Love Is In The Air

Song - Steppin' Out With My Baby by Tony Bennett

Several days ago Mr. B told me that he saw two Mourning Doves on our fence checking out our ladder for a nest - once again.  Since I put up this nesting box last fall under our eves, I was hoping that they would use it instead. 

So Mr. B moved the ladder so it wouldn't be so tempting. Now the squirrels are using it to climb up and down and chase each other around.  Oh boy....a toy!

Mr. B wanted me to start a nest for the birds so that they would get the idea of what to do with the nesting box - ha!  I think Mother Nature provides them with their own nesting ideas!!!

And the very next day - sure enough they had begun their work - at least I thought it was just the beginning.  Apparently they think it's finished!

This morning when I checked on them, mama was on the nest and daddy was watching from the fence. But I didn't have my camera with me.

Then later in the afternoon, I checked on them and daddy was still on the fence but mama was up on the roof of our house just above the nest.  I hope they enjoy their new home. I'll keep you posted.


Some interesting facts about Mourning Doves:

--the oldest known Mourning Dove was 30 years 4 months old

--they tend to mate for life and both parents incubate and take care of the young

--they have 3-5 clutches each season

--they have 2 white eggs that are born 1 day apart

--the eggs hatch in 14-16 days

--the fledglings leave the nest in 11-12 days and on day 12 they are cut off from food to encourage them to leave - talk about tough love!!!!!

"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling."

 ~ Margaret Lee Runbeck

Opening Day 2013

Song - I Left My Heart in San Francisco by Tony Bennett


On Friday, Mr. B took me and some friends to the Giant's Home Opener.

While driving over there (I think we were on the Bay Bridge), I mentioned how I just love the "fly over".

Every year the Blue Angels do a low fly over just before the game begins.  It is so exciting, loud, thrilling and then they disappear within nano-seconds.  It's as close as I will ever get to going on a roller coaster.  But this year, Mr. B informed me that due to military cuts, NO fly overs anywhere.

Well....this was our fly over this year.....

I felt like Meg Ryan in the movie "French Kiss" when her stolen purse-backpack is found empty and she just keeps stomping her foot and saying "shoot, shoot, shoot".

So I was a little disappointed.

But the weather was great, we enjoyed our wonderful friends and we met half of our home town there!

The Jersey Boys sang the National Anthem.

Grace Slick & some of Jefferson Starship sang "God Bless America" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

(Just exactly when did they get so old????)

 


Zitto was pitching but I was so busy, I forgot to take a photo of him.

Posey was catching and I took a lot of photo's of him.

But before the game, the 2010 and 2012 trophies were placed on the field and the Giants ran thru them to a round of applause!!!

Then the SF Fireboat that Mr. B and I rode on several months ago, brought the 2012 Championship Flag to the ballpark.

   

The players passed the flag from player to player and then they raised the flag.

I cried.


Not sure why but a lot has happened this year......

I am a sentimental sucker for tradition.

McCovey cove was filled with all kinds of party boats.

Even the more colorful fans!

Fans were dressed to kick some Saint Louis behind.

And my bud "Romo" was there to save us in the last minutes......

 And guess what?

We won.  1 - 0

Posey - Romo - Crawford - High Fiving after the game...

We hit the 21st Amendment which was packed so we walked on down to the Embarcadero to Red's Java House & the Hi Dive.

Fun was had by one and all...

 “There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit.” - Al Gallagher

Willie Mac

 Song - I Left My Heart in San Francisco by Tony Bennett





Mr. B was invited to meet Willie McCovey Monday evening and was allowed one guest.....hahummm......that would be ME!

We were at the AT&T Park that evening for a reception that Mr. McCovey would be attended and gave out gifts for people who had donated money to the Giants Community Fund which supports the Junior Giants and other worthy causes. 

Willie McCovey began playing for the Giants in 1959 when he was 21 years old.

Doesn't he have a wonderful smile?  So genuine. So calm.

After the reception, the "key people" (that would be Mr. B and not me) were escorted down to the field for the opening ceremony. 

I did a little shopping and moseyed down to our seats.

We had invited some friends who met me and together we watched Mr. B walk out on the field (in a BLUE shirt - whatwashethinking?) and get presented to the fans along with taking a group photo with Willie Mac.

Mr. B watching to make sure I can see him

So far the evening was going beautifully.

There were fun people in the crowd.


But then the sun started to go down and it got cold, really cold.

And the Washington Nationals got a bazillion runs by the 4th inning.

Now we are really not having fun. We never leave the games early as it's a tradition. You gotta have faith.

But my friend Diane and I decided that if the other guys got one more run then we would go home, have a glass of wine and light a fire.  The guys decided on one more out. That didn't take too long. 

On the way home my friend Jill sent me a text about "Did Willie remember you"......and suddenly I remembered that she and I went down on the field at Candlestick Park many years ago during our single days.

It was photo day but no one knew what that was, so we and a small group of people went out on the field and met the players, got autographs, sat in the dugout and acted like big shots for about an hour.  We had put a Gardenia in our hair and posed with Mr. McCovey.

Tomorrow I am going to dig up those old photos and remember when.

PS - Final score was  Nationals 14 - Giants 2 - ouch.

If it's a tie......
"I'd walk me."- Willie McCovey on how he'd pitch to himself.