My Beautiful Sunday

I'm beginning to appreciate Sundays again;  it's looking like it is becoming my favorite day.  I haven't experienced such relaxation in forever, a respite on life's merry-go-round.  Most of the time we don't have definite plans, so we just let the day play out for us, we're happy just chilling out at home. 

Nowadays we always start Sundays by going to the 6 AM mass, (there's this nice feeling I've always experienced since I was a child after hearing mass; like I'm being enveloped by a comforting warmth all day).   Most of the attendees are senior couples who really dress for church.  The homily is always inspiring with a hint of humor  that sets our day to a great high.  

Just this morning on our way to mass my husband said:

"Why was it a hassle to go to mass in our former home?  It seemed like we lose the whole morning doing that."  I can say the same,  since this new place feels like going to mass is a breeze and we still have the entire morning ahead of us.  

A leisurely breakfast follows and the rest of the day will depend on our mood.  My husband would often go to the front garden and soon I would hear the sound of his cutting shears;  then the scent of cut grass reaches my nose.   Humm.....that smells so good and refreshing.   After sometime I hear him at the backyard tending to his ornamentals, veggies and herbs.

I, on the other hand goes about inside the house putting things in order or arranging things to give it more warmth and comfort.  This is also the time I fix my stuff in the closet. 

In between the day's activities, I catch up a lot on my reading, run through Facebook posts, reply to emails and write my blog.  I sometimes sit in front of the TV and watch whatever my husband is watching.  I even put in a catnap or two whenever I feel like; I listen closely to my body and succumb to what it dictates, that way, I feel more relaxed. 

After the afternoon siesta and a snack, I put on my exercise gear and walk for about an hour around the neighborhood.  My view is varied, as I choose different paths every time. The sight is always interesting especially since I'm still gathering more inspiration to improve our outdoor living space, hoping to stumble upon some ideas that I have not seen on-line.  

When I see many cars along the streets, it is a holiday or a weekend.  On Sundays, unlike on weekdays, most of the cars are at home, their owners maybe catching up on sleep or just resting; bonding with family and preparing for another week in the "salt mines". 

Families who have more than two cars leave the rest on the street.  On such a day like Sunday afternoons I see guys cleaning their cars on the street while listening to blaring music from the car radio; their children are also outside playing games, biking, skate-boarding or just hanging out.  A  nanny or two push their ward's stroller while mommy stays put watching the entire drama unfold. 

Some helpers are tending the lawn or the front yard.  I enjoy looking at well-kept yards, each has its own unique style, some use a lot of stones in different colors, while others put drift wood or tree trunks and the rest are mostly grass.  I slow down or even stop awhile when I reach this interesting house whose front yard is full of bonsai, the entire frontage is like a miniature "forest" of bonsai trees aligned in zigzag one after the other while their branches are touching and inter-twining. Here, let me share this shot I took. 

When I pass by an old house with over-grown trees and bushes, it means that it is left behind; while in another, I see wilted plants, the grass turned brown and part of the roof is falling.  Seeing a house like that makes me sad, isn't it sad to be left behind when others have moved on?  Then I remember our former house and I begin to worry whether the guard is keeping the plants alive for the new owners to enjoy. 

But the beautiful houses take my breath away and vanish my sadness.  I see interesting front yard landscapes with rare plants, colorful foliage and flowering bushes with different textures of ground cover; just by looking makes me ten times better, maybe even a hundred.  Furthermore this inspires me to work more on our outdoor living space.  

Then I take deep breaths while the cool afternoon breeze brushes through me and I savor a good outdoor feeling.  My steps become brisk like there's spring on my feet as I walk back home before the night falls.  

"Do not let Sunday be taken away from you.  If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan"-----Albert Schweitzer

Sundays are beautiful. 

I Enjoyed Making Pesto Today

My husband's basil looks over-grown so I was prompted to make pesto.  I used to put them in tomato-herb pasta for my granddaughter but she had enough of it already, so the alternative is pesto. 

I brought out my Braun multiquick 7 kitchen machine again today.

I decided not to use the food processor which I used yesterday for my burger but the third part, the Liquidiser goblet.  It can mix, chop and cut but in smaller quantities; can blend soups, milk-shakes, baby food, etc.; hot or cold with a maximum load of 750 ml. 

I first went to the nearby grocery to get cashew nuts.  My sister in Florida sent me almonds when I mentioned that almonds and most  imported nuts are quite pricy here, so she took pity on me.  However, I'll still get it in a week's time and I had to harvest the basil already so I settled for the cashew for now. 

My basil harvest which gathered approximately 3 cups of leaves after I cut off the stems. 

