Victory Garden

From Wikipedia:

Victory Gardens, also called War Gardens or Food Gardens for Defense, were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at private residences during World War I and World War II to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort.

In addition to indirectly aiding the war effort these gardens were also considered a civil "morale booster" — in that gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown. Making victory gardens became a part of daily life on the home front.

Garlic, lettuce, beets.

Leeks, peas, carrots, spinach, kale.

Beans, peas, garlic, broccoli, leeks, pak choy, cabbage,

lettuce, silver-beet.

Yes Kite

From here.

Terra Firma

We would like to plant fruit trees along the east end of our social warming fence, so today I spent several hours digging at the hard clay ground that's littered with shale. It took me ages and my hands are now so sore, but it was so invigorating, I can't wait to get stuck into it again tomorrow. Usually this kind of physical work is PJ's domain, but today it was mine. Helped along by some friends.

The ground is so hard, I don't know how our potatoes grew in it last year. While I was digging, I found some leftover from that crop that we are going to replant elsewhere for their hardiness and taste.

I had such a great day. The most difficult part of it was deciding what to do with all the worms I found: feed them to the chooks (I like to watch them suck them up like spaghetti) or put them back in the earth where they'll work to turn the hard ground into gold.

Booba's Butterflies

We went to the cemetery yesterday where my grandmother's family and friends gathered to consecrate the headstone that has now been erected at her grave. It is a double one, with her details on one side and the other left blank for my grandfather. I asked him how this made him feel, seeing it there, waiting for him. He said, had he seen it 20 years ago it would have made him feel worried, but now when he looks at it he feels ready. He said he's not wanting to die, but he's ready to lie next to my grandmother for ever.

Our grandmother loved butterflies. They were her trademark; butterfly stickers on our birthday card envelopes and butterflies on the place-cards she used at big family functions so we'd all know where to sit.

You might already know this, but it's tradition to place a stone on a jewish grave, as it indicates longevity and doesn't wither, as flowers do. My sister Kate had the idea to give each of the great grand-children a white tile for them to paint a butterfly on to leave on the grave. Z was going to be at his mum's on the day of the painting, so he drew it a few days earlier and Kate copied it onto a tile. Kate, you did such a great job!

And so did your girls. Booba would would have loved them.

Equal Love

Photo

Yesterday was the National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage, which culminated in 150 couples getting illegally wed outside the Australian Labour Party National Conference in Sydney.

I am ashamed of the Australian government's policies on many issues, but I am especially regretful of its refusal to budge on its homophobic Christian stance on gay marriage and same sex civil unions.

Have you seen that video that's doing the rounds at the moment of the couple and their bridal party dancing down the aisle? It's oh so cheesy, but I must admit that I have clicked replay on it more than once. There's something really lovely and liberated about the way the bride dances down on her own; no man to give her away, she's doing it on her on terms. My one wish for that couple is my one wish for all couples: that their love and commitment to one another be mightier than all the statistics stacked against them, and more honourable than our policy makers are.

In 18 Months

We played doctors and nurses today. I had an ear ache and spent the day laying low, much of it horizontally on the couch, while PJ attended to me, putting in my drops and bringing me cups of tea.

It rained on and off and on, and apart from going out to get the eggs and feed the cat next door as her owners were away, I stayed indoors. Each time I went out, I was amazed at how green and lush the world looked. Especially compared to when we first bought the block.

All this in 18 months!!

The Interviews

Since I put the call out for stepmothers eleven days ago, I have been in touch with 15 women. Thank you to those who contacted me and to those who passed on my details. And an especially big thank you goes to those women I have already interviewed or who I have arranged to interview over the coming weeks.

Until today all my interviews had been over the phone, but this afternoon I talked to my first stepmother face-to-face. I was a little nervous – asking personal questions over the phone had been one thing, but would I be able to ask them in the flesh? But over tea and toast, there was just no stopping us.

I have been so overwhelmed by the women I have spoken to and so moved by their stories, by their courage and their willingness to admit and share their vulnerabilities. I have only just embarked on my interviews, and already I feel like they are helping me become a better person.

(I am still on the lookout for more stepmothers, so if you know of any you think might like to talk to me, please feel free to send them my details.)

Old Jews Telling Jokes

From here.

My Left Hand

Ugly

I caught myself concentrating intently today – my eyes squinted up and my lips pursed really hard. When I lived in Melbourne and worked in an office I used to get embarrassed when I'd catch myself with that expression, until I realised that most people look funny when they're absorbed.

I tried to take a photo of myself thinking really hard, but I couldn't work out how to do it so I didn't look posed. So instead, here's another photo of me looking unprepossessing: wearing a hat, eating a carrot and sneezing.