Missus Bounty Basket

18 April 2011 92/100 Present Day The picture was taken in Plaine de Plainpalais. Looking at the image, I am sure that it was a day outing with my daughters. I wanted them to have a feel of my childhood experience. I grew up seeing goats, cows, and chickens all around our neighborhood. Dogs and cats freely roamed the neighborhood.  Mama had some chickens for sale we called "40 days," and I used to help her, along with the other members of the family, in preparing the chickens at 5 in the morning to be sold in the market the same day. The setup was like an assembly line- a large pot with boiling water, a plucking area, a cleaning nook, and then the packing area- usually a sack, where the prepared chickens were put.  In this kind of scenario, warmed by the firewood in our kitchen, hot coffee and radio were our companions.  My grandmother, Nanay Manang, glued to our white radio, was also present, intently listening to the Toning program on DZBB, a glass of water in front of...

Relationships of any kind undergo challenges. Some would work on it, others would simply walk away. Her marriage is no exception. Staying and trying to work it out  97 and 96/100+ Present day On April  17th and 20th 2011, I had two drafts about people close to me, and rereading the two lines on each draft, I realized that it was something that should be posted anonymously. I honestly look up to these people, given how they have built their lives and achieved success in their own fields. It felt invasive and so out of line to continue writing their stories. So this one's going to be two drafts in one-not a continuation but rather a post of gratitude to these two human beings who continue to show up for their kids, show strength amidst the uncertainty of life, and really worked hard to be the best versions of themselves.      Thank you for being in my life. For being my constant reminder of different facets of mothering and being true to oneself.  For in...

Genève 31 March 2011 It all started well. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and the neighborhood was so quiet. The girls were happy to be out- the eldest standing on the skate just behind the pushchair where my youngest was seated quietly...but not for long. Our bus ride was accompanied by her crying - wanting to get out of her pushchair. In the grocery store, she wouldn't let go of her rubber shoes and cried all the way to the cashier while I paid for them.I find it really challenging to be out with her now. She's Rohner in Zermatt 98/100+  Present day . I felt some kind of serenity while reading the first paragraph and smiled as I read the rest of the drafts. That was me navigating the road of being a mother. Did I handle the stress well? Probably not. Yes, my world changed when I had my daughters. Love, patience, and joy. Beautiful chaos, crying and tantrums.  Thinking about those days, I wonder what I have missed because of stress and my inability to regulate my f...

99/100+  Present day  The draft title clearly mirrored how I felt during that time. It was after finally learning the html command that I was having a hard time with. A fellow blogger from Australia was patient enough to teach me how he did it. I was into learning HTML to create my own website. It became complicated for me, so pursuing it further was not an option for me. Yes, I quit and now wonder...What if?  This is my decade-long lesson - that quitting should not be an option. That my "What ifs" should be --taking ACTION.  And so here I am - taking action and practicing, writing, blogging, online journaling to be able to say -yes, I took ACTION, and that is the reason why I am here, NOW - foreseeing myself experiencing a life of abundance and creativity as well as good health. This is what my being has waited for me to do. And I am glad that  I listened. My future self is definitely jumping for joy. I have to remember to bring her chilled Prosecco. I hope she...

03 March 2011 Toys, clothes and other stuff are accumulating in our cellar. I want to have a tidy and clean space but I just don't know where to start or is it really the problem? I guess, parting with them is not that easy. Giving each item the emotional value adds to the difficulty of the process. I even thought of sending them back home so that others might use them but it's so expensive. more or less tidy view of the living area Present day 100. My blog drafts are down to 100, and I am ecstatic about this. I will celebrate by organizing my office corner. Sort out papers and books to be read. Pens, a mug, and post-it notes. Maybe I should do a dance of celebration, thank ME for showing up almost every day.  I am not attaching any emotional value to the magazines received, but I am keeping my travel souvenirs for my art journal.  In the meantime, I will savour Paula's song (Dawson's Creek theme song), then fold the remaining laundry, have my 3rd mug of coffee and dec...

Somewhere in Greece 09 February 2011 Clothes have been washed and are ready to be ironed. I have vacuumed the whole house and the girls' unwanted toys have been put away. Now what? Today should be a good one but I'm lost. Ballenberg open-air museum Present day Judging from the day's chores, I guess I was overwhelmed. Having a preschooler and a toddler plus a room full of toys would make any mother overburdened. Looking back, I was still learning to be a mother. This is a long process because up until now, I am still at it. Nevertheless, with all the anxiety and challenges, being a Nanay to these 2 wonderful human beings is the best thing ever. :)  a walk in the forest near Giessbach falls Now, the laundry.  These days, I rarely iron our clothes. Our beddings and towels are folded unironed. They are kept in a tokador (dresser) with sachets of lavender and summer scent tucked in every fold. Thanks to the summer heat, my laundry gets to relish the sunlight and be dried in no t...