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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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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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: 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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Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape

This post came a  bit late but I can’t surely ignore it, can I?  Mine says Dreams and Escapes (with an S at the end).  There are several pictures  I took that would exactly describe what the word escape means to me but the following three shots stand out.

CALERUEGA. This is one of my favorite places. I could stay here and just listen to the silence or write a journal while admiring the view and feeling the cold breeze touch my cheeks.  That’s my daughter busy with something. I remember, we brought that tripod and three digital cameras,  mounting  one permanently to the former while we were exploring the place.

PUNDAKIT BEACH, SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES.  I remember those days when we used to go on road trips discovering new places . If only for the serenity of the place, I would come back here and see the sunrise or admire a wonderful sunset.  Beyond those mountains is Anawangin and overlooking this one is Capones Island.

TANAY. December 27, 2009, my first trip out-of-town after six rigorous sessions of chemotherapy.  Can I endure the exhilaration of going down these trails and climbing up the mountains of Tanay? I did it with flying colors, a brief escape from the fact that I was so depressed while undergoing treatments.

The beauty of nature gives us that feeling of oneness with the universe, a form of escape from pain and heartaches.  I always love this phrase posted  in  every corner at Caleruega which I have adopted in most of my blogs, Close To Nature, Closer To God.

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My Pink Angel

I bought a pot of this Pink Angel years ago. When it stopped flowering, I planted some cuttings in two small pots but it took so long for it to show those lovely pink blooms, that is,  until  now. It’s a sort of vine and shrub combined. I never knew its exact name  because I could not find such similar blooms on the net. It’s a Pink Angel, the vendor told me, so be it!

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches. –
~ Mary Oliver ~

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Sea Glass

I hold it in the palm of my hand

And I wonder how many beaches it has traveled

Or how many times it  was  washed up

by the angry burst of noontide.

I wonder, has it ever reached your shore?

Time has perfected its shape

But it never stays in one place.

It goes with the tide and roll with the waves

And place itself where I could see it

glistening in the sand.

Now you ask what love is -

I don’t know.

Maybe, just like this sea glass

It would show itself when you’re not looking

Maybe, just like this sea glass

It would come glistening on your footpath.

But you will never recognize it

Because your heart has turned to stone.

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My Red Bromeliad

I always attempt to take a few shots every time this red bromeliad shows its face. I was never lucky enough to capture its essence, either the picture comes blurred or it’s unrecognizable as a close-up shot of a bromeliad flower. Showing its face again made my morning.

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