family of growers

kindergarten

I think it was my mom who posted a a link to some 8 plants you can start growing quite easily.  It was about vegetables you can buy once and grow yourself.  

Road to self sustenance?  Maybe for some.

I'm doing it for fun :)

Now that I think about it, Red Onion was not even listed.  I'm a rebel like that. 

It also makes a good blog entry, the dish I'd prepare using my 'harvest'.  Maybe I'd use some Calamansi from our plant too.

Can't wait!

my sister's scallions

 Meanwhile, the women in our family decided they'd do it too.  These are my sister's scallions after less than a week.  

She says seeing the new leaves makes her smile.  She is adding a few more stalks, seeing how fast they grow.  

I don't have the photo here, but making smoothies a few weeks back, she decided to throw two avocado seeds into separate pots.  And guess what?  They are plants now!

Of cours it would be years until the avocado plants bear fruit, but it's still cool!

Miss Miami: Celery

My Aunt in the States chose Celery.  The photo here is Day 1, I'm sure we'd see her baby's progress as we go along.

I have a funny feeling she would grow other vegetables pretty soon ;)

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We are waiting for my Mom.  Not sure what she is growing but she swears she's starting in September.

first field trip

hello baby

We celebrated my birthday a little late so we can spend it with my brother, sister in law and nephew.

I prepared Guinness Beef Stew, mashed potatoes and dark bread.

(Mashed potatoes is a deceivingly difficult side.  SIDE!  So much work for something seemingly instant-noodles-easy.)

My nephew had milk, of course.

Did I mention that it was his first official social event? Apart from doctor visits and his christening, he had never been out till today.  I'm so happy his first stop was our home :)

Surprise!

One week.

I was just sitting across my brother and sister in law.  

We were talking about the joy that is my nephew coming in June.

Over fried chicken, that my brother liked.

Over strawberry iced tea, that my sister in law tried.

In our home.

Sunday lunch.

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And without warning, without as much as a hunch, my sister in law, a week later, gave birth.

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The day everyone was cheering Pac Man, celebrating the unanimous victory, my husband and I were standing outside a controlled room where a little boy lies with his mom by his side holding him.  

From outside, I could only see his body and a side of his head.

His head.  Covered by a white and yellow striped bonnet to keep warm.

His face was turned away from me, but somehow I knew he had the face of a child determined to get stronger so he can come home with his family.

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His hands.

His feet.

His left cheek.

I could see his chest go up and down, as he took each breath.  A constant reminder of the miracle of new life.

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I looked at my sister in law who is supposedly exhausted from delivery just half a day ago.

I saw happiness.    

So much, that my own heart fluttered.  And for a second, I was floored with gratefulness.  

We are blessed.

There was no way that her journey to childbirth could be smoother.  Perfection.  A path paved by God.  

I said a short prayer of thankfulness.

Smiled to myself.

And sent my love to the little guy I'd soon meet.  

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Holding my husband's hand, I countinued to watched.  Looked.  Enjoyed.  Shared.  That.  Moment. 

daddy potter

natural born nurturer

My mom just posted this in Facebook today.

I thought the timing was perfect.

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My dad has a green thumb. 

As a child I remember him pruning bonsai and I always thought 'Wow, he really knows where to snip'.

He seems to be able to make anything grow.

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I remember the first time I saw our farm--back when we had one, my dad bought it so he could pass the time.  I was so impressed.  

It was beautiful.  Organised.  You can see that a lot of thought and care had gone to it.

Though I did not express much interest on it, I was secretly disappointed when it was sold.  I was imagining retiring there someday--cooking produce and making my own pasta and bread.  

It's true.  Most people would probably think it funny, but I know that is a kind of life I would love.  

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We used to have a greenhouse at home too.

Now that I think about it, we always had a lot of plants.  One way to describe the house I grew up in dim-and-green.

I think this really influenced how I imagine home.  As in where my husband and I would live.

During the day, I like to pull up the shades.  I seek natural light.  It is not until I really have to open lights that I do, and even then I prefer multiple low light sources, versus the harsh halogen.  

Now that we have almost everything we need in our little home, I feel that I am missing the green.  And this weekend's little addition made me realise just how much. 

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It had always been a family joke who I take after.  When I was a child, I remember insisting that I took after my dad.

I have a feeling that I'd have a chance growing plants--here's to hoping I got it from my dad.

ode to my parents

I think I never thank my parents enough for everything they have done for me.

Sometimes it is so easy to say thanks for everything, but maybe saying thank you is when being specific counts.

my real life guardian angels

This won't be by far comprehensive, but maybe for today this would do.

