Surrender To The Virus

Low energy day it is for me. It's difficult to pull myself together. Because, I caught the virus.

My throat hurts. My eyes are watery. I keep sneezing, and there's a runny nose that makes me so uncomfortable. After days of denying that I am slowly going to fall into the reach of Influenza, here is the proof today. I miss my grandma in times like this.

My meds really are looking like M&M's. Sigh. I have body malaise and worse, the weather is a lot colder now. It rains everyday, that slow kind which you can classify as a drizzle. But this kind of rain sends me chilling and in a bad condition.

I am in need of sleep. I think I owe myself big time on sleep. Ah, that will do it. I will be off to my bed after this. Thank you Serenity, a slumber at this moment is definitely a good idea.

:(

Good Times In Lake Agco

If there's a much overdue blog from me, this is it. We came to Lake Agco in Kidapawan Oct 2010 and sure got plenty of new fun. Each time we see our pics from this place, there are always sweet reminiscing of the quirky things by this group. There were about 13 of us, 14 including the driver.

There's a cold pool, where the water is sourced from natural spring. And a hot pool: the water trickling from the falls into the pool is heated by vulcanic steam. Amazing? Yeah. We call it the Jacuzzi. We steamed in the natural sauna-- it was such a rare thing for us. We also went to the lake itself, all smoky, hot and reeking of sulfur, eerie and misty.

The Group at the Lake.

Angie, Me (in black and gray long sleeves), Christine, Queency, Gerelyn, Ivy, Jienel, Jasper and Walter. Further back was Gladys. Agnes, Mariel and CJ were not in this pic.

The group. Right behind us, the steamy, sulfur-y and eerie looking Lake Agco.

My underwater shot at the cold pool.

This Lake is boiling.

At the entrance. Pay 15Php first.

The location was far from Davao City (by 3 hours drive) , and we had to wind up into the mountain via Poblacion Kidapawan. It was an altogether one-of-a-kind trip.

I got severe flu-like symptoms when I got back home. It was maybe from the cold to warm dip plus the sulfur laden air-- got runny nose, swollen and watery eyes. But despite that, it was worth it.

✿

Disway Restaurant., C. Pequeno, Davao City

Hola! My hubby decided we have a lunch out!

So. We went to Disway Restaurant along the Catalunan Pequeno Highway, still in Davao City. Why here? It's the place of choice since:

1. it's near our house.
2. it's new.
3. the place is interesting from outside.

Then I found out, this homegrown spot was actually, an awesome place!

What will you find at Disway? Pinoy cuisine. Yep, comfort food that everybody in this land loves. Authentic flavors like native chicken tinola, hito, chevon dishes, and others. Some food are only served during Sundays, which makes them, their "special". And I will see to that promise yet!

There are cottages or kubo we call it, where you can dine. Plus there are also open cottages with low-set tables where you can sit squat on the bamboo flooring like the orientals. It kind of looked like Malay/Indonesian cottages, with pillows in authentic banig casing.




We picked this cottage:


The wooden table and the simple meal:



The ambiance was definitely refreshing. Bamboo walling surrounds the entire area.

I see serenity. The place is landscaped with bonsai plants and other kinds of greenery. There are big trees as well, providing a cool shade for everyone and it's the perfect place to spend with friends and family.

The cashier took a pic of us:


The Betty Boop pose: errhmm chuckle



I would also love to take my friends here. Alright, here we come... let's go Disway.

Tea Time, I feel Good.

My under the weather symptoms have shown early today, and I go sniff sniff pffft! Post nasal drip, watery eyes and a lethargy. I picked some fresh tea leaves from the wild tea shrub (Tsaang Gubat) in the yard and some from the potted Camellia Sinensis.

I am benefiting from my garden nowadays. Sadly though, the peppermint plant had died eons ago so I have to do away with it. But it is still an indulgence to have freshly brewed green leaves that are from real tea shrubs.

Here are pics of them and how I made hot fresh tea:

Camellia Sinensis is yellow green in color, soft and fuzzy, while the Wild Tea variety is darker, shiny and smaller.

Steeping the leaves in hot water.

See! The steamy brew. Hmmm.

I have my own boxes and cans of dried teas from everywhere. Some of them, I bought from the supermarket, and some were even presents from friends. However, these days, it's a luxury to be having fresh anything in a jiffy. Like this one here.

Be Thou My Vision Song

such a gentle song...

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art-
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

✿

On The Night Like This

Love is... everything. xoxo

Quotes: Living A Full Life

Living life fully doesn't mean having it all, going everywhere, doing everything, and being all things to all people.

✿ Elaine St. James

Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities.

✿ Women's Home Companion, 1935

And when we come to think of it, goodness is uneventful. It does not flash, it glows. It is deep, quiet, and very simple. It passes not with oratory, it is commonly foreign to riches, nor does it often sit in the places of the mighty: but may be felt in the touch of a friendly hand or the look of a kindly eye.

✿ David Grayson

Confidence . . . thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.

✿ Roosevelt

Home Cooking: Grilled Stuffed Squid

Right, there's Inihaw na pusit in the house. It's a Wednesday night and I felt like eating seafood so I went to buy some fresh ingredients at a nearby store.

