He's back! Or, Grandpa goes to summer camp ...

My love of professional football started years ago when I would watch the Sunday game on tv with my dad.  In those days, games were only played on Sunday afternoons.  Usually, one game was broadcast in any market as long as it wasn't subject to a tv blackout.  My dad worked 6 days a week; so, Sunday afternoons with him at home were pretty special.

My passion for the NFL and the Raiders, however, dates to the late 60s and early 70s when the Raiders could actually win games and championships and when a 40-something football legend, George Blanda, often saved the day by kicking a game-winning field goal.  I loved this guy!

If 60 is the new 40 (sounds good to me), then 40 must indeed be the new 20.  Brett is back!  Yup.  The on-again, off-again retirement of Brett Favre is off-again.  He has returned to the Vikings summer camp to begin yet another quest for the Vince Lombardi trophy.  Brett, who turns 41 this fall, became a grandpa last spring and wants to give "one more try" for a Vikings Super Bowl berth.

I'm a committed Raider fan - Commitment to Excellence or needs to be committed - you choose!  But watching Brett Favre play football is pure joy for this football nut.  The man loves the game.  The man gives everything he has to the game.  It's just FUN to watch him play!  By the time it's obvious that the Raiders won't be headed to Cowboy Stadium on February 6, 2011, I'll be pulling for Brett and the Vikings to head that way.

Go, Grandpa, go!

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This ....

If you've been a football fan any time during the last 20 years, you know that this is a phrase used often by John Madden - player, coach, analyst, and NFL broadcaster for many years.  But the phrase can be used in so many ways.  Even though I am a diehard football fan (and am watching the Baltimore/Indianapolis game even as I write), the phrase means most to me as a grandmother ... it really doesn't get any better than this!

I finished a couple of projects for "the girls" (my granddaughters, ages 4 and 1) who have upcoming birthdays in early February.  Loved this project!  I bought the patterns during our trip last year to Utah, the Grand Canyon, etc.  I fell in love with the fabric in St. Georges, Utah, and discovered the patterns somewhere along the way on our trip.  Fortunately, I was able to squeeze two outfits out of a single purchase of fabric and two patterns bought along the way.  I seem to do that often - hoping that I'll be able to figure out how to finagle the fabric and the pattern to get matching outfits!

Here is the dress for Talia.  The pattern is the To Tie For pattern from olive ann designs.  Really easy pattern and so adaptable for some of the incredibly cute fabrics on the market today.  I elected not to do the giraffe appliques on the reverse side, but I may do that on a future project.  The onesie conversion for Tasha was a bit more challenging.  The pattern, One-zee Conversions from Vanilla House Designs, gave me a few stressful moments.  I think the end result will be fine for a one-year-old who has a pretty relaxed momma.  But I'm not sure that it came out as well as I had hoped.  I don't think I really understood how to attach the skirt to the onesie.  I tried the fusible tape - and failed.  So I just opted for trying to ease the gathered skirt onto the onesie - me thinks I stretched a little too much.  We'll see when we go to see the grandkids for Super Bowl weekend, which is also the girls' birthdays.  Maybe it won't be as stretched out as I think it is!

It is cute, though, and Tasha is only 1.  She won't remember this outfit at all!

Praise the Lord ..... and pass the peanuts, please!

My life has finally returned to normal. It's been a long six months. Those of you who know me well are aware that I divide the year roughly in half. There are six "normal" months (i.e., when I can watch as much NFL football as I can get away with) and "the other" months (i.e., the off season). Tonight - oh, blessed night - there were THREE pre-season games on TV. Be still my heart ...

Okay, I know, I know. Preseason is not real football. I got to watch a tentative Tony Romo for only a quarter; Jamarcus Russell wasn't quite up to speed. But, hey - football is football! Clashing helmets, referree whistles, dropped passes, catches that had no right to be made by humans ... I felt the joy coming back as only a fan can feel.

Did you happen to catch any film of Tom Brady? Sure doesn't look as though he missed a whole season. Smooth, polished, professional.

I will start the season as I usually do, hoping that the Raiders will be contenders (or at least not be an embarrassment). Maybe this is the year! I love being a sports fan. We are optimists at heart. Our team can be at the top of the mountain. All things are possible. The Lombardi trophy is ours for the taking. The season starts at 0 wins, 0 losses. Go Raiders!