He’s done it again!  Eli is now 25-0 for the season, and has repeated as Eastern Regional Champion in his weight class!!!!  This year, Camden-Rockport Middle School was the sponsoring school for the event, which was held in the high school gym.  There were 3 mats set up, and it went surprisingly smoothly and quickly.   Here’s how Saturday went for Eli:

In wrestling with 8-person brackets, the rule is that if you want to end up in the championship match (for first and second place), you need to win two before you lose two.  So here’s Eli’s first match:

First match, ended in 30 seconds with a pin. It happened so fast I had barely hit "On" on the camera that I didn't get any video....

I managed to mess up the photography, alas, despite doing test-runs last week.  I brought out the GOOD camera, the DSLR Nikon and I really need to spend more time learning how to make it do what I want!  But I got some good shots.  And I took video…or so I thought…on my everyday digital, but I had taken it off Video and put it on still photo during the week and forgot to switch it back.  So this first match ended so fast I didn’t get a chance to correct my error.

Second match:  this one took a little longer.  Remember there are 3 periods in wrestling; in middle school the first period is 2 minutes, then 2nd and 3rd are one minute long.  In high school, matches are 3 2-minute periods; in college, it is 3-2-2-.

Second match: PIN! At 1 minute 31 seconds in the first period.

At least I got a really good photo…. the point of the match is to win.  A great way to win instantly and end the match is to pin the opponent’s shoulders to the mat.  That is why Eli is “T”‘d off on the kid on the bottom—you get the best leverage being chest-to-chest (Eli is a little far over) and at right angles–like a T–to the kid on the bottom.  The Ref is using the hand with the red band to smack the mat to show Eli (in red…the other kid has on the green ankle band on his rear leg, but it is hard to see because he’s wearing tights under the singlet) wins by fall (pin).

Next:  the championship round against a kid from Hermon, whom he had not wrestled during the season.  This boy was also–up until Saturday–undefeated, but had fewer matches than Eli.

Murphy's Law lives at wrestling meets. No matter WHERE in the gym the parent is, the ref is ALWAYS immediately blocking the parent's line of sight to their kid as here. By the way...we LOVE this ref. He is one of the best in Maine, and happens to head up the Ref's association. He is fair, compassionate, understands kids, and when ref-ing--even when the kids make mistakes--takes the time to instruct ant teach while making calls. He's "the bee's knees!"

Here is a few moments earlier in the match, but a better shot:

Eli nearly gets the Hermon boy in a "cradle" for a pin. Alas, the Hermon boy got Eli in an illegal headlock which the ref did not see, so Eli had a bit of work to get out of it. He did, but the match went into a second period. In the photo above he is just about 2 seconds away from pinning the boy 30 seconds into the second period.

Three matches.  Three wins.  Three pins.  Still undefeated.

The "Win" hands-up went up and down so fast I missed it, so here the refs are checking with the scorekeepers and Eli is running his bout sheet back to the head scoring table after the win.

Eli, as winner, gets to keep the bracket sheet which shows who wrestled in the weight class, with him as Champion:

Eli on the winner's stand! Alas, the camera was having trouble metering with the bright window behind and I missed the shot with the other 3 boys up there....

ALL the kids on the team wrestled their hearts out and did their coaches proud.  One other kid, Elvis B., won his weight class, so he and Eli will continue on to States on March 31.

L to R: Coach True Bragg, Elvis B. 124-lb Champion, Eli at 138-lb Champion, and Asst. Coach Paul Smith (aka dad); photo taken in the high school wrestling room.

The other great news came on Sunday with the results of the Western Regionals.  The winner was the boy from Bath, whom Eli has beaten in each of his three head-to-head matches with him.  So there is a chance for Eli to win states!   Paul reminds the kids that you are one move away from getting pinned by someone you have never heard of, though, so Eli will have to continue to keep his focus and determination.    Stay tuned for results next weekend.  No colds or injuries allowed between now and then!   The Bath kid will have hometown advantage, as the State Finals will be wrestled in Bath, but we know Eli will excel.  As a friend told Eli, TOTAL DOMINATION on the mat!