The ingredients I used. 

It took me about 10 minutes to come up with the pesto.

I let my maid taste it first and as usual, she was impressed, uttering praises of how yummy it turned out.  I spread some on bread and that was our morning snacks. 

This afternoon  I cut up the French bread, drizzled the slices with olive oil and sprinkled fresh rosemary leaves before I popped them in the oven.  That would go well with the pesto for our afternoon snacks. 

I'm sure my younger daughter will be happy to hear that I'm using her gift.  Thanks again Trace, this is really wonderful, it simplifies our food preparation.  Truth to tell, I didn't look forward in using such gadgets earlier, (then I had simpler machines though) for I didn't want the hassle of bringing out, washing and putting it away afterwards.  But I know one person nowadays who is happier, my maid,  who takes delight in watching me work the machine and is spared the time in cutting and slicing. 

Enjoying My Kitchen Gadgets

Today I used the food processor, one of the three major gadgets of my  Braun multiquick 7 kitchen machine that my younger daughter and her husband gave me for my 70th birthday. 

I felt like eating lumpiang Shanghai today; they're mini rolls, deep-fried minced meat processed with carrots, celery stalks, bell pepper, spring onions, egg and seasonings rolled in rice wrapper.  They will go well with sweet chili sauce dip or even just ketchup. 

This recipe is also good for meat loaf; (just add pickles and hard-boiled eggs inside) as well as meatballs for spaghetti bolognese, siomai (meat wanton) and burgers or sliders.  It is a convenient way to prepare four dishes in one; and to let the food processor do it all in a jiffy is so time saving, the answer to every housewife's dream.

My maid was so thrilled to see how quick the chopping, mixing and blending happened in less than 5 minutes.  She is spared of grating and cutting up the ingredients. 

"Oh, this is also thoroughly mixed", she said when she saw the result.  

"And the mixture sticks together well", I said, no need to refrigerate. 

To test if the seasonings blended well, I had my maid fry three thumbnail-size burgers to taste like I always do; a must to every chef.

"Ma'am, it's so delicious", she said when I made her taste one.   I ate one, blowing it a bit as it was still so hot and It tasted just how I wanted it.  My husband was in the garden and I brought him the third piece.  "It's good", he said.

"Now, shall I cook two medium burgers for your breakfast?"

"Yes, I hope we have Dijon mustard", he replied. 

This afternoon, my maid will roll the mixture in rice wrap for our dinner.  

This Guy, SAM

Sam is my Facebook friend, he requested to be my friend as his way of reaching out to us since my husband don't do Facebook.  Earlier in July, my husband asked me to jokingly invite him to my 70th birthday party though we knew that he is not in town. 

He replied: "sorry ma'am but I'll only be there in early August". 

Sam came by yesterday like he usually does whenever he is in town very year.  We went out to lunch as usual and I left them to hangout at Starbucks afterwards. He always devote a day of his vacation to catch up with my husband.

Sam and my husband

Sam works in Dubai as a contracts Engineer of a major Australian construction company, a coveted position where he negotiates projects with sub-constructors.  

Sam was the farm engineer when my husband developed and managed a school farm early on.  I recall when I interviewed him, I immediately found him quite likable; he had the work experience needed for the job so I didn't hesitate to hire him right after the first interview.   I learned that he already worked abroad but came home to be with his wife to start a family. 

Sam's wife, Analyn

I made it definitely clear to him that we couldn't match his previous salary when I explained his compensation package and he understood; however, he asked me if I could make the offer a bit higher;

"You see, I need a little more since I'm paying house amortization", he told me.  I looked at him and thought for a moment.  I was bent in keeping the compensation range for a new hire but I found myself debating in my mind that we are badly in need of a farm engineer and this guy seems to be the right fit; he is also very professional and matured.  Moreover he lives in that side of town close to the farm which is also a plus.  Definitely we want a guy like him since the farm is about 4 hours (if traffic is light) from the main headquarters, and supervision will be minimal.

Finally I said:   

"Ok, I'll give you one level higher", and we shook hands. 

Around that time, my husband was recovering from "work-burn",  (having managed three companies simultaneously for quite a long time).   So I encouraged him to apply for farm manager even though the compensation was not what he was used to; I thought it would be good for his health to be outdoors so he can take in a lot of sunshine and fresh air.  

When my husband eventually came in to jumpstart the development of the farm, he found Sam easy to work with.   He is a very receptive and dedicated worker, he took his responsibility seriously and he took to heart every method and formula my husband applied to their work.  

