Annika, I always dreamed of being a farmer. I wanted to spend as much of my day with plants and soil and worms as I possibly could. I never had the confidence that I could succeed and survive doing it, and I also worried that if I *had* to do it I might not love it as much.

I can't say I regret that I didn't take the risk. I've had the opportunity to spend a lot of my time doing those things and, in the process, built a life where now I can do it as much as I want. But I still admire and even envy people like you who integrated their love of nature with their very survival - and that of others.

Quote from: Pema on June 29, 2025, 02:26:07 PMI always dreamed of being a farmer. I wanted to spend as much of my day with plants and soil and worms as I possibly could.

I know the feeling, Pema. When I was six years old, I fell in love with dirt (or, more technically, soil). I was fortunate to have a daughter who fell in love with flowers (they called her the 'flower girl' at farmers' markets). Those were good years.

I like growing veg, must get it from my mum and my grandparents . Mums dad was a gardener and always had a big veg plot and dads folks had orchard ,soft fruits and a large veg plot. Shame I dont have any garden as on 2nd floor flat! Looking forward to the runner beans from mums garden, already had some broad beans.

Any space on a balcony for containers, Davina? I know it's not the same at all.

Its an old Victorian building with sash windows, not room for a window box.

Quote from: davina61 on July 01, 2025, 02:02:38 AMIts an old Victorian building with sash windows, not room for a window box.

I understand. Here we have community gardens where there's a shared space for people to plant a raised bed of their own. I've never known how one gets such a plot for themselves. I've seen some very impressive gardens in them, though.

We're down to our last 3 days before my mother arrives on Monday for a week-long visit (postponed from last month). It's been a somewhat frantic couple of weeks to prepare - deep housecleaning, recreating the "guest room" from a combination music/backpacking equipment room, never-ending work in the garden, trying to get a day hike in when we can, and the usual errands and life-stuff.

As I do the mindless chores, I often imagine ways of discussing my being transgender with my mother when she's here. At times I feel optimistic and at others I feel... much less so. I know that I can't predict or control how she will receive it or how the conversation will flow, and it's mostly pointless even to contemplate it in advance. Still, I do think I've come up with a few ideas that I can try. We'll have a whole week, and I expect we'll go through many phases in that time.