Peewee Football - Experiencing the Mob Mentality

My son is playing peewee football. He turned 8 last weekend; he was one of the younger ones on the team, most already at 8 years. His coaches have done a wonderful job of showing discipline to the boy as well as the player. One of the first lessons was to always help up whomever you hit. To check on the player, make sure everyone was ok. They answer instructions with "Yes, sir." They run laps when they're needlessly continuing to tackle after the whistle blows. The child receives instructions on how to be a team player as well as how to function in this dysfunctional world of ours.

Digression - In the past, I have taught A Tale of Two Cities to my freshmen. I love this book, long-winded though Dickens may be. In fact, one of the characters had an influence on how we named our son. But when it came to the storming of the Bastille, I always felt I was shooting in the dark. I tried to explain by how excited you get sitting with your friends at a football game. I tried to draw conclusions that the students would understand. But the truth is, I never fully understood, either.

Until this weekend.

Our peewee games have been met thus far with other teams who's coaches acted similar to ours. They all coached all kids, regardless of team. They all demonstrated what it is we hope our children will learn and practice so often it becomes second nature. And then we went up against our most recent opponent.

Before the game even began, there was a feeling - this peewee team was the 'little brother' of one of our arch rivals at the high school level, but the coaches and parents seemed to be trying to hide their feelings for the good of the littles on the field. My son was so excited just to be there, he danced at every play and congratulated every player who came off the field.

Long story, short - they scored and got a two-point conversion (the littles are too small to kick field goals). We scored and missed the conversion, but shortly thereafter, scored again and got it. We were up, 14-8 with two minutes left.

We had a horrible snap and the opponent managed to get the ball. They then ran it in for a touchdown.

This is where the story gets ugly and where my piece culminates. The defensive coach on the opponent's team ran onto the field, yelling for defense to come to him. He then proceeded to jump up and down yelling as loud as he could, "Who's field is this? Who's field is this?" over and over. There were still just under two minutes left on the clock. In peewee time, that is plenty to have the story continue.

Who's field is this? To seven and eight year old children. To littles who've been practicing hard for nearly two months, now. To my bear cub who just loved the game and was hoping he'd be able to make a big play. Who's field is this?

I was livid. I was shaking I was so angry, and I was in disbelief that someone could act so crass.

The ball snapped, and one of our players got past a block, and ran.

He ran that ball in for a touchdown.

I remember nearly every yard his little legs carried him. I remember jumping up onto the seats in front of me. I remember throwing my fist into the air.

I don't remember much else. I don't remember the sound of the crowd. I have no idea what the players or coaches were doing. I didn't even notice the sun blinding me or feel the late summer breeze. All I saw was our little guy outrunning their little guys and triumphing over the bitterness we'd just tasted.

I tasted mob mentality. Or rather, I lost myself in it. I have no memory of so much from that short 10 seconds. I cheered him on, then shook my fist at the other coach and yelled, "Who's field IS this?" and I remember one grandmother turning to me and saying, "THANK YOU."

It's scary, mob mentality is. It washes over one and sweeps one away. Dickens knew what he was saying when he likened the mob to the sea, bathing all of Paris with pitchforks, axes, and torches. And, even for someone who despises losing control, as I do, it is difficult to overcome. I finally had to walk away, turn my back on the game, and breathe deeply.

It wasn't the game. It wasn't the competition. That is merely part of life and something the littles need to learn - sometimes you lose (though, this time, {we don't keep score} we won 20-14).

He conveniently lost his teeth two weeks ago.

It was the blatant disregard for who we were watching that incensed me. That behavior is inappropriate at any age, but for littles who are trying so hard and just learning, it is especially despicable.

I have no doubt the opponent's parents and other coaches had something to say about the conduct of the one. No one from that side of the field left their side until our entire (parking lot) side had emptied. I don't blame them.

But now, the next time I teach AToTC, or any other piece that contains a mob, I'll know more of what I speak. Between you and me, I'd prefer to never feel that way again.

Dandelion Salve

Once I learned the potency and benefits of dandelions, one of the first recipes I tried was a salve. I make no claims to being a doctor, but I love the way this salve makes me feel.