They worked together for almost two years, and when my husband finally made the farm operational, having established the roads and infra-structure; (he even made it fit for kids' campsite), he felt that his job is done since he is not an agriculturist after all.   Eventually, Sam also resigned.  In his exit interview he was very adamant in expressing the help and training he learned from my husband, his mentor. 

After about two years working in the Middle East, he came back home and visited us for the first time.  He was very grateful to my husband who taught him the ropes; needless to say that he applied everything he learned from my husband, using the  complicated project spreadsheets and graphs.  While relating his experiences, he detailed which formula worked best that gained him a lot of respect from his foreign bosses.  

Oh yes, I should mention here that he got his wish to have a child.  They were blessed with a baby boy who is now almost 7. 

Sam and his son, Santi 

Every year thereafter, whenever he is in town, he never fails to come by, somehow he has become very close, just like family and we also look forward to his visits.  Besides, I enjoy the chocolate concoctions and dates he brings all the time.  But most of all it makes us so happy to know how far he has arrived. 

Thanks for the love and greetings

I was not about to make a big deal about my birthday but I was challenged by Wattpad when they greeted me:

"We hope you have the kind of birthday that is worth writing about, share your birthday story with us".

Besides, I was deluged with beautiful thoughts, great birthday well wishes and wonderful greetings on Facebook and Messenger.  In a way, I hope this will also serve to thank everyone who made it one of the most unforgettable and enjoyable birthdays ever!

It's great to be 70!

Photo from 123RF stock photo. Copywriter:Robyn Mackensie

I had a wonderful birthday celebration two weeks ago.  It started on my actual birthday, a Wednesday, when my older daughter treated my husband and I to a breakfast buffet in one of the popular hotels in town.  It was just the three of us since her husband and daughter were at work and school respectively; and my son and younger daughter had not yet arrived from abroad.  For everyone's convenience we scheduled my birthday party on the weekend. 

I remember my brother's text greeting while we were having breakfast. 

"Happy birthday, what's to drink at your party?", he asked.

Tease him, text back "bottomless ice tea", my daughter prodded.

"that's not healthy for me, too much sugar", he replied.

"Sugar free green tea, it will lower your cholesterol", my husband suggested.

"That's expensive, there are other drinks"

"But because you are my favorite brother, I'll bring wine", my husband further prodded, 

"Now you're talking", he replied happily. 

My two daughters have been asking me what gift I wanted. I couldn't think of anything, really.  Then my younger daughter would message me almost everyday, "do you like this or do you prefer that?", her suggestions were endless. 

They were so determined to ask, lest they will get something that I may not need nor want.  Finally I said, I'm thorn between a heavy duty mixer and chopper; mine was just a hand mixer (that now easily heats up) bought 20 years ago along with the chopper while my blender was bought by my husband in 1976.  Except for the chopper, both are still working though.   

After searching on line, she got me a multi-function blender-chopper-mixer; it is a complicated Bruan multi-quick 7 kitchen machine that mixes, blends and chops with so many variations; it is so over-whelmingly complicated, what with the numerous pieces, but a pleasure to use since it can do just anything; though I cringed when I learned how much it cost her.  

But then if I didn't tell them, I'm sure they will get gifts anyway; so when my older daughter also asked me again, I just told her to get me a dress, yes, just a dress, for I really didn't want them to spend so much.  I am happy with token gifts;  but she outdid herself and got me four dresses, yes, four!  My son didn't ask,  he told me that they will give us a trip to Singapore, we haven't been there this year so it's a welcome treat to see them again especially our fast-growing grandson. 

On the night of my birthday our younger daughter and her husband arrived and we had a dinner get-together at home along with my older daughter's family.  Then shopping and lunch out the next day.   

On Friday, the family celebrations continued as my son, who also just arrived joined us for dinner as well.  It is a rare occasion for all my children to be in one place at the same time,  what with the miles separating us and life being so hectic nowadays; but they had given priority to this celebration, they planned to be home months earlier. 

Many say that 70 is one the most celebrated birthdays, a good reason to party with family and friends.  My birthday party gave me a great head start on my 8th decade of life,  I am especially happy to have celebrated this milestone in the loving company of the closest and the dearest.

My younger daughter asked me one night how it feels to be 70,  (when she is in town, we stay up late to catch up even after everybody turned in for the night); offhand I was caught unaware but then I said: 

"I feel the same like when I was 17 though my priorities have changed".   Pondering deeper though, there's still that love for adventure and the eagerness and openness to learn new things.  While I love to spend time with family most of all, I still enjoy attending parties with relatives and friends.  Dark, noisy bars and loud music is no longer appealing, meeting up with friends, for quiet afternoons over coffee or nights over dinner along with pleasant conversation is more my thing nowadays. 

