Swan Song For This Blog

Swan Song For This Blog
March 30, 2011

This will be a wrap-up posting of the Construction Blog since construction of the athletic fields is pretty much completed with just a few features to be added in the coming year (funds permitting). The ball field is a volunteer miracle—look for a link to its progress in “Panda Press Weekly.” The link will give an up-date on improvements to the field as well as the ongoing adventure of NDA’s fastball team (off to a promising start at this posting). Added here is a photo of a few fastball players practicing in the bull pen/batting cage (a puzzle to the Muses, as past readers will recall)—a nice parting shot and reminder of how thorough the plans of the volunteer team are.

The other photo was taken of the soccer field covered in, yes, snow on the morning of March 27th. This shot is not from the swan’s fly-over, but from the school’s third floor roof. Of course, what caught blogger’s eye was the clear outline of the NDA (which, it is hoped, you can make out) in the middle of the field. Predictably, the snow melted completely—well almost—by late morning when the first of several teams showed up to do tournament battle that day. What is still to be realized in this area is the required surface on the track so that our track team can practice on home territory. Blogger’s understanding is that a few field features will be added to the D zones. Indeed, an on-going saga on a once soggy scape.

With these last few notes of blogger’s swan song, she bids you a fond farewell, dear Readers. Thank you for your indulgence in reading of these pages (around 100 in type). It’s been fun for blogger and very instructive. God bless your every endeavor, and be sure to check in on NDA’s Heritage blog occasionally. Perhaps someday the history of the school’s athletic pursuits will appear there.
For now, aurevois.

Not Out to the Ballgame Just Yet #1

Long winter--long time since the last blog. Blogger's apologies: it's just a bit daunting to head out with camera in one hand and umbrella or snow shovel in the other. But now that the earth is nearing its spring equinox in its journey around the sun, we see this orb a bit more than in the previous months.

Now down to business: here's what's happening on the ball field. The empty dugout is filled with gravel, then a final layer of concrete. At last! Even the bull pen gets a nice little front apron. The pen has been used already by one of the "Construction Team" members who tried out the space with his daughter one afternoon, giving her a workout. Since no reconstruction of the pen has taken place since that event, the daughter and the pen must have passed muster. The fitting test of the caged pudding. Be sure to read/view the blog below--#2.

Not Out to the Ballgame Just Yet #2

Do you see this hill? This is the hill of dreams at the northwest corner of the field of dreams. It has gone through a number of "outfits" since 2005, to say the least. But then the whole place has slowly transformed since then. Now lets take a look at the plan for the hill and field. Pretty snappy, isn't it. The #12 (the pinkish) that you see in the upper left is the hill, and you can see the "dream" for it in the photo with the plan text. Some senior folk may remember that roughly where the student entrance to the school is today there used to be a Lourdes grotto much frequented by the Sisters, especially in good weather. The future too holds a shrine to Mary somewhat to the east of the original one.
Fast ball teams will be able to make a visit before and after their games. Won't that be cool! Of course, all hinges on $ and lots of determination on the part of the Team. We can be assured of the latter. A sort of caveat is in order here as anyone who has built will tell you: plans do change. If you had seen the originals of the additions made in the past 20 years and compare them with what we have today you would be quite assured of that. (The originals of the 1963 building are fascinating on that score.)

The coiled hose reminds us that there's much work to be done to realize the dreams for the site. Good (ongoing) job, Construction Team!