Meet a Reader | Lina from Germany
Meet a Reader is back! Lina is a relatively new reader (she found me at kind of an odd time in my blog history, which you will see), and she's lived in Germany, Asia, and Sweden.
Here's Lina:
1. Tell us a little about yourself
I am in my mid-forties, originally from Germany, but now living in Sweden - after many years in Asia. I have no kids but am happily married.
After many years with only odd jobs or jobs without many prospects, I have finally had the chance to build a career in my new home country, working in life science.
However, I had to work hard for this, and I also needed to learn a new language, which meant taking after-work classes and a lot of self-study.
But life is of course not all work and studying and I like to enjoy beautiful things which are nature (I am equally up for a day at the sea or hiking in a forest), my allotment*, and cooking.
And music, especially classical music.
I like to take a little walk during my lunch breaks whenever possible.
*Note from Kristen: I wasn't sure what an allotment was, so I googled. Here's a short post about a Swedish allotment garden.
2. How long have you been reading The Frugal Girl?
Since April 2022. The post where Kristen wrote about her separation was one of the first ones I read on the blog.
I found the blog looking for frugal recipes. Somehow, I was watching a video of Korean YouTuber Maangchi making something she called a frugal Korean dish, which made me think that I probably should look for more frugal recipes to save money on expensive ingredients.
Well, and that’s how I ended up on Kristen’s blog. I stayed because I really enjoy her writing style - and it is interesting to see how it evolved comparing older posts to the recent ones.
3. How did you get interested in saving money?
Pure necessity: I grew up with a single mom, who was only working odd jobs most of the time. We really didn’t have much money to spend, all my clothes were hand-me-downs (mostly from my older boy-cousin, not fun when you are a teenage girl, and you have to wear boys’ clothes!).
I also didn’t have much money when I studied at university in Germany and right after graduation. The good thing was, I didn’t get used to a “luxury lifestyle” (whatever that is) during all those years.
This changed when I moved to China for work. I lived in different cities, had different kinds of work and varying income.
But a lot of things which I would call luxury here in Sweden were very affordable for me when living in China. Taxi rides, tailored clothes, and massages, just to name a few.
And eating out wasn’t the exception for me then. Restaurant food was just cheaper than when I cooked meals myself, because at that time I couldn’t cook any Chinese food, and Western food needed things like olive oil, cheese, butter, pasta…all expensive in China because they have to be imported.
4. What's the "why" behind your money-saving efforts?
Well, I can’t say it comes naturally to me.
Of course, due to my upbringing, I was used to getting along with little money. But I had a few years where I really enjoyed that I could spend more money without thinking a lot.
Until I realized that however hard I work now, I would probably never earn enough to be able to retire without money worries - if I didn’t start saving more.
This and the fact that buying new things, restaurant visits and a lot of fancy entertainment events lost their attraction to me, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gardening and nature became much more important (though gardening can also lead to surprisingly high expenses 🙂 ).
5. What's your best frugal win?
My education.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without my education. And I mean continuous education.
It is not enough to get a degree somewhere in your twenties if you want to get somewhere careerwise (of course it is also totally fine to live a completely simple and frugal life).
Anyway, if I hadn't started learning Swedish and taking lots of courses, I would probably still be financially dependent on my husband, which I want to avoid - I mean I love him forever, but I still want to be able to support myself (and even him if that should become necessary. :))
6. What's an embarrassing money mistake you've made?
Funnily enough, my answer here is also education-related.
When I was in China I was in between jobs for some months, and I thought it might be a good idea to get a certificate for being a language teacher. At that time the demand for foreign English teachers was so high that schools even hired non-native speakers, as long as they looked, well, foreign.
I paid about 400 USD for an online course. But the thing was that the whole course consisted only of reading, reading, and reading, plus handing in assignments. No lectures, no seminars, no real interactions.
I think I didn't even finish the first module…
7. What's one thing you splurge on?
Food. We don’t eat out often, but I like to cook.
And I try to buy high-quality food stuff, preferably local products and whenever possible ecological. Even if the imported ones are cheaper - see my photos of cottage cheese which I found at Lidl here: one is produced in Germany and the other one in Sweden.
The price signs tell how much both costs per kg, so it is easier to compare.
Another thing I splurge on is stays in hotels.