In this day and age when people are quick to judge, some are pressured to have it all and do it all.  But I'm not in that contest, God may not have granted yet my entire bucket list, but I got everything I needed.  Most of all, I am blessed many times over for having the best that I could ever have; that is:  my three beautiful children, two adorable grandchildren, two likable and sensible sons-in-law, a wonderful daughter-in-law and one amazing husband. What more can I ask for? 

Someone said that when you hit 70 with a clean bill of health, it could be the start of the best years of your life.  While I look forward to that, I pledge to live by the words of Sai Baba:

"Life is a song- sing it;  life is a game- play it;

Life is a challenge- meet it; life is a dream- realize it; 

Life is a sacrifice- offer it; Life is love- enjoy it".

And I add: "life is a gift- claim it and own it". 

Getting Settled In Our New Home

The story behind how we settled into our new home has more twists and turns than a bumpy farm road.  This telling reveals how our love for home breeds perseverance and passion. 

When the movers brought down our belongings from the truck two months ago, I didn't have the slightest idea how to arrange things, except that the beds belong to the bedrooms and our leather couches in the living room. The greatest challenge though was where to put the  furniture and fixtures in places that would be a good fit for the space.

The very firsts to be installed were the refrigerators(we have two), the gas range and window air conditioners, at least we could live with just that for awhile.  Some lighting fixtures like the chandeliers had to wait for the electrician since my husband abhors exposed electric wires. 

As the days progressed into weeks we were slowly getting used to the look of every room.  I can now navigate in the dark from the kitchen to our bedroom without bumping into anything.  Some paintings and picture frames are up but we are being discriminate about the rest; (we have a lot) since we do not want our home to turn into a "gallery".   

In doing all these, we had to consult each other; which ones would go into which room, which wall and how to arrange them.  As a team, we worked shoulder to shoulder; when there were differences of opinion, compromise was the magic word.  Our guiding rule was "the wise bamboo", as the Japanese call it; we learned to bend so we didn't break.  I believe that our maturity and flexibility got us through.   I know that when couples are not careful, such issues would cause a rift.   

We needed a desk and a file cabinet since the desks and drawers in the former house were all built-ins.  It took us sometime to attend to that; for a while the home office looked like a dumping room.   Finally I told my husband: "if we don't get a desk and a file cabinet soon,  I can't fix that room"

It helped that the drapes we have are quite new and fitted the windows just fine, especially that they come in cream and beige.  It took time for them to be put up though, since we waited for the handyman to drill in the rods. 

Having placed the basic furniture inside the house, we had one dilemma, "where to put the piano"?  Definitely it wouldn't fit anymore inside the house.  Inspired by the "tiny house" that is becoming very popular nowadays, my husband had a storage/tool shed built behind the house.  To our great relief however, our older daughter finally decided to get the piano after all; we were worried earlier that it may just warp in storage.   We still needed the storage though, for the other things we want to keep, including the rest of the items deserving a second sorting pass. 

So what's next?

We felt that the outdoors deserve some attention as well to make it a part of the living area.  Unlike decades earlier, the yard is getting much attention nowadays; most homes develop the garden as part of the living area, it is being treated, furnished and decorated like the interiors.

Presently, the area surrounding our house is a work in progress.  We are so looking forward to a weekly barbecue.  Entertaining friends and family seems more fun if we do it outdoors, it is less fuzzy since I don't have to set the formal dining table with my best china, crystal and silverware. 

While the contractor puts up the outdoor kitchen, complete with stove, a griller, working counter and storage shelves for cooking paraphernalia, the garden is being spruced up simultaneously.   My husband's herbs are thriving well and I can now use them for cooking, he has rosemary, tarragon, oregano, mint, basil, ginger and pandan.  He intends to add other leafy veggies soon.  Last week, I just trimmed a bunch of basil for my granddaughter's tomato-herb pasta and now there's a lot to be used again. 

I bought a kamias plant (bilimbi fruit) about a meter tall since I love to use the fruits for fish broth; I also got a dwarfed guapple (guava-Apple hybrid) to incorporate in the backyard. 

"Where in the world are you gonna plant those?", my husband asked. 

"You said you'll remove two big ornamental bushes, so we can put those in their place", I replied.  

I'd rather have fruit bearing small trees than ornamentals. I'm sure our grandchildren will love to climb the tree reaching for fruits as I did when I was a kid. 

In a month, this cozy outdoor living-dining-kitchen in the garden would be complete.   Creating that space would fulfill our need to sit and enjoy coffee outdoors, breathe in fresh air, reflect, even meditate, write my blog, read a book too and entertain; I tell you, it would really be a full outdoor experience.  

