Missus Bounty Basket

It has been two weeks since I started my morning class-two weeks of mixed emotions. This may sound so lame, but there were times when I felt so tired and just wanted to cry, but didn't. There are still adjustments to make, and we're trying to regulate baby K's sleeping time. This is not easy for all of us, but hopefully she'll get used to these changes.  - June 2008 -  I cannot remember which class is mentioned here. But the thing is, reading these 3 paragraphs, it somehow opened various emotions as if they are still in me. I would have to remind myself that I am safe and that whatever fear or helplessness was present at that time was meant to be experienced and felt for me to grow as a mother. That I did my best at that time and that the baby is now a young adult who was able to experience the love, and all is well.

 Silencing my mind this morning.  Being still while the AC hums in the background. It's Sunday and I thought my scheduled draft is ready but there's none. So here I am doing my post on my phone instead of using my desktop.  Or I can just leave it for next week...But if I want something to change in my routine and give my brain the push and exercise it create another pathway. I am a midlifer. A semi empty nester. A creative being who is resetting and upgrading her life. Not in a fancy way. But rather in a quiet and not so steady pace. I am awakening that adventurous, curious and bold spirit in me. A lot of work but I don't want to give up. The 5 year old in me is waiting. She is excited to finally see the midlifer does her thing with boldness and love for life. 

The 100 CHF question has kept bugging me ever since I started blogging years ago. This is also the reason why I fell off the wagon so many times. Today, as I scheduled my writing and posting, I decided that continuing to write just for the sake of writing and following the schedule I have set for myself will suffice. It is enough for me, even without a reader. My plan is mainly to write and learn to express my thoughts. Write longer than 10 lines and insert the pictures that I have taken from our travels, my garden, here and there.  It's because of blogging that I was able to learn some HTML stuff. Because of writing here, I was able to discover a lot of things. Authors, podcasts, books to read, and what a joy it is to learn. Writing...What's good about this is that for as long as I write, I have this feeling of being a researcher, a storyteller, and a real writer. While I type, I have this beautiful sensation of being someone else, detached from myself as a Nanay-someone who i...

  Maybe it was the coffee... This urge to write once more, typing my thoughts. I had two biscotti. Carlo came home from the barber's. The wind, greens, woodpecker. My potted pink ranunculus has 5 flowers now. Still in my bathrobe. Need to continue with my sowing. 7 lines last April and did not post it. I am now on a quest to publish every saved post here, however short it may be. The most important thing is to put this out into the universe. The idea is to let go of everything here and not be kept hidden. To be braver and not to expect anything in return, but rather share my thoughts. This is a baby step toward being more outspoken. Not keeping everything inside my heart and head.  On to the next one.

 37° C. This was a few days ago, and today it seems to be 2° or maybe 3° lower. I am already thinking of ways to keep our home cooler for next year. Though I grew up in a tropical country, our summer wasn't like this.  I grew up near a mini forest; I was oblivious to the heat. There were trees everywhere, where we could climb and eat fruits, the summer breeze gently caressing our young faces.  And the river, where we bathed and did our laundry, when the water was still abundant and belonged to everyone who wanted to enjoy nature at its finest. It felt like nothing would cause change, but here we are. Feeling and experiencing Mother Nature's fury.                                                         Presently, my family and I live near a river in an area where trees surround us.  And with this summer heat, the early morning bre...

 What am I doing? Well, this is a desperate move to do a blog post a day late because I wasn't able to follow my schedule last week. Yeah, I can definitely cite a lot of reasons why, but it will not change the fact that I did not stick to my writing time. Now, this is just a tiny step to be consistent and follow my agenda even though my body and brain are trying to do something else. But it's Monday, a new day, and I want to be kind to myself and not be stressed. So I write whatever comes into my head, while Spotify is on. I recently discovered the song I Feel Good , a positive song written by Ingrid . I am getting tired and want to sleep (heatwave here in Europe), but I want to write something this afternoon. There's just no specific subject that I can write about. So, I am typing with my eyes closed and hoping that something will fly by and give me that inspiration to type something worthwhile and something which comes from my being. I have been using the word being for ...

