Too Hot!

I was going to spend a few minutes in reorg mode last night, but I just couldn't cool down. It didn't even seem cool enough in my sewing room, so I went to bed with a glass of ice water and a book. About midnight I woke up and it was warmer. I checked the air coming out of the AC vent in the bathroom (standing on the toilet to reach!) and sure enough, it certainly wasn't cold enough. Drats! With 95 degree temps, there's no way we'll get a repairman out here any time soon. Then I remembered, the power had gone off for a minute during a brief but intense thunder storm just before dark. I went outside to the AC unit, and sure enough, the breaker had tripped. Flipped the switch and Tada! AC again! Ah!

It was a dark and stormy night...

I just love the Snoopy cartoon where he is sitting on top of his Sopwith Camel, typing the above to start a story! We've had some dark and stormy nights (and afternoons) around here lately! Luckily no damage other than some small branches and twigs off the trees, and our power has only blinked a couple of times, only enough to knock off my clock radio! That seems to be the only indicator that there has been a power burp. So, I count ourselves as very lucky! Many of my friends and co-workers lost power for hours or days, and the pictures of trees on houses and cars aren't happy ones! Wednesday's commute home for some was hairy with so many traffic lights out (I was asleep on my bus commute home so I can't comment on mine!).

Now it's hot and steamy. Welcome summer! The day lilies and purple coneflowers are about to burst into bloom. I love the butterflies they attract!

Storms also mean no computer or sewing, as I keep them off and the sewing machines just stay unplugged unless I am sewing.

I have been reading some. When we re-arranged our bedroom 2 weeks ago I saw the stack of Janet Evanovich paperbacks I picked up at a thrift shop last summer, but never got around to reading them. I haven't read her books before, but my sister-in-law said they are good! I started with "Full House" and it was funny and a quick read, good for the bus (translation - I can read several pages, even chapters, before I fall asleep!).

Tomorrow is DS's last day of elementary school. He is growing up too fast! I took him shopping for summer clothes yesterday afternoon. He has definite likes and dislikes so I can no longer just pick out some clothes and he wears them. We had luck at Target and Kohl's. Boy's shirts that I consider "appropriate" to wear and he likes are hard to find. He isn't into sports, and I don't like the mean sayings about sisters and homework and not listening, etc, or some of the shirts with skulls on them. We did find a cute T shirt with a couple ears of corn with faces, watching popcorn pop in a microwave, and the shirt says "Horror Movie"!

Oops, better get off the computer and get some stuff done around here before it gets too hot! More later about our new feathered friends!

A Taste of Summer!

It may be 25 degrees out, with a wind chill of 17 and a dusting of snow on the ground, but I'm having summer for breakfast! Summer in the form of blackberries picked last July and frozen for when a taste of summer is needed! We picked them from here:It's a long walk from the parking lot to the berries (you can drive down to the orchard if you want), but totally worth the walk!Rows and rows of bushes, covered with berries (this row looks like it's not quite ripe yet).You can quickly fill your buckets (and tummy!) with these:
and then go peak through the trees at the edge of the orchard to see the Rappahanock River.

When you return to the market at the top of the hill for weigh-in, you can buy lunch or just delicious ice cream, and already picked produce, jellies, jams, and other gift items. DS prefers to visit the petting zoo - who can resist these fellas?These pictures are actually from a visit in 2006, but my breakfast berries are from DH and DS visiting in 2007, when they picked 3 whole buckets - over 15 pounds! It's such a pretty place, just thinking about it warms my heart and soul on this blustery day!And if you are so inclined, on the way back to the main road it's just a brief side trip to Ingleside Vineyards winery! This particular region of Virginia is full of history and things to do in a relaxed setting, but just a stone's throw from the nation's capital!