The first part of the trip was stormy and very wet, but that, thankfully, kept the other cars off the road - apparently they had the road almost to themselves - even the long distance lorry drivers had pulled over to the side of the road to sleep!
I am so grateful that they left when they did - since then the holidays have started and over 200 people have been killed on our roads nationwide.
Apparently, during the drive, MKid told WGuy in some detail that his Nana had a veggie garden, and he always helps his Nana with it.
Sure enough, the first evening they were here, I needed to pick salad from the garden for our dinner. And, naturally, MKid did most of the work. His delight in picking (and quickly eating 5 or 6) ripe, warm cherry tomatoes from the vine, snipping fresh, crisp lettuce leaves off the plant, and yanking carrots and radishes out of the ground was honey to my eyes. Snipping chives, rocket and green beans off the mother plant - he even found the last 10 peas in their pods - his and RMan's favourite!
I do so wish I'd had my camera with me that first evening - as he was walking back into the house carrying his bounty carefully, he went up to his mum, and with a mouth dripping with tomato juice, said, "Look what we got from Nana's garden"! The pride and excitement in his voice - just too precious.
How wonderful to be able to show my grandson that it is not necessary to buy everything from a shop. That with a little bit of planning, and a little bit more work, one can produce food for oneself. I firmly believe that teaching the young to do something so simple can have far reaching benefits. Hopefully, his lasting memory of me will be one like this! And that he, too, may have his own vegetable garden one day.
As he drifted off to sleep that night his last words were: "Nana, we need to pick more salad tomorrow".
We did :-)
I think it is wonderful your Grandson is developing an interest in gardening. It is also fun to see your garden in full swing while we are under snow up here in the Northern Hemisphere. I miss the garden.
ReplyDeleteHow great is that. I think that perhaps one of the most important things we can do as grandparents is to share our knowledge of growing food and other self-reliant endevours with the next generation. Good job Grandma.:)
ReplyDeleteDani...this is such a lovely post. Mr. H. comment is so true. You're doing so more for your grandchildren than you'll ever probably know. Bless you and your beautiful family this Christmas xo
ReplyDeleteJane - my grandson is a very special gift. Both you and your garden need time off to replish your reserves - be patient - your time will come around again :-)
ReplyDeleteMr H - I see it as my (pleasurable) duty to illustrate not only to my grandson, but my children too, the benefits of walking more gently on this planet, in whatever way possible. We're all in a learning curve - sharing our knowledge, success and failures, can only benefit everyone and everything.
Ezra - another benefit is more time in the garden = less time in front of cartoon network :-) He loves gardening and is quick to learn - an absolute pleasure :-)