A long time coming

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I have been running around in the house getting it all done up for our visitors today. Yesterday was spent shopping in Sweden for wine, food, and sweets. Only the best for our guests.

We are very excited. One of our very good friends is finally bringing her husband home. They have been together for 4 years, they have 2 children together, and they have been married for 2 years, and now, finally, they will be able to start a proper life together. We are thrilled for them.

Their story isn’t a lot different from countless others. She went for a holiday to a country where the sun is shining, where she happened to get to know a nice taxi driver. Over the next few weeks they grew closer, they fell in love, and a month later they realized that she was pregnant. She decided to return to her country, but determined to bring her lover and father of her unborn child over as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, things are never that easy. In order for her boyfriend to be able to come she would have to have a job and earn a certain amount. As she was pregnant and showing, getting a job proved very difficult. After the baby was born she wanted to keep the baby with her at home for a year (which is what is common here), and thus she still didn’t get a job.

A year later she went back to marry him, hoping that the marriage and the fact that they had a child together would sway the immigration, although she still didn’t have a job. They got married, and she returned pregnant with another child. Immigration would not be convinced and he was still not able to come.

But finally, last year she was able to get a job, and early this year she received a positive reply to their application.

Grow me a garden

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I had almost decided not to try for the homegrown stuff this year, and go for the lazier and more pricey option of buying everything from the garden Center when summer came along. But then I started looking for some seeds for strawberries, as I am somewhat convinced, and not sure why, that strawberries grown from seeds are tastier than the ones that you buy as seedlings from a garden Center. Actually, come to think of it I feel that applies to all everything.

But, while shopping around for seeds for strawberries I couldn't resist adding some tomato seeds, mini bell peppers seeds, and carrot seeds into the mix. And they all arrived from the big US this weekend. So, this year's crop will consist of 500 tendercrisp (that's the name) carrots, 25 red mini bell peppers, and 25 early cascade tomatoes. I also got some bonus seeds which was some other tomatoes, an arctic version (don't remember the name and can't be bothered to go look). I am still waiting for the strawberries, as I bought them from another vendor.