Trust

Beyond the generation gap, I think my parents sometimes wonder how I think or what I would think or do.  I am what you can even consider a mystery to them.  However, despite the unknown, my parents trust me--maybe even blindly, because they love me.  I hope they know that even if I don't do the best job showing them, they are always in my mind and that I always strive to make them proud.

Acceptance

My parents accept me.  My stubbornness.  My strong will.  Even if sometimes they worry that I am threading dangerous ground or working with too many unknowns.  They accept that sometimes we need to agree to disagree and that is okay.  No two people are 100% in sync.

Prayer

Maybe I am so blessed because through prayer, my parents intercede for me. They always remind me to pray, to go to mass, to keep a bible, to remember that faith is important.  My mom would always say, it doesn't matter if you are christian, catholic, buddhist or whatever religion, what is important is you have faith.

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Life was not easy for my parents at the beginning and I know that they put in long hours to support us and provide for us.  Through this, they were able to provide not only the basic but a good life for us.  Up to now, my parents continue to work hard with us in mind.

I also thank them because through their example, I value a hard day's work and I hope when I have kids I am able to give them what my parents had provided me growing up.

 Second Wind, a Renewed Relationship

I thank my parents for not giving up on me--and not allowing our relationship to wither.  I am grateful for the relationship we have now and look forward to more years together.

Solid Foundation, My Rock

This may be my umbrella entry, but I am most thankful to my parents for being the steady strength that keeps me up.  Even now that I am married, I know that my parents will continue to support me and my husband in any way they can.  

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Mom and Dad,

     THANK YOU.

     I love you.

Trace

my sister, a keeper

A friend posted something in facebook, about how having a sister allows you to experience loving and wanting to strangle someone at the same time.

When I think about it, my sister consistently does things that make me love her more.

And maybe, I do things that consistently make her want to strangle me more.

LOL.

Seriously speaking, I could honestly say that I am very lucky to had been given someone like her.

Today, instead of listing down the reasons why she is wonderful, I'd list down lessons I had learnt from her that some maybe even unknowingly, she taught me.

I am listing my top five.

1. Actions speak louder than words. While we don't say I love you often enough, I do not remember a day--or season where she did not make me feel loved, through asking about my day, sending me sampaloc, taking the day off when I come visit and arranging for our vacations. Despite the distance, she is there.

2. Family is most important. She had unknowingly been the glue that kept us all together. It is funny how she is so oblivious to this, but truly, it is her who pulls all of us closer.

3. Understand, and understand some more. Through everything, she had been nothing but understanding, even when it seems unreasonable or illogical, she keeps an open mind.

4. When you say "forget it", forget it. I think that maybe she hands out passes by hundreds. I think this is what I truly commend her the most for--that is her ability to forgive and move on.

5. Share. For as long as I could remember, my sister had always been generous, not only on material things but especially with her time and attention.

lost

Before Rhea asks, let me just say that I didn't lose any friends, not this time :)

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I thought about friendship and how sometimes we lose touch because we are away from each other, too busy, changed. Maybe we lost reason to talk or hang out. While I don't particularly enjoy somewhat losing touch with someone because our lives had moved on, I recognise that such is life and that truly, your friends will remain your friends. And maybe at another point in your life, you'd meet again.

Last year, I met my college girlfriends (we missed you Pampooh!) again after a very long time, and it was like time didn't change what we were to each other. Sure we were facing different things now but I knew, I knew and felt that I was amongst friends.

I'm hopeful for another reunion late this year :)

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That was about losing touch.

But what of losing a friendship?

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I came close to losing a friend once because I was stupid. i didn't think that he would have understood if I told him what was bothering me about our friendship. It lasted for a couple of years too. I really drove him away. You can even say, literally.

Luckilly, i woke up one day and realised that I sucked.

I knew there was no way I could take back all those times that I knew I was making him miserable--and continued on ignoring him.

He gave me another chance.

You see, in this particular scenario, perhaps, he was wiser than I was.

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Are all friendships worth saving?

I hate to say this, but honestly, I'd say...

NO

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I was talking to someone the other day. She was asking how I felt about the chaos that surrounds her social circle. Not wanting to spill her story, I'd jump right to what I told her.

"Good riddance. Do not beat yourself too hard over losing that person. You don't deserve to be treated that way. If she truly was your friend, she would at least have given you some repect. You might not feel it now because you are hurting, but when it stops you will feel grateful that she is out of you life, leaving more room for people who truly love you."

