If not berries and bread,

How about berries and bugs?

Every summer, we watch the cicadas molt in our backyard. I remember the first one we saw, six summers ago, clinging to the wheel of Aidan's tricycle, shedding its baby skin, shaking out its brand new, still wet wings. That was the summer the kids learned the word "exoskeleton". Nothing like two and four year olds saying "exoskeleton".

Today I noticed several exoskeletons dotting the fence, and soon I expect to hear the call of cicadas. All I can hear right now is the patter of an unexpected summer rain storm. The smell wafting through the open windows is intoxicating. Nothing like the smell of warm, wet earth.

It's time for me to take my book out to the back porch, breathe deeply, ignore the rain soaked laundry which I hung to dry this morning, and settle into a story. The kids are hoping to hear peals of thunder, signaling the cancellation of synchronized swimming practice tonight. Can't say I'd mind that either.

I just finished reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness this morning. Run, don't walk, to your local library and borrow a copy. I enjoyed every single page of it, and it took me only three days to read its 579 pages, a stark contrast to the three weeks it took me to finally finish reading Frankenstein. Not that I didn't enjoy Frankenstein, it's just that 19th century English is so painfully wordy (but as Aidan informed me, all books are wordy; they're full of words!). After following poor, doomed Dr. Frankenstein and his lonely, despicable creature around Europe for so long, my brain thoroughly enjoyed an escape into a 21st century tale full of vampires, witches, colleges, and castles. I couldn't wait to finish it, but I didn't want it to end. Now I'm patiently waiting for its sequel, publication date unknown. Love in the Time of Cholera will help me pass the time. Nothing like an epic romance on a rainy afternoon in June.

As for the crocheted strawberries giveaway, the Random Number Generator was kind enough to select Carrie of Rhubarb Sky! Congratulations Carrie! And a big thank you to all who commented and shared your encouraging words of support and agreement. Nothing like friends, near and abroad, who take time out of their day to write nice things on your blog.