LP #26: Itim at Puti

Muntik na sanang ito lamang ang naging lahok ko ngayong linggo…

Mga “pa-cute” na “anik-anik” na tiyak na kaaaliwan ng maraming dalagita

Mabuti na lamang at bumalik ang inaabangan kong “kaibigan” at malugod na nagpaunlak na magpakuha ng litrato.  Kung kaya’t masayang maibabahagi ko sa inyo ang mga ito…

Suplado pa noong una…

…pero pumayag rin naman palang magpa-”close up” !

Lubos akong nagalak na makakita ng ganitong klaseng kalapati – mala-”Dalmatian” ang dating, di ba?

Ang iba pang itim at puting lahok ay matatagpuan dito.  Isang makulay na Huwebes sa lahat!

My “Green” Award

Got this “green” award from Down Under blog pal Roselle of Reflexes. Thanks so much!

The award reads:

“Dahil ikaw ay isang sertipikadong blogger, itinuturing kitang matalik kong KADAMO.”

Talaga naman kasing nakaka-”addict” ang pagblo-blog, hindi ba? At ito lamang ang ”pagdadamo” na hindi bawal. I’m reading it through context here but I suppose “Kadamo” means “friend”, right?

Check out my other “green” friends here:

1.)Janeth Vicy’s Life Journey
2.) My Precious Niche
3.) Just Me.. Eds
4.) Eds Mommy Life
5.) ISL Family
6.) Me and Mine
7.) Creative in Me
8.) Little Peanut
9.) For the LOVE of Food
10.) Pea in a Pod
11.) a matter of tEys.T
12.) The Bottomline
13.) Little Kite Studios
14.) Collect and Connect
15.) Reflexes
16.) SSS: Tales from the Kingdom

17.) YOU!

I’m counting on the following “kadamos” to get this tag going: Twinkie, Ces, Ann and Jeanny. Thanks again, guys!

SSS #121: 18

 

Half a lifetime seems yet too short

Building memories with you – truly a blessing

Years go by just like a blur

Moments, though imperfect, remain precious

Joy and tears, laughter and stillness, dreams and disappointments 

Forever remain etched deeply in my heart

To stand with you and by you through it all

Has been my greatest pleasure

Thank you for the wonderful eighteen years of togetherness

I love you

PS Today marks our 18th year as a couple (seven spent dating and the rest being blissfully – most of the time, at least – married). God is good!

Read All About It!

I’m excited!  Wanna know why?

Because I can now call these babies MINE

Yup, a seemingly “innocent” trip to the newly-opened Jarir bookstore in our neighborhood yielded these great finds!

Knowing my penchant for adventure series books, hubby gifted me with books 1-9 of Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” for my birthday a couple of years ago.  Since then, I’ve been meaning to complete the collection with the remaining four books.  Got my hands on the final book, “The End”, during our home leave in Manila last year but National Bookstore unfortunately did not have books 10-12 anymore. I actually didn’t expect to find the “missing” books here in the kingdom but whaddyaknow – you really never know what this sandy oasis has in store for us… Gee, after snagging the Jap magnet from here as well, I probably should have more faith in what this place has to offer, right?

The other two reads – the much-talked/blogged-about “Twilight” and the NY best seller, “Eat Pray Love” – I intend to “relish” pretty soon.  Will definitely let you know how these “chick flick picks” stack up after I have the time to actually “digest” them…

Since I’m pretty much in the “reading alley” anyway with this post, might as well sneak in the “Kiddie Reads” tag I got fairly recently from blog pal Meeya.

I’m happy that all our kids seem to have developed a love for reading as well. Our boys have started to also show interest in adventure books  (Hardy Boys, Harry Potter and the like) while our little princess has favored Dr Seuss and Disney princess books thus far.

Here’s what’s on our boys’ reading list so far…  They’re almost done with the A-Z Scholastic mystery books we got them from last year’s school book sale and yes, they’re into Lemony Snicket too!

While our little “chick” has her own “picks” as well

Though we unfortunately do not have enough space in our small home for a “respectable” reading nook for the kids, we make sure that age-appropriate books are made available to them (whether brand new or second-hand doesn’t matter for as long as the pages are still in tact and readable ) nonetheless. 

After all, hubby and I are firm believers of the oft-repeated Pinoy slogan – “Sa Aklat, Sisikat!”.  And who wouldn’t want to be parents to “famous” kids, right?