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I've decided a long time ago that I will chose the people I let into my life--only because I truly cannot afford to waste time "making do" with the company I hold.

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It's almost 3AM and after a few couple of drinks, I'm feeling sentimental.

So right here, I'd say that everyday I am thankful for having wonderful people in my life :)

genes jeans

I remember that as early as high school, I told my Mom that I got her body type and that it made buying jeans quite tough.

As you see, my Dad is tall and slim and taking after his physique would had been quite, a blessing.

My mom is very good natured and would laugh things off. She is quite a good sport.

When the will.i.am song came around, I literally thought about my Mom. I got it from my momma (plus my reckless abandon with salt and sugar)!

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A couple of days back, I was talking to my mom about make up. She said putting concealer actually highlights her eyebags, so she stops at foundation.

I took a good look at my Mom and realised that she looks really, really, really young. No one would be able to guess her age by looking at her.

(Not only does she look young, she is also full of energy!)

Obviously, she had eyebags as with people her age but there is NO DARKNESS under her eyes, at all! One can say that it is miraculous. Seriously.

She has pretty good skin too.

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My sister is a replica of my Mom.

I think I actually look older than her.

I think I look like them too, but like my brother, I am a mix of my parents.

(Let as not get started on how much I look like me brother... there are too many stories to write on that.)

I got my Mom's nose though.

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I'll send a message to my Mom later today to thank her for her genes. I'm sure she never took my jokes to heart, but it would be nice to be thanked for something totally unexpectedly.

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Jeans? My sister in law took care of that ;)

(h)old

I know I am getting old. And not because of my cholesterol or blood pressure—I’m quite lucky that way (for now).

I know because when the person sitting behind me in the plane started pushing my seat with what I could only assume to be his knees, I breathed deeply, relaxed more and thought this is more taxing to him that it is to me, there is no way he could keep it up till touchdown. True enough, he gave up after less than five minutes—five minutes that probably felt like forever to him.

I know because I have sleepless nights thinking about retirement—even when I’m not even middle age. Maybe this is not old age but paranoia, but this concern did not keep me up during my teens—or twenties.

I know because I’d rather stay home and hang out with my sister than go to the mall and people watch. I still like doing that, but I’d rather get to know the person my sister is becoming—a patient mother, devoted wife and a very mature woman while remaining a thoughtful daughter and kind and generous sister.

I know because I catch myself saying that’s too sweet not only to dessert, but also drinks.

I know because when going out of town, I had become interested in bringing back local produce.

I know because the term open house sounds fun to me.

I know because more and more, I want to spend time with my loved ones because I now truly recognise that nothing lasts forever.

inventory

With shoes like these, it is easy to understand why one would perpetually stand in tip toes ;)

pink(y) poppy(ng)

I made this last week but only managed to wear it today because there were too many tailors' chalk markings so I had to have it washed.

I thought it was too pink, it is odd that wearing it with burgundy--which is, well on that color palette too made it seem less candle-bubble-gum-ish.

I had been exchanging a lot of cloth emails with my Mom the past few days, I think that she is as excited as I am with these projects.


Wearing this skirt today gave me the boost I needed, being woken up by a call from the person I'm with, asking if I had made it to my lunch appointment with a good friend--at noon!

Obviously, I had to call to advise my friend and ask her if we could move lunch by 30-40 minutes.

I was ready in 20 minutes! Of course that left me breathless and by the time I got to the resto, I needed to sit still for a while.

The good news was that I made it within 40 minutes--and that my friend was very understanding.

Even then, I feel real bad about this :(

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I thought I should end with something positive.

Lunch was really good, and with excellent company too :)

surprise (me)

It comes easily what to get my brother for his birthday and Christmas--or any other occasion. Somehow, I get what he likes.

Getting the right size though had always been tricky.

Throughout the years specific brands had adjusted how clothes fit, not to mention that clothes today are not cut the same way they were the last decade.

Retailers are more flexible now too. There is no issue at all swapping sizes as long as it is done within a certain number of days, the tags are intact and you have the receipt.

Yesterday, I went to the store, browsed and decided on what to get. I asked the seemingly-uninterested-to-help sales person to get me a new stock--those that people had not tried on.

It took a very loooooong time. And finally he walked lazily towards me and handed me the item.

I go to the cashier and paid for it, telling the cashier that I may need to swap sizes because it is a gift. He reminded me of their policy and then I was off.

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When I saw my brother, I gave my present to him.

I was quite excited too because I love it when people like what I get them.

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My brother said thank you and that it came at the right time because he can bring it with him when he goes off on a trip in a few days--this was before he opened it.

