OUR GARDEN

Replenishing and repopulating our yard and gardens after we lost nearly all our plants, flowers and herbs to the freeze has become a passion project, one I’m happy the whole family is enthusiastically contributing to. We’ve made several trips recently to garden centers and plant sellers to find seeds and seedlings, shrubs and trees. The backyard is already feeling fresh and rejuvenated. We’ve come to love, and in many ways rely on our home, especially over the past year when we made all efforts to stay put and stay indoors. I didn’t want our yard to remain empty for long. And it has truly been a team effort getting things back on track: Nicholas is out digging holes for new plants, Sebastian is raking and Gigi enjoys watering. All of us pitching in marks our humble pile of bricks and wood with pleasant memories and happy times. We remember the harder times, of course, when we all have to band together, take care of each other and brace for the gathering storms. These are the times when our home may not feel like home, or when our home breaks and is in need of repair. Things are never perfect. We’re tired, sometimes we may even feel defeated, and don’t you dare call us resilient. We are, however, blessed in many ways, and I am uplifted every day by my little crew here at Casa Almanza. Like Sebastian always says at dawn, “It’s sunny, time to get up!” And we did, and we do, and we always will when it comes to our home.