My Small Steps for the Environment

Yours truly joined the mangrove planting in consonance with our women's month celebration. These may be just baby steps towards the protection of our environment but with your help and the assistance of other stakeholders, we can succeed in reforesting this denuded mangrove area.

Let us all go for a cleaner and greener environment!

Remembering my Father on his Birthday

I am sharing here the lyrics of a song that reminds me of my father:

"Dance With My Father"

Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around ‘til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved
If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
How I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again
When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way, I would run from her to him
He’d make me laugh just to comfort me
Then finally make me do just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me
If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
‘Cause I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again
Sometimes I’d listen outside her door
And I’d hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
I know I’m praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don’t do it usually
But dear Lord she’s dying
To dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream

My father passed away thirty-three years ago. I was just an eleven year-old dreamy eyed girl then. The feeling way back then til now stays the same . . . I still miss him . . . but am thankful for having him as my guardian angel!

Happy birthday, pa! Your little girl is now a woman . . . a woman who never forgets that she's got a father who cares, who guides her all the way . . .

note: image from iclipart

House Pets ( in pictures)

Dory the flowerhorn

Tweety the bird

Donkey the goat

Koi 1 and Koi 2

Koi 1 and a golden tilapia

golden tilapia fingerlings

The Dill From a Scientist

It has been eight months since I raided the kitchen and garden of my scientist friend, Gay. Eight months of exerting efforts in nurturing the herbs I looted ;-D For me it has been a challenge and now, a challenge I gladly conquered.

So far, none of the plants coming from her garden went in vain under my care ;-D. Kafir, lemon grass, oregano, and dill are now all thriving enormously around our simple abode.

Just like the dill on the picture above, I was so amused seeing resort customers having their pictures taken with those dill plants on the background and I was tempted to do the same thing too ;-d.

I am the proud mom who did the planting of all these shining herbs and I usually use dill when I grill bangus and tilapia. It adds flavor to grilled dishes as well as to soups and pasta. It also has medicinal uses. Can be used as tea to soothe aching stomach ;-D

So if you wish to have some dill, please feel free to visit us . . . thanks to Gay!

My Garden's Lean Harvest

The erratic weather condition we are experiencing lately has finally taken its toll on my tomatoes. Yeah, am blaming the extreme day-to-day weather for the very few fruits I managed to pick yesterday. Hope the weather's be more fine now and in the coming weeks as I anticipate for the fruiting season of my other veggies.

My tomatoes may be a few in numbers but just the same, they're yummy and went well with the fresh camote tops salad. :-D

Our First Tilapia Mini Harvest

We decided to check on the growth of our tilapia in the backyard pond. It was five months ago when we put there several fingerlings. Now, our pond is beaming with several dozens of almost half a kilo, fat tilapia . Judging from the looks of it, these fishes are now ready for the meatless Lenten celebration ahead.

my first catch for the day - three beaming in freshness tilapia

We caught six tilapia (three - mine:-D) and the way I cooked it will be featured in my other blog soon.

This harvesting activity brought me to my childhood world once again. The glee, the excitement, and the thrill were all present. It was one significant moment I'll surely treasure and would like to pass on to others . . .

So if you have some free time this coming holy week and you are just around the vicinity - please feel free to join us as we set out for another harvesting spree.

The Garden Bench

Decided to procure a wooden bench for my sideyard garden. It still needs varnishing to be more presentable but it's already a sight to behold for me. Got to save more to buy another one ;-XD

I sit in my garden, gazing upon a beauty that
cannot gaze upon itself. And I find sufficient
purpose for my day.
~Robert Brault