(I think he did good guess work on what was inside.)

When he opened it, and put it out...

SURPRISE!

It was a (hideous) sleeveless top!

He must have figured out that the (lazy) sales person got it wrong because he started laughing.

When I was able to recover, I told him I will go back to the store the next day and get him what I really intended what to get him.

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If you know my brother, you won't be surprised on what he did next.

He tried on the (hideous) top and said "This is perfect", laughing the whole time.

you get what you give

This week, my mom sent something over.

Next week is my sister in law's birthday.

Last week, I got my sister in law her birthday present.

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This Thursday, I got what my mom sent me. I loooooove it so much.

Next Thursday, my sister in law will get my present. I hope she (at least) likes it.

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My present is exactly EXACTLY exactly like her present.

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Does this mean that I think like my mom?

Does this mean that my mom thinks of me the same way I think of my sister in law?

in my parents' eyes

I'd always see it in the movies... you know, a person who feels that he had failed his parents. Or kids who feel that they would never be great in their parents' eyes.

Think Tyrion Lannister.

I think, my parents think I'm poor.

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Whenever they come to visit, I'd tell them that I would bring them out my Dad will insist that we don't go somewhere fancy. If I insist, my Dad would insist on paying. He would go to the extent of paying the bill when he was supposed to be going to the toilet just so I won't have to pay.

Whenever I go shopping with my Mom, she would secretly pay for the things that I intended to pay--even when I tell her that I intended to buy her something. There was one time that I told her I had vouchers, even if I didn't so that she'd let me pay.

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Obviously, I was being dramatic when I wrote I think, my parents think I'm poor.

So why all these?

1. My parents feel that I have a long life to live and would like me to save my money for the rainy days.

2. My parents want to treat me because I spend little time with them as they live in another country.

3. My parents enjoy feeling that they are good providers.

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I was once at the drugstore with my Mom. I was getting vitamin C. I got the generic ones off the shelf and headed to the counter.

Mom: Oh, you should get the coated ones, they are better.
Me : They are the same really.
Mom: Here, take the coated ones. I'll pay for it.

I don't think my mom thinks I'm poor, but maybe she thinks I like to scrimp :-p

please be good to me

When I was young, I loved Menudo. Not the ulam, but the boyband. Of course, the term boyband didn't exist then...

Anyways, during mass on Sunday I suddenly remembered going to mass with my family when I was a kid. At that particular part of the mass, I'd look at my brother and say please be good to me, I seriously thought that it was what people said as they shook hands.

If you understand how the first paragraph relates to the second paragraph, it only means that you liked them too. No judgment ;)

miss my sister

My seemingly kontrabida but actually the most-supportive-sister-one-could-have ate came to visit this weekend. I miss her already :(

last stretch

It had been a few years since I last came home, obviously I have not seen a lot of good friends for a long time. Too long.

The past few days had been a blast. Admittedly, I am quite tired from endless activities sun up to sun down, sometimes sun up to sun up even. I may need a vacation to rest from this vacation!

I however feel overwhelmed. Happy. It's true what they say about good friends. Even if you don't see each other for a long time, when you do, you just fall into the same place where you left off--close.

I have three more days, let's hope my multivitamins is as good as it promises. I need the energy.

sister act

I was looking through the photos from my sister's camera taken during their visit a couple of weeks ago. This one was taken by my niece--without a flash while we were having a Sunday Dinner BBQ.I realise that it's blurred, but for some reason, I love this photo :)

moving on

It had been a roller coaster week at work topped with drama, no thank you to my prescription--that I took the last of yesterday (yey!).

I had also been little by little clearing my room and doing some packing as we are moving homes this weekend.

It is only when you are forced to look at your room that you realise marvelous--and horrible things. Over the last two weeks, I had come to a conclusion that...I let my room go.

Admittedly, my room is an eyesore in our lovely home :(

I am blessed to have a sister in law who accepts me, no matter how my room looks. Because I love her and know how much she likes organised and well put together places, I have vowed to make sure I never fall into the trap again.

count me in

As my sister and my Mom make sure A, my niece does not forget about us (her family who lives far, far away), she would constantly ask A about us.

Sister: A, do you know my sister?
A: Yes Mama, Ninang T.
Mom: You remember who Ninang T is?
A: Yes Nana, she is the one with a lot of shoes.
Mom: How many pairs of shoes does she have?
A: (Thinks) One, two, three...(continuously counts to) sixty.

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(I wonder what was the sudden inspiration was for A to count to more than I have heard her count before because clearly, I don't have sixty pairs of shoes.)