Chasing Daylight

There is only one day left, always starting over: it is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk

--- Jean-Paul Sartre

It has been raining intermittently at odd hours for the past week, most often in the late afternoons that I couldn't do my daily walk.  Yesterday, the rain was on and off that I almost gave up walking; however thirty minutes passed my walking time, it stopped raining.  I hurriedly put on my walking shoes, snatched my umbrella and off I walked. 

Though the neighborhood is safe, I still did not want to be out in the streets alone after dark.  I accelerated my pace so I could cover more ground.  There were dark clouds that threatened to fall and they covered the sun. 

As it was almost dusk, I saw houses had lit their porch lights giving me a welcome feeling as it seemed to beckon me in.  Some homes were dark though and I presumed the owners were still out, enjoying the weekend. 

I walked on a more familiar neighborhood this time and while some homes hadn't turned on the outdoor lights, I see their kitchen lit, obviously, they were preparing dinner.  I even smelled some of their cooking that made my mouth water and I felt hungry. 

I didn't see people outdoors or someone tending the garden, as is usually the case on weekends. "Its late",  I told myself, "besides rain may fall anytime".  But I enjoyed taking in the fresh air and the familiar smell of the outdoors (especially under the trees) after the rain and it brought back childhood memories.   I recalled how happy I felt going out of the house to play after the rain, when everything was fresh, the rain having washed away the dust from the air. 

I did not complete my routine yesterday, nevertheless, I developed a sweat and I felt good, it was still early after dinner but I couldn't keep my eyes open, so I turned in for the night.

Change, like sunshine, can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse, a dawn or a dusk.

William Arthur Ward

Today I Made Sisig

Sisig is a pampango delicacy.  I first sampled this sumptuous dish when my sister and bother-in-law brought us to a row of open air food stalls in Pampanga, a province north of the metro.  These stalls only operate at night.  There used to be a U.S. Military base there and they thrive since they were patronized by U.S. military personnel. 

After we placed our order, we waited awhile, and our drinks were served.  They then broiled the pork on open charcoal grills. All around us, we heard the thud of thick and heavy knives on pork being chopped on wooden boards, yes, they don't use a food processor, they do it manually.  But it was always worth the wait because when you taste it you would usually crave for more; it goes well with soda and taste so much better with beer. 

Today I boiled pork face with spices: bay leaf, cinnamon bark, star anis, pandan leaf, pepper, garlic, fresh oregano and fresh tarragon after washing it thoroughly with baking soda, rinsed and then calamansi juice(local lime) and another rinse. 

The pork pieces were broiled over charcoal.  When done, I put them in my food processor together with onions, garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, salt and pepper. 

That was dinner tonight with a toss salad of Japanese cucumber, romaine and tomatoes in balsamic vinegar vinaigrette dressing. 

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".