渐渐长大，开始尝到人生的种种艰辛和无奈。我试过早上4点起床坐两小时的车程去批发鲜花，在超市门前叫卖；我试过去麦当劳做part－time，可是竟然只有3.5元一小时，没吃没喝；我又试过开网店，为了省下种种支出而走半小时路去邮局。。。这一切一切都教会我，生活是必须要奋斗出来的，没有辛劳，不可能有收获。于是，我开始聆听父母当年的故事，想知道，繁重的体力活动下，他们是怎么撑过来；想知道，没有娱乐和书籍，没有前途希望情况下，如何生存；想知道回城后，如何在生育我和工作的情况下坚持读书。我感受到他们无比坚韧的生存力量，我知道，自己不及他们的千分之一。前辈的故事，我们需要聆听，需要牢牢记住心中，因为我们现在拥有的一切都是他们咬紧牙奋斗出来的。

到国外，已经没有任何借口让我在家庭的保护中享受生活。我要在艰辛的工作中坚持学习；即使多累，都要料理家务；时常遇到被人伤害和不公平的事情，也只有咬咬牙挺过去。我认识到，钱是多么的重要，养活自己，开创生活是要血汗。所以我会跟父母分享我的体会，并且以他们为榜样，坚强生活。

在国外生活，并不是阳光灿烂的美梦。在异地，你要付出比别人多几倍的劳动，你走的路可能也会特别曲折。所有一切都要有身心上的准备。我很感谢现在拥有的一切：优秀的成绩，不断上升的存款数字，爱我的父母，丰富的书籍和报纸，简单的生活。我总想，如果我有孩子，我也肯定会对她/他说，妈妈我当年是如何挨过来的。就如父母跟我说的故事一样，同样的艰辛和付出，只是形式不同而已。

不同年代当然会有不同的情况，可是不管年代有多么的不同，人的努力是相同的。为了生存和生活，在任何条件下，人都会激发出顽强的意志、不断向上的动力和改变现状的冲劲。我的父母如此，我是如此，希望我下一代也如此。到时我就可以跟下一辈说当年的故事，虽然他们未必会听。

那就当说给自己听，何尝不可？

It does not merely talk about gardening, it also talks about food and feeling of live and of course some beautiful pictures! Overall the writting is lovely and always make me laugh.

Some people spend their time dreaming of paradise in heaven. I would rather try and creat it here on earth.

The authort tells us why she wants to build a garden and why she spends so much effort on it. I agree with her. When I was in China, space is limited and a garden to me is a dream never come true. But my family grows vegetables and flowers on the roof of the building. Though we cannot own our garden, we can at least grow things that we like near our home. The feeling is different when we build our mini garden which seems a paradise created by our own hands. So I think creating things that we admire is better than complaining not owning those.

In page 41, the author describes an very interesting experience about the lost lamb leg. The lamb leg is put in the sink and disappeared when the author return home (stolen by the big cat!). That is so funny and wanna u to have a look by yourself.

Let me share some of the amazing paragraphies:

It is just so much easier to run away from difficult situations, or to agree with the other person's point pf view. Particularly in a group situation, it is so tempting to go along with everyone else rather than be true to oneself and suffer possible rejection.

For me, age brings confidence and greater feeling of acceptance of oneself, and this in turn brings power. The best thing about fifty is at last being able to be oneself. Murmurings that have been locked up deep inside are allowed to pop out now. We try so hard to be dignified when young, and now that we are older, by some strange twist, we are able more truely to acknowledge the child within, and be ourselves.(pp.87-88)

Lincoln is not the only person to be criticised for helping animals. It is a familiar experience for many to be upbraided for wasting their time and money in suck efforts, when there are so many humans who need help.

This sort of criticism is self-centred and short-sighted. All living creatures are connected, and to work with animals is to work at the heart of what we are ourselves. Compassion does not discriminate. It flows from the one source deep in our hearts...The connection between how we treat animals and how we treat other people is inextricably linked.(pp.52-53)

p.s sorry that I can't find a picture of the cover~maybe not many people read it ..

Theme of yellow: bright and cheerful.

This bathroom is the kind that I like very much.

Growing plant in the gap between window and inner room is a good idea.

Good design to mix green and red, the colors that not always match well.

Theme of green: peaceful and comfortable.

Dinning in garden is great!

I hope I can own a room full of books. The stairs is beautiful and save space.

Room suitable for ladies.

Sky window can bring more light into the room.

Theme of blue: soft and lovely. Most people like this.

I love this soft color wallpaper.

The top floor can be changed to a very relax place.

虽然我的阅读和听力不错，可是就如水桶原理，有一块木板短了，盛的水就不会满。所以为了拿四个7，只有双倍，甚至几倍的功夫。

开始认真写和记，才发现自己的词汇是如何的贫乏，语法是如何单调和错漏百出，思路是如何的不清晰。细读和平时的快速阅读感觉又不同，慢慢分析，可以体会到作者的笔工和文采。不过我相信我的努力是有用的，不管结果如何，我还是挺enjoy这个学习过程。

不断提升～～～

P.S ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE FOR THE HELP BY A LOVELY COW WHO HELP WITH MY ENGLISH WRITTING.

