Gardening Updates

My Teapot Fountain and Serena, both bring serenity to my place of rest.

Gardening updates include:
1. Banana's are growing and withstanding some of our windy nights....




2. I also have a very fruitful Zucchini at the moment3. While there continues to be plenty of celery, lettuce and rhubarb, other plants are going to seed. For those who have never seen one, this is an image of the Leek seed head - something beautiful in itself....
Now it's time to go and work on the next crop - planting broccoli and carrots today.

My Christmas Books

Christmas this year is over shadowed by our need to save up for some travel plans, so I was delighted to receive this small collection of reading and viewing gifts. Somehow, all linked to my dreams and goals for 2009/10.

The White Tiger, is a story about an Indian fellow from Bangalore, while a Booker Prize Winner, my partner gave it to me because I'm going back to India in Sept 09 and I love learning more about India, her heritage, demographics, and culture. My friend has done a nice review of the storyline, and as I haven't finished it yet, I recommend Bookbath for more info. When I return to India, I will be volunteering in a school for girls and working with Women through self help groups in Tamil Nadu.
Isn't she beautiful? I'm going to really enjoy this new picture book, Audrey Hepburn: A life in pictures. So often my life is more practical than pretty, I have my finger nails filled with dirt from the garden, and my house is shared with dogs and Mr fix-it with his bits'n'pieces lying around. Taking time to disappear with Audrey will be a wonderful form of escape. Which I can also do while watching my now growing colelction of DVD's. New to the collection isNow, my thing for French is showing up in my gifts - Audrey and Paris - wow.... My final bookish christmas gift was the latest version of Residences Decoration - a magazine in french. France 2010, here we come!. I got two other very me gifts, while not bookish, in the same themes..
I got a silver Pandora Charm to encourage me in my dreams to return to Paris, and I received the honourable gift of an 'extremely useful gift' of Human Rights. My family have the tradition of drawing a name out of the hat and only having to buy a gift for one adult. My gift giver made a generous donation towards a human rights cause for my christmas gift, which I truly value as one of my most treasured gifts this year. Thanks.

Japanese Reading Challenge No 2

I appear to have turned the Japanese Reading Challenge No 2 into a Murakami challenge - I've really enjoyed this opportunity to be consumed by the author. I have just finished reading Sputnik Sweetheart and am finishing off Underground.Sputnik is the name of the man made satellite that took a dog into space, but it came to be the nickname of the characters lover as a result of a confusion in a conversation. As I reflected further on the title of the book, I could see that Murakami had used it to reflect something deeper. The main character, Sumire, has fallen in love with an older married woman, her sputnik sweetheart. But as the story spins around Sumire, her adored sputnik, and K (the story teller and man in love with Sumire) it becomes evident that they are all spinning in orbit, perhaps like the dog in Sputnik, starring out to space wondering what's going on.

Murakami has kept me spell bound while I follow the tales of these three characters through some bizzare experiences. Again, I see a depth to his analogies which is beyond the storyline. Sumire's 'sputnik sweetheart' has had a traumatic out of body experience that turns her hair white, Sumire disappears off the face of the earth, while K is left to carry on the mundane life of a teacher. If I were to reflect on my life, there would large chunks of time where I may as well have disappeared from all place, yet I have returned with new personal insights and convictions. There have been many times in my life, when I have been to one who, like K, seems to be the grounded one, called on to help and continue the mundane while others are in shock, grief or lost.

Again I have really enjoyed Murakami's ability to take me away, and deliver me to a place where I can see what's happening. More soon on Underground.

On Reflection

Stain glass window at Convent

It's been a month since my last blog, I did not loose interest or motivation for blogging, I simply took some opportunities to grow myself and others, which prevented me from sitting at a computer. I have saved up a few things I need to blog about. Firstly Earthworks Retreat, then later today I will return to report on my Japanese Reading Challenge progress, and the Banana.

Inside the Mudbrick Convent

Earthworks is a 2 1/2 day retreat which draws on the principles of Joanna Macy's work she titles 'the work that reconnects'. Thich Naht Hanh said 'the most important thing people can do to help change the world is to listen to the sounds of the Earth crying.' Through the Earthworks retreat, participants are encouraged to learn about the earth, our relationship with aspects of the earth through past, present and future, and to listen for opportunities to be involved in change.

