Retired Gardener

I think I have retired from gardening outdoors. The deer and the bunnies like everything I plant so have decided that this was an exercise not worth repeating. The stuff in the greenhouse is another story, The grapes have taken over - and I had to figure out how to hang them from various hooks around the structure so that they did not lay in a mound on the counter tops and floor.  Tomatoes are also doing very well in there. Maybe I will become a selective gardener. And buy the rest.

I am Now on Vacation

I have actually been on somewhat of a vacation for months. But never thought of it that way because I was preparing for exams, writing exams, and pondering what the heck I will do next. I cannot imagine not working. I think I am blessed with a career I love. For that reason, there is no reason I can think of to retire.  Many people I have worked with scratch their heads and think I am nutty.

I had a goal. To teach at the university where I do research. Nothing seemed to come to me, so I decided to consider other offers that keep pounding on my door. Just as I had resigned to the fact that this was the route I had to take - my university offered me the job I wanted. Of course I accepted. Of course I am elated.  So, that is the reason I am now on vacation. I do not start for 2 weeks - just enough time to have a vacation.

This all brings to mind a poem I used to write a paper for my philosophy course.  I was to wrote about one philosopher of education that I admired and to explain his vision of what an ideal educational system would look like.  I chose Rabindranath Tagore.  The poem he wrote went like this.

I slept and dreamt that life was joy

I woke and saw that life was service

I acted and behold

Service was joy

-Rabindranth Tagore

As  I have been given the gift of working exactly where I wanted, doing exactly what I wanted, I can clearly see the meaning of this poem.  Why would I quit working when I can feed my soul and be able to give to others at the same time?

I seems to me that many great sages are from India. Everyone knows Mahatma Gandhi.  He has also made me realize that I have a gift and that gift does not stay with me. I offer it to others so that they will be ready to do the same at some point.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

English

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.  If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.
- Nelson Mandela

Now for some humour.
I found a great resource for teaching idioms - if you have adults who have a sense of humour. It drives home how misinterpretations occur that we don't realize can happen.

party pooper

And another - for those teaching ESL to children and learning all the Christmas songs.

See if you can figure out this one.

Grapes are Growing

Another treat on this island retreat is grape vines.  I don't know what variety they are - still little green orbs at this point. But whatever they are, they are plentiful.  I don't even have to go outdoors to pick any of them, they are winding their way back into the greenhouse.

                                                                                             














Maybe I will try to make wine?

 

Or maybe just leave that to the professionals. 

Trying My Hand at Gardening

I am not sure anything will grow, but it has definitely been a good exercise in learning about the process.  I wrote little tags on each row so I can see what grew and what did not. So much for permanent markers. Some washed off in the watering process.  But I do know my romaine lettuce row.  I can hardly wait until the stuff becomes real food.  Next effort is going to the market and buying some lemongrass.  I have heard that if I buy a bundle and plant them into the soil, they will grow and produce more. Wish me luck.
For now, here is the romaine.

And when I am not digging in the soil, my perch on the verandah gives me this view.  

 Path from the driveway.