My Refurbished Garden

Finally…it’s done! The two landscape gardeners have been laboring at it for the past two weeks and I am just thankful that my dream of having a grotto as a tribute for   Mama Mary is finally fulfilled.  I’ve been researching  how to grow and maintain bonsai plants since we have lots of it now.  I am just plain excited to see how my bonsai Thailand tamarind tree would bear fruit same with my bonsai Lemoncito.   We’ve tried  putting water in the small pond and I just love the soothing sound of it.  It reminds me of the continuity of life, a cycle that gives us that sense of belonging, having simple dreams fulfilled.

She Speaks for Me

I want first of all, to be at peace with myself.

I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life

that will enable me to carry out….obligations and activities as well as I can.

I want in fact – to borrow from the language of the Saints – to live “in grace”

as much of the time as possible.

-Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I must admit, the name of her husband Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr. was more familiar to me  than she was. She was the first licensed woman glider pilot in the US. And I didn’t know  that she writes until I encountered her  inspirational and probably her best-known work,  The Gift From The Sea, a small and hardbound volume  which I enjoyed reading tremendously. It’s a book of essays which was first published in 1955.  I was born a year after its publication and yet her book speaks for women of all ages – about life, love and marriage, peaceful solitude,  and  soul searching.  She writes with a poetic style that makes you savor every page because she is telling the world what you can’t verbalize yourself,  that sort that gets into you and you can relate to  it like it was your story too.  And you wish that you would be brave enough to do the same, just waiting, waiting for a gift from the sea.

Getting There…..And Beyond

There is really something wonderful about going back to things familiar.  Doing old routine gives you that feeling of being secure, that everything in your world is right again.  After almost seven months of doing nothing and just being focused on getting well, after months of uncertainty and regular visits to the hospital,  I am finally on the road to getting on and being in the midst of   going back  to a life that had  taken a back seat for a while.

Last Sunday, after attending the late afternoon mass at our Parish in Cainta, hubby and I dropped by  Super 8 to buy some groceries.  How I’ve missed just walking around the store and  thinking of what to buy, reading labels and just being excited to look for new products on the grocery shelves.  Most people would probably shun the thought of making grocery lists and actually buying and looking for the things one needs but I find grocery shopping therapeutic. In fact, I prefer it more than  going to a department store and just window shop with nothing in mind to buy. It’s a waste of time for me unless of course I go to a bookstore and browse to my heart’s content.  That would be heaven!  It’s an indulgence that is hard to avoid.

Anyway, I found this box of  dark chocolate with mint by Goya and I grabbed two boxes. It’s a local brand and costs about P26.75 per box and has about nine pieces of candies no larger than a twenty five centavo coin.  I love dark chocolate  much more with some flavor of mints in it.   Andes Mints is tops on my list though when it comes to that melt in the mouth, extremely refreshing and delicious treats.  There are times when we crave for this sinful treat.  Chocolate  is actually good for our health, dark chocolate even better. According to studies,  it improves cardiovascular health. Dark chocolate and cocoa are actually rich in antioxidants, they have natural compounds similarly found in fruits, vegetables, some grains and nuts.  Indulge once in a while, it won’t hurt, right?

Yesterday, it was my first venture out to the wet market with hubby in tow.  I actually missed the haggling. You really feel good even if it’s only a five peso discount from the regular price.  You might say, it’s really mababaw but it’s part and parcel of buying and selling in a wet market.  You gain suki from there.  You can never do that in a grocery store because prices of commodities there are fixed.  Anyway, some of my sukis actually asked me where I took my vacation, they thought I went abroad. Haha!   Yes, seven months of not stepping in a wet market might be that long for some, I never missed it until yesterday when almost everyone asked how I am.  It’s nice, really nice to be remembered and be missed.  Marketing for a fresh, weekly supplies of meat, fish and veggies is something that is an old routine for me, and going back to it  really gives me some semblance of a normal life.

And yes, gardening! I really could not remember the last time  I did some gardening, I mean, weeding and cultivating the soil for planting.  All I did the last few months were taking some occasional shots of new blooms and  watering the plants every now and then.   I am glad that finally, I could do it without worrying about being reminded by my doctor that I have to refrain from touching the soil.  Just like going to the groceries, gardening is therapeutic too and I always find pleasure and untold joy in watching things grow.  Last week, we hired a landscape gardener to refurbish our garden.   Its been a week now, and they are done with the grotto and water features. They have planted several greens and ground covers.   We still have to source for carabao grass, put some extra electrical outlet outside for our submersible pump,  another electric bulb for the grotto and  plant ornamentals for my planter’s box.  I just love the bonsai plants they put in one corner of the garden, the Thailand tamarind tree is simply arresting.   And I love the image of Mama Mary, it’s a three-foot statue made of fiberglass.

And in between all these, just give me a book anytime and my life would be complete.   I am slowly getting there with the help and prayers of friends and family.  Thank you Mama Mary.  Thank you Lord for  making me well again.

Last Song Syndrome

Have you ever been beaten by the LSS  (last song syndrome) bug? I was laughing at myself early this morning while  watering what was left of my so called garden after the landscape gardener took sometime off today and practically left the job of doing the finishing touches of  the grotto.  Come to think of it, the last time I heard this song was yesterday morning while my niece and I were playing hide and seek  at the garden. It was playing in my head when I woke up today, Israel Kamakawiwo “Ole” IZ’s version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  It was a catchy tune and his version makes you feel  like dancing  to the beat, really awesome.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?

