It’s baaaaaaaaaaaaack! Y’all, Little League season is here again! Did you miss all the little slugger pictures from last spring? Good news, Saturdays will be baseball days until June. (That sound was the sound of me digging through my dresser to find my “I Can’t, We Have Baseball” t-shirt.)

Yeah, so Saturday was as busy as they get. We were up and out the door at 7:30 a.m. (yawwwwwn) for Little League Opening Day. The league skipped big opening day festivities last year for obvious reasons, so this was our first experience and let me tell you: it was a circus. We found our team easily enough, thanks to the huge and impressive “Coach Pitch – Orioles” banner that the coach had prepared; said goodbye to Nugget and wandered off to find a spot along the “parade route.” The three motorcycle cops who were opening the parade steamed off promptly at 8:00, followed by the three elementary school mascots, and then – nothing for fifteen minutes; none of the teams were ready. But at least the cops made it to their doughnuts on time, right? Womp, womp. Anyway, the parade eventually straggled through, there were too many speeches, and we won “best banner” in the coach pitch division – off to a good start. As soon as we were released from Opening Day, we rushed off to Nugget’s birthday party, which I scheduled for the first day of baseball season in a fit of spectacularly poor planning. It worked out, though – our game was luckily scheduled for later in the afternoon and we only lost one party guest to sports. Nugget got a huge turnout for his party, which was at our local playground – the kids had a ball running around, and the grownups milled about drinking LaCroix and talking. Nugget’s best buddy even made the trek out from Arlington to join the contingents from the first grade class and the neighborhood; that’s friendship, indeed. Anyway – after a parade and a three-hour birthday party we were all wiped, but no rest for the wicked: we headed back to the ballpark for the first game of the season. Nugget acquitted himself admirably and Peanut appointed herself Official Babysitter and Head Cheerleader, and a good time was had by all.

As you can imagine, I was completely exhausted by the time we finally wrapped up the day. I couldn’t even face cleaning up the birthday present detritus and collapsed into bed at 8:30, and slept for TWELVE HOURS. On Sunday, I had big plans to get stuff done around the house: I have a mountain of laundry that needs folded; several science experiments growing in the fridge; and a blank weekly menu board. But I was still wiped, and ended up unable to muster the energy for anything more strenuous than taking the kids to swim lessons (Nugget leveled up again and is moving on to Glider 3!) and a stroll around the neighborhood with The Mom Hour in my earbuds in the afternoon. Well, there’s always the weekdays for getting stuff done.

Reading. It was a good reading week, if a slow one (attributable to the busiest, most jam-packed week I’ve had since starting my current job). Everything I read, when I found time to read, was delightful – and each title so different: wartime short stories from one of my favorite writers, a Mitford memoir, and a frothy Angela Thirkell novel, yes, please to all.

Watching. All Springwatch, all the time – or at least, every evening – the 2021 series, on Britbox, while we wait for 2022 to drop. Y’all. If you don’t have Britbox, I really can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s worth it if only for the wildcat kittens on Springwatch ’21. I’ll say that again, louder for the people in the back. Wildcat. Kittens.

Listening. A hodgepodge this week, as usual. Some music – belting out Pink and The New Pornographers on the way to the grocery store, like ya do. Some audiobook – I’m still working my way through Agatha Christie’s The 4.50 From Paddington and expecting to finish it up while commuting this coming week. Some podcast, namely The Mom Hour, for when I can’t face anything but Meagan and Sarah’s gentle voices.

Making. Oof. Nothing much this week – other than work product, it was one of those weeks, as busy as they get. And a couple of dinners for the family, probably, but I can’t remember them. No crafting, no photography, no interesting baking, no plans. Next week should be calmer.

Moving. For a hectic week, I did do a good job of prioritizing self-care. Three runs, including an interval run via the Peloton app, two yoga sessions, and several long walks. I hoped to get out for a long bike ride on Friday morning, but it was not to be – what with the work schedule. But it’s all right; I did what I needed to do to stay sane.

Blogging. Spring survival techniques on Wednesday (yes, spring survival; you intrigued?) and back to Arches National Park for another stop on Friday, do come around then.

Loving. At the risk of sounding my age, I have to admit that the thing that has made the most difference in my life for the past week is – my new pillow. I’d been clinging for far too long to an old, lumpy pillow and after a couple of nights of really terrible sleep, Steve ordered new pillows for both of us from Casper. I was skeptical. I’m now converted. It has made all the difference.

Asking. What are you reading this week?