I've used the salve for winter dryness. I've used it on cuts and scrapes. I used it on a rash my son had and, maybe it was the dandelion - maybe it was the olive oil - maybe it was the coconut oil - Regardless of what it is, this has worked better for me than any store-bought medical ointment I've used for cuts and scrapes.

Start by picking the dandelions from an organic location - I pick dandelions from our yard until we mow. After that, I prefer not to run the risk of ingesting or otherwise rubbing dandelions on me that may have been contaminated by gasoline or oil.

Pick about 2 cups of dandelion heads. You may want to dry them out a touch by letting them sit on a clean pan for a few hours. I put parchment paper down, first. The natural milky fluid in a dandelion can sometimes turn a bit sludgy while it is infusing with the olive oil. 

Pour about 2 cups of good quality olive oil over the dandelion heads and let them infuse for a couple weeks. I kept mine in the kitchen, but on sunny days, would let it sit in the sun to aid in the infusion process. 

After a few weeks (I think this batch sat for 2 weeks), strain the heads pushing down on them with a spatula or spoon to extract as much infused oil as possible from the heads. Discard the heads as you wish - either in the trash or compost heap.

One bit of advice - drain the oil directly into a bowl that you can use as a double-boiler in a pot of water. It makes the steps much easier and keeps you from dirtying more dishes.

 Another thing to consider before you begin is from where to purchase your beeswax. You want to use beeswax that is easy to measure as well as of good quality. The kind I buy is in little pellets - easy to measure out and easier to melt. 

Using a double-boiler technique, warm the oil and beeswax together. I added about 3/4 cup of beeswax to the oil I had in the bowl.

 As the beeswax is melting, add whichever scent of essential oil you prefer. My first batches I used honeysuckle - it was delightfully light and relaxing. This batch, I used lavender oil. It blends well with the scent of dandelion. You'll want to stir it in, wait a few minutes for the wax to melt further, then smell it again to see if it needs more. I've found that as the wax melts, it absorbs the essential oil.

It is really quite lovely as the pellets swirl in the oils!

It felt like it took forever for the wax to melt. But when it did, it happened all at once.

At this point, you want all your containers sitting out and ready for you to fill. I recommend you add a spoonful to one tin, then set it in the freezer to encourage it setting. After it sets, test the consistency of the salve. You want to make sure it is not too thick with wax and that it rubs in nicely. 

My first batch, I followed a recipe that said to melt coconut oil into the olive oil and beeswax. I liked that batch, but it was too oily for me - it didn't soak into my skin well and the salve melted too easily for my taste. Even with the air conditioning in summer, the top of my container would have melted salve on it. This time, I refrained from adding the coconut oil as I wanted something more suitable to travel as well as a salve that soaked in better and was less greasy.

My finished containers! 

I was very happy with the consistency of the salve after I cooled the test container. My jars took longer to cool than the tins, but my son and I left to run errands and when I got back, the salve was ready to pack up.

Dandelion Salve

2 cups of dandelion heads (organic)

2 cups of good quality olive oil

-Infuse for several weeks

Essential Oil of your choice

You'll need a double-boiler, strainer, and tins or jars for holding the salve.

If you try this, I'd love to know how you fare! Let me know if you try other scents and how they turned out. I'm really tempted to try one with eucalyptus and rosemary as a muscle rub, but I'll have to find a field that hasn't been mowed, yet, as we finally gave in and mowed our lawn this weekend. 

Happy foraging!

Dandelion Cookies

Continuing on with my fascination of dandelions (and their light floral scent and taste, plus their incredible health benefits...), my son and I made dandelion cookies this past weekend. If you recall, I attempted to make Dandelion Jelly earlier this spring. But more dandelions have since bloomed, and we have not yet mowed, so dandelions I must use whilst I can. 

My son begins to prep the bright, open flowers (only use fully ripe blooms from dandelions that have been picked in clean areas - no mowing, no nearby car exhaust, no spraying for weeds, etc.) by snipping the yellow petals and stamens from the bloom heads. You'll need about 1/2 cup of these, which you'd think isn't much, but surprisingly, will not fill as quickly as you'd expect. Thankfully, I had quite the number of perfect dandelions in my yard.

 Save the part you don't use. I collected these to put into a jar for making salve - with the heads I collected that I did not use.

