An Afternoon Tea

September Photo Diary

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Kalalangan Kapampangan Experiment: Art Installation

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Last evening, I was pleased to attend the opening ceremonies of an art exhibit organized at the Heritage District's Museum of Philippine Social History in my home city. For this month, I'm looking forward to attending local events during the National Arts Month which includes some film viewing, poetry recitals, and watercolor art competitions.

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This year is hopefully going to be an eventful and busy year, as I find myself moving through the distress accumulated through the past year. It's good to think that these past few weeks of the beginning of the year had been productive, my research had been moving so far as I finished interviewing my respondents and on the process of data transcription, clinic patients are responding well to schedules and treatment, and so many other things are in line up for the coming months. I could only hope for the best and not merely think of days passing by without purpose. During my spare time, I'm becoming busy with gardening, cooking, writing, reading Julian Jaynes's book. I could recall this is what I had planned to do even years ago and it definitely proves that the life well-lived takes time, but it's worth it.

Bicyclette Lumière

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Still Life with Roses

Garden Beauties

It's been a very busy week and I'm glad to take some photos at the two little gardens I've been tending at our home. The bougainvilleas lost some of the vibrant blooms, but new buds are starting to develop. My rose is very generous with her flowers, every new stem has a new rose bud. And occasionally, tiny butterflies (whites, yellows and grays) also would come and visit.

A Cafe Dining

Last Saturday, I unexpectedly bumped at Gustav cafe located at the heart of city. I initially bought a spicy shawarma and planned on taking a seat and order some cold tea drinks for a snack. It was already evening so I then thought it’s also time for dinner.

I looked at the menu to choose what dish might accompany the apple cinnamon tea, and browsing through the list, I chose baked mussels (can’t go wrong with seafood). They’re local mussels baked with rich cheese and some mayonnaise. There’s slices of orange alongside. For my thin frame and diet, it’s almost like a full meal in itself.

Upon arriving home, my siblings bought with them some chocolate cakes as well.

Sometimes, there’s just this need to treat oneself with fine dining every once in a while, isn’t it? After all, change comes in many forms. And I wish for this year to be a kind of change as well.

 

Have a nice mid-week!

Unexpected Visitor

Roadsides

These are the trees I pass by everyday. During the summer months around February until May, they bear yellow flowers that fall on the ground and surround the air with delicate fragrance. I walk fast while cars and people pass me by along the road. Sometimes, I trip over when I'm not looking at the ground because there are many rocks, pebbles and exposed roots of trees, not to mention the trash that people throw away.

In the morning, I rush to walk to the library, and in the afternoon, I rush to return to our shop. And one of the reasons why I always rush walking is to avoid people staring at me. It's my daily dose of exercise, so to speak. But then just being surrounded with trees and some wildflowers along the road softens the stark environment of the city.

P.S.

I just dropped the set of Islamic lessons for this month at the post office a couple of hours ago. I'm wearing my new glasses (a second pair besides the prescription glasses), they were handed to me yesterday by my sister friend and they have a smaller frame which fit just right around my eyes. I'm adjusting with a bit of headache, but in sha Allah, I will get used with them. Whew, May is almost coming to an end, and it's time for scheduling plans for the coming month. :)

- maica

Finally

Finally, after counting many years, my study was organized. I had shared here my frustrations of having a bookshelf and study on my room. Articles on the shelf include psychology, literature, coffeetables and art. Islamic books are on the writing table and are not shown. Alhamdulillah, it was a dream come true.

Welcome April

Playing Cats

Cats playing and chasing each other. These cutie felines can really turn wild in an instant.

Perhaps they also have mood swings of some sort, or perhaps they like their owners watch them play and run about?

Lovely Sunday

Enjoying the company of my beautiful family: my parents, my siblings, my niece, and sister-in-law. Surrounded with fresh air, warm sun, beautiful garden, family, and fluffy cats, so much happiness.

Some photos here were taken before I cooked lunch with sissy-in-law, while drinking coffee at the garden, and while playing with baby Hind. And at the afternoon, I told my mum that perhaps one of my incoming goals is to travel around the world (daydreaming much?), or perhaps build a house at Baguio City surrounded with pine trees? New Beginnings as always, La Nouveau Depart - Alhamdulillah.