit...

Bags of coffee waiting to be ground at Barismo...

A freshly painted mural on Marathon Street...

When we got to the library, it was very crowded. Lots of moms, dads, and nanas decided to go for a walk on a sunny day!

I'm ready to read, Nana...

And here is the book we read.

Teddy's favorite page...

Nana's favorite page...

From Outside the Back Door...

The last Lilly of the Valley bouquet of the season...

From Outside the Back Door...

Pansies and Parsley