Painting at the Plate
Throwing a historic no-hitter for your new team is one way to introduce yourself, but there’s far more to Padres pitcher Dylan Cease than fastballs. Painter. Disc golfer. Bee keeper. Cat owner. Mindfulness practitioner. Cease brought his whole self to San Diego when the Chicago White Sox traded him to the Padres in March. “Those are just things I like doing,” the 28-year-old said. “I have a really unique job and unique skill set, but I’m a human being first. I have the same human experiences as everyone.” Cease’s thoughtfulness is apparent when he talks about his art practice, which he started only a few years ago. He’s inspired by a desire to create and to escape consumerism, at least for a little while. “Art is personality and expression,” he said. Unlike baseball, “art is under all your control, and I can put a lot of personality on the canvas. The outcome at the end is very cool. It’s gratifying.”Cease views pitching as more scientific and logical than art, but his personality peaks through on the field. His motion is methodical and intentional, as if he wants as much time as possible to study his prey and direct his attack. Upright and slow, his is a thinking-man’s windup. That is, until it’s time to release the ball. View this post on Instagram A post shared by San Diego Padres (@padres)As he whips his 6’2” frame around, a violent force is created. It might be a fastball that explodes out of his hand, the ball doting a corner of the strike zone. Or it could be a slider that darts below the knees, leaving the batter questioning the laws of physics. His style doesn’t deceive hitters so much as it overwhelms them. It’s a repertoire that has carried a Padres rotation without co-aces Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish for long stretches and that carried Cease into the record books on July 25 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. as only the second Padre to throw a no-hitter in team history (the first was Musgrove).A 99 mile-per-hour fastball induced the final out of the eighth inning of his no-hitter. His first fastball of the game, almost two hours and a hundred pitches earlier, was “just” 97 miles per hour. The final three outs in the ninth came on Cease’s patented slider. Down and inside to a lefty: groundball. Down and away to a righty: groundball. Down and away to another lefty: fly out. He was dealing. He was, well, painting.The demands of the baseball season limit his art to a couple pieces a year, but he’s generous with that output. He gifted his mom a recent painting for Mother’s Day. Another painting went to Padres teammate Michael King to support King’s charity work. It’s an ethos recognized by Dante Rowley, retail and visitor experience manager at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, who is working with Cease to highlight baseball caps that the museum and Padres designed together.“We want to tell the story of, you don’t need to choose between getting into sports and getting into art. Cease has that duality and can be the bridge between the two worlds,” Rowley said. “He was kind of an unknown when the Padres traded for him, but I think a younger generation of ballplayers and artists in San Diego can look up to him and connect with him.”And Cease’s interest in sports extends beyond baseball. “The pro disc golf season kicks off in Arizona, when baseball spring training is starting there,” said Paul McBeth, who Cease described as the ‘Tiger Woods of disc golf.’ “Dylan messaged me and we realized we have a lot of similar interests.”Those interests developed into a friendship, which developed into a business. A Georgia native, Cease bought land outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and asked McBeth to design a world-class course, which they named Cactus Rock. The two then partnered on buying Gran Canyon Disc Golf Course, one of the premier courses in Florida.“Dylan probably wants to land a big baseball contract just so he can develop more courses,” McBeth said with a laugh. “It’s not so much about the money, though. I think Dylan likes seeing his ideas come alive. He’s a different thinker than most. He would love to sit around and talk about World War II. He loves to learn and loves to hear people’s stories.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dylan Cease (@dylancease7)Cease considers disc golf a lifelong pursuit, and about his art he said, “I don’t think I’ll ever stop painting. It will be cool to look back 10, 20, 30 years from now and see what I created. Art is similar to immortality. It’s a time capsule.” When asked if his no-hitter–just the second in team history–can be thought of in the same way, Cease acknowledged it could be, but he quickly added that the World Series is the ultimate goal and what really gets immortalized. Cease is a free agent after next season. Whether he spends two seasons or the rest of his career in San Diego is to be determined, but so far, so good. “The move here has been great. [The Padres] organization is fantastic,” he said. From road trips with the White Sox, he knew the weather here was perfect, but since becoming a Padre he has grown an appreciation for the “distinct” atmosphere at Petco Park and how passionate San Diegans are about their team.Those San Diegans will certainly remember him forever if he helps bring home the Padres’ first championship. Cease may view himself a mere mortal, a human like any other, but connecting with people through more than baseball is the stuff of legends.The post Painting at the Plate appeared first on San Diego Magazine.
Test Drive Tiny Home Living in this A-Frame Airbnb
Tiny home living not only supports a less consumerist and more intentional lifestyle but also presents an opportunity to save money on housing costs. If you’ve dreamed about living in a tiny home but aren’t sure if it’s a good move for you or your family, test drive it by booking a few nights in this tiny A-frame Airbnb.Inside the Night Fox Catskills A-FrameLocated in Livingston Manor, New York, this small A-frame cabin has two bedrooms and one bathroom and can accommodate up to four guests. Its Scandinavian-style interior design has been highlighted in Vogue, Domino, and Hudson Valley Magazine.The cabin features a bedroom in the back and a second loft-style bedroom you can access via the stairs. Many tiny homes include loft bedrooms to save space, making this cabin a good one to test.It also features one full bathroom, a kitchen, and a dining area. The kitchen is small but functional and beautifully designed. Outside is an outdoor barrel sauna, a large deck, and a firepit surrounded by chairs for relaxing.It’s also located only minutes from restaurants and breweries so you can drive into town during your stay.Renting a Tiny Home is One of the Best Ways to Test Out This Type of LivingIf this cabin is too far for you to visit, you can find a number of other inexpensive tiny homes to book on Airbnb or Vrbo. Spending time in different small homes is one of the best ways to test this type of setup and get a feel for the space.It also gives you the opportunity to book many different architectural styles, so you can find the setup that works best for you and your family before committing to building or buying your own house. You can also get a sense of how much downsizing you’d need to do to make tiny home living work.The post Test Drive Tiny Home Living in this A-Frame Airbnb appeared first on Homedit.