The ingredients:

1 medium size fresh squid, about .35 kg
1 pc. medium size tomato, wedged
spring onion leaves, cut in 2 inch lengths
1/4 of a cucumber, wedged
salt
2 bamboo skewers (bbq sticks)

Drain water from squid and stuff with above ingredients. Place the stuffed squid on 2 bbq sticks.

Grill about 6 inches above charcoal for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. When already done, slice squid crosswise.

Dipping sauce: vinegar, soy sauce and chili.

The process looked like these:

✿

Pretty and Strange

Today, it's drizzling, and still cloudy.

I went outside to check on the people who are clearing my garden, and saw a rose in bloom ♥♥♥. Sweet, yet strewn with thorns. I can't help but be amazed at the huge petals. Of course, I had to take pictures and measured its diameter.

I paid the workers, went back inside when everything was done and began to reflect again. Then, here again, I find my fingertips on the keyboard.

This strange beauty made me do my lunch a bit late because I discovered that:

1. When you look a little deeper, there's a strangeness and a complication in individuals that I actually consider, beautiful.

2. Certain people are beautiful like the rose. Pleasant to the eyes but will make your heart bleed.

3. Pretty may be there but for a fleeting moment, temporary.

4. The rose is a lonely thing at a certain perspective. Because it needs to have thorns.

5. Thorns are nothing for some people. They are willing to be hurt just to get hold of a beautiful thing.

6. You must have patience to see a thing bloom to its peak.


This brought me to quite a lot of thoughts. I'm glad to have a rose garden. Wish you'd try that sometime, too.


♥♥♥

Take It Ea-sy, Slow Down.

He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate.
~ Henry David Thoreau

I choose to laze around today. I bought a DVD of a Korean story of a boy who would be the best baker when he grows up. It's cool to be watching this Tak Gu lad face his own battles, search for his lost mother, and find his own path.

Traditional pretzels, my current subsistence.

Such a day of rain clouds; I thought it would be nice to take a break and stay on the sofa. I feel in good spirits, like something good is about to happen for me.

Got several things running, and still wanting to achieve more. But. I can wait. I know He hath made every thing beautiful in his time. So I'm just... taking it easy.

✿

Find it, See it. There's Beauty Everywhere...

You can observe a lot just by watching.

My own shots, glimpses of a "creative perspective":

♕

Favorite Things

Road trips.
Friends. Ice cream.
Back rub. Smiles. Facebook. Coffeeshops.
Danglings. sneakers. Newly Mown Grass. Roses.
Foot Massage. Under the stars. Books. Milk.
Walking in the drizzle with you.
Wrist watches.
Rainbows.
Puppies. Pine Trees.
Butter cookies. Mini Skirts. Pencil Shavings.
Quilts. Green Tea Perfume.
Curtains. Crayons. Hymns.

What's yours?

I Dream

Dream and give yourself permission to envision a You that you choose to be.

~ Joy Page

Our Paths

The most difficult decisions are often not the ones in which we cannot determine the right path, rather the ones in which we are certain of the path but fear the journey

~ An Excerpt from the book 'The Locket'

Mountain, Birds And Green

" Let's take the good times as they go, and I'll meet you further on up the road..."


Yep! It was a good weekend, in spite of my hubby's surprise decision, I was able to spend time in a mountain springs resort.


I get amused recalling the pigeon feeding experience.



Loleng's Mountain Springs Resort is definitely a classic place for me, with white pigeons what flock to you when you got bird food to scatter. I love the fresh air, cool atmosphere and obviously, the well trimmed grounds. It was my sissy in law's birthday so it did become some celebration up on the mountains.

Ellen (sis-in-law) and me having a great moment with the pigeons in this pic:



We took 4 kids with us (3 of them are very brusque boys!), who were ecstatic with their shrill weeeeeh's and waaaah's as we traveled all along. This is a pic of the gang, minus the little girl who cannot cope with these brats because they're too physical. Kyle, Kent, and Carlo who are rowdy hahaha!

Had lunch under the giant trees, so it was an altogether under-the-tree event. It's an awesome time always for me. Which undoubtedly shows in this face:



With my hubby, who is my avid photographer (by force): hahaha...


I can't say that I'm happy (I don't know the criteria for that) but I can say, I did have a pretty good time. Annnnd, for me, that's what matters...

My Rules, My Life

In life, I have my rules. It may sound so rigid, but oh, it helps me get on track. I have my personal commandments that guide me when I sort of forget what to do with my life.

My list:

Be the unique person I am.

See the wonder in ordinary things.

Remember to always say Thank you.

Look beyond everyone's imperfections.

Have fun.

Appreciate.

Learn how to do small talk. Or I would say, break that "so silent" impression that others are telling me about.


♕

If I Were Something

If I were a time of day, I'd be dusk.

If I were a liquid, I'd be coffee.

If I were a bedding, I'd be a cotton blanket.

If I were an element, I'd be gold.

If I were a scent, I'd be the fragrance of roses.

If I were a body part, I'd be the eyes.



If I were a trait, I'd be gentleness.

If I were a sound, I'd be a chime sound.

If I were a footwear, I'd be sneakers.

If I were a flower, I'd be a white rose.

If I were a place, I'd be a hill.


If you were these things, what would they be?

♕