The music was composed by Harold Arlen and the lyrics were written by E.Y.  Harburg. It was written for the movie the Wizard of Oz back in 1939.  And here’s what’s Wikipedia has to say:

The song is number one of the “Songs of the Century” list compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. The American Film Institute also ranked Over the Rainbow the greatest movie song of all time on the list of “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs“. It was adopted (along with Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas“) by American troops in Europe in World War II as a symbol of the United States.

Congratulations Rico, Congratulations to All….

Rico Hizon is one of the awardees of the recently concluded People of the Year Award. Catch him here at the following site:  http://goodnewspilipinas.com

“The list of awardees includes CNN Hero for 2009 Efren Peñaflorida; Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J., the longest-serving president of Ateneo de Manila University; presidential bets Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr.; Charo Santos-Concio,  president of the ABS-CBN network; multi-awarded broadcast journalist and GMA-7 vice president for news programs Jessica Soho; British Broadcasting Corp. news anchorman Rico Hizon; Rustan’s president Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco; the “first lady” of Taguig Kaye Tinga, veteran newsman lawyer Emil Jurado; Mita Rufino, for culture and arts; Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera; Bernd Schneider, the former general manager of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel who is credited for reviving the hotel’s grandeur; internationally-recognized designer Inno Sotto,  considered as the Philippines’ “Prince of Fashion;” Nonito Donaire Jr., the World Boxing Association’s super flyweight champion; and Manny Pacquiao, the only boxer in history to win seven world titles in seven weight categories.” (source: Philippine Star)

How Organized Are You?

Took this quiz on Facebook just for fun and here’s the result…haha! I really can’t stand clutter, it freaks me out.  What, you mean OC?

You are very organized. You are the poster child for control and order, some people may even refer to you as a neat freak but remember, its the organized person that gets things done.

Goodbye J.D. Salinger…..

“Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them—if you want to. Just as some day, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.”- J.D. Salinger

Thank you for giving us Catcher in the Rye.

Thoughts and Ramblings

It  was just a speck. I was fascinated.   It’s not yet summer, and I wasn’t expecting to see this small boy of around 10 freely enjoying the soft afternoon breeze with his dark kite flying in the sky.  This is my favorite spot, a place to watch the  fluffy and cotton candy clouds  on the horizon.  It’s behind our house, an undeveloped phase in our area where most people take their morning stroll and  exercise their dogs early in the morning.  And it set me thinking,  this laid back life that I am having now must be such a boring thing to most people.  I seem to float through life without the usual enthusiasm, without so much perk and socializing has become text messages and occasional calls on my cellphone,  moving in and out of this thingy called Facebook, adding and chatting with long lost friends in the process,  and yes, writing my thoughts here  in WordPress and updating my photoblogs at Multiply.  Don’t get me wrong, I cannot abide spending much of my time doing nothing productive.

Six months ago, it was easier to plan  everything that I wanted to do.  I am one of those who live by some lists on what to buy, where to go, whom to see, what to read, what to cook  for dinner  or where to spend special occasions for the family.  But six months ago, everything changed.  Life could be cruel at times when you are not prepared to face what it throws your way.   Sometimes, I look back at my life and wonder, what have I to show  after all these years?

I was reading a blog by one of my friends regarding the support group called Carewell Community (Cancer Resource and Wellness Community), a non-profit foundation that provides support and hope to persons with cancer by helping them to become more positive and engaged in their fight  for recovery.  One of these days, I may find the courage to make a visit  and share my own plight with fellow cancer patients.  The pain might be bearable but the journey is quite difficult.  You will never know how to completely empathize with a person who has cancer unless you have experienced the same thing.

I am just a cog in the ocean of life but one thing I learned while undergoing treatment was that,  every suffering has its own reward and mine was this – I am stronger now to face challenges, never being afraid of what the outcome of my treatment would be in the future.   And I am truly grateful for this experience because after everything that my family and I have been through, it has changed our lives for the better – more loving, more caring and becoming closer together.

“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey…
I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things…
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise…
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God…
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I may enjoy all things…
I got nothing I asked for-but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men, most richly blessed!” ¹²

- An Unknown Confederate Soldier,
A Creed for Those Who Have Suffered

Clouds

The shot really is nothing exceptional.  No sense of focus, nary a good subject. It probably would not even merit an amateur photographer’s eye.  But it made me think  of what life is all about – wonders of creation, freedom, lightness of being depicted by this lone bird which was captured  on screen. And these clouds no less remind us of our own mortality, that nothing is really permanent, that we are just passing through. I just remembered that I took this shot right after the partial solar eclipse last January 15, 2010.

Just a Mound of Earth

We’ve finally started  our garden project.  There is really nothing yet but just a mound of earth but I am documenting every phase until it is done.

I wonder how long it would take before I could see something green again here.  Some of my old ornamental plants have to be replaced .  I am saving a few of them for propagation.  Rocks and garden ornaments cost sky high, more so with ornamental plants.  This would probably be our last big project this year.