Your friend's garden shows a masterful eye for composition. I, too, love those contrasting textures of the grass and the Hostas - and the mix of the purple-y Ligularia and the chartreuse Hosta in the final photo is very striking. I'm able to appreciate and admire beautifully composed gardens, but in practice, I am more of a seat-of-the-pants, throw-it-in-wherever-there's-a-space-and-see-what-happens sort of a grower.
foreign languages Hey, glendann. When I was in college, we had a poster in the language lab, which read: "Languages are only forgeign, when you don't speak them." I must admit to making an effort to learn German. Most of my family is german, but I've got English, Irish greatgrandmother was an O'Malley), Scottish & Cherokee in me - and I hear there may be some Polish too. My brothers do not speak a word of German, but we all speak some Spanish - having grown up on the U.S. - Mexico border. I dropped the ball with my daughter. I spoke German to her a lot when she was an infant, but when she started speaking, for some reason I quit. Then, when I would say stuff to her in German, she'd say, "Daddy! TALK!!" Apparently, it isn't real talking if it's not English as far as she's concerned. But last week, she selected a CD of german kiddie songs to play in the pick-up truck when I take her to town, so maybe there's some spark of interest? I can only hope!
Yes, me too! But I'm trying to learn. That is so true! Being Norwegian, I also understand Swedish and Danish. English is normally our first foreign language, then most have German and either French or Spanish to top it off. I know some German, and speak it fairly well. I have just enough French to get me into serious trouble. As for everything else, I've found that a big smile, mimes and hand signs are very helpful.
Erstaunlich Es hat mich immer erstaunt, daß so viele Leute in Europa Deutsch reden, die nicht Deutsche sind. Die Leute in Niederlanden verstehen ganze gut Deutsch! Ich nehme an, es ist leichter für einen, der schon eine germanische Sprache als Muttersprache hat, eine andere germanische Sprache zu lernen. Ich habe einmal in einem Film gehört, als irgendein Charakter Islandisch gesprochen hat. Ich habe fast jedes Wort verstanden, weil es dem alten Mittelhochdeutschen so ähnlich war. Als Magister-Student habe ich Mittelhochdeutsch lesen müssen. Auch als Student habe ich das Verhältnis zwischen Deutsch und Englisch viel besser verstanden. ENGLISH: It has always surprised me, that so many people in Europe speak German, who are not Germans. The people in Holland understand German very well. I assume, it is easier for a person to learn a germanic language, if they speak a germanic language as their mother tongue. I once heard in a film, as some character spoke Icelandic. I understood almost every word, because it was so similar to the old middle-high German. As a graduate student, I had to read middle-high German. Also as a graduate student, I came to understand the relationship between German and English better.
I speak very little Spanish and understand a little more than I speak .Work around 400 Hispanic people daily I try so hard to learn it and still don't have it down.English was the toughest subject I had in school so know wonder I don't speak any other language except English Redneck.I didn't finish high school and sure didn't go to college.
WTxDaddy: Islandisch ist ganz nähe wie die alte Wikinge gesprochen haben. Alle Norwegische Schüler muss Norrönich lernen. Wir können ganz viel Islandisch verstehen. Icelandic is very near to what the Vikings spoke. All Norwegian students must learn to read it, and we can understand Icelandic fairly well. Glendann, I have no Spanish at all, even though I always feel that I should have. So many people around the world speek Spanish.
Español Español es muy importante que hablar - especialmente aquà en Texas. Yo y mis hermanos hablamos español bastante bien, pero nuestras esposas no hablan ninguna palabra. Spanish is very important to speak - especially here in Texas. My brothers and I speak pretty good Spanish, but our wives don't speak a word.