**You can freeze the heads, but be careful of ice crystals and their subsequent added moisture when you thaw them. Depending on what you're making, you will  want to dry them slightly before adding to the recipes.

My son is adding the remaining heads and the shorn heads to a large jar, to which I will add enough good quality olive oil to begin soaking the heads to make my salve.

Add the flower shavings to your batter, mix, and drop in dollops on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake approximately 15 minutes, allow to cool, and enjoy!

They're so pretty!

Mine spread and ended up more like tuiles than cookies. But that did not diminish their taste. They're lovely. They're light and slightly-floral. And they didn't last.

Dandelion Cookies

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey

1 cup of gluten-free flour

2 eggs

1 Teaspoon vanilla

1 cup of oatmeal

1/2 cup of dandelion flowers

Preheat the oven to 375*.

Whip together the wet ingredients. 

Sift together the dry ingredients. 

Fold into one another. 

Fold in the flower petals. 

Drop by spoonfuls onto a parchment paper covered cookies sheet.

Bake approximately 15 minutes, or until lightly browned, and allow to cool.

Enjoy!

They're healthy, easy, and won't last! Let me know what you think of these!

Dandelion Jelly... er.. Dandelion Syrup

I am new to the wonders of dandelions. I'd heard of eating the greens as long as I can remember, but... dandelions are weeds, right? Really best reserved for blowing the puffs around or merely omnipresent in a child's memory of summer days, bike riding and kickball playing - complete with drinking water out of the hose at your neighbor's house. Who would've thought I'd find myself, years later, wandering through my yard, picking the beautifully yellow heads of this weed?

Last spring, after searching for some recipes on the internet for honeysuckle, I came across a page that talked of the advantages of dandelion. Curious, I began to research the use of dandelion for many recipes as well as ills. 

I am not a doctor. However, I have found that, for flavor alone, I really appreciate the earthiness of dandelion tea, and I've seen firsthand the benefits of dandelion salve. I'll post instructions for those another time. Today is all about dandelion jelly!

I usually pick this bowl full - I'm not positive how much it holds. I would guesstimate that it is around 5 cups. I know I didn't need this many, but I couldn't let them go to waste! 

**Be sure to only pick dandelions from a yard that is not near a street, nor one that has been sprayed for weeds, etc. You'll be ingesting these, and you don't want remnants of exhaust, weed killer, or gasoline on them! I pick dandelions only until we begin mowing, and then I must say goodbye to my lovely concoctions. 

   

Next, I filled my tea kettle to the top with water and set it to heat up. I poured the entire contents over the dandelions, then promptly covered the bowl with plastic wrap and left it to steep, and cool off, overnight.

I left my spoon on top to ensure the weight kept the steam from lifting the wrap.

The next day, I strained out the blossom heads! These will go promptly into my garden for compost!

If I were making salve, I would have left the liquid as it was on the right. However, because jelly should have a lighter taste and is prettier when the light shines through it, I put a coffee filter in my colander and strained the liquid a second time through that (you can see the bare edge of the filter in my red colander). The bowl on the left shows the difference - it is much more clear than the original.

I should say that before I even started straining the flower heads, I started heating up my jars and lids. By the time I had the first batch of jelly simmering, the jars and lids were ready to be filled.

Dandelion Jelly

3 cups of dandelion tea
3 cups of sugar
2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 package of pectin

Bring the ingredients to a boil and allow a hard boil for at least a minute.
Spoon into the hot jars and loosely tighten the rings around the lids. Leave at least 1/4" of headspace.

Once you have enough for your canner, place back into the pot and bring to a boil. Make sure you have about an inch of water above the tops of the jars.
Boil for 10 minutes.

Remove carefully and let cool on a dry towel. Wait for the staccato, symphonic 'thok' of the lids sealing as the jars cool.

This is my second batch - I didn't get quite as much out of this batch. I think I filled my jars more fully on this one than the first. But, in all, I ended up with 12 jelly jars of dandelion jelly.

Aren't they beautiful? My honeysuckle jelly was, initially, the same color. However, I added rose petals from my rose bush and it turned a lovely shade of red. I think, if I do a second batch, I'll do the same to the dandelion jelly.