Counting Down 10 of the Most Unique Airbnbs You Can Book Today
If you’ve ever wished you could live like royalty or spend the night in a giant shoe, Airbnb can make your dreams come true. While standard homes and condos are a dime a dozen on this short-term rental platform, many extraordinary dwellings are available. Read below for ten of the most unique Airbnbs across the United States that you can book today.10. The Chinook CH-47D Helicopter House in Brooksville, FloridaMake an aircraft lovers’ day by booking this Chinook CH-47D helicopter transformed into living quarters. Located in Brooksville, Florida, this aircraft home accommodates six guests and has four beds and one bathroom. It’s near a plethora of horseback, mountain bike, motorcycle, and hiking trails. Best of all, rental rates are as low as $154 per night.9. A Hobbit-Like Forest Garden Yurt in Galena, MissouriStep out of real life and into a storybook with this hobbit-inspired garden yurt. It’s located in Galena, Missouri, on four acres of Ozark forest. It has one bedroom and one bathroom but features five beds and can sleep up to six people. Fire pits, camp chairs, and roasting sticks are included in the stay for a secluded, camp-like feel. This yurt rents for less than $100 per night.8. The Haines Shoe House in Yorkana, PennsylvaniaObsessed with nursery rhymes? Learn what it’s like to live in a shoe in this uniquely shaped house in rural Pennsylvania. This three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home can sleep up to six people and is near many York County attractions, including the Lancaster Amish community.The home also boasts a hot tub, wood-burning fire pit, and outdoor dining space. This attraction can be rented for around $350 per night.7. The Band Wagon in Benton, Tennessee Step back into the 1800’s and book a stay in this covered bang wagon in Benton, Tennessee. Located on the Ocoee River, this unique dwelling allows access to the water and the Ocoee Riverside Farm. While primitive on the outside, the inside of the wagon features a king bed plus bunk beds and central heat and air. There’s also a coffee maker, mini fridge & freezer, and microwave. The private full bathroom is only a few steps away. You can book the wagon for as little as $162 per night.6. A Converted Silo Barn in Louisa, VirginiaUnwind in nature at this private converted silo barn located on 140 acres in Louisa, Virginia. The home is near a private natural swimming pond and 5+ miles of trails. You’ll enjoy farm animals like sheep, dwarf fainting goats, and more.The silo features three bedrooms and one bathroom and can sleep up to six people. Rates are around $515 per night before fees.5. The Apple Ridge Farm Caboose in Copper Hill, VirginiaIf little ones (or adults) in your family are enamored with trains, make their dreams come true with a stay in this caboose on Apple Ridge farms. It boasts one bedroom and one bathroom but can sleep up to four people. It’s located in Copper Hill, Virginia, on 96 acres of mountain property, including more than 4 miles worth of hiking trails.Proceeds from this Airbnb go to the non-profit “Help Kids Grow!.” You can book a night on the Apple Ridge Farm caboose for as low as $140 per day, excluding fees.4. The Looking Glass Treehouse in Campton, KentuckyGet your adventure on at this dual treehouse in the woods of Campton, Kentucky. Each treehouse is covered in mirrors, reflecting the woods to you, hence the Looking Glass name. There are two treehouses—the lower one houses the kitchen, and the bedroom is in the upper treehouse. The treehouse has three beds and can accommodate up to five guests. Rates start at $252 per night. 3. The Owl Hill House in Pownal, VermontGet cozy in this organic-shaped home in Pownal, Vermont. The 570-square-foot house was built by a group of sculptors in the early 1980s. The interior features one bedroom, one bathroom, and a mid-century modern-like feel.The home is near the Clark Art Institute and picturesque neighborhoods in southern Vermont. You can rent this home for as low as $255 per night.2. The Hobbit-Inspired Enchanted Forest Tiny Home in Sevierville, TennesseeSpend your vacation in a fairy-tale-inspired house in Sevierville, Tennessee. This tiny home features 200 square feet and can house up to four guests. The home was built with repurposed materials from the surrounding area with a Hobbit inspired design.It’s minutes from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Wi-Fi and a Roku TV are included, as are outdoor chairs and a shared barbeque area. Rates start at only $129 per night.1. The Highlands Castle in Bolton, New YorkLive in luxury at the Highlands Castle in Bolton, New York. Perched upon a mountaintop, this Castle overlooks Lake George for stunning views. It’s near downtown Bolton, making it easy to access grocery and dining options.The Castle features three bedrooms and four beds and can sleep up to eight guests. Although it is stunning, it’s by far the most expensive on this list, costing a whopping $2,290 per night before fees.The post Counting Down 10 of the Most Unique Airbnbs You Can Book Today appeared first on Homedit.
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