Been enjoying the dog days of summer, those last weeks of August, and of summer heat, before the temperatures dip too low for flip flops and bare legs. I look forward to this turn of season and eagerly await chillier, but more colorful days. So I pay attention to the forecast. I have noticed an odd phenomenon with our local weather auger ..ers. They have been forecasting temperatures about 2-3 degrees higher than they actually reach. I am talking about Celsius. They repeatedly predict it is going to be warmer than it actually ever gets. Never colder ... always warmer.

Strange. Right. They should get it wrong in both directions. I don't know. Maybe I am getting too conspiratorial. It is definitely balmy enough, but there is definitely also a inflated forecast pattern. Those 29 degree day just never materialized.

I am sure it is just honest errors, again and again, and only ever in one direction. That happens, right? I mean what else could it be? Yeah ... I am definitely too conspiratorial. Being lied to does that to you.

With the number of warm days left countable on my fingers ... perhaps a few piggies thrown in too ... we have been prioritizing swimming and doing a little less academic study.

This morning we ran a library errand. Minime is now working his way through the Star Treks, Lower Decks, Season One DVD courtesy of the VPL. It was errands and then off to the pool ... soaking up the last of the natural vitamin D and a modest tan.

We did do an hour or so of sit down work. Rates in Math and further study into the Eukaryotic cell. Our lesson follows for you, homeschooling enthusiasts. We also completed the corresponding Canadian Curriculum, Grade 8 workbook.

From our studies ...

Cell Membrane

• made of a double layer of phospholipids
• encloses the cell and contains everything within
• includes transport systems (membrane proteins) to allow nutrients and needed chemicals in and out

Nucleus

• contains the cell's genetic information(DNA) and is organized into chromosomes
• the control center of the cell where the instructions to replicate the cell are contained

Mitochondria

• power center of the cell
• location of cellular respiration and ATP production.
• inherited solely from the female
• has its own DNA

Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Rough ER - Ribosomes are located on the outside. RER processes the proteins produced by the ribosomes.
• Smooth ER - constructs lipids(fats), phospholipids, and steroids

Golgi Apparatus

• processes and packs proteins and lipids produced by the cell.

Lysosomes

• contain digestive enzymes. Lysosomes absorb old organelles, food, and invading bacteria and break them down.

Ribosomes

• responsible for protein synthesis