alexandriacardinals

October 25

[Arriving at the high school at sunset for the opening round of sections.]

[So, let’s get right to the action.  Mia McGrane (5) and Tori Jeseritz (2) are airborne early . . . ]

[And eventually return to earth as Kendra Hardy (13) prepares for an incoming ball . . . ]

[Mia says, “Take that!”]

[Our point!  Our point!]

[Hooray for us!  With libero Devany Johnson (9) joining in.]

[Tori and, likely, Kendra go up for a double block . . . ]

[Ooops, where’d it go?]

[Mya Lesnar (10) goes up for a kill . . . ]

[It’s on the Tech side . . . ]

[Kendra tries to hit over a Tech double block . . . ]

[Did she . . . or didn’t she?]

[She’s looking for it around the corner . . . ]

[McKenzie Duwenhoegger (11) and Mya set up a block . . . ]

[It must have got by?]

[The triple back defense with Mya, Erika Roderick (7), and Mia . . . ]

[Mya and Erika block . . . ]

[We weren’t very sharp, letting a solid early lead get away – but it was a win . . . ]

[My hero . . . ]

[Covering the student fans . . . ]

[OK, let’s be a little sharper in game 2 . . . ]

[The Voice and Mrs. Voice were in attendance . . . ]

[Game 2 . . . ]

[Girls’ golf coach Tim Zupfer stands in the corner holding a red flag, directing pedestrian traffic in the area . . . ]

[While Mia returns a shot . . . ]

[A finally got a shot all photographers shoot for – Kendra is airborne for a kill!]

[Then she goes back to serve . . . ]

[I think even the team would say they were visiting another planet during this game – nothing went right.  Fortunately, we regrouped to win the match in 4 games.  And then the team went on to win in 5 games at Bemidji.  We play Willmar, the No. 1 seed, at their place in the section semifinals.  We should have a fair degree of confidence as we beat them there in 5 games during the regular season.  In other Cardinal news, the football team went to Moorhead and turned around a regular season result with a 27 – 20 win.  We next play at Brainerd in the section semifinal, hoping to avenge the regular season game we let get away.]

Volleyball, I could be pretty good. After a few practices I could be that striker, or whatever they call it.  ~  LeBron James

Up Next:  Bill Staines

Red Maple

The transition from September 8 to October 27, our red maple that we planted in our driveway circle probably 12 years ago – the first photo is from 10 years ago. 

Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.  ~  J. K. Rowling

Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.  ~  Nora Ephron

Everything does fall. It must be gravity.  ~  Dan Brown

Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”   ~  Yoko Ono

Fall is my favorite season in Los Angelese, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees.  ~  David Letterman

Up Next:  Volleyball sections

October 23

[The new sign is up . . . ]

[Bill Staines will be performing here three blog posts from now.]

[The days event – always a personal favorite . . . ]

[The venue – the Alexandria Area High Schools Performing Arts Center . . . ]

[The Super checks her stock portfolio from our luxury box where we enjoyed champagne and hors d’oeuvres . . . ]

[Girls Chorus . . . ]

[Boys Chorus . . . ]

[Song Birds . . . ]

[Silhouettes . . . ]

[Les Marquise . . . ]

[Pop Group . . . ]

[Select Women’s Choir . . . ]

[Alexandria Concert Choir . . . ]

[Another home run by the kids!]

The first time I sang in the church choir; two hundred people changed their religion.  ~ Fred Allen

Up Next:  Leaves

October 21

[Applefest, the annual follow-on to Grape Stomp – unfortunately, with similar weather this year. Nevertheless, we had great geographic representation with couples from the Cities, Ashby, and Aberdeen, SD, and before we could all get a table together, we horned in on a couple from Ottertail. We all enjoyed the musical stylings of Erik Schultz . . . ]

There will be a video from each of the performers, though not recorded on this day . . . 

[The group, et al . . . ]

[Charlie Roth and Deanna Paulzine – it was our first time with Deanna, and we thought she and Charlie terrific together.  And, as we had discovered earlier, Deanna and Lisa Lynn (you know her if you follow this blog) are roommmates in St. Cloud (or its immediate environs).]

[And neither last nor least, the ever popular Cheese Bots . . . ]

[At the end, winery owner Tami Bredeson came out for Trip to Napa drawing . . . but surprisingly the Super didn’t win this time?  Along with an occasional taste of the grape, it turned out to be a totally enjoyable afternoon in spite of the weather.]

Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.  ~  Bernard Baruch

Up next:  Fall choir concert