When I was younger, I used to stay in youth hostels to save money. But seriously, nowadays I want a private bathroom and my body needs a comfy bed. But if I really had to, I could do youth hostels again, I suppose.
8. What's one thing you aren't remotely tempted to splurge on?
Cars. I do drive, but not very often. I guess I am just not interested in cars.
9. If $1000 was dropped into your lap today, what would you do with it?
Use it for some renovation/home improvement projects and give some to a charity.
10. Is there anything unique about frugal living in your area?
I think Sweden has a lot of benefits for families with children.
And then there is the great nature which is free to enjoy.
You have the “right to public access” (allemansrätten) which gives everyone the freedom to roam and explore the beauty of the country, as long as you don’t disturb and don’t destroy anything.
This also gives you the right to forage berries and mushrooms.
This year was a great year for foraging, with blueberries and mushrooms aplenty - see my picture of chanterelles (very expensive when you buy those) and chestnuts.
11. Which is your favorite type of post at the Frugal Girl and why?
“Thankful Thursday” and “A day in the life”.
12. What is the hardest part of being frugal:
Lunch boxes.
I love to cook, I love to meal plan. But grocery shopping and cooking do take a lot of time.
There are not many eateries around the place where I work, which is in a boring industrial neighborhood. So, preparing lunch boxes became a habit for me and I am saving a lot when bringing my own food.
Usually, I or my husband cook every evening and we make enough so that it lasts for lunch the next day or even the day after.
But I am not a batch cooker, I just don’t have the storage place (this is actually a bit better in winter when some of my lunch boxes move out to the balcony which has refrigerator temperature here in Southern Sweden from November to the beginning of March.)
So planning and preparing meals after a loooong day at work (and I have quite a few long days) can be challenging. So, I am extra curious how Kristen will handle those situations now in nursing school and when she starts working.
13. What is something you wish more people knew?
Flowers can really brighten one’s mood. And during summertime, you can grow many of them easily. I rarely buy flower bouquets anymore, at least not for myself.
The flowers pictured at the top of the post were grown in my allotment!
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Lina, it was a delight to get to know you! Our lives have been so different, but I think we have so many things in common that we would be friends if we lived near each other.
For example, you probably saw that I foraged chanterelles a few months ago. And I love to pick wild berries when I go for my walks.
Like you, I'm interested in classical music (I'm a classically-trained pianist), and I'm curious what classical music genre is your favorite. I like pieces from the Romantic era the best.
And your story about the hand-me-downs from a boy cousin reminded me that when I was in early grade school, my mom put a pair of green pants (handed down from my older brother) in my drawer.
I hated them (not girly enough for me!) and never wore them. My mom eventually noticed that I was avoiding wearing them, so I came up with a plan that would trick her into thinking I'd worn them.
I took them out of my drawer and threw them into the hamper, feeling quite pleased with myself. But...I didn't even unfold them!
So as soon as my mom looked at the pile of laundry, she knew that I hadn't worn them for even five minutes. 😉
(I may have told this story before somewhere, but since you're new, you probably haven't heard it yet.)
Lina,
It's lovely to meet you and it is nice to have another Meet A Reader post. Thank you for sharing your experiences of living in Germany, China, and Sweden. Like other Readers it seems you have established a life that works for you and your budget. You're contentment comes through.
How interesting that "a lot of things which I would call luxury here in Sweden were very affordable for me when living in China. Taxi rides, tailored clothes, and massages, just to name a few." I wonder if that is still the case. How long have you lived in Sweden?
@K D, it's been 9 years now since I've moved to Sweden. And yes, I wonder, too how prices developed in China...
Nice to meet you Lina! It’s always interests me when I discover something that is very common in Europe but not in the US. Reading your blog has shown me so many of these!
Today…. Allotments! Here in England they are really popular and I assumed you had them in the States. My mum had one when we were kids and grew so much.
The biggest shocker ever for me was finding out that it’s not common to have a kettle in an American kitchen. Absolutely essential in every British home! How else will we make our tea?
@Vicki, I’ve always called them community gardens in the states.
My understanding is that they seem better utilized or popular depending on outdoor space availability in a particular area.
The US seems to have bigger yards. So those who want to grow things have different access than those with a more limited house yard.