This is the 3rd time I've done this retreat and each time I learn more about myself, my relationships with others and the earth and my own spirituality. The retreat is located at an old convent which was built by nuns in the 70's from mudbricks and pre-loved building materials. It's just a 'divine' setting for reflection and long periods of silence. Also works great for the saturday night sing along.

I find that I rarely allow for there to be long periods of silence in my life, but this year specifically, I was in deep need of the time to just sit and listen. I loved the session where we were sent to find somewhere on the property (mostly bush) and listen to what surrounded us. I thought I was sitting under a tree to listen to birds, but strangely I ended up listening to ants.... weird, but significant.

Time out of business and the demands of the looming Christmas season, was a truly and blessed opportunity for me to remember the real meaning of Christmas, and what my relationship to Christmas is. Contribute to change - somewhere, sometime.

Banana Updates

As promised, I'm keeping you informed on the progress of the banana's in my backyard. This bunch is hanging about 9 feet off the ground (hence the difficult angle to get a decent shot of the hand). I'm watching this hand particularly nervously this week as it's pretty windy and I just don't want to loose them to the wind. We had a gorgeous hand last year, but we lost it in the huge Hunter Storms in June 07. So this would be our first fruit if it survives.

What else is happening in the garden this weekend? Well, the Celery is thinking about going to seed, but I'm trying to trick it by cutting off the seed heads. Some of the lettuces have gone to seed, but that's OK because I've been planting on a staggered schedule - so my other lettuces are about ready, with some new ones coming up for later. I have some new spinach almost ready for picking, so I think I'll pull out the old ones which are definitely seeding and can't be tricked any longer. The asparagus is still sprouting, although only enough for the two of us to have on our plates once a week. The trick with the asparagus is to keep feeding it, and pick when the stalks are about 10 cm - they grow about 2 cm a day so watch carefully. I'll spend a bit of time also clearing out the old snow peas and then feeding the whole garden with some 'fish juice' (Yummy).

It's still overcast, although this morning was just sunny enough to enjoy a pot of earl grey tea with my breakfast out on the deck.... Later today or tomorrow, some reading.

Preferring other places

Boat harbour in Naxos, Greece

Friday Night I had a delightful evening with friends, champagne and a sunset by the lake with live music. That was followed by a stunning lightning show and then a spectacular audio storm. Since then it's been a rather grey weekend, overcast today, and not much fun in the garden. So I've been dreaming of other places and looking through my scrapbooks and photo albums. This time last year I was on an extended break from work and travelling OS. I was lucky enough to have friends to spend time with in Greece, and a few weeks with my partner in France. I then travelled to India to teach English at a school for girls who had been rescued from working in factories from as young as 4yrs old. I also had the joy of then travelling to Japan with my 17yr old niece. I just love looking at my photo's and remembering all the highs and lows of discovering more about the world I live in. I have since made ongoing commitments to continuing to learn French as a second language, to learn more about other cultures, and to continue to support ODAM in their work with women and girls in India.

I'm currently reading Sarah Paretsky's 'Fire Sale', but desperately waiting for some other Murakami novels, which I've had to order, to come into the local bookstore. More about books later in the week....(especially if it keeps raining and stays grey!)

Sunset on Naxos

Kreativ Award - merci mon amie!

Merci Beaucoup Karen, Quel honneur!! Well it's certainly been my lucky week. Monday night I discovered that I had won the Murakami Diary from Dolce Bellezza Blogsite. Tuesday I won 2nd prize in the office sweeps for the Melbourne Cup. Now I discover I've been awarded the Kreative Award by Karen at Bookbath blogsite. The first two prizes were almost a matter of luck - as long as I entred the competitions I had a chance. But this award - I didn't even know about it. That's why it's such an honour for me.
Now along with the award, there's a meme. I have to complete this and forward the award to others. Here goes:

7 things I did before
1. Youth Work
2. Read the bible
3. Turn the heater on too much
4. Use new paper in the printer
5. Buy vegetables
6. Watch 'Neighbours'
7. Avoid books

7 things I do now
1. Read
2. Garden
3. J'etudie la langue francaise
4. Recycle, Re-use and Reduce
5. Try to exercise 4 times a week
6. J'ecoute la radio francaise sur le weekend

