French Bread and Gerbils

The days are still cloudy, rainy, and foggy. Not much different than my rainy day on Monday. I have the windows open, but feel sort of sticky. The temps. don't justify the air conditioner, but I think the humidity does!

This week has been quieter than most. Wednesday has been our busiest day. Martha went to her orthodontic appointment in the morning and we had our usual co-op in the afternoon. The goal was to identify flowers, but the kids ended up goofing off and wanting to play. They did a small amount of flower identification, a lot of playing with rabbits, and made frequent trips down a zip line. All the other lenient mothers helped the kids tear down my "let's learn" fortitude.

Martha is at home today under the weather She has been running a temp. around 100. She has an upper respiratory something-or-other. Slight cough, lethargy, and fever. As the day has gone on, I find myself suspicious of having picked it up. I will find out. Martha played Rummy-O by herself, but other than that has lain around most of the day.

Buddy has been just the opposite. He probably will not get sick because he has been out and about and away from sick Martha. I am amazed at his energy level- and oh so thankful for neighbor boys that live a few doors down. If they weren't around, I don't know what I'd do. They provide my Buddy with a constant source of entertainment They burn all that drives that boy. Some days, he only comes home for food- which is eaten hurriedly.

Hodge Podge's friend has been doing well. He is looking more fit. He has been doing pretty well on his diet. If I break up his ration into 2, he seems less driven to eat other things such as socks, paper plates, and Kleenex. For a while there he was so very hungry I almost quit his diet. I thought he was going to die, for sure, from a blocked colon- and a diet just wasn't worth that. I figured he might just as well be fat and at least die happy- and with a full stomach. Such is the life of a Wiener dog. He is a little wiener.

I am feeding my faithful Bluebirds their final worm meals until they have to leave our area. I am hearing constant chirps from my Chickadees and Downy Woodpeckers. Somehow, I am able to sense changes in the bird population and know when to provide the right food for the right bird. I noticed when the Blackbirds left, and as soon as they were gone I took out the good food. Now, my favorite birds (Cardinals, Downys, Chickadees, Nut Hatches and Sparrows) are showing up and trying to determine if I am going to be a faithful source of food or not- for the winter. I am. Who else will trudge out in the blizzard, clear off the feeders and fill and refill as needed? Birds, I am so sorry I also attracted that pesky Hawk. I will try my best to save you from him this winter.

Buddy went to a sleep over last night. He loves those sleep overs as much as Martha. His friend has 4 Gerbils which they tortured for hours. (being sarcastic) They held them and put them through Grad Student Psychiatry mazes until they were able to "learn" their way to the sunflower seed. As added motivation for the Gerbils they stationed their pet dog nearby.

I can't forget to mention that Martha made her first loaf of French bread. It was delicious. I told her I wasn't going to help her, and I didn't. She followed the recipe and it turned out! (I wasn't surprised..she is good at following directions, which is most of what baking is) We finished the loaf off with a "natural" hamburger helper meal last night.

Time to welcome Steve home from work. Hope you all had a good day.