Milk & Honey Pt 3

 by Maryanna Gabriel 


Clearly, I had underestimated the prowess of octogenarians wielding power and the bondage that entailed. The writing was on the wall, er, rather, contract. I needed to be Mistress Of My Own Shrubberies. With the sale, I happily departed from the beige nonsense and ventured forth. I was looking for a new home where the word "freehold" was part of the deal. 

After a protracted wander in the vast and arid desert that was the Canadian housing market, a miracle occurred. Seriously. I was led to a land of milk and honey. And very freehold, I am overjoyed to say.

Land of Milk & Honey
Pictured lower right - "cluster of Windmill Palms".

Hey, and you'll never guess. So, I'll tell you! There are baby Windmill Palms, a veritable cluster of them, planted lovingly by the former owner, healthily thriving in a magnificent garden where roses bloom.

Funny, isn't it?

By the way, the next patio townhome owner lasted ten months. Given the renovations she had made I estimated she also sold at a loss.

In the real estate photos, the palm was gone.

So you see, all is well. And there is quite a lot to be said for being a person of colour, even if it is chlorophyll, after all. Perhaps we may deduce this as the moral of the tale. 

Milk & Honey Pt 2

 by Maryanna Gabriel 


...., but underneath the beige uniformity (inside and out, I might add) there lurked a darkness of formidable magnitude. It took the form of The Committee and little did I understand what was coming.

One Sunday, yes, Sunday, they arrived at 9:00 in the morning on the dot, with shears in hand. The Committee went after the shrubberies out front.

In my nightgown I watched in horror. "Watch out for the Dahlias!" I cried. 

Taking steps to protect my secret garden. 

They hacked and hewed and sheared lovely old things, some of which took decades to grow. The more magnificent were hauled to their death. Slowly, the yard was denuded as I helplessly stood aside.

Word got out about my secret garden and, in fear, I stopped inviting people over. You see, deep down, I was not a beige person. Independent thinking was not welcome. People began to stare. 

A trusted friend who came often for tea loved my palm. She told The Committee about it and demanded one for herself. 

Alarmed by this turn of events, I drove an hour to a Windmill Palm Breeder, a difficult accomplishment, thinking this would put an end to such protracted envy and gave one to her. My friend placed it in a pot on the remaining dirt the committee had left by her door knowing putting her new palm in the ground would endanger it. 

Maybe now, I thought, all would be put to rest and Windmill Palm and I could live forever ever after in peace. But no. One chlorophyll sacrifice was not enough. 

Milk & Honey Pt 1

 by Maryanna Gabriel 

Kind of a funny story. For a time, I lived in what they call a patio townhome. I know. What I didn't understand when I bought it was that I didn't own the ground it sat on. I know. I'm a little slow, but to be honest, the realtor was on holiday in the process which was conducted via long distance and, well, I guess that bit got left out. I just assumed. 

Sorry for digressing. In the back of this townhome there was an eye-catching palm which added an exotic air to the place. I learned it was called a Windmill Palm. About four feet tall, it set off the patio beautifully.

In time, I discovered other exotic planting under years of neglect and I happily coaxed them out. Delighted by my secret garden, the garden thrived and I felt content....  

Being Interviewed About The Camino

 By Maryanna Gabriel 

I was recently interviewed by podcast host, Christine Musser of "The Wandering Pen". How good of a name is that for a podcast? 

I discuss my journey on the Camino along the French route in Spain, the process of writing the book about it, and where I am at today. Here is the link if you wish to hear it.

Solo Travel, Grief, and the Camino de Santiago: A Healing Pilgrimage

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dlhAZxpYyG1GLKOGcPxbV

https://wanderingpen.podbean.com/e/the-title-of-maryanna_gabriel_podcast_completed_7120257gpel/

Statue of Saint James along the Camino.