Hot!

This is a picture of the thermometer on our screened in porch. It was taken yesterday, July 15, 2006 at around 4:30PM. Around 3PM, it was 93 at the airport, which is the somewhat official temperature of Duluth. At that same time, it was 102 in downtown Duluth.

This demonstrates the differences in temperature throughout Duluth. Sometimes it's warmer by the lake, sometimes cooler. Earlier this week, when it was around 90 at our place, it was 74 by the lake (we went down and had a lovely walk).

Our house stays relatively cool because we are surrounded by many trees. The inside temp has not gotten above 78 since the heatwave started. And down in the basement it's 70. We use fans, on these hot days, to move the cool basement air upstairs.

So yes, for those non-believers, it does get hot in Duluth sometimes.

Stay cool!

Is this humane?

Meet Chewie..Chewie Chewbacca to be exact. Chewie has agreed to help us get Bates used to the idea of a baby. Chewie is a good sport about these things even though he's suffered all sorts of indignities throughout his life .... such as living for years in a cardboard box and having to socialize with all sorts of lowly stuffed animals over his lifetime. And he's never once complained!

Chewie was given to me sometime around the time my brother, Micah, was born (1978...I don't know if that was the reason or something else) and he's been around ever since. Chewie doesn't say much, except for when my mom's around to give him a voice. Literally.

Of course I know Chewie can't really talk. I've just always envisioned him being completely immobile, but able to think and ponder the situations around him. Similar to Edward Tulane (Dicamillo wrote Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale Despereaux...I highly recommend Despereaux and am planning on reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane soon).

So we swaddled Chewie (practice for us, too!) and presented him to Bates. At first Bates was really curious, but now he's wondering why we carry around a stuffed monkey in a straight jacket. :)

The rug

Everyone keeps asking what the nursery colors are, so here they are. The nursery is all put together except for a mattress. Just 11 weeks left. Where did the time go?

New & Expanded

I'm back! New laptop...ready to continue with the blog entries. Oh...and the expanded part. That would be my belly. The new arrival should be here around September 12th. More to come later.

Yee-haw!