Games - BBall and Puzzles and some knitting

This is going to be a quick update - A 'new toy' will be up in the next day or so!


But, the Michigan State girls lost their game yesterday to the Illini (14-4)- they did not play well at all. There seemed to be about 50 turnovers. (Thankfully, Bree did NOT turnover the ball) - but, the other team were 'scrappers' - they wanted it more and our girls HAVE to learn that once they cross half court (in this age group/league - you are not allowed to defend until crossing half court) - that they either A) MUST keep their dribble - they seem to want to stop 1 foot over the half court line and then the other girls are in their positions and not many come up to help out and B) If you DO stop 1 foot past the half court line you do NOT hold the ball in front of you like offering a gift.

Bree had 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 knock away and 2 shots off the rim/board -

She actually handles the ball very well and is patient to wait for the team to set up their play that the coach calls out BEFORE crossing the half court line!

She is learning to defend her person BEFORE that person has the ball and to anticipate if the person may be involved in the play.

I've also completed 2 puzzles and will now need to find more to do. They are like therapy - kind of like my knitting - keeps my mind on task and blocks out everything else (which can be good and bad, especially if I have other things I really should be doing)

Here's a pic of the last one - I cannot find where I saved the other one - eh, no biggie
And finally, my other form of therapy! Finished this pair of socks called Welt Fantastic by Charlene Schurch, from her book Sensational Knitted Socks, made from Socks That Rock Lightweight color called "Rare Gems". Bree's modeling them - but made more for me - thus why they look a tad big on her.

After I finished these on Wednesday, I started a pair of Jaywalker gauntlets for Bree's Teacher. Bree has a pair of these made from Cascade Fixation and one day she wore them to school and her teacher just loved them - so Bree asked if I could make her a pair. Had to modify my design that I made for Bree's - both in size and the fact that the yarn she picked out to use - was not stretchy like the yarn used in hers - so, Thursday I worked on it and completed the first one on Friday and am about 90% complete on the second one. (I'm already thinking, "What should I knit next?" hahaha


This is Socks That Rock in Mediumweight in the color called "In The Navy" and the pattern is modified from Grumperina's Jaywalker sock pattern and a typical mitten thumb gusset with ribbing on the end of the thumb sleeve as well as the finger tips.

Spumoni anyone?

I'm working on my 1st pair of socks for February - I have decided to 'limit' my sock knitting to 2 pair a month - I know - blasphemy... but it does allow me more time for knitting other projects too!

So, my Feb 1 start sock is a design by Charlene Schurch called Welt Fantastic - it's along a chevron line of pattern - the yarn is Socks That Rock - Lightweight - Color - Rare Gems and everyone who sees it says it reminds them of Spumoni Ice Cream - it has rich milk chocolate color, along with the pink strawberry flavoring and a neat mint green thrown in for good measure. Yesterday, I swear some of the gals were stopping at Baskin Robbins on the way home. Decide for yourself: (pics do not do the color justice, however)

So, the first sock is completed and I'm almost to the heel flap on no 2. I figure I can 'stretch' these out to the 15th so I can start pair no 2 for the month - it's nice that Feb is a short month too.. yippee..

On another good note, Bree's Michigan State basketball team won again on Saturday - 14-8 they played Northwestern. Bree had 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 knockaways and 2 shots off the rim. Not bad.

Wingspan.. Jan 31 - They WON!

I figured I better get the info out on last Saturday's game before today's game is played - sorry - my bad...

Well they WON! 12-10. This was exciting! Because last year, this team rolled over our team!

The girls played tough, came from behind and pulled it out within the last 45 seconds!

When I saw this picture (let me explain first), I had to laugh. It is all about 'wingspan'. I didn't realize how 'wide' of a wingspan Bree actually has. You have to understand that Bill is about 6'1". But, for his height, he is short armed. You know how they say that your arm (wingspan) from fingertip to fingertip should be the same as your height (less for those of us who don't always stand up the straightest)? Well, Bill must be the exception to the rule as it doesn't work out mathematically for him. He only wears a 32-33 inch length shirt.

Looking at this picture, Bree's arms seem to grow out of her sides forever - I never realized that - I've seen her play BBall and taken shots like this before, but maybe its the angle or lighting - I don't know..