This is kind of aside. But there’s an interesting YouTuber couple called Homegrown Handgathered who utilizes both their backyard space but also community gardening and foraging for their goals to self-sustain themselves for as long as possible over the winter.
@Vicki, do you mean electric kettles? Growing up we had a tea kettle for the stove top. When my sister married a Canadian we discovered electric tea kettles - a game changer. I love them for the convenience - i think they heat faster and are safer because they automatically turn themselves off. I love mine.
@Vicki, where I live we have a community garden at my church. There are 44 individual lots and some true community lots.
If you rent, very cheap but water has to be paid, you give 50% away to food insecure people. We work with various charities. And keep 50% for you.
This garden is in it's 13th year. Every year we give away between 7,000 and 8,000 pounds.
I have met the nicest people and in retirement this garden and friendships has sustained me. I love this garden.
Oh there is a big flower garden and I work on that in the winter.
@Vicki, Americans usually drink coffee, not tea. That dates back to the colonial times, when the British levied heavy taxes on teas. Up in Massachusetts, they got so mad about those intolerable laws that some (white) colonists dressed up as native American (aka Indians, I think they're called Red Indians in England), boarded some ships loaded with tea and threw all the crates overboard in Boston Harbor. That incident was the famous "Boston Tea Party" you hear so much about. Anyway, the Yankees got really mad and began drinking coffee as our favorite hot drink. So we have always had our coffee pots, not tea kettles. (Can you tell I'm a history teacher? Always love to tell the background of stuff!)
In recent decades, like since the 1970s or so, we have used coffee makers instead of the older coffee pot percolators. But in the 21st Century, the biggest (and IMO most un-frugal) fad for home kitchens is to use single-serve coffee pods in Keruig coffee machines. Lots of folks don't even do that; instead, they go to Starbucks or similar coffee shops and pay through the nose for specialty coffees such as lattes. Frugal me, I just can't wrap my head around going out, standing in line and then paying big bucks for coffee, but it's a big thing here.
Now, as to tea: we love tea, but it is in a different form -- iced tea, a great summer refresher served in a large drinking glass. After all, down here in the South where I live, hot weather is just not suited for hot drinks in the afternoons.
But for that morning wake-up drink, it is coffee!
@Vicki, when we lived in Belgium (husband is retired Air Force), we became aquainted with the kettle. Now I love them! But to this day I can't get the rest of my family to use one. I have bought my mom, sister, etc all one and they just don't catch on for some reason.
@karen, I love this!
@Marlena, Electric kettles use less energy than stovetop kinds, and Americans don't drink as much tea as the Brits. I love mine, tho, and use it for tea and for cooking. It frees up a burner on the range, too.
@Vicki, When I graduated from high school, I got an electric kettle for a gift. (Harvest gold, if that dates me). It had a wide pouring spout, rather than the small one like a regular tea kettle.
One day, I came back to my residence hall room and my roommate was using it, (with permission), standing next to the boiling water, saying, "Thank you! Thank you very much!", and bowing. It did sound a bit like applause in a big auditorium, and she was a piano performance major.
@Vicki, I have a kettle. My cousin has an electric one. I didn't grow up with one. We would heat water in a pan on the stove or in the microwave. I mostly drink black tea, with a little sugar. (My family is from Kentucky and some drive southern sweet tea. I weaned myself off it, because it's so much sugar.) I also like spiced chai type flavors. I use my kettle to make instant hot chocolate and bloom my oatmeal. (Oatmeal thickens faster for oatmeal that I meal prep for breakfast on the days I work mornings. Using rolled oats. I still heat the oatmeal up for a min or two. But, it doesn't need to be cooked as long.)
There are community garden lots. Though, like someone else said those are for people to rent, if they want more space. My grandparents always had a garden in their backyard. (Still do in their 80s.) When I was in an apartment I did some container gardening. Not everyone is raised with family that gardens.
@Vicki, I belong to a British group of ladies, but you don't have to be 100% British to belong. When we host in each others homes, the true Brits can always tell whether someone is truly British by whether or not they own an electric kettle!
Nice to meet you Lina! I agree with you about flowers, but I don't frequently make the effort to bring the beauty indoors. Our entire front walkway is overgrown in zinnias and marigolds, so I can at least enjoy those every time I look out the window over my kitchen sink. The hummingbirds and bees of all kinds like them, too.