Feeling new energy around our new home

Last Sunday morning, my husband woke up with a new sense of energy.   He asked: 

"Are you apt to broiling milkfish (a common delicacy in this part of the world), some marinated pork belly and invite over our older daughter, her husband and daughter for lunch?".

Automatically, I replied: 

"yes",

not only because I was feeling more energetic as well but our older daughter has been missing charcoal-broiled milkfish. Besides she has been very helpful lately, facilitating our adjustment to this new environment and their company would make our Sunday special.   So right after the 6 o'clock morning mass, we were off to the local market to get lunch ingredients.  

Driving back home from the market, my husband asked me:

"Do you feel the lightness that comes with our moving to this place?  I feel at ease in this place; almost everything we need are within easy reach, 

you want to eat out, the eateries are practically around the corner; 

the market and grocery are very accessible, you go anytime of day and you can get what you want;

several masses are said to suit our convenience on Sundays, what's more the church is air conditioned;

walking around our streets is pleasant, safe and no stray dogs around.  

Do you feel that lightness as well?".

"I do", I was thinking that finally we are practically settled in this new home. Familiar things are put in place, picture frames of the family are up, favorite items found their convenient places, our major furniture seem to have been made for the place, we can now comfortably lounge on the living room couches and the grandfather clock does its work again, striking the quarterly hours.  So yes, now we can finally call this "home".  

Rewind two months earlier......

As soon as our personal effects were put in place, my husband and I decided to stay in our new home.  

"Mom, are you staying there tonight?  What about dinner?", my older daughter called. 

"We like tuna, we have several cans in our pantry", I replied.  She brought us roast chicken, I think she couldn't bear that our first dinner is from a can.  You know what?  It was the most delicious roast chicken ever?  Honestly, it was so good and just the right size and maybe we felt so blessed which added to our enjoyment. 

We had our phone working and Internet connection just a day after, thanks again to my older daughter's persistence in following up the service provider company including that of cable TV who called that they were ready to transfer our connection. 

During our early days here, our older daughter was often around or on the phone almost every hour, asking, giving, helping, she thought of a lot of things: three containers of purified drinking water were delivered immediately;  she often brought us food she prepared herself.  She helped me locate the nearest supermarket and accompanied me to get our immediate needs.   She sought the schedule of masses in the nearby church and telephone numbers of the gate security.  Oh, that was quite a load lifted off my shoulders as I was busy fixing the house.  Now that we're settled, she continues to call; she occasionally invites us out to breakfast; when at the mall, she would ask whether I needed something.  

Our son too, would call from abroad where he lives with his wife and son to check how we're getting along.   He gives advise not from personal opinions but scenarios that would make us  think so we  come to our own decisions.  

He emails pictures of our grandson weekly  and FaceTime  with him gives us the greatest joy for we see his progress: his first steps, his new shoes,  learning to walk in the park, sipping from a straw, now he dismantles (assembled by his nanny) Lego parts and throws the pieces in a basket, ohh!!, just seeing his new tricks takes our aches away.

Not to be outdone, our younger daughter, who also lives abroad with her husband,  would get in touch almost every night.  Initially we would chat on iMessage, then we progress to FaceTime, (this is where her husband would say, hi!).   She always like to know what we're doing, how we're feeling, what's the progress in fixing the house; puts in some suggestions. Looking back, I saw her role in trying to make us relax, a way of saying that "everything will work out fine" while she reiterates that we are not to hesitate to ask for help in whatever way.

While we continue fixing the house, trying to figure out where to put our stuff, our other son-in-law shows much interest in our progress.  Whenever they come over, he'll look for what's new in every nook, what frames were put up, where we put items of interest, looking at everything in silent appreciation.  My granddaughter too, took so much fancy on the "tiny house", something very popular on TV nowadays.

"wow, papa, I couldn't believe you had a tiny house built", 

she said (we had it built as a tool/storage shed), 

All throughout this journey of moving and settling down, our children were there, helping us in every which way they felt is best for us.  What more would we ask for?  

This morning I heard the CD player blowing:  

"I believe in mu-u-sic, I believe in----love".   

For the first time my husband turned on the CD player.  Care to know what the next song was?

" you--- light up my life --- you give me hope---to carry on...."

Very soon, I know that he'll be turning on the videoke and the house will be filled with his modulated voice again. 

So yes!   We're finally "back on track". 

Now I'll be looking forward to celebrating my 70th birthday next week with a light heart in the loving company of the dearest and the closest.