7.Blog

7 things I want to do
1. Ride 'mon velo' along the route de tour de france
2. Live in France
3. Teach children how to grow food
4. Volunteer with women and children in India (again)
5. Live simply
6. Continue to enjoy reading
7. Love and be loved

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex
1. Strength
2. Company
3. Shared love of food
4. Adventure
5. The 'fix it' skills
6. Conversation (different ways of seeing the world)
7. Massages

7 Favorite Foods
1. Merlot (does that count?)
2. Le Fromage (any sort)
3. Cake
4. Lamb Shanks with mash potato
5. Prawns and Champagne (by the lake)
6. Atlantic Salmon (preferably farmed)
7. Cornflakes

7 things I Say Most Often:
1. It's time to get up.
2. Do you want a cuppa?
3. I'll send it to you (email)
4. Do you have homework to do?
5. Bon Jour!
6. Bon Soir!
7. are there any emails for me?

And now the seven people I would like to tag for this award and meme:

1.Jess at This Delicious Solitude because she does such amazing book reviews and often. And she loves french stuff too.

2. Dolce Belleza because she is an amazing multi skills and many dimensional lady who has creatively engaged me in reading outside my zone.

3.Laura from Reading Reflections who recently completed an awesome read-a-thon that lasted 13.75 hours, where she read 823 pages in a total of 825 minutes. She demonstrates creativity in her approach to reading...

4.A fondness for reading, because she is truly creative in her life - knitting, teaching second grade and blogging. And the photo's she uses are inspiring and provoking.

5.The Kingfisher Scrapbook because she's a clever and amazing person who also keeps the blog a longing for the impossible where she displays more from her Poisoned Pen - her words and poetry are truly creative.

6.Stuff as dreams are made on because I thinks it's really creative to have an obsession with bookmarks, and the book reviews are engaging and provoking.

7. The crafty soul at A readers Journal because I love the hats!

Now they get to pass on the award to some blogs they admire.....

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

Sage

Rosemary

Thyme

My garden is looking just beautiful today and I wanted to share it... here are photo's of my Sage, Rosemary and Thyme bushes. Also because I'm especially excited by the prospect of producing m own banana's this year I thought I'd share their developments with you.

Banana Flower

So as the Banana's develop, I'll post new photo's and tell you how they're going. We did have a hand last year growing really nicely, however a major life-changing storm took out our banana and left a hole in our lives. This is the resurrected plant, showing us it really wants to live.

Now, as you're visiting my garden, on this gorgeous Aussie spring day, I'll leave you with this thought.... once I've finished this blog, I'm out to spend some time with my teapot, my journal, and my dogs.

Self seeded Celery & Lettuce surrounded by Fennel, baby cucumber vines, leeks and carrots

My Sisters Keeper

After the reality of the atomic bomb in Nagasaki (my last book), I needed something fictional. I've always enjoyed Jodi's writing, and her books are good for reading on the trains (I do 2x 1 hour trips a day). I wasn't sure if I was ready for this one though. While fictional, the reality of family dynamics cant be overlooked. Yet, once I picked up this book I couldn't put it down.

There is so much in this story I connected with its hard to know where to start to reflect. Sisterhood is an amazing gift is in 1000's of ways, but perhaps the greatest pains in life are those we share with our sisters. Anna and Kate's story is a powerful picture of dependency and interdependency, which is reflected also in Julie and Izzy's relationship, and again in Sara and Zanes. The differences in each of these relationships reminds us of all the important reasons we love our sisters. For me, right now, I will cherish my sisters, and the relationship my mother has with hers, for this is integral in my being.

Bells of Nagasaki

I chose to read this as part of the Japanese Reading Challenge because on my first and only visit to Japan, visiting Nagasaki was an immensely moving and life changing event. Growing up in Australia in the 70-80's was fun and carefree, mostly. If you are of this generation, you were probably not privy to an education about what happened in other countries, and especially not what happened in wars. I knew nothing about the bombs in Japan. In fact I'm rather embarrassed to say, when planning for the trip to Japan last year, I didn't even know about Nagasaki, and didn't realise that Hiroshima was in Japan. I am clearly on a new learning path.

One of my blogging friends has written a great summary of the book, so I dont feel the need to do that here. However, I do need to reflect on my experience of reading this story - a true story.