It is nice to meet you. You have led such a interesting life!
Hi Lina! I'm with you on the flowers. I don't even grow very many in my garden--mostly I concentrate my efforts on vegetables--but I can pick wildflowers for most of the summer along my road, and I have flowers on my table all summer long.
Also, speaking of wearing hand-me-down boy's clothes . . . when I was in high school, one of my favorite pairs of jeans had been my older brothers. They were really flattering too, and I have no idea why. 🙂
@kristin @ going country, When I was in middle school I started wearing a pair of my brother's pants before he was done with them. He wouldn't wear them after that - I guess he didn't want to be seen wearing girls' clothes.
I used to sneak my older brother's jeans and a blazer of his in junior high. I actually can't remember why. I guess I thought I looked good?
Anyway, great to meet you, Lina. Interesting life you've led! I've always enjoyed foraging (wild berries, beach plums, wild grapes, rose hips), but haven't done much this year. I am planning to forage cranberries this week.
European allotments are a lot like community gardens here in the US.
Hello, Lina! It's fascinating to read about you and your truly international life (across many countries!)--and yet to realize how much all of us "frugalites" have in common.
Hello Lina! Nice to meet you. I also love foraging!
Hi, Lina, I'm glad to meet another reader.
Your life sounds interesting for sure. Do you think Sweden is your permanent home now or do you foresee moving again?
I agree, flowers are so cheerful! What are the blooms in your photo? I grow flowers for their looks and for the birds, bees and butterflies. I'm always interested in what others are growing in their gardens.
@JD, I think Sweden will be my permanent home. If I'll ever think of moving again, then to the countryside, but still in Sweden!
The flowers in the picture are sweet peas and shungiku, which is actually an edible chrysanthemum - you can eat the leaves as sallad. For the little white ones I don't even know the name (in any language :D)
@Lina, they look like garlic chive flowers to me, but maybe they aren't.
@Rose, they actually might be!
@Lina, Yum! I love growing chives. They require no care and taste great.
Another classical music fan! I am discovering that sadly it's not always hereditary as my daughter hasn't shown the same level of interest.
Personally I am a fan of a wide variety of eras. I have a fondness for Beethoven of course (thanks Schroeder!) but also Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Handel, Chopin, Brahms and more. Lately my listening habits have been toward Anton Bruckner (a friend of Mahler's) and the choral works of Thomas Tallis (I know, not classical per se but you get my meaning.) The only ones I can't get into as much as the Baroque composers, though I can certainly appreciate them in small doses.
Bruckner in particular is one whom I feel has not had his proper credit given to him and it might have something to do with a certain mustache man being obsessed with his music (the beautiful Adagio from Symphony #7 was played to announce his death as well as to announce the defeat at Stalingrad.) Twentieth Century political connections aside (which Bruckner was long dead for) his music is one which should be performed more and should be listened to more, in my opinion.
@Battra92, Musical tastes certainly aren't hereditary. While I'm not opposed to classical music (except when I'm driving), it's not my first choice. My eldest, on the other hand, loves it. His favorite (at least the last time I checked) is Baroque (thus, the Baroque in his neglected youtube channel-- Baroque Beekeeping).
@Battra92, I on the other hand love baroque music. But yesterday I went to listen Brahms' German requiem (the London version - for piano instead of orchestra) and it was so beautiful and moving!
Also operas, Tosca, la Traviata, everything tragical!
@Lina, I love classical music of all kinds, especially Mozart and Bach. But it is a great treat to hear anything live. I sing with a chorus that has performed the Brahms, Verdi, and another requiem I can't remember the composer of--beautiful music for our sad times. Our conductor is comforted by the requiems, I think, as he lost his wife of many years and often tells us stories about her.
@Lina, I am a professional musician, and the Brahms German Requiem is one of my favorite pieces both to play and to listen to. It is so very moving.
@Kristina, probably the Faure Requiem.
@Lina,
I, too, love Baroque music and early Music.
Here in NYC we are fortunate to have many concerts (live and streaming) with some of the world's top artists in these areas. Including Jordi Savall, whose multitude of musical works I highly recommend. And if you can see him or any of the groups he has created, do go.
