The labor of work

I'll be honest that when I imagined staying home with the baby, I didn't imagine that I wouldn't have a free minute all day. I thought I'd still be able to make quilts and dinner and all that. I can stil get a walk in no problem because Makili loves walks, but I really can't count on anything else. Ann and I have jointly been canning this week, something that I am now very excited. So far we've made blackberry jam, bruise jam (blackberries and blueberries), love peachother jam, grouch jelly (crab apple). (You should all be guessing what you're getting for Christmas at this point.) I know this sounds like a lot but actually it is quick and easy to can things and I've gotten a bit too into it. I want to can everything now.


I had to look up tomato canning recipes because Ann's garden is ridiculously productive. Look at all these tomatos and there are SO many more. Though yesterday we found hornworms in the garden - the evil enemy of tomatos. I should take a picture of one because that completely gross me out! Ann stepped on a big one yesterday and it shot icky goop from its innards like four feet away. Yuck.


This week I did a trial run of "real work." I substituted at Raph's school on Friday and Ann watched the baby. It was terribly painful. I cried halfway there. I will say it was the easiest money I've ever earned in my life though. I was so glad to see the baby at the end of the day. Almost as glad as my breasts. Luckily I don't have to do that again too soon. I might attempt to be a nanny, but that seems pretty tough as well.

He's been so smily lately. He spends so much energy trying to grab things, concentrating with furled brow. He sits quietly while we read him books. He wakes up and immediately wants to look around. "What is there for me to see? to touch?" And those smiles are too much!