A day late ... but here's one for International Women's Day

When reading a comment this morning from blogger friend, Valerie  ... on the subject of water availability,  it triggered an image I'd seen, amongst my Husband's photos, of how much it is treasured by women who live in a remote part of Vietnam. 

Here's the first photo. 

A view taken when he was on the road between Dong Van and Meo Vac in far North Vietnam just a little bit South of the Chinese border:

... now for a closer look:

... and close up:

Mostly women, with the help of their children and some men, make their vegetable gardens up these mountain sides and physically carry all the soil and water needed to maintain them.

At the time of these photos, water was available from a specially created canal - so the carting of it was not as far as previous times, which enables them to harvest 2 crops a year instead of only 1.

When the rain eventually comes, it washes the soil down into the valley and so has to be replaced every year.

I don't know,  perhaps I'm getting cynical as I age but having an admiration for the daily lives of these women seems more appropriate to me than having to digest the trivial news that pedestrian traffic lights were changed to show female figures rather than male in our City of Melbourne to celebrate International Women's Day!

Ah well, I feel better now I've gotten that bee out of my bonnet ;D)  Thanks for listening!

Wednesday's Post ~ Native Hibiscus

This is the time of year when cuttings, from our Dear Daughter's Native Hibiscus, flower up and put on a beautiful display.

They've been watered with mostly recycled water too.

...  After washing up the dishes,  I fill a jug or two from the rinse water bowl and, because they're right outside the back door within easy reach, I give them a nice drink. 

They don't seem to mind the few suds that may be in the water, well, I haven't heard any complaints from them yet ;D)

... We're on mains water but, since our camping days and time spent living in a bus, I can't seem to get out of the habit of making the most of whatever water we can get our hands on.

It's a pleasant bit of exercise too.

    Thanks very much for your visit ....

Linking with Riitta at Floral Bliss: