My unruly tummy is finally coming into line as I bombard it with two types of antibiotics and two types of probiotics. Adding normal food back into my diet is still slow going, though...so I'm working on becoming more American and eating with my eyes.

After my initial angst, I soon remembered that I get a kick out of hauling humongous sweet potatoes out of the ground or weeding beside the basil, letting the herbal aroma waft over my skin as I work. Picking a peck of (unpickled) peppers and giving half away makes my day because I can imagine beloved people eating the bright red fruits.

Okay, so yes, I'd rather savor our garden produce myself. But in the meantime, life is still good as long as the beauty of fresh vegetables rolls across my eyes and my skin.