Till my next post… Read on, everyone!

SSS #120: Sugar Rush!

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the “instant energy” a mouthful of chocolate candy or a bite of our favorite cupcake can bring, right?

Well, I can say I’ve had more than my fair share of “energy boosters” this week when I became the (very) happy recipient of these “sweet” treats…

“Say it with chocolates” seems an understatement…

This is how the Arabs in this part of the world say “Ramadan Kareem” (or any major event, for that matter)  – with sinfully delicious, creamy,  assorted chocolates! From chocolate-covered pistachios to melt-in-your-mouth milk chocolate balls to chewy white nougat with pistachios – name it, we got it!!!  Yum-o, indeed!

Up-close and delicious! Be still, my sugar-craving heart…

This is the second year that we have been given this treat from hubby’s generous employer.  As a bonus, it comes with an equally useful container that we can re-use for other purposes.  This year’s loot came in a mosaic-tiled tray that I now use as a fruit tray… What can I say, it must be true that chocolate releases the “feel good” hormone – hahaha!

Needless to say, I wasn’t the only one thrilled with this yummy gift! Marga getting ready to “attack” (see that “sweet” twinkle in her eye?)

My second sweet treat came as a pleasant surprise – through cyberspace! We normally do not visit our old “home” anymore so it totally caught us off-guard to receive a message like this…

I have followed your stories for quite some time now and I even checked the Yahoo 360 entries. Actually, I have read ALL your posts.

My name is Twinkie XXXXXX and my husband is also an expat. We have one daughter and I am also a stay at home mom. We have been relocated in the UK since July 2006.

You both inspire me. My husband would most of the time catch me teary eyed because of laughing too hard or simply being touched by the love that you give each member of your family. In short, you guys rock!!!

We were again simply amazed that we have managed to meet yet another wonderful person through the net! And her message – oooh-la-la! It just “moved” us too – so simple yet so heartfelt. Who would’ve thought that writing about our experiences here in the desert could actually “inspire” people? Thanks so much, Twinkie! You really made our day week! And thank you for “living up” to your equally sweet name!

Care for a “Twinkie”, anyone? Click here.

These, ladies and gents, are my “just desserts” for the past week. Hope you enjoyed sharing them with me and may all our “feel good” hormones kick in the coming weeks (with or without chocolates!).

 

LP #25: Ginintuan

“Hindi lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto,” ayon pa sa isang matandang kasabihang Tagalog.

Ito ang sumagi sa isip ko nang malaman ko ang kuwento sa likod ng larawang ito na kinuha ko sa Macau noong nakaraang buwan.

Laking gulat ko nang malaman ko na ang iskulturang itong tinaguriang “Golden Lotus”, na isa sa mga mahahalagang tanda (landmark) sa Macau, ay di naman pala gawa sa ginto kundi sa kombinasyon ng tanso at tinggang puti (copper + tin = bronze)! Ang galing, hindi ba?

Ang Golden Lotus ay ibinigay ng Tsina sa Macau noong 1999 bilang tanda ng pagbabalik ng huli sa pangangalaga ng Tsina mula sa mga Portuges noong taon ding yon.  Ito ay sumasagisag ng walang hanggang kasaganahan o “everlasting prosperity”.  Ang tatlong baitang na pedestal naman kung saan nakatayo ang bulaklak ay sumasagisag sa tatlong malalaking isla sa Macau – ang Macau, Taipa at Coloane.  Gawa naman ang mga ito sa “granite”.

Bukod sa Golden Lotus, may nakikita pa ba kayong ginintuan sa larawang ito?

Magandang LP sa lahat!

SSS #119: The Wait is Over

…in more ways than one!

Got onslaught of good news lately as well as pleasant “discoveries”.  Though I’m not yet at liberty to disclose full details of all the blessings which have come our way, suffice it to say that I am truly thankful – the good Lord cannot really be outdone in generosity.   And in this day and age when news is usually equated with misfortunes, scandals and tragedies, thank heavens that apparently, there’s still a lot of goodness going around in the world.

Join me as I skim through the “cream” of our latest “cuppa” blessings… If I may say it again: THE WAIT IS OVER…

…for the elusive magnet!