Nagasaki is now a large, beautiful city. You can see in this picture the mountains and river, as the author refers to in his description of events following the bombing. As I read his memories, I was able to picture so much of what he described - not only beacuse I have been there, but because he draws the picture so vividly. He talks about the unexpectedness of the bombing, his surprise when he discovered the atomic bomb had been invented and used, and his experiences as both victim of the bomb, and carer to other victims.

Nagasaki Peace Park is as an amazing place to visit, as this book is to read. They both describe the horror that occurred to the people of Nagasaki, Japan, and provide an insight into the amazing gracefulness of the Japanese People, who say - let this be a lesson to the world and an eternal request for Global Peace.

Nagai wrote: Men and women of the world, never again plan war! With this atomic bomb, war can only mean suicide for the human race. From this atomic wast the people of Nagasaki confront the world and cry out: Now more war! Let us follow the commandment of love and work together. the people of Nagasaki prostrate themselves before God and pray: Grant that Nagasaki may be the last atomic wilderness in the history of the world.... the Bells continue to ring.

May these prayers be heard.

Peach Party!

Well, it's the glorious weekend again! This morning I strolled around the garden to observe what's been happening while I've been working this week. Lettuce is about to go to seed - time to get some new ones in for summer, snow peas are slowing down - time to feed them, celery is loving the current weather patterns, and the Peaches are starting to fruit. Last year we had two peaches off the tree, this year 100's. Where I live we have to take particular care to control fruit fly - which of course I try to do organically. This year I'm trying a new product that smells like Vegemite. Last year (with only two peaches) I was able to put a bag on each one and watch them grow safely.

Today's activities will include fruit fly spaying, weeding, fresh planting, and cooking up the new batches of gooseberries and rhubarb. But before I get out to the garden, I have coffee with a book-buddy at the local Borders Bookstore. We'll see what hits the reading list for the next month.

Chez Moi

I'm fantasizing about living in France one day. I have been learning french for four years, visited France several times, and when I can, I'll read about France. The title 'Chez Moi' was appealing to me - it's french!. The caption on the front was enticing: Chez Moi will give you cravings. you can't eat the book, but do read it. It's full of tasty pleasure and zero calories.

I wouldn't worry about the calories... the story of Myriam will help you burn calories. She frustrated me with her nurotic wanderings and mid-life crisis ponderings. There were no real descriptions of food to make my mouth water, and none of the 'tasty pleasures' promised on the cover.

Strangley enough - by the end of the book, I was engaged in Myriam's story, but then it ended all too soon. Did she wonder off with her ethnic lover, or stay in the restaraunt? I dont know. Read it if you're patient, or nurotic yourself.

The Shack

The Shack is a book about the character of God, about the relationship of the Trinity, and about one mans search for meaning. The main character is searching for the joy of life after loosing someone very special to him. Its a story that reflects many peoples life journey of pain, heart ache and loss. Accumulated pain affects us all, and for the main character of the book, he was struggling to see through the clouds. He was angry at God, confused, and wondering if there was a god at all. Through interaction with God, (best to read the book to get the full story), he gets to see God face to face, and rediscover the meaning of relationship with God. Many myths about the character of God are challenged in this story. While, disappointingly, I felt the story represented a very western view of God, I did appreciate that some of the common questions about the character of God were addressed. I thought the author was able to express his own vision of God through this very engaging story. Recommended for anyone who wonders about a God who intervenes.

Lazy Mornings in Spring-time rain....

Our Lake, where we'll have breakfast this morning

We have a public holiday today, and my partner and I promised ourselves some time together and one of our favourite things, breakfast out. Sill as the spring-time rain falls, I was inspired to get up before him and take the time to meditate on the beauty around me. I love to listen to the magpies croon, the kookaburras laugh, and the flurry of birds through the neighborhood trees, as the rain brings a newness and stillness to this place. my dogs are curled up, snug in their beds, wondering why Im up and if they have to get up too - not yet. This is my time alone, to think, reflect, and enjoy my tea.

After Dark

I was captured with curiosity when I read about the Japanese Literature reading Challenge 2. Last year I had the great joy of traveling with my 17 yr old niece to Japan for the end of autumn and beginning of Winter. I was spell bound by the natural beauty of the country, and in awe of the amazing richness of culture and spirituality. Given my new found appreciation for the differences in the Japanese Culture, I thought reading some of the countries literature would be a new discovery. It has been so far.