So, shortly after finishing the canning process, my son had baseball practice. I left the jars cooling. A few hours later (long first practice of the season!), I came home and found that my jelly was not as thickened as I would like it to be. However, it is delicious (I tasted the spoon after I filled the jars) and it smelled like honey, so I am fairly certain I will still enjoy my dandelion syrup. I may alter the pectin ratio in the future.

Next up, I plan to try to make dandelion cookies. I'll be sure to let you know how those turn out! And, if the spring continues as it has, I should have enough heads to make more salve. I took stock of my batch from last year and am nearly out, so that obviously means it is time for more. I'll document that as I go, too. It really is wonderful.

If you try to make anything dandelion, let me know! I have fallen in love with these happy little flowers - they make me smile as much now as they did when I was a child!

Four Thieves Vinegar

Legend has it that in the 17th century, during the re-occurrence of the bubonic plague in France, nearly a million citizens succumbed to the disease. As the cities were ravaged, a group of thieves somehow managed to survive the dreaded plague. It is said that this group of people doused face masks with an herbal concoction that helped them with their immunity. The thieves (originally grave robbers) were able to enter the houses of those who had died and rob them of their valuables. The combination of antibacterial and antiviral herbs and vinegar kept them from suffering from the same fate as those they robbed.

I made Four Thieves Vinegar last  year. To me, due to the combination of herbs, it tastes a lot like Thanksgiving dinner. I, personally, can't stand vinegar, though, so I still had a hard time getting it down. I need to try to mix it with warm water and honey.

Currently, our winter has been incredibly mild. Subsequently, germs have not been killed off, schools have not been closed due to snow, and the spread of colds and flu have drastically reduced my class sizes. And, quite frankly, I'm paranoid anytime a student comes up to me asking for a nurse pass.

Obviously, it is time to make more elderberry syrup and a new batch of Four Thieves Vinegar. We are currently healthy in my house and I will do whatever I can to escape the "plague" of 2017.

Depending on where you look for the recipe, there are several variations. Ultimately, the most important aspect of the recipe is that you use good quality organic raw apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg's) and garlic.

Other herbs that I add to the mix are:
- dried rosemary
- dried sage
- dried thyme
- lavender
- ginger
- dried hibiscus

**As always, I am not a physician. Please check with your doctor if you have any questions.
Be careful if you use wormwood - Those who should be cautious are anyone who is nursing or pregnant, or suffer from a kidney disorder, a seizure disorder, porphyria, or a ragweed allergy)

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Four Thieves Vinegar Recipe

- 1 quart raw, organic apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons fresh garlic, chopped
- Your choice of other mixed herbs. Options are: rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, wormwood, ginger, mint, black pepper, cayenne pepper, coriander, chilli pepper, rue
Use approximately 1-2 tablespoons each

You have several options for making the concoction. I've used both methods, depending on need and time.

Option I:
1. Peel and crush the garlic cloves and boil the garlic in the vinegar for a few minutes.
2. Add the rest of the herbs and allow to simmer for another few minutes.
3. Allow to cool down on the stove (steeping further).
4. Store them in a clean bottle and allow to sit for a few days.
5. Give a good shake before you use! Store in the fridge to ensure the vinegar doesn't turn sour.

Option II:
1. Combine all the vinegar and herbs in a clean jar.
2. Store in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks, allowing all items to steep. Shake daily.
3. Strain out the herbs and return the vinegar to the jar.
4. Store in the fridge!

The vinegar can be stored for up to 6 months.
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When I got home this evening, I made both my elderberry syrup and the Four Thieves Vinegar.

If you feel illness coming on, or if you're around those who are ill, or if you've been suffering from a cold or virus for a few days and are tired of feeling sick, take a shot of this in the morning, or mix it into a mug of warm water with honey and lemon.

Happy brewing, everyone! Let me know your thoughts!

Thoughts on Aging and Hiking Sharp Top Trail

"Life is not about the destination, but the journey."

I have always been a mid-line outdoorsy girl. I grew up camping with my family and we used to go on hikes a lot in both Wisconsin and Kentucky. When we moved to Virginia, there were trails and roads that went through 'hollers' we would travel frequently on our bikes. I loved it all.

