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Show OGDEN VALLEY NEWS May ‘os, Flakes Daly Sirect, Mrs. Ball’ § Chutney, uma’s Buttermilk Rusks, Roses Passion Fruit, Anchovette, slicedbiltong, dried boerewors, fizzers, Crunchies, Milo I’m definitely not walking down ‘the isle at the walls ene in Eden, Utah; I’m walking dow isle supermarket in Struben’s Walley, Tohanacbarp South Africa where my brother-in-law Willie Dirker buys groceries for his family. Every now and again Willie interrupts his own purchasing to an that I’m finding everything I need. th, “I do not need anything. ” But I do ae a lot of stu It’s been ‘ten years since I visited my birth land and we (Johan and | and our children) are craving South African treats. When my family greeted me at the airport and saw my two huge suitcases I explained that it wasn’t all clothes. One of the suitcases was filled to the top with gifts for 46 close family members. It is indeed a strange phenomenon that those of us who travel from America to our country of origin would spend weeks shopping for loved ones “‘back home” and then, after we emptied that suitcase at our destination and handed out the carefully pone gifts to family and friends, we wou n turn around and start shopping again! Ath we shop for family and friends for those “back home” and for things that we’ve been missing since we moved to another land. The term “back home” can be confusing sometimes. One of my suitcases was filled with clothes for autumn (The current season in South Africa) and one with little gifts from Ogden and Eden, Utah. Two days before I left I cornered Ryan at the Valley Market to help me find gifts for my little nephews and nieces and the teenagers. I chose the adorable little teddy bears labeled with “Somebody loves you in Eden, Utah” for my nieces. The eighteen hour flight from New York to Johannesburg went by fast thanks to some great pampering by the South African Airlines flight attendants and the wonderful food that served. Having our own personal movie 7, built into the back of the seats in front of us also helped. Before reaching Dakar in Africa to refuel, I had three movies under my belt! The last eleven hour flight to Johannesburg was filled with more great food and conversation with a Safari hunter from Buffalo, New York to whom I sat next to. Having someone to talk to helped alleviate the fluttering sensation in my tummy—a consequence of not havne seen most of my family in ten years. Would even recognize my dear sisters Menhert ? And my heart raced as I thought of ue nephews and nieces that were born while I w: away. I will see them now for the first fine, It is hard to describe the range of emotions I felt when the plane’s wheels touched down on South African soil. It was surreal walking into the bright lights of the Johannesburg International Airport, seeing the emotion on the faces of my family. Then I was in their arms and carted off to my childhood home in Delarey where the rest of the family waited to welcome me. The next day my extended family came to say hello. I hugged and kissed fifty-two uncles, aunts, and cousins. While there, I ate everything that I’d missed since moving to America; food like Monkey Gland Steak, Fish and Chips, and Bobotie, which my Godchild Debbie prepared especially for me. I had treats that I’d almost forgotten existed— koeksisters, sausage rolls, savory tarts and the list went on and on. Then my in-laws invited me for a South African barbecue with lamb chops and boerewors (sausage) and my mother-in-law made her specialty—milk tarts; I savored every bite! Tears fell as I sat next to my mother worstipping at her church in our first language—A frikaa On Thursday my fi ends from my old neighborhood took me for a picnic at a spectacular farm estate where we sat on multicolored blankets underneath a huge Acacia tree while resting back on enormous plush pillows. As we laughed, talked, and sometimes cried, we recalled the times when we were young wives with small children all living in the same nest enpe We felt like queens as we were served salads, meats, and fresh guava juice. With the aquamarine African sky above and the sound of birds in the trees, we paged through photo albums that we each brought along so we could update each other on our now grown . It was as though the 20 years since we last had seen each other just melted away. And now it is almost time to go home to my Valley between the Wasatch Mountains. My ie empty suitcase is filling up with South African treats and with little gifts for friends in Utah. My sisters and I went shopping for these gifts at roadside stalls where local artists from various pe ea ae sell their handmade wares. , located near the beautiful tel Saat Ton, is the same place where I spent countless Sunday afternoons as a child having picnics with my family and, later, with Johan and our children. During the two-hour trip home we laughed and talked, and my sister Miemie played favorite