Haruki Murakami has written a beautiful story that engaged my in an alternative world for a period of time. The cover says 'Murakumi, master of the surreal, returns with a stunning new novel, where familiar can become unfamiliar after midnight...'

Definitely surreal, having a sense of being in 2 different worlds at once - I felt strangely engaged in Mari's story, I guess knowing what it was like at 17yrs to want to stay away and spend the night at Denny's. I made sense of the strangeness of Eri's world by imagining a young gril who had been treated and laballed beautiful and shallow, as if noone expected anything from her, except her beauty, she didn't need to wake up.

Mari's personal struggle with her sisters long sleep was woven into issues of her grief for the lost love of her parents, her own loss of a part of her and maybe her knowing the pain her sister felt for not being someone else.

I was struggling to make sense of eri's transfer to the room/office space of Shirakawa, the perpetrator of violence towards women. My thinking was the Eri represented all women, being transported to that space to indicate that women have become objects to this man.

I enjoyed reading a novel with a great deal of depth, and one which I believe has several powerful messages threaded through it. Im definitely moving on to my second Japanese challenge!

Sunday in the Kitchen

It's the weekend for spring cleaning, garden make-overs and cooking the excess produce. I'm having a ball, and at the same time I'm reliving the life of my mother, and her mother... My lemon tree has been very busy over winter, and while I've been sharing and giving away the produce, I still have plenty filling the fruit bowl. Today I've made up some marmalade, lemon butter and a lemon pudding for dinner. I've also stewed up my rhubarb, a made some more gooseberry jam. This morning we also had the great joy of tasting the first fruits off our new citrus tree's - a grapefruit and a sweet orange. Boy, this does feel like I'm acting out 'the good life' (a TV show my parents watched when I was sposed to be in bed!).

More on the organic front - I've been weeding out under the fruit tree's preparing to feed with blood'n'bone and mulch for the summer season, I've planted seeds for my next round of lettuce, cucmbers, spinach and beetroot. Hoping to have a basket full of organic and yummy foods for Christmas - which I've recently heard Im hosting this year!

My time in the garden was well spent this morning as I reflected and pondered on some articles I read recently in G-Magazine. I was interested in the article about Cork and the suggestion that the recent move to screw top wine bottles threatens cork forests as the demand for cork decreases the forests loose monetary value and are therefore threatened. The value of the forests is based in production of a physical product and not simply valued for their role in enviornmental cooling and CO2 use. What a shame that we can't value a tree for what it contributes to it's ecosystem.

I have been busy recently with life outside my garden which has allowed me time to read a few books on the trains. Reviews to come for my first completed book from the Japanese Literature challenge "After Dark", a Christian Novel 'The Shack', and my current book "Chez Moi".

Spring Time Tea

It's been a delightfully spring filled weekend... time for gardening, reading, knitting, remembering Greece and sipping tea. It's the anniversary of my time in Greece with friends, and I remember this fondly. This morning my memories were joined by lemongrass and ginger tea while I was sitting on my garden deck knitting in peace, while my partner sat at little further away in meditation. The dogs played with butterflies and lizards, and the kookaburra did a fly-by checking out the new diggings in the garden for worms. this weekend I've planted a new bed of carrots and radishes, planted a tub of spinach and cucumber seedlings, and I've weeded, fed and mulched a new section ready to plant up for the Christmas feast (which I must plant soon). I currently have a generous supply of lemons, leeks, lettuce, snow peas, celery, radishes, rhubarb, and spinach. I also have plenty of Chinese gooseberries, little balls of fruit wrapped up in a Chinese lantern. Today I'll be baking the gooseberries into jam, and lemons into pudding.

This weekend I have also been enjoying, I think for the first time, reading 2 books. I'm reading a Christian novel called 'The Shack' on my PDA, and I'm reading the first of my Japanese literature challenge books, 'After Dark' in paperback. [Reviews to come]. I'm finding that there are times when the eBook is really handy, like sitting on the poorly lit veranda on a warm evening, but then there are times I want to flip the pages of a real book. I've had the chance to do both this weekend.

Here's to friends around the world, fabulous places to meet, and may we meet again, often.