I want to ask what made you choose Sweden to live? How did you come to live there?
Would you recommend it to an American who is considering living outside the US for their retirement? What are the pros and cons?
Thank you for sharing your story.
@Kristina,
I remember a performance of Verdi's Requiem where the lights went flickering spookily. That was during the Dies Irae. (I also remember there was a parson in a neighbouring church who did not want perfomances in his church because Mass was not meant for entertainment. There were some heated discussions in the RC community at the time).
Nice meeting you, Lina! We share the same two home countries so it was especially cool to read about your life. Congrats on scoring a good job, it is usually not easy as a newcomer in Sweden!
Hi Lina - thanks for sharing! So interesting to hear about your life in various countries. And I find it especially impressive to master a new language as an adult!
I'm intrigued by the allemansrätten concept - it's neat to think of how it encourages everyone to roam and enjoy nature, and it also seems like it could lead to a healthy sense of community stewardship, taking care of the land.
Lina, it's so nice to meet you! I love that you said education was your best frugal win and that you emphasized the importance of being able to support yourself if needed. Thanks for sharing a glimpse into your interesting life!
Line, thanks for sharing your multi-cultural life. I find groceries in other countries fascinating. Growing up on a midwestern farm we picked morel mushrooms, blackberries, gooseberries plus had pear trees and a large garden.
@Jennifer G, My marital home was an old (1820s) farmhouse. We had an ancient apple orchard, a pear tree, and a black walnut tree. I planted a large garden and added blueberry bushes and sour cherry trees. I never seemed to get enough cherries, though, because as soon as they looked vaguely ripe, 5 billion cardinals would descend on the trees. My friend said it was funny watching me shoo them away with my broom. They basically just chuckled to themselves and came back the minute i left.
Hi Lina, great to read on your adventures!
Unfortunately foraging is only allowed within very strict limits in NL - as in a small lunchbox per person. I suppose that is because of the damage to the countryside if 17 mlln people decide to go foraging on the tiny corner of the world that is basically our country. It is not just stripping the countryside of berries and nuts - but also the damage done by so many feet, so many voices [so many people leaving trash, too, sadly]. For the same reason, the discovery locations of rare birds and orchids are not published on the news - the public will not keep a distance.
I think I would thoroughly enjoy foraging trips so perhaps I should go to Sweden in fall!
I come from a blue collar background but had an elder sibling in gymnasium before me who introduced me to a wide variety of music. I was hooked on classical music from the time I first heard Emma Kirkby sing Hildegard von Bingen (plus I had the privilege of hearing her perform live, twice). My favourite piece normally is the one that we are rehearsing at that moment 😀 It is just wonderful to be immersed in a song or oratorio, especially if you have the good fortune of instrumental accompaniment.
That's so interesting about the foraging rules! Here there are some rules about how much you can take, depending on who owns the land (like, if it's a national park or something).
@JNL, what does NL stand for? I always thought it was just part of your initials. (I'll probably figure it out as soon as I hit REPLY!)
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I think Newfoundland., maybe.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, The Netherlands?
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I am from the Netherlands (Northwestern Europe coast, most of the country is below sea level and the remainder is close to rivers that bring water to the sea from the Alps via Germany and Belgium. We have a history of waterworks since - I think the iron age).
you have such an interesting live. thank you for posting. i live with my hhubby and two kids in nyc and we don't have a car. nor do we plan to get one. so nice to meet you.
Hi Lina, much respect for learning a language I’ve read is one of the hardest to grasp. How many languages do you speak? I am fascinated with all things Nordic as I read a lot of detective/crime noir novels based there. Also Frederik Backman! The winter climate there seems to shape so much of the lifestyle! The fact that I’ve lived in California for over 50yrs may have something to do with my interest!
@Sue, me too, Frederik Backman, as a life-long Californian.
Your life sounds so interesting! Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Lina,
I've made a recipe from Maangchi before--the sweet pancakes with brown sugar syrup filling. It was tasty--very donut-like.
I enjoyed reading about you, especially your multicultural experiences. We share an enjoyment of classical music. I especially enjoy it when the colder weather sets in--it feels like a warm hug when I hear it. 🙂
Thanks for contributing!
Hi Lina,
Great Meet-A-Reader —thank you for sharing your life! I have so many questions for you (just ignore the ones that are too personal to put on the World Wide Web.)
