No microwave for 3 weeks; "flowlers"; Apricot-Peach-Almond Jam

Y'all, our microwave went kaput a day ago, the repairman just came, had to order some parts and the next available slot for repair is in three weeks. Argh. I actually use that sucker a lot. Oh well. Oliver is walking around with Jack's guitar capo and saying "I have clippers, I clip flowlers." I love little kids' mispronunciations. Jack still says "nibbles" for nipples. Adorable.

Lastly, I was inspired to make jam using those gorgeous apricots and peaches that I posted a pic of recently. What is good with those fruits? Almonds are, so I put a dash of almond extract in while cooking. Yum!

Em-i-lis(t) of the day

After a pretty much sleepless night due to the children and a musical bed situation and the fact that mom is leaving today, I am in a pretty snarky mood.Thus, a new list of things I find quite peeving:

1) when people leave faucets on: wasteful! no good! 2) crappily made pump dispensers and spray bottles 3) drivers who, upon seeing long lines of traffic, race up the shoulder and cut in- a) you aren't fooling anyone, and b) I think this behavior is evidence of an underlying character flaw 4) Congress: particularly the enormous number of sanctimonious, intransigent, imperious Tea Partiers/Repubs who don't give a rat's butt about most Americans, including most of their constituents, and who seem to have a really dysfunctional relationship with the truth, as well as the concurrent seeming pitifulness of the many Dems who appear unwilling to stand firmly behind anything. 5) the number of calories in most good food in tandem with the slowing metabolism that age brings and sleep deprivation furthers.

Hello, rain!

We're in the car heading home, and after so many days of nary a cloud in sight, this rain and its accompanying cloud shroud are almost a foreign landscape. We need it here in DC though, so I'm not complaining. Have you read Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver? She has such a gift for writing and can really tell a story. I loved The Poisonwood Bible and picked up this newer book at a used book store in the Willamette; that cafe was also home to the marvelous scones we had! Anyway, Prodigal Summer is wholly engaging so far. I love works that appear quiet on the surface but because of the author's attention to detail and ability to write softly yet powerfully are actually just the opposite.

Out cab driver is cussing a blue streak under his breath- it's kinda funny.