Somehow, whenever state testing season rolls around, I think ever test publisher and legislator who thinks these things are a good idea and actually measure what students know and teachers have taught should be forced to spend a year in a middle school. Or a high school but middle schoolers aren’t as good at hiding their anxiety and talk to you about how worried they are. So I have spent the last two weeks gathering materials, easing anxieties, reading scripts and watching students take tests for multiple hours a day. Two weeks in and we are not even close to the end. And my regular job still has to get done, so by the time I get home, I’m exhausted (try watching someone do something for a few hours and do nothing else but watch them, no email, no phone, no Internet, no book, nothing …. See how totally brain dead and exhausted you are) and my nerves are frayed almost to breaking. So there hasn’t been a whole lot of cooking recently, and Bob has been totally wonderful about ordering in or going out. I feel guilty but when you can’t think straight and can’t stand much more, cooking just isn’t realistic. This weekend I did manage to make omelettes with the eggs from the veggie patch.

But even that is closing for the summer so now I have to find a new source of cage free eggs.

With all of this going on, the animals are still a source of joy for me. They have been spending a lot of time in the tree lately, something I was thrilled with, but a little confused by. All three of the babies have been going up there or circling the base of the tree for a few weeks now.

I didn’t get a good picture of Leia there – she jumps down and runs over as soon as she sees me every Ike I try to catch her. But what has gotten the kittens so interested in the tree all of the sudden? Surely the birds can’t be dumb enough to build a nest there … or can they?

Yep, they did. One nest on a branch that the cats can get to. They were smart enough to build it out, but Gracie might be able to get to it given the right motivation. At least I will be entertained as I drink my coffee or wine on the back patio for a while.

One more full week of testing then we start the End of Course Exams so only two to three days a week until Memorial Day weekend. So no food posts for another week or so, but I hope to come up with some really creative things once this is all over.