161/365
3:09pm
Don't believe it. There is no truth that ants help peonies go from bud to bloom. Notta. Apparently they just like the sweet nectar. Fair enough. We'll still keep playing How Many Ants Can You Count on the Peony game though because that's just good Garden Fun!
160/365
5:38pm
Jack and I have had a low-grade cold all week, and mine turned into a doozy overnight. Sore throat, fever, achy, and thoroughly exhausted. As John pointed out, at least I wasn't missing a gorgeous summer weekend since we were exactly two rainy degrees from plunging into the forties. A day best viewed through glass.
159/365
6:40pm
When Charlie brushes his teeth, he doesn't move his wrist or hand. Nope. He moves his head. That's right, his hand and toothbrush are stationary and he furiously shakes his head side-to-side and up-and-down. It's a stitch to watch. However, Jack's Good Influence is making Charlie's dental hygiene more and more mainstream and we're seeing less of Charlie's unconventional method. While probably more efficient, it'll be sad to say farewell to the Stationary Toothbrush Technique.
158/365
7:58pm
After a trip to Japan a couple years ago, John's parents brought back the popular fairy tale, Momotaro, The Peach Boy for Jack and Charlie. With vibrant illustrations and an emphasis on courage, generosity and working together, it's a bedtime favorite of late. Since the book is set in Japanese characters, John's mom printed an English copy (see above) of the story. Now we really know what happens on Ogre Island. Yowzers.
157/365
6:27pm
[Heavy sigh.] This is Jack's last preschool event. And I went into it with mixed feelings. On one poorly manicured hand, I was am quite sad about leaving something so sweet, so special, so endearing, so innocent, and so once-in-a-lifetime behind for the big bad world called Elementary School. But on the other hand, I'm thrilled (ok, that may be an exaggeration) that Jack will be heading off to Kindergarten with recently surged confidence that likely includes an arsenal of superhero traits and dialogue. Just don't talk to me yet about putting him on that big yellow bus that first day week year.....and at an ungodly hour to boot. Weep.
156/365
5:47pm
Blackberries have an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of 5347 per 100 grams, including them among the top-ranked ORAC fruits. Another report using a different assay for assessing antioxidant strength placed blackberry at the top of more than 1000 antioxidant foods consumed in the United States*, **
*Halvorsen BL, Carlsen MH, Phillips KM, et al. (July 2006). "Content of redox-active compounds (ie, antioxidants) in foods consumed in the United States". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 84 (1): 95–135. PMID 16825686
**Whatever. Charlie inhales them at levels that would startle bears. Large, hungry mother bears. But blackberries have nothing on Charlie's gluttonous palate for cherries. God help the cherry pitterJohn this summer.
155/365
4:11pm
After a busy morning at school with double playground time, Lunch Bunch, and a wonderfully exhausting afternoon play date, Jack asked if he could go rest late in the day.
Windows cracked, the room summoned a sweet, heavy lilac breath from down the street. It lazily sauntered into the cool, veiled space; fan rhythmically whirring and ticking, gently blowing its deliciousness into every corner. Jack, channeling the energy of a old cat in a sunny spot, kicked off his crisp star sheets, tucked himself into a ball, and drifted away.