Anyway, here's the picture:


And one on offense for good measure.

Their game today is a 1pm - they have team pictures this morning at 10am!

It's BB Time!!!

Well, Bree's 5th grade girls Basketball team started a week ago! She's very excited this year and has been practicing getting "tougher".

She is tougher than last year - she proved it in this game! She was NOT going to allow the other team's best player to get by her, she was NOT going to allow someone to steal the ball from her and when she got a rebound, she was NOT going to let anyone else grab it away! And she didn't!

She played the best I've seen her play.....yet! And she had fun and she enjoys her teammates. They played their first game on Saturday. They are Michigan State this year (last year they were NC). Duke (the team they played on Sat) beat them by 2 points... It was a good game!

Here are a few pics I took -

Bree did a fantastic job in defending this girl. They bumped and pushed and did all the basketball things on defense one should do!
















Bree has been practicing dribbling with both hands and without watching the ball. This year the coaches also instituted 'plays' which he calls out when they cross the half court line.

Keep in mind that you cannot defend on the players until they cross half court (that's why you don't see anyone defending her).


She plays each saturday thru March 21 with practice during the week.

Basketball season continues...

It's amazing as the girls have played 3 games now and how much Bree has improved (read more aggressive) in her play.

I think Bill got her motivated (well, I KNOW, Bill got her motivated) as he instituted a "reward" system.

Starting with the 2nd game of the season (which they lost by ONE point in the last minute of the game - after losing a 7 point lead) - he told her for every rebound or steal she got, he would give her $1 that she could spend anyway she liked.

I think she was trying hard as my Mom and Dad were in town from Tennessee and she was certainly trying to play well for her audience. She earned $5!!! She played much better! I love this "evil" eye look while defending her player..



Their third game (I forgot my camera as the game was at 8am on a Saturday morning and I hadn't had enough coffee yet) - She played PHENOMENAL!!!!! She made her FIRST basket! (had a HUGE grin on her face after that) - Had several rebounds, several steals and even slapped the ball away several times - So, Bill added knock aways for $.50 - She ended up with $10 for the day - (which she promptly spent on another webkinz) - LOL!

There was a particular play that both Bill and I were so proud at how TOUGH she is. There was a play where she stole the ball and was going on a fast break down the court - one of the other team's players in order to stop her - basically ran her over - she took a hard tumble. Now this week, they were playing at a school with one of those carpeted gym floors (how absolutely stupid, it is).. Anyway, she got up and continued on with the play for that quarter. The quarter buzzer sounded she went and sat down and grabbed her knee - now NONE OF US noticed it when she fell - but she totally and I mean, totally, tore up her entire knee - cross between a blister and a rug burn along with a goose egg knot - they called me over from the stands to help Dr her up and I was in AWE that she got up and kept playing and waited until there was a timeout to "hurt" -

Bill and I gave her an extra dollar for being tough!!! She was pretty dang sore for this entire past week and the swelling has gone down, but YEOUCH... The big old burn, scab looks nasty (even to me!)

They did win their game! Which was awesome!! So now, North Carolina Tar Heels are 2 and 1! Go TEAM! They play this Saturday at 10am - more to come - and since it is not so early, I'm guessing I'll have my camera along!

The next Michael Jordan??? Just having fun!

This year, Bree has decided to play basketball thru our local athletic organization (kind of like a park district league). What makes it really fun is that her team is girls she hangs out with and from our subdivision.

She has always liked to "shoot hoops" with Bill and we've been encouraging her to "do" one thing outside of the horses to stay 'balanced' and so basketball was her choice.

The Coaches and Families are great and the Dad's have fun at the practices (The Coaches rope the Dad's in liking making deals with the girls that if they hit "their" shot then ALL the Dad's have to run a lap in the gym...) hahahah - It's amazing how GOOD the girls get with their shooting with a little motivation - Last week the Dad's ran 4 laps (there are 9 girls on the team). The teams are named after colleges and her team is North Carolina and is all 4th Graders.

They've played 2 games (Saturday mornings) and are 1 and 1 - the loss was a HEARTBREAKER!!! They lost by ONE point in the last 30 seconds...

They play 4 - 8 minute quarters!

Here are a few pictures of Bree and her team from the first game:

Bree is the second girl in line closest to you