Converting a church into a residency.

I love the long bench.And building a dinning area beside the garden is a brillian way.

The stone wall can create a feeling of natural.

The pictures above is not for commercial use.

This is a very "tasteful" book introducing Ireland. Because I am also reading a book called Ireland, I am interested in any books related to this country. The picture is good and gorgeous while the describtion is kept in a short and brief form. You can't get more details from this book but it is really a good guide for you to taste landscape, culture and food of Ireland.

These are some of the pictures from the book and are not used in commercial way.

I love the colors of these villi houses. So lovely.

This site is one of the natrual wonders

Guinness beer is popular and famous in Ireland.But is it really good for people to drink so much stout?

The pub in Ireland.I love the colors of the flowers.

Farmhouses are also simple and cute.

Will this inspire furniture designers to make a desk? Actually this is for buring people in the past.

有的人，早早给自己铺路，向着公务员之列前进。公务员有多么的吃香，看看每年报考的人数有多少就知道。可是公务员真的适合自己么？相信很多人都不会去想，因为福利好，工资稳定自然成为唯一的理由。中国人就是努力做到别人想要的事情而不是做自己想要的事情。

出国后我就更加看到中国人的面子有多么的碍事。很多留学生家境较好或者很好，就不屑于从低做起，打工养自己。多少人期盼着自己会有一份office工作。找office工作无可非议也十分合情理，可是大部分人是在依靠父母供给的情况下去懒懒地生活，不尽最大努力找工作。自己都养不活，每年依靠父母8万多澳币的供给才能生存，说什么做蓝领工作没面子？

我相信，每一步的奋斗都是积累。我觉得大部分人（不是富有到爆），还是得先生存再生活，一步一步向自己的目标前进。脱离现实说面子，理想也只是空谈。可惜很多人不明白这个道理，总在面子与生活压力的纠缠下，左右为难。

This book is not bad, even though some of the parts are seemingly disconnected and the ending is a little bit odd.

To Dora, the main character, book is the first priority, the comfort and the lover.

“…no matter what’s going on in my life, I will always need a book. Nevertheless, after all that happened to me, reading is not purely an escape. It’s more of a search for some kind of meaning in this world. Now when I read, I think I might open to any page and find the true…The answers are there. Somewhere. Each author has their own vision, whether it be transforming, unnerving, inspiring, or devastating. It’s comforting in a pathetic sort of way and I have wallowed in this comfort for most of my life.” (pp.255-256)

But later on, she understands that the books can not tell everything to her and she has to explore her life by herself rather from the books. After she falls in love with Fred, the owner of the bookshop, she gets to know that the lover is not as compliant as the characters in novels. Fred is so cold-hearted to his family and Dora can not stand his attitude.

Finally Doro spits up with Fred and at the same time she finds out that she still love her ex-husband and she can’t calm down herself by reading books. She needs a job, a family, a normal life free from the shadow of unhappy childhood. Bits by bits, things are getting changed and Dora gains more confidence towards her life.

The meaning of reading books? I haven’t thought too much about it, but I feel really happy when I read a book. In reality, I have a lot of unhappiness, sadness, sorrow and pressure, but when I read books, I feel that I still have peaceful and happy moment in my life. Nevertheless, I believe life is more important than books and it can teach you more lessons than those from books. I think the authors are trying to express the similar feelings to us, right?

不过看仔细点，又发觉织出来的蜘蛛网挺漂亮。蜘蛛不停得辛勤织网，先是织出几条主干线，然后从外到内织。

但当晚，下了一场很大的雨，织好的网也就只剩下两条线。很佩服蜘蛛的坚持，尽管网随时有破掉的可能，可是每一晚，不管风吹雨打，收获如何，蜘蛛就这样织啊织。怪不得E.B怀特也被这种小小的生物感动，写下《夏洛特之网》（Charlotte's Web）。如果人好像蜘蛛那样不计回报地劳作就好了，那人就不会有太多的烦恼和不满足。

最后附送猫猫***一幅

The world becomes still: cats are lazily lying on the groud in front of the house, trying to share a liitle bit of cold from the inside house with air-conditioning. Flowers and trees are sleepy and dry, waiting for the coming thunderstorm. People all hiding in the house and dare not coming outside.The only sound that I heard is the noise from the insects, maybe crickets or cicadas.

I do like summer but not this 40 degree hot days.Seems gobal warming has reached such proportion that something should be done by individuals and gobal initiative. I am adapting to use environmental-friendly products and food consumed in the daily life; and I am trying to use less light and water in order to save natural resources;  I am also do my best to raise collective consciouswness via writting blogs and talking to my friends.

Australian government and other international organisations seem to moving on to adopt higher level of carbon emission cap and using law and guildlines to change abusive behaviors of both companies and individuals.However, the move is slow and often not be settled until the problems emerge.

What can I expected? I think the only thing that I can do to save the planet is continue to do what I am doing now since I am not super hero who can change the world using magic power within minutes. Playing a small part is the best way we contribute to the environment. Right?