Afrikaans CD’s and we sang along while my eyes feasted on the African landscape. The sun set in a red ball of fire behind the thorn tree covered hills. Then I was reminded that I really was in Africa when a four foot long, green and yellow leguan (like an iguana) meandered across the road in front of us. We stopped and watched as the green and yellow, scaled-back beast disappeared into the tall reeds of a marshy area next to the road before it plunged into the blue waters of the Hartebeestpoort Dam. During my last days visiting with family and dreading the final good-byes that were to come, I di e one consolation; I knew I would not have to say good-bye to my mother because I was bringing her home with me to Eden. For three months I will delight in introducing her to fellow Valley dwellers and to our awesome Valley. She will knit with the Knit Wits of Eden, have a “Scoop of Grain” with Johan and me at the General Store, have dinner with us at the Hungry Wolf, taste a raspberry milk shake from Chris’s, share a sandwich at Eats of Eden, a pizza at Alpine Pizza, ride with us as we drive on the many scenic roads within the Valley and its surrounding mountains, and she will worship with me at my church. I cannot wait to travel from the Salt Lake City Airport with her and across Trapper’s Loop and point proudly down to where our Valley is nestled between the mountains. And I cannot wait to hug Johan and Yolandi who | missed while gone. ° 5 I’m walking down the aisle at the supermarket. a cart 7 stacked high Issue III 15, 2005 Greetings from the Dark Continent By Drienie Hattingh Volume XII The Benefits of Gardening ry often when I sit down with homeowners to discuss their landscape design needs, one of the first be they say that they want is “no mainteani That being ruled out, they will compromise with “low maintenance.” While there are planting schemes that can be considered low maintenance, it seems that what they are really saying is that they are not used to enjoying their gardens and they, therefore, don’t want to be in their garden any more than necessary. A wonderful, joyous garden will beckon you out into it. You may discover the gardener within yourself, and all the wonderful benefits that it brings. I love being in the garden; I walk my garden every day, weather permitting, and even sometimes not permitting. I touch, I smell, I observe, I listen, I worry, I rejoice. Yesterday I saw the very first buds unfurl on my crabapple tree. If I get close enough, I can inhale the sweet scent of the Mount Hood daffodils. The lilacs are ready to explode at any time, and while the daffodils are waning, the tulips are waxing! Use seems to be so many birds this year, with so manyv es raised in song. In my garden I feel ¢camel to the natural world. It satisfies a creative, nurturing urge to tend living things, to breath in the open air, and to enjoy physical activity. My garden is me. Very often the state of my garden seems to parallel the state of “me.” When we garden, we cultivate the right hemisphere of our brain, which is primarily concerned with aesthetic appreciation and intuitive thought. Gardens give us a higher level of mental, spiritual, and physical well Gardening has long been recognized for its therapeutic powers. Many hospitals now have oe * gardens. They are used iin treatment with physical nail mental disabilities. Retirement homes regularly encourage their residents to help with the gardening chores and to cultivate a plot of land. Numerous experiments have shown that people are not only happier when they ae some contact with the nature, but also a onstrably healthier. Even getting dirty is good for you. Bacteria in the soil triggers the er defacing immune reactions. And while a is not new, it is a part of the human experie what has changed is that we rarely get a chance to escape B THE Page 8 GARDENING cont. on page 11 sgt. Log & Timber 97, A Sf Construction Inc, °8 Luxury log & timber frame homes Viking, Wolf, & Sub-Zero appliances Custom kitchens, Custom doors Anderson Windows, Custom flooring Logs, Log railing, Mantels, Siding 5510 East 2200 North Eden, Ut above the General Store Liurie Van Zandt Ue? I4S-9661 gcc 3 Mt a Garden & Landscape Design Project Management ae nee! Transformations ., Life Empowerment Center Ty 4 Does your Life _Need a Makeover? BUILDING LOTS SPRING MOUNTAIN 10 AC, wooded, serene and private $255,000 HUNTSVILLE 6.3 AC + creek Snowbasin Rd. $258,000 5.99 AC Pristine Alpine setting $245,000 EDEN HUNTSVILLE 4.92AC- 105N $79,900 Beaver Creek TWO (2) $79,900 stubbed. near golf buildable lots for each. All utilities One (1) is a corner lot course. All the tools you need to Transform your Life Body, Mind and Spirit Personal Life Coaching Pilates Training-Mat & Reformer Professional Organizing Intuitive Consulting Call now for your Free 30 minute Introductory Life Coaching Session 801-668-0922 www.transformationslec.c Pilates Classes now being offered in he Valley. |