Garden

Our little garden has had some ups and downs this week. I'm pretty sure that my peas are dying...there's a reason why they're called spring peas, after all. This very hot, humid weather is not conducive to pea growing. I'll start some more pea seeds late in August when it starts getting cool and see if those work. My lettuce, which was growing like crazy and giving me a salad a couple times a week, is also looking pretty done-in.

But the tomatoes...boy oh boy, I've never had tomatoes that looked this good. They are climbing up the side of the house. I have the plant pictured, which are plum tomatoes--I ate my first red one off that plant last night. They are very, very sweet. The other is a "big boy". Those will be for slicing and for eating in my favorite summer sandwich: toasted bread with a thick schmear of mayo, thin sliced tomatoes and plenty of salt.

What else to report? Josiah missed two days of school this week due to an undetermined illness that included fever and cough that lasted just long enough for the school bus to pass by and then he made a miraculous recovery. Just sick enough to have to stay home, but not quite sick enough to be pitiful and lay on the couch, coughing. I loaded him with Tylenol and sent him to school today. Tough love.

Got everyone registered for a summer session at the Y. Josiah and Annika will be taking swim lessons--we're going to try out one ten-day session each and see how it goes. If Annika screams when she gets pool water in her eyes as much as she screams when she gets shower water in her eyes, it's going to be an even shorter session for her. They both really want to learn so that they can start going down the big slide on the outdoor pool. And of course, I want them to learn to swim--I never really learned how and I regret that. Neither of them have had any lessons, but the Y website assures me that they can start at any age.

I guess that means that I could go, too.

Will is signed up for a Kindermusik-type class...I remember taking Josiah to his first music class in Yokosuka when he was about the same age. Seems like eons ago! Besides the swimming and music lessons, we will continue to have gymnastics, Annika will have gymnastic camp and Josiah will have summer enrichment for two weeks at school. Other than that, I'm going to let them just be kids...

I hate to write this here for the mere fact that the universe may then decide to change its mind, but the best news of the week is that Marguerite (and her family, of course!) is very likely (very likely in NAVY-speak) going to be moving to the Norfolk area in the next few months! I would have been thrilled just to have them back in the States and be able to fly somewhere to pay a visit, now they're going to be 20 minutes away! I am a happy, happy girl! Can't wait to see my dear friend and renew our friendship!

OK, Will is waking up from a long nap and Hans and Josiah are almost home from work/school, so I've got to dash!

Have a great weekend!