There are several sure signs of spring in Maine.  Besides the ubiquitous robins, for me the return of the woodpeckers hammering away in the woods near our homes (first in Camden and now in Hope) means spring is truly here:  the bugs are awake, moving, and ready to be turned into supper.  Another is the return of the buzzards, whom I came to love in Camden.  They roosted in trees at the end of our driveway and across the street; they are gregarious, family-oriented, raucous and huge.  I learned after moving to Maine that they too are a sure sign of spring:  they only appear when the rising air currents are warm enough to lift the scent of carrion!

Sap buckets on the maple trees....On route 131 in Searsmont (or thereabouts)

On the more delectable side of things, in late winter you know the hardware store is getting ready for spring with maple syrup taps  (…like a spigot/tube that you hammer into the maple tree…)  that are in a bucket on the counter next to the cash register.  A few weeks later you can be driving along the back roads that criss-cross the state (we have only one highway, I- 95 up and down the center, so everything is a backroad byway to get to anywhere) and see trees sprouting maple sap buckets to catch the dripping rising sap.  Did you know that it takes FORTY (yes, 40) gallons of sap to make ONE gallon of syrup?  And the sap is clear…looks and tastes like sugar water!  One more photo to share:

Join me in the chorus: I LOVE living in Maine! I am finally where I was meant to be!

And tomorrow I’ll do a proud Mama post and share Eli’s wrestling progress…..WOOT!

just to let you all know I’m still bubbling along busier than ever…. painted the kitchen ceiling, painted the stairs to the basement (where my studio is) both walls and ceiling, made a quilt for a special exhibit, made another small quilt for the chapter challenge, Eli’s wrestling season and meets have begun and it is spring break…can you say WHOOOSH?  Time has evaporated.  The good news is I got both quilts done, and will blog lots soon.

And I’ve begun working out–taking a “Bodyforging” class two days a week that is a combination of yoga moves and pilates, and also riding the exercise bike.  The great news is I am getting stronger and more fit and feel great, but the bad news is the amount of time that eats.  Oh well…worth it!  AND This is Winter Vacation week in Maine, so Eli is home and today we are  driving south to Portland (almost  2 hours) to go shopping…fun stuff!   Anyway, back with lots to post and share SOON!

Well…. at least just south of Union (not sure where the town line is…either in Union or Warren) on Route 235 there are!   ……. I LOVE these unexpected treasures and decided what better way to start the new year than with a bit of fun!  (and yes, I took these photos in early autumn, as you will see by the green and apples on the trees!)

The first time I drove past this farm I did a double and then a triple-take

Here’s a closer look:

I totally love these guys... they look like they are playing pat-a-cake instead of fighting!

And closer:

Isn't a zoom lens wonderful?

Some day I’d love some whimsy like this in my yard!

OMG…we hit the big time… Just watching CNN Headline news and it had  HOPE, MAINE –our town of 1313 souls–with 4 inches of snow yesterday LOL!  What a hoot–I’ll bet Hope has  never before made national news!   I had opened this post just a moment ago thinking it would be a nearly-no-words post, just pictures, but that was too hilarious not to share!

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house not a creature was stirring...except for the kitties, the dust bunnies and me...

While unwrapping, Eli decided to turn Mr. Wiggles into a gift... Mr. W was somewhat uncertain about this turn of events....

Joshua and Ashley had many stops...her mom's, her dad's, our house, but got to come over twice, for gifts earlier in the day, and supper later...Here Ashley is (woohoo!) happy to receive Joy of Cooking. The kids got lots of gifts for the house from the various relatives, hers and us

They even had time for some f un wrastling...notice the gins? (Ashley was grinning too...clearly Joshua has taught her a couple wrestling moves)

Me, wearing perfect turquoise earrings and a made-by-Marie-Shibori silk scarf--Thank you dear one!

Eli walks the dog... we got more snow than predicted so driving was a bit dicey going to get J&A, but this may have been the first Christmas in my life where we both had snow on the ground AND snow falling from the sky! Stunningly beautiful

Finishing with a feast! From left to right, Eli, Brad (friend of J&A), Ashley, Joshua, Paul, and behind the camera, me! After this shot, we were all too busy eating to remember the camera!

What a wonderful life, what a wonderful world.  I hope your days are as filled with love and joy!  And maybe a bit of art and sewing, too!