Journal

J+M+J

The temperature has been creeping steadily up, as has my height. Today when I brought down my summer clothes, I found that almost everything is too short! So we went on an emergency shopping day this afternoon! Most of my shirts came out of the juniors section instead of the girls section! I am getting older!

A+M+D+G

J+M+J 

The month of March is dedicated to Saint Joseph.

Prayer to St. Joseph 500 years old 

Oh, St Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires. Oh, St Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, out Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power,
I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arm; I dare not approach while he resposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His find head for me and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St Joseph, patron of departing souls – Pray for me.Amen

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J+M+J

The othodontist said it would take only three days for this thing to stop hurting. He was wrong. It took a whole five days for my teeth to stop hurting. Now, I can (almost) chew and am starting to talk better. I have given up the letter S as a hopeless cause though.

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J+M+J

Last night I went on my first babysitting session for another family than my own. It was great fun. I babysat for a eight-year-old girl and a six and a half-year old boy for three hours. We colored, played candyland, and read some books. Their mother gave me $17!

If you are looking for two wonderful books that are not two long, I highly recomend these: Cheaper by the Dozen by Ernestine and Fred Jr. Gilbreth (hilarious true story about a family of twelve children) and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell (Based on a true story of a girl stranded on an island for 18 years.) You will not be disappointed.

A+M+D+G

Insectile Farmers

Fungi play an important part in the lives of leaf cutting ants. For when a young queen leaves her colony to start a new one, she takes with her some of her mothers chewed up leaves. It is not the leaves that matter so, but what is on them, fungi.
After a queen mates and finds a home, she cultivates her new garden carefully, alongside her first larvae. If this batch of fungi fails her colony will have no chance of survival. If her garden succeeds, the gray springy heap of fungi will grow long hyphae, which will eventually form swollen tips.
By this time some workers may have become adults. They will harvest these tips as food, and weed out objectionable varieties of fungus.
Meanwhile the fungi are being pampered. They are fertilized with ant dung and provided chewed leaves as a food source.
In conclusion, fungi unmistakably are essential to leaf cutting ants.