A near replica of the golden temple (forgot the name!) we visited years ago in Kyoto

For those of you who are familiar with my fridge magnet hunt, I was pleasantly surprised to finally snag the “missing piece” in our collection – the one from Japan! Yipee! What’s more, we didn’t have to fly to the Land of the Rising Sun to get it.  Hubby serendipitously found it in our friendly neighborhood mall right here in the kingdom! How cool is that? Just when we thought there were a lot of things we were missing out on where we currently are in the world, turns out that this place offers amazing finds after all!

…for Rafa’s turn to be “PAL”!

Rafa proudly presented this “PAL pin” to me when he got it today. I especially liked the message on the small card it was attached to – so appropriate for their situation of having varied cultures co-existing in one school.

Yup, our beloved second son was finally voted “Peer and Leader” (the equivalent of Class President in Pinas) in his class – after three years of wishin’ and waitin’. Good things truly come to those who wait. Needless to say, we are as thrilled as he is.

I am sorry if these are all that I can share with you for the moment.  I promise to let you in on the “other surprises” when the time is right.  In the meantime, I wish you all a hefty heap of good things too – may your cup “runneth over”!

Enjoy the rest of your Wonderful Wednesday and here’s to a Terrific Thursday ahead!

 

LP #24: Pilak

May nagsasabing ang mag-uwi ng gawad pilak (silver medal) sa kahit anong timpalak ay nangangahulugan lamang na ikaw ang nangunguna sa mga talunan o “first among the losers”.  Napaisip ako sa pananaw na ito at masasabing di ako sang-ayon dito lalo pa nang makita ang mga ito…

Paano naman magiging sagisag ng talunan ang pilak kung ang mga santo mismo ang lulan ng mga karosang gawa dito tuwing mga prusisyon ng Mahal na Araw at Araw ng mga Santo?

Ang mga “antique” na pilak na karosa na ito ay kinomisyon ni Fr Miguel Delgado OSA noong 1760s. Ang mga ito ay nasa loob ng San Agustin Church and Museum sa Intramuros sa Maynila.  Kuha ko ito noong Agosto nang kaming mag-asawa ay dumalo sa kauna-unahang Litratong Pinoy EB. Ang iba pang larawan ng EB ay matatagpuan dito.

LP #23: Tanso: Ang Pagbabalik (at Paghahabol!)

Sa aking pagbabalik-LP, hayaan ninyong ibahagi ko sa inyo ang isang maikling kuwento kung saan gagamit ako ng ilang piling litrato mula sa aming halos tatlong buwang pagbabakasyon sa inang bayan.  Sa pamamagitan din nito, nawa’y makahabol man lang ako sa mga lahok para sa Agosto na di ko na nagawa.

AKO (aka “The Mommy Returns”) ay muling napadpad sa mahal nating Pinas. Doon ay tunay na nagpakasasa (at nagpakataba)! Masahe, facial at kung anu-ano pa, lahat na ata ng wala sa kaharian tinikman at ninamnam!

Ang gagawin nga naman ng mga babae para magpaganda!

Di rin siyempre nalimutan ang mag-LIWALIW. Pangungulila ay tunay na naibsan nang makasama muli mga mahal na naiwan. Maging mga kaibigan at lugar na bago lamang nakilala – nagpatingkad lalo ng pagpapakasaya!

Punta Fuego, Batangas

Sa labas ng Chapel on the Hill, Batulao, Batangas

MITHI ko sana’y huwag nang matapos ang pagbabalik-bayang pinaka-aabangang lubos. Kung maghulog kaya ako ng barya dito, mapapagbigyan kaya ang aking sinasamo?

 

Sa tapat ng Manila Cathedral sa Intramuros, Maynila

Ngunit tulad ng lahat ng bagay sa mundo, lahat at kailangang may hangganan. AYAW KO mang bumalik pa sa aming munting disyerto, kung saan ang init tunay na nakapanlulumo, pakikipagsapalaran ay dapat muling balikan upang maitaguyod ang pamilya at kinabukasan.

Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Buti na lamang sa aking paglalakbay, isang kaibiga’y sadyang nanindigan.  Sa kanyang piling, nakaramdam ng tunay na ginhawa.

 Salamat sa iyo, sapatos kong mala-TANSO, bawat yapak ko’y tunay mong inalagaan! Malayo man ang narating at sa pagbabalik-kaharian, talagang may tibay kang maasahan!