Rain, Rain Go Away

It’s been raining since Monday prompting most schools  and universities to declare “no classes” in most areas here in Metro Manila. The start of the week  was marred by horrendous traffic, leaving so many flood prone areas in waist deep water. This is a perennial problem in our country every time  the rainy season sets in.

This morning though, the sun bravely showed its face and look  what I saw in the garden while emptying our small pond with rain water. I can’t resist taking a few shots (as always).

These are called rain lilies and they produce these tiny flowers during the rainy season. I planted some in a corner of our garden, the rest I put in a vase. I was pleasantly surprised when  I saw these tiny blooms. They somehow erased the gloomy atmosphere of the morning.

A  Zinnia bud about to bloom. I love the surprise it gives when the flower fully shows its face, sometimes you’ll never know what color it  brings.

This is my first Zinnia bloom this season.  I planted them from dried flowers which our village gardener gave me a few months ago.

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Reflections of a Grandma

How can you even know how precious your baby is until you feel the soft touch of his fingers on your face, the complete trust he has in you as you hold his hands and take a step or two, the smile on his face as he recognizes your voice, the warm embrace, the wet kisses on your face, the moments you pick him up and he snuggle close to you, safe and warm in your arms. It’s the unspeakable happiness he shows when you are around and the inexpressible love that  make him so precious, so loved, so treasured.

(Note: this is our baby Nate’s first published photo in a national Catholic journal). Proud to be a grandma.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Curves

Nothing comes to mind for this challenge except for these three  photos that I took  of one of my favorite places, Caleruega.

This is the main hallway of Caleruega with this lovely curved staircase made of wood.  And at the back of this staircase is a Koi pond with all those colorful Koi fish merrily swimming in the background.

I do love this lush, green garden with a curve pond for more Koi. I would love to come back here and just absorb the serenity and quiet of the place.

For more of this, kindly visit this link.

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Country Roads

I miss going on road trips. I haven’t done any this year yet but I remember the joys of seeing countryside scenery in all its glory. I love the feel of morning air and the fresh scent of some places far from the madding crowd, so to speak. I found these photos taken about three years ago on our road trip passing by SCTEX going to Olongapo City. SCTEX (Subic – Clark -Tarlac Expressway is a  93.77-kilometre (58.27 mi) four-lane expressway north of Manila adjoining the North Expressway. It ends up at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.

My son who took the wheels when we reached Subic was fined P200.00 for traffic violation back then. The traffic regulation they have there is quite different from what we have  in Metro Manila. If you rely on the traffic light here in the metropolis, in Subic, it’s a first come, first go basis even if the traffic light turns green on your end of the road. If you are not a resident of the place, you’ll surely won’t know that you are violating any traffic rule.  That’s traffic discipline, so they say.

It takes simple things for one to enjoy life and going on road trips is one.

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Going Back To The Old Place I Love

You are etched in my memory, a place where I could rebuild my dreams and still believe that they do come true.

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My Aglaonema Blooms

Yes, aglaonema plants have flowers too which are quite similar to the flowers of spathiphyllum plants and green foliage anthuriums.

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The Gift Of The Morning

Good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.

- Mary Oliver

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Weekly Photo Challenge: The Sign Says

Okay, here we go, another challenge for an amateur photographer like me. I’d like to think though that there will always be shots that speak of those moments when you thoroughly enjoyed something and wish there would be more opportunities to visit again.

I remember this. My kids and I celebrated Mother’s Day at an Italian restaurant then went to Avilon Zoo for the first time. It’s been years since I visited one. We enjoyed feeding the rabbits and having pictures with Jenny, a friendly orangutan  trained to shake hands with visitors.  A joyous celebration of feeling like a child again and  enjoying  it with the kids.

Taken during our first visit to Caleruega. We were so eager to feed the Koi fish at the large pond  and watched  their golden bodies merrily swimming.  That was the start of our love affair with Koi fish and had them in our small pond three years ago. It was sad that we lost them all during the flood last year.

We passed by this place on our way to Caleruega , would have loved to explore it but around that time, I think it was closed to the public. Just the name itself evokes peace and serenity.  It’s actually a center of spirituality run by the Salesians of Don Bosco where one can hold retreats, recollections and weddings.

For more of these challenge, you can visit this link.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: In The Background

When you dream, you could open feel that you are on top of the world and the clouds and blue sky are never far from your reach.

And when you commune with nature, you are really closer to God.

And the beach could be a big playground for those lovely thoughts. It is  lovely to see how nature channels you back to peace, tranquility  and silence.

See more posts here.

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Today’s Blessing

“It’s so curious: one can resist tears and ‘behave’ very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer… and everything collapses. ” – Collete

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