But time moves on and things happen and I'm usually more caught up in obligations than in taking pleasure for myself. Now that my son is 7, though, I am able to once again enjoy more on my own, since his Daddy can do more with him.

One such item is a hike to Sharp Top near the beautiful Peaks of Otter in southwest Virginia. On the last day with Mommy before school began, I took Sydney to Abbott Lake - it has a 1 mile, paved path around the lake that was perfect for a then-6 year old to explore. We examined plant life and butterflies - took pictures that focused on texture and color, and just enjoyed ourselves tremendously. I realized that Abbott Lake was at the base of three hikes that I'd heard of frequently but never climbed and decided that while my boys went to football games, I'd try my hand at these.

Abbott Lake sits nestled at the base of three mountains that offer beautiful views of the entire region. Sharp top isn't the highest mountain, but it is the steepest climb at a shorter distance. I knew it had been awhile since I'd been hiking, and even though I'm active, I'm not as consistent as I should be. It is because the hike is shorter that I chose to do this one first, even if it is steeper. Knowing that it has been years since I've actively hiked, and that I am a bit older than I used to be, I knew I needed to be careful.

I was... shocked. I expected to get winded. I expected to be a bit achy afterwards. But I did not expect to struggle as I did while actually hiking. I turned 40 this year. My knees aren't what they used to be. And I had thankfully thought to bring a hiking stick, but there were moments where my knees and my mind were definitely not in agreement. I don't feel 40. And I'm terribly stubborn. And I know there is a tremendous amount of 'mind over matter' in aging. But I cannot deny the fact that I had to go slower than I expected. It makes me wonder if I'll be able to accomplish some of the others that are longer hikes in a day.

I love this picture - it shows Abbott Lake at the base of the three mountains. I am at the top of Sharp Top. The mountain on the left is Harkening Hill. The one cut off on the right is Flat Top. I needed to take this picture because, from the lake, Sydney and I had made a point of looking up and identifying which mountain was which. It is the alteration in perspective that I wanted my 7 year old to see.

Ultimately, I had to recognize the difference in my abilities and my stubbornness. I had to make peace with certain aspects of my life. But I will never stop. Because I refuse to allow age and the human body to keep me from doing that which I enjoy and which brings me peace.

"It is not about the destination, but the journey." What realizations have you reached as you grow and mature? What have you had to make peace with in your life? Where will your journey lead you in life?

Tomatoes, Hornworms, Braconids, and Robert Burns

To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up In Her Nest With a Plough - Robert Burns

Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!

I'm truly sorry Man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle,
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request:
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's winds ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!

Thou saw the fields laid bare an' wast,
An' weary Winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

That wee-bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald.
To thole the Winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld!

But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

For the first time since my son was born, I planted a garden. We decided, together, to plant pumpkins, peppers, beans, and tomatoes. My pumpkins fared well enough. The peppers never produced. The beans did ... poorly. However, my tomatoes took off. I was able to eat my fill this summer, can for this winter, and am still getting viable tomatoes even though the vines appear dead. This has made me rather happy and I am anticipating doing more next summer. 

However, as I was examining the garden this evening, I found hornworms - the bane of tomato growers everywhere. Or, at least, gardeners who do not use pesticides. The hornworms will eat the leaves and stems and weaken the plants. 

My photo is horrible.

But when you see a hornworm that looks like this - leave it alone. The white "spikes" are cocoons of the braconid wasp - a natural enemy of the hornworm. By keeping this worm here, in my overgrown and tired garden, the wasp will ensure I have fewer hornworms next year. Yay!

It was through this image, though, that I thought of Robert Burns and his poem. You can see, I still have a tomato waiting to ripen, while two that were damaged by, probably our groundhog, hanging and rotting behind it. I had a prolific crop. Why worry about the few that were sampled by the groundhog, or damaged by the hornworm, when I have enough for myself? I love Burns' lines: 

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve; 
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! 
A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request: 
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave, 
An' never miss't!

"I doubt not that you may thieve;

What then? Poor beast, you must live!

Words to live by. It drives home the fact that, in teaching my son that he needs to distinguish between what he needs and what he wants, I am asked to consider that on a daily basis, as well. We should all consider it more. Share more. Love more. And don't sweat the small things like a solitary hornworm on your tomato plants.