Queen Eume Violet

05/08/2023

31/07/2023

See the calf? I was about to drive it away pero naisip ko kagaya ko, nagugutom din siya. Sana lang mag-enjoy na sa damo at hindi na makita ang tanim. Minsan sutil din siya. Sa dami ng pwedeng kainin na damo, titikim pa din siya sa halaman.

31/07/2023

Are you a banana? because I found you a-peel-ling! 🤭😊

31/07/2023

My sweet but no sweat way of attracting birds and other wildlife in our garden.

31/07/2023

S A B U N G A N A Y

sabunganay/susop, banana blossom in the garden.

29/07/2023

Feeling calm in green.

29/07/2023

B U T T E R F L I E S are reminders that life is short and every moment is precious.

The male dies after transferring its s***m to the female, while the female dies after laying her eggs 🥺

23/07/2023

It has been three years since my husband first brought home a Malama avocado. Malama is a purple skin variety with a medium size fruit, excellent taste and a small seed.

Out of great enthusiasm to grow my own tree of the same variety, I tried to grow the avocado pit. Gratefully, I was able to grow three seedlings which I planted in our yard soon after. However, since I planted it near a tall and shady bamboo grass, the growth has been slow. Luckily, the bamboo grass was cut and cleared this year. Hence, my avocado is now receiving direct rays of light from the sun. I hope it will grow a little faster this time. I cannot wait to share its first fruit with you.

23/07/2023

Charcoal grill for these bangus!

22/07/2023

A few days ago, I went out for a coffee with some of my former students. They just recently graduated from big universities and I can't help but feel proud. Nothing actually changes after six long years. They are still the same sincere, humble and kind students I know except that they have evidently turned more emotionally mature and intellectually wiser. Anyway, they are "lowkey" so pretend I did not mention that they graduated with accolades.

They did not allow me to travel with my scooter and insisted on fetching me with their four-wheel. While we were travelling, I asked them how they managed to survive college life with all the unavoidable pressures and possible unpleasant influences. I mentioned about getting indulged to alcohol, cigar and other vices common to college students. Although I have been once like them, the gap in generation might speak of a lot of difference. I explained that I love hearing opinion from young souls. It somehow helps me in refocusing my parenting accordingly.

They shared how they also experienced going out and drinking in party bars. Their reason is straightforward, they thought that they will never be young again and they only live once. They also considered night-outs as cope up mechanisms. They confessed that they were able to uncork almost all types of liquor. Yet they managed to remain aware and faithful of their limit and their purpose. Their answers to my how are somewhat long and I can no longer recall it verbatim but there is one word they mentioned that registered in me. Standpoint. "Not everything you told your child will be remembered or be considered essential when he enters a bigger world. But, if a "standpoint" is established, he will be unshakeable and he has a greater chance to survive", they told me.

And yeah, I guess they are on point.

21/07/2023

I want to give a huge shout-out to my top Stars senders. Thank you for all the support!

Cullado Cristina, Kris Acena

20/07/2023

Late nakauwi kaya easy cook na lang tayo for hapunan. Nilagang freshly picked gulay from our garden.

Our fresh approach in cutting food bills by growing our own garden ☺️

20/07/2023

There is beauty in everything.

19/07/2023

Boodle fight. Literally, fight! 🤭

-QEV.

19/07/2023

Triple Buttercup Tropical Hibiscus in blossom. A great reminder that everything blooms in God's perfect time.

Keep watering your garden!

-QEV.

19/07/2023

Supertalent? Kaya ko kumain mag isa sa lugar na lahat ay may kasama 🤭

19/07/2023

The sight of century old brick walls and trees and the scent of old wooden doors. Is it just me who finds peace and solace in ancient views?

-QEV.

18/07/2023

BNY| 7•19•2023

Ephesians 5:15-16: "Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

One thing I always bear in mind as the keeper of our home is that, how I perceive life is how it shows up. My life is certainly how I see and make it. There are days that I feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Sometimes, I feel doubtful and regretful. There are even times that I feel clueless and pointless. All of those disheartening moments that I don't intend to sugarcoat because it all happened as it is.

Yet, what gives me the stamina to retract and accomplish all my to-do list everyday is the thought that all the tasks I have at hand are God-given opportunity of bringing me to the other dimension of my existence so I can live more purposely. Amid all the hurdles, I always remind myself to take advantage of new opportunities to strengthen my faith and create meaning in my life.

-QEV.

18/07/2023

Your generosity overwhelms me. I will be forever grateful for your gesture of kindness.

Cullado Cristina
Dah Lia
Kris Acena
Ren Da
Sha Nang
Zemraqu Cattaraca

18/07/2023

Insect-filled scratches after the rain! 🙌

17/07/2023

You are all I avo wanted!

16/07/2023

Sweet mellow or soft mizzle. Which one is more audible?

These tiny hands are preparing for a music recital 🥰

16/07/2023

The sun is always shining, even when it's raining 🌦️✨

This wonderful person certainly shines brightly just the way she lightens up my wall!

💌 Kris Acena

16/07/2023

BNY| 7•17•2023

Coffee and tea isn't really my cup of things until I became a mom a decade ago. Growing up, I am a H2o-only person with little to no soda and caffeine in my diet. More than being health conscious, I simply just can't afford it. I am absolutely clueless if someone speaks of espresso, cappuccino, latte, affogato or cortado [I might even be reading it wrongly, oops!). Nor do I have an idea of masala chai, matcha, green tea black tea and the list goes on. All I know is that a cup of milk-tea usually comes with boba or tapioca (oops again!). I even survived nights of review (and that include licensure board exam) without nudges or doses of caffeine. The only powdered thing in my canisters is milk and cocoa (I will not mention the brands since this is not a paid advertisement, lol).

