Archive for May, 2009

Let me preface this blog by saying I really don’t mind living in Vermont. It is beautiful, green, though somewhat remote. But I don’t hate it hear. Except that sometimes I do.

So I have been waiting patiently for Memorial Day to arrive. Not because I am super patriotic (not even a US citizen ….) or because I am a sucker for Memorial Day Parades (though they are touching …).

No. I have been waiting patiently because I love to garden. Love it. Never thought I would, what with having grown up in an apartment building and all. But it is just simply the best form of relaxation for me. Nothing comes even close to it.

Being the avid gardener (not saying I am a master gardener, just saying that I love to do it), I follow all the rules. And the overriding rule when you live in a Zone 4 here in Vermont is DON’T PLANT ANYTHING BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY! And if you ever strolled through a garden center in early May up here, you would understand how hard that is for a gardener. Because come April, they will have all the lovely annuals and perennials and bushes and trees and all that stuff out on display (inside, mind you, they garden too apparently). So I have been walking through the isles for weeks now, salivating over the plants and saying to myself WAIT FOR MEMORIAL DAY WAIT FOR MEMORIAL DAY.

Why, you should ask? Well, up here in good old Vermont, we commonly have night frost until the end of May, which is typically when Memorial Day occurs. But of course, my single minded green brain did not look at the date, no no, just the big bold lettes on the calendar, saying MEMORIAL DAY last weekend.

So finally, I packed my youngest son (older one was off biking with daddy) and we went to buy flowers. It was great, he picked some for his little garden, we picked some veggies together, annuals, perennials, some tropical flowers for the patio ….

I spent all weekend planting and mulching and weeding and all …. and the go inside, dirty, tired but oh so satisfied that I could finally put those plants in …. and fall down into my comfy chair to watch the evening news … and the weather forecast …. AND ALMOST CRY …. FROST WARNING …… AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Of course, it is only May 25 …. Memorial Day is early this year ….. and Mr. Frost seems to know that. So after all that work, I run into the basement and dig out every spare old sheet I can find and cover up all those containers and beds of still unplanted flowers etc. …… cover up the tomato plants in the bed, bring in the tropical plants in containers from the porch …… and wallow in self pity and question myself once again on my choice of calling Vermont home plate.

My mom in Germany had her marigolds out in late March ….. heck, she is probably already picking strawberries and tomatoes …… even in Boston they are light years ahead of us up here ……

But alas, Vermont is home and we have to deal with it. Frost came and went, flowers survived under their sheets and blankets … and I start counting the days until fall when I start covering again to prolong their lives for another week or so when the first frost of fall hits again … right around Labor Day …… argh.

Ok, fine …. maybe a bit obsessive …. so don’t look at it.

More Noah Goals from Sabine Chabot on Vimeo.

Ok, so I like to gloat since the soccer talent CLEARLY does not come from Noah’s eye/hand/foot coordination challenged dad. Along those lines, he already received written email praise from his Onkel Stefan in Germany who analyzed his form and is impressed. So there you go. More goals below. By the way, the little guy with the Number 8 and the killer pass is Kenny, who broke his arm JUST before first practice while … get this … practicing for practice at home. Too cute.

soccer game may 3, 2009 part 2 from Sabine Chabot on Vimeo.

Hello everyone -

after a long and cold winter season without much outdoors sports to write about (ok, so there is skiing but dad is in charge of that ….) soccer season has begun and the Camels Hump Soccer Club U8 had their first game this weekend. That is after their very first practice last Thursday.

I have to say, I am proud to say that some of the German soccer genes have been directly transferred to Noah, without the Chabot lack of hand eye foot coordination having any negative impact on it. Man, my dude rocks! I was so proud of him, not just for scoring 4 of the 5 goals in their 5-1 win, but also for not always just running after the ball with the rest of the crowd but actually playing position and for passing instead of always trying to get the goal himself.

I took some pix and also some video, but I still have not figured out how to post video … it won’t upload…. hmph … gotta check with my tech savy hubby …

Uh!Uh! I think I figured it out! I think this video thing will work now …… let’s see … 

Noah’s First Soccer Game from Sabine Chabot on Vimeo.