From summer to autumn

It's hard to believe I haven't had anything to say since 14 July...let me bring you up-to-date.

• 25/26 July - Capitol Hill Block Party
• 30 July - submitted draft of the book manuscript for technical review
• 7-26 August my mom visited. During her visit, we went to the northwest quilt show and I helped Adrian (from John's group) cater and host a Moroccan BBQ. She gave her old digital camera to Zeb and he's filled 4 memory cards with photos. I'll be putting up the best of them - and some are really good.
  
• 30 August we went to Bumbershoot and ended up at the top of the Space Needle
• 3 times this summer I worked at the Master Gardener clinic at Woodland Park Zoo
• 11 September we turned in the final manuscript of the book (incorporating comments from our technical reviewers. Thanks!!). Our editor made some touch-ups and sent it on to copyedit. We should be getting a copy of that back to review in the next week or two. It looks like it will be in print sometime in November or December.
• We had the house painted - a process that took longer than expected because of all the rain we had this summer.
  
• Last week, I went to New York City to present at and attend Web 2.0 Expo. I left Monday morning and returned Thursday night. It was the longest that I've been away from Zeb! It was intense, awesome, and fun.
  

Zeb is growing up quickly. He's talking all the time and asking, "why?" "what happened?" and "What are you doing?" Our preschool co-op started a couple weeks ago and it's good to be back in the company of so many wonderful parents and kids. This year, Zeb goes two days per week and I only work on one day - which means I have one morning per week to get some work done.

Zeb's last day at daycare was the 12th and now he'll be at home with a sitter on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and all-day Wednesday.

So, that's a quick update. You'll be hearing more from me soon. :)

xoxo

daycare

We decided to keep Z in daycare one day per week because it is more affordable than a nanny, it gets him out of the house and playing with others, he was doing really well at daycare, and I figured that if he picked up a cold or virus on a Friday he could be sick over the weekend and would be well again by the following Friday.

It's been two weeks. The first week he came home after 1/2 a day because he had a virus - but was the first to have it so he didn't pick it up from daycare (then gave it to me and I lost 6 pounds in 2 days). Last week, everything went well. He was there 8-5 and I worked for several hours, went out for lunch, then had fun hanging out with a new gardening pal.

This week the center is having a parent's night out - date night!

So far, I'm confident we made the right choice.

changes

laugh
Originally uploaded by anneke boudreau.

Daycare tuition was due today and as I looked through the last few months of my calendar I realized:
1. Of the 27 days of daycare we had paid for, we had used only 17. Snow, sick, and holi- days give us about a .63 batting average. ouch.
2. Of the 28 days of February, Z was well for about 4. Of the 31 days of January he was well for 15. I realize it is cold and flu season, but give me a break, please!
3. Since Z has been home all of those days that I should have been working, I'm not earning enough to pay for daycare.

Therefore, this is Z's last month of daycare. Hopefully, I will be able to finish up my Master Gardener class (and graduate on 27 March) then we'll spring into April with a new schedule - time for mommy to get creative and social. I do think it has been an excellent experience for him. He's sleeping better, walking stronger, and babbling more - so I'll have to find some regular playmates.

His latest fight is with a virus. Luckily, Z is a fairly mellow kid so he doesn't get too upset, but it has been more work and worry. He has a rash on his legs, arms, and cheeks and not much appetite. The doctor says he should be fine in a couple days...probably just in time to catch the next strain.

Spring is around the corner!! Hyacinth, narcissus, tulips, and iris are 1-4 inches tall. I have more weeds to pull and need to remove the willow. Last week's class about plant pathology and diagnosis plus previous classes on pests, pruning, and basic botany made me realize that I've stressed out the willow so badly that it can't survive - or that it would take a lot of effort and a few years to get it back.

Here's its trail of tears: the first year we were here I pruned it thinking I could shape it (ha). The aphids probably started this year but weren't too bad. With more pruning that fall, they had plenty of places to overwinter plus the bacteria that causes gall found refuge. Last summer, the aphids were *so* bad that the willow became the fast food joint for every yellow jacket in the 'hood and most of the new growth branches have galls. Ouch. Goodbye willow.

While I feel bad that its worst pest is homo sapiens, I am looking forward to the room it will give me in the yard. I've decided to create two dog lookout spots and one area for them to sun themselves. Reba keeps digging up plants where she wants to lay down, so I figure "she wins - it's her yard" and I'll design it around her. I'll also create a raised bed around the maple and rhodi - to avoid soil compaction from dog traffic.

I feel so much more informed about what I'm doing out there...much less guess work. It's very empowering.