When I gave birth to my child, I read from a certain article that tea baths (herbal and chamomile to be certain) are good for baby's skin. That was the time that I became a little engrossed in various teas. Thanks to my supportive husband who would voluntarily buy boxes of teas for our child's daily bath. Meanwhile, during painful menstrual cramps my mother-in-law would suggest drinking a cup of tea to relieve the period cramps and other menstrual pain. I guess, that is the prelude of my caffeine addiction.

Yet, I am not really specific with brews and brands. I drink what is readily available. However, kapeng Barako or Cafe verraco that belongs to the species of coffee liberica became my favorite after having tasted it when a comrade shared some with my husband. And yeah, I am referring to the traditional one-the one you would boil in a pot until the irresistible aroma filled your whole place. I usually mix it with muscovado sugar. Then, as years passes, I become more and more acquainted with coffees and teas. It turned out to be a mandatory beverage for most meals. But I would note [again] that I have no particular brand collection. I scoop, pour, mix and sip whatever there is. I also do not have an organizer except for a tiny wooden box.

So, I was especially thrilled when I saw the sharing of BeauTeaful Life on her wooden box. Such a minimalist yet functional wooden box for a coffee and tea connoisseur (I am not claiming to be a connoisseur though. I am just a drinker). I remember sharing that post with multiple edit captions (hehe). I am immensely grateful to the page creator for her kindness to share the link of the store. I never realized my husband will go this far in supporting my eye for things. He brought this box home yesterday as an advance present for my upcoming birthday (at least that is what I remember he told me but I know how he would always go extra miles just to make me happy with or without occasions).

Anyway, if you want to learn more about teas and coffee, I highly recommend this unique page life. 🙌

Well, I guess writing this lengthy is my antidote to a caffeine overdose (yawn!)

Mornight 🌧️💤

-QEV

16/07/2023

Star shines in rain-soaked days! 🌦️✨

God always blesses you abundantly because you are a blessing to others.

💌 Cullado Cristina

16/07/2023

ukiyo [u-key-yo] • Japanese

(n.) living in the moment, detached from the bother of life.

16/07/2023

Reflection| 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

MAY GOD'S PROMISES ALWAYS LEAD AND GUIDE US.

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 13:1-23) tells about the parable of the Sower who planted the seeds among different types of soils. The rocky, shallow, and good soil.

The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that it is the good soil that we must seek. It asks us to open our eyes, ears, and understanding to search for that place where our faith can grow and flourish. In life, we certainly face and discover many obstacles that prevent our growth. Particularly, there were times when everything turned unbearable and messy and we felt pointless and hopeless. Yet, we should be reminded that God is always working to bring out the best in us. Growth is a process. Sometimes, it may seem unnoticeable, yet a little progress and a little step is already an experience of growth. We can still thrive even amid the obstacles of life. So long as we hold on to God’s promises which lead and guide us, we can make good fruit.

-QEV.

15/07/2023

What's so majestic with our garden that it dominates my page?

Contrary to what you might have in mind, our place isn't a postcard perfect garden. In fact, it is just a mere space covered mostly with weeds with nothing but few fruit bearing trees, ornamental plants, herbs and vegetables. It is still a work in progress that certainly demands a lot of time, effort and resources.

Yet, it signifies so much of our aspirations, faith and patience as family. It mirrors the determination that my husband and I have poured to own a sanctuary for our child and our future grandchildren. It speaks of the focus and consistency that we maintained together to live in contentment and fullfilment while continuously working on the things that we set our mind to achieve. It highlights the tale of how we lived in delayed gratification to achieve our almost impossible ambition. Our garden is a story of hopeful dreaming, consistently praying and persistently working.

A dream come true.

12/07/2023

Why do I love country life?

Before the sun rises, I see the glorious dawn in all its glory and magnificence. I see the sun as it rises slowly out of the eastern horizon and washes our whole place with its brilliance. I see the golden rays as it reaches out into the open field. I feel the fresh, cool breeze that touches my face. I rest in the song of the crickets, the coarse whistle of the night birds and the rustling yet calming leaves as the wind blows gently.

Thank You Lord for all your wonderful creation and for your boundless blessings to us! 🙏

11/07/2023

BNY2 | 7•11•2023

Reminding myself tonight to maintain a perfect balance and necessary harmony in all my "to do's".

10/07/2023

BNY2| 7•10•2023

Before I let the silence of the night lull me, I would like to pour out whatever is running into my mind. These past few weeks have been days of exhaustion for me. Too many things have been needed to accomplish all at once and in an indisputable rush. I guess, that is how life mocks us sometimes; it gives us a handful of more than what we can actually accomplish. The process was tough. It was days of unceasing multi-tasking and overlapping priorities.Yet, God has always been so faithful. He has made the unimaginable possible and He has done everything achieavable in his most perfect time.

My takeaways? Like a spectacular opal, my life is a constant experience of precious impetus. Every twist and turn certainly reveals more of my purpose. The core however is, whatever life may bring, I am blessed to be given the opportunity to be the keeper of our home and of all the children entrusted in my care. And this remains perennial in my whole existence.

10/07/2023

Breathe. Think of solutions. Let not worries control you. Let not stress break you. Simply breathe.