The new enthusiasm

I've mentioned before that number two son has all-encompassing enthusiasms. They can last for weeks or months or years, there can be several at a time, and they always seem to involve considerable on-line shopping. And we are never quite sure what it's going to be. Thomas the Tank Engine was probably foreseeable for a four year old boy, and Doctor Who for a seven year old boy, but the Great Washi Tape explosion came out of a clear blue sky, as has the latest one. Succulents.

Yep, he's started indoor gardening. This is the top of the chest of drawers in his room. Did you know you can buy succulents on-line? I was not aware of this until they started arriving in the mail. There are little cutting nurseries on the outside table from plants we had in the garden.

He has also cadged cuttings from elderly neighbours when he's walking the dog, and bought them at farmer's markets. Somewhere there is a carnivorous plant. We are absolutely encouraging this hobby, especially because you can leave succulents for weeks at a time without watering, and some of them are very pretty.

I have been including the boys less and less on this blog as they get older, which is the right thing to do I think, but honestly they do quite as many interesting and strange things as teenagers as they did when they were toddlers. Number two son makes himself a large iced coffee every morning, puts it in a cup with a straw and carries it to school. Every morning. Strange....