10:43 PM Betty's Monthly Summary: I thought this would be the summer of cicadas but apparently contrary to reports, they are regional and in the span of seven years will be upon us. Notice the bird's chirping and squawking as I may, I have yet to learn the song of one additional bird this summer. (Although I am reading the biography of John Audubon and The Bird Study Book.) The children and I have been working on preparations for a raised bed garden. This year we planted four cherry tomato plants which turned out to be a source of enormous joy for Breeanna as she delights in picking them as they get ripe. Bryan, in his third year at Wegerzen Metro Park's Garden Club has finally found the farmer within under the tutorledge of Tim Pritchard, who has a masters degree in botany. Bryan attended cub scout camp and survivor camp over the summer. He just completed reading Hatchet when school got out so using knives, starting fires, and building shelters are all very much in the forefront of his interest right now. Bryan collected action heroes for his 4-h entry to the Greene County State Fair. 4-h has been an enriching part of our lives. (Contrary to my ex-husband's puzzlement and snickering when I brought up the possibility of Bryan joining 4-h three years ago. Chris, my ex-husband, pretty much said, "We can't do 4-h because we're not farmers.") Our summer has been blessed with amazing friends that share our live's journey. Our lives are blessed with an incredible community of happy, loving and helpful people everywhere we go. Although I often complain of Ohio's weather, our lives here are so blessed by the kindness of others. Betty