Speak

It was selected at Bookclub , I think the genre was 'adolescent literature', and I found it a captivating read. A story about a young girl and her journey of self discovery through a school year. I think it was my story (minus the tragedy) which is why it was something I couldn't put down. BookBath gives a great review for this novel.
I joined Bookclub with a group of friends to challenge myself to read. Since joining several years ago, I've been on my own personal self discovery journey. Repeatedly I have been the biggest fan of the literature for young people. This book is added to the list that includes Phillip Pulman's 'His Dark Materials' Trilogy. Perhaps I like these because I didn't read during my youth and they take me on journeys I wish I had then.

Anatomy Titus Fall of Rome

A co-production with The Bell Shakespeare Company, A Shakespeare Commentary, By Heiner Müller. Translated by Julian Hammon. John Bell is Titus Andronicus, Imperial Rome’s greatest military commander.

I wouldn't normally promote the use of violence for anything. This production challenged almost everything within me. Violence, dramatic use of violence, rape and murder, and the only really prop used in the production was blood, and lots of it.

I appreciate the company of my sister, whose outbursts of laughter at the 2nd and 3rd murder of the same actor, reminded me that this was simply drama. I felt the production was pulled together by amazing talented actors and directors, and I was in awe of the skills on stage.
I was not privileged to have the chance to study Shakespeare at school (concentrating on music instead). So as an adult I have taken the opportunity to see Shakespeare through local productions (usually including friends) and through the Bell Shakespeare Company. I know Bell often provides his own interpretations on the productions, which means I see quite a different perspective on the classics.
I felt Anatomy Titus, was true to key Shakespeare characteristics, including an all male cast, minimal use of props, someone going mad, and the full sense of the word 'tragedy'. I really dont see myself reading much of this work, (it would take me too long), but to see a 2 hour production is a great way to get the sense of these works.

Tea at Brisbane Botanic Gardens

I've been away from my garden for over a week now, so it was a great joy to spend some time this afternoon with my family at Brisbane Botatnic Gardens with a lovelly pot of english breakfast tea. It's strange for me to say, but I was feeling a little homesick for my garden, my partner and my dogs. Tea helps.
I've been thinking about the whole idea of 'ethical and intentional living' and how I find that aspects of my life are often seperated from other aspects of my life. I find it a huge struggle to make the connections sometimes. But thinking about the concept of intentional living has prompted me to think more about a holistic view to my life, and daily routines. As I return home this week, my challenge will be to follow through on some intentional decisions, and make the connections between work, home and spiritual life.
I am proud to say I have finished my frist book since starting this blog. I read Kathy Reichs 'Deadly Decisions', and really enjoyed the escapism. I like how she uses bits of french in the text, it challenges me. I was a little disappointed that Andrew Ryan didn't feature too much in this storyline, as in her other novels, but I suspect this was an earlier novel. Kathy does a reasonable job at describing enough of the details for setting scene, mixed with good action scenes to keep me involved in the story line. Now, I am working on a totally french novel, and a christian novel called 'The Shack'... more on them later.
It's thyme-for-tea!
T

eBooks or not to e

I find myself on holidays for a week with plans to read, relax, walk on the beach and have tea with friends... I've set up my new PDA with mobibook so I can read ebooks. So far it's been great for me - the benefits have included carrying less books/diary etc in my handbag, reducing my luggage, being able to listen to music while I read.... but now I'm nearing the end of my very enjoyable read, Kathy Reichs - Deadly Decisions, I'm not quite sure how I can give my 'used' book to my mum? I thought going e would be environmentally friendly, but now I'm challenged with my sense of sharing with my community. Being able to reuse books by sharing them is also a strong sustainability characteristic and its also about contributing to comunity. If any one has any ideas on how to share eBooks ethically, let me know. The jury is still out 'e or not to e'??

A Place to Read

My inspiration for starting this blog is my dear friend, with whom I have all sorts of conversations. In one of her recent blogs, she reflected on one of our conversations about Reading Spaces, see BookBath. I was struggling to find a space that encouraged my to get engaged in a good book. If you've seen much of my friends blog you can see I'm not short of inspiration to read, or advice on what's good and what's not. My favourite space (near my home) is my garden, and while I cant spend too much time out there in winter, I can dream about being out there, and I can share it with others.
My Garden is one part of my dedication to Mother Earth and to the future for my nieces and nephews. I look forward to blogging about how I spend time in my garden.