Choke Cherries

This morning the Petty's were awakened by lightening, thunder and plenty of rain! This means it's chilly in the house so we celebrated with cups of hot chocolate for our breakfast beverage. Nathan came into the kitchen, his bare feet on the the tile. He said "Oooooh! It's cold" and then skipped over to the kitchen rug. I wish I could have recorded the surprised glee in his voice. Then he noticed the robe I was wearing and asked if I was wearing a towel.

The view off the back porch, right before it started raining some more

Last night the light sensors picked up motion, it was the deer, eating my crop of choke cherries. Only successful thing that grows here at the Petty residence. The deer and the millions of grasshoppers DESTROY all other forms of plant life. Ornery suckers.

This week Nathan and I have been picking the choke cherries, when the weather is agreeable: not too windy, not to hot, not too rainy.

With this years crop and last years (still in the freezer) I should have plenty of berries to make something with. This is a fun proposition. I like making jelly, jams, syrups and the sort.

I've also been using my bread maker again to make some delightful french bread.

Nathan had his last swim lesson of the session. I don't think this session went as well as the last. He did fine with the time, but believe the class was a little large, and filled with five year olds. This made Nathan look like the runt puppy, always trying to find a place to sit or stand or see better. The last day he ended up in tears. It was 'free day' and his instructor had failed to notice that the little guy was waiting for a toy, and never got one. Over all he did great job. But I know he'd much rather go with me when he can be IN the water the whole time.

Shane has been busy at the Autoplex, cars are high, the economy is down and Cash for Klunkers is the biggest scam of the century. Just call and ask him about it, he has all sorts of insight. Let's just say there have been several sleepless nights as of late.

The baby has been fluttering around. I don't feel it much, unless I'm lying down and concentrating on it. And, well, there hasn't seemed to be a lot of opportunity to do that right now. I am excited for our next prenatal appointment. I will be doing the ultrasound soon.

Shane just related that Nathan is playing in our bed (he often does) and that Nathan had turned the electric blanket up to 10 and was enjoying the heat and flying airplanes. Shane turned off the electric blanket left for a few minutes and returned to see it back on, but set on a lower number. Funny little kid!