1. Did you grow up bilingual?
2. What did you do in China?
3. What do you do in Sweden?
4. How did you meet your husband?
5. Did you learn to speak or at least understand Chinese?
I think you are truly remarkable—adventuresome, brave, dedicated, intelligent—all those countries, cultures, and languages!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, no, I didn't grow up bilingual. English was my first foreign language and I started learning it when I was ten. In China I was working mostly for non-profit organizations. Here in Sweden I am working in logistics for life science (temperature controlled and so on :))
Met my husband in China.
And yes, I speak Chinese. My major in university was Chinese, so I can speak and understand and read (not fluent in reading though). Unfortunately I am forgetting a lot, but watching Chinese cooking shows on YouTube is a hobby of mine! 🙂
@Lina, Mandarin or Cantonese? My daughter learned Mandarin in high school--and then my son went to study in Hong Kong. I said something about its being funny that my daughter was the one who took Mandarin when both kids corrected me that they speak Cantonese in Hong Kong. *grumble* knowitall brats *grumble*
@Lina, thank you for answering my questions. My esteem for you is growing by the minute! I have no idea what "logistics in life science" actually means, but don't require an explanation as it would probably be way over my head anyway. 😎
@Rose, mandarin. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Lina.
We also pack lunches. It's part being frugal and part necessity. My work lunch is so early that none of the restaurants are open yet. Also, one of my kids has multiple food allergies, and I just don't trust the school to keep them safe. It's challenging finding room in the fridge for that many lunches. It's also endless batch cooking. We ended up packing smaller containers. The kids can mix and match their lunches each day. It gives some freedom to how we store the smaller containers, over the bigger awkward containers.
Nice to meet you, Lina! I moved to the United States from another Nordic country, and really miss allemansrätten, the right to wander on private land and pick berries and mushrooms. Just yesterday I went on some nearby trails near where I live, and although I was happy to be in the woods, I was sad that I could not go further than the short loop allotted to the walk.
I also identified with with how you felt as a child wearing hand-me-down clothes. I had clothes from my sister who was 8 years older than me and many of the styles were really outdated (think 80s pink and ruffles in the 90s). The clothes were also not my size, to the point I did not know what my real clothing size was as a teenager. I learnt to go to thrift stores and sew my own clothes way before it was cool to those things.
I'm glad you have settled and are enjoying your life in Sweden! I have been to Germany once before, but visited Berlin this summer for the first time. It was a super interesting trip and I loved all the choices for vegetarian food in the restaurants.
Ha det så bra 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Lina! I am new to growing flowers, but had a tiny bit of success this year. They do bring a lot of happiness! I hope to plant more next year.
Glad to meet you, Lina! You sound like an adventurous person. Moving countries is not easy, and neither are the everyday issues like grocery shopping. Congratulations on your new career prospects. Education is never wasted.
Your life makes for a fascinating travelog! You must be endlessly adaptable -- a wonderful character trait to have.
My only 2 excursions to Germany both predate unification: I hitchhiked from West Germany to West Berlin (and stayed in a "youth hostel" that was actually an underground bomb shelter -- more "hostile" than "hostel") and had my Time Magazine confiscated at Checkpoint Charlie when I ventured into East Berlin, and in later years took a business trip from the U.S. to West Germany for a meeting at a pharmaceutical company, and stood on the border between West and East and marveled at what a beautiful country Germany is. I can't listen to Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Ninth without thinking of Leonard Bernstein at the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Hi Lina, It is nice to meet you! I enjoyed hearing about your life in Sweden. The allotment sounds really cool. Some places here in the US have community gardens, but they're not super common. I know of one here in Scottsdale, AZ where I live.
Kristen, I loved your story about the boy's pants! How funny that you tried to trick your Mom into thinking you had worn them.
Thank you for sharing your story, Lina! I grew up in a part of the United States where many of the settlers a few generations before were from Scandinavia. I think of them as the gentle-voiced people, and I miss that sound. (I wonder if growing up where the people have softer accents has an affect on children's behavior).
I like your bouquet photo. We are just having out first significant temperature freezes, so I have a similar tiny bouquet with zinnias, two pansies, and marigolds that I brought in before the cold.