Alumni Day

The boys finished their lacrosse for the season, both playing in the Alumni Day finals. Nolan's 9:30 game was followed by the awards ceremony where he and his teammates received their trophies...

Awards were handed out by Lakers Alumni

and then posed for a final group shot...

Proud boys

Then it was back to the arena for Cameron's 3 o'clock game. The opposing team was down to just 8 players, including their goalie, so Cammy and some of his teammates were loaned to them throughout the second and third periods. I noticed that none of the Blue team playing for the Green team, scored on their shifts.  :-)

Happy with his Lakers Lacrosse stainless steel water bottle.

Veggie Fortress

We're in the home stretch with lacrosse now. It's been a busy couple months with Cameron playing two nights a week and Nolan on Saturdays. Times like this, I almost wish I lived in town. Almost. Good thing gas is so cheap. This week, Cammy's team plays playoff games Tuesday and Thursday and Nolan plays a make-up game Wednesday. Then Saturday is the grand finale, champions are decided and I get my life back. It's all good.

I was at the Kinsmen Arena Saturday afternoon with Nolan. He made a beauty pass to set up a goal - no small feat considering there's not a lot of passing at this age.

#13 on the run. Shockingly, he's the tallest on the team.

Spent a good part of today in the garden. I had taken a couple days off work a few weeks ago and got most of the veggies planted. The lettuce, cabbage, radishes, zucchini, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and 12 rows of spuds went in then. Oh, and the melons. We've a small garden to the south of the house, beyond the firepit, where I moved my herbs. I had some room left over so planted the melons there. Even came up with a brilliant structure that allowed the sun through but kept the dog out. Did I mention she likes dirt? Later on in the day, as I came back up for a shovel or whatever, I noticed that the big tree to the west of the garden completely shaded my newly planted melons. I hear melons like full sun. Heat, you know. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but at least I'm fairly likable.

Today, at long last, the tomatoes went in. They've been on the porch for several weeks and are doing great but it was a relief to finally get them in the ground. I also managed to get half the carrots in, the dill and some peas and beans. I've built a fortress of tomato cages around the tepees for the peas and beans and will win this season against the deer. (I know, I know; I said the same thing last year and how'd I make out.) We've also discovered that Rosie has selective hearing. "Come, Rosie." Oh, look at her run right through the potatoes. Good thing she's cute.

A cage or two here, a bench there, and victory will be mine.

Hey, what do you think about this for show-and-tell at school? We've a robin building a nest in the garage. Paul's removed two of them so far and there's another in the process of being built. Too bad it's on top of the garage door opener - that isn't working properly right now. Wildlife.

The trick is getting it to school without making scrambled eggs.

Team #3

Cameron's not the most aggressive boy. In some ways, that's a good thing and it's one of the reasons that he and curling are a good match. But when it comes to team sports, it can be a hindrance. The last two summers, he spent a week each at lacrosse camp. After the first summer, he didn't seem to care if he ever played again. The following year, he went out again, grew more confident, came to like it and advised us that he was going to play on a team. Nolan decided he would too. So, a couple months ago, I signed them.

Shirt and stick for signing up

House league started tonight for the novice teams. That would be Cammy.

He, Nolan and I arrived at the arena just after 5 and found his changeroom. Unfortunately, there was no #13 jersey (like his favourite hockey player, Mike Cammalleri) but there was a #31. So, he tried it on...and swam in it. Lucky for him, though, #12 was available (that being my favourite player, Jarome Iginla; Cammy's not impressed).

That's Cammy - #12 - rushing by in a blur.

After suiting up, he went out, took part in some drills with his team and then they had a scrimmage with the yellow team. His buddy Aaron is on the yellow team. At one point, Cammy got the ball in his own end, was checked by another player and lost the ball. By the look on his face, he wasn't expecting the hit (neither was I, for that matter), but he hung in there and kept after it. Given a little more time - games are two nights a week - he'll gain confidence and do just fine. Nolan and the paperweights start Saturday. 

Peterborough's Hall of Fame

The Memorial Centre is home, not only to the Peterborough Petes Jr hockey team, the Lakers lacrosse teams and, most famously, Cameron and his lacrosse camp mates, but also to the local Sports Hall of Fame. Lining the wall on the west side of the arena are pictures and write-ups of the inductees. Today, after camp, Cammy and I wandered the hall and found the picture of Uncle Stu, proud member of the Peterborough Hall of Fame.

 Cammy alongside Uncle Stu

"You Can Go Now"

Lacrosse camp is over and I rate it as a success. Cammy went every day no problem and he ended each day saying that he'd had fun. Good stuff. And, every morning but Monday, he gestured or said to me, "You can go now." Music to my ears. He's not too sure that he wants to go any further with lacrosse but, come next spring, he may just be itching to get back at it. And the house league in Peterborough runs May and June - a nice short season. We'll see where he's at then. For now, I'm just proud of him for going. This was a huge step for the brown-eyed one.


That's Cammy, in front of the net, just before something shiny caught his eye and he walked away to check it out. He's just like his father.

Lakers Lacrosse Camp - ** Updated **

Cameron's signed up for a week of lacrosse camp beginning tomorrow. The Peterborough Lakers and Jr. Lakers have put on little workshops for the kids at school - Cammy's played and is hooked. When the notice came home from school about the summer camp, Cameron was pumped to go. Knowing how shy Cammy can be, Paul and I were thrilled that he wanted to take part. We asked several times, "Are you sure you want to go?" "Oh ya," he said. You see where this is going, don't you? The camp is here and reality has set in. Cameron's confidence is waning.

We've both talked to him about it. I'll take him each morning and will stay there until he's comfortable. And, at work, I'm only about four minutes from the Mem Centre, where the camp is taking place. I've just finished baking his favourite chocolate chip muffins. First baking I've done since school ended. Will even pack my boy some of those precious and much-loved strawberry chips to snack on.

Now I'm going to send a note to work to let them know I'll be late tomorrow. Hopefully just a little. But maybe a lot. I suspect, once I get to work, my mind won't be much on the job. Wish us luck!


**Update, Monday evening: Cammy had a fabulous day. Lots of lacrosse, a walk up George Street to the park complete with wading pool, lifeguards, and basketball court, movie after lunch and more water sports to come this week, across the road at Morrow Park. Tonight he fell asleep within minutes of his head hitting the pillow. Dreaming about passes and goals, I'm sure.