 A week ago, I decided to do a 3-month reset to rearrange my life, focus on being healthy and productive, and express myself through any creative channel. I then put this in writing or rather, I created an agenda and typed everything I should accomplish in a day. There it was, my weekly schedule. In this way, I was hoping to find my path.  Yet while preparing this post. There are suddenly many questions popping up in my head. Am I really not on my chosen path? Because, maybe, just maybe, amidst my own troubled mind and the noise that society is filling my being with, maybe I am where I should be without fully realizing it. Always thinking that it is greener on the other side. But which other side am I looking at? Blurred and nonexistent future, fear of the unknown?  Right at this moment, it feels like I am unwrapping a gift that is always there, the one I was not fully aware of, because of waiting for something else. If the path that I am yearning to discover is in front ...

The possibilities are endless. This is what I have been telling myself these past few days. Trying to make my mind and body synchronized, which is a good way if one wants to reset their life. Am I making any sense? Maybe not to you, but I fully understand myself now because it is tiring to want to change and not move an iota of muscle to make those changes. Am I procrastinating, or am I just scared to fail? Fear has been part of my life as long as I can remember, but I was able to get on with my existence. It is now on a steady course, the one I have imagined minus the aching knees and the arthritis. Not to forget the unemployment stage I am in. I thought of using it in between jobs. But got tired of shrouding my situation and used the exact word. Yes, I am unemployed, and it's getting tough to find a job. But I create... because? I am a creative being. Huh! I need to use my hands and my mind. To be able to say that, despite and in spite of; I exist, and yes, I have so many hobbies...

       Healing isn’t a destination — it’s a gentle unfolding that begins deep inside. Because of my urgent need to understand what is happening to me, I started looking for answers and these books have helped me a lot to understand not just the symptoms but the root causes of what has been going on.                 I soaked in them and was thankful that, through their wisdom, I could finally begin to see my pain not as a failure or weakness, but as a language my body and soul were speaking—an invitation to listen, to feel, and to gently reclaim myself. These pages became companions on my journey, holding space when I needed it most and lighting a path back to wholeness. Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only share books that are either personal favorites or highly rated by trusted sources. Clic...

Over the past few years, I’ve leaned into learning new skills through books—slowly, joyfully, and with the kind of curiosity that only grows the more you feed it. From lettering and drawing to knitting and language learning, these books have been my personal tutors, each one offering a doorway into a new world. I wanted to share the ones that made a lasting impact on me: Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only share books that are either personal favorites or highly rated by trusted sources. Click the title for the link to check prices and grab your copies on Amazon. 1. Brush Lettering Made Simple by Chrystal Elizabeth This was one of my first creative guides, and it felt like an invitation to slow down and savor the rhythm of handwriting. Chrystal Elizabeth breaks down brush lettering in such an accessible, encouraging way that even the most hesitant begi...

  Summer is the perfect time to unwind with a great book — whether you’re soaking up the sun or enjoying quiet moments at home. I’ve curated a list of beautiful fiction, smart nonfiction, and inspiring gardening books by women authors that capture the vibe of warmth, curiosity, and thoughtful reflection. 

 I was in the kitchen when the thought of writing about today came into mind. Actually, today's happening started last year and a few days ago, Carlo reminded my youngest daughter to shine her shoes. Then yesterday, he mentioned that again, and the two of them started cleaning my daughter's Doc Martens . There she was standing in front of her parents, getting ready for today's event. I told her that I'd take her to the Gare Cornavin .  And so this morning, we biked our way to the bus stop, where a road repair is still underway. Then from Pont-Rouge there's the tram 15 . While in the tram, we reread the email and looking at her hair, I suggested that we buy hair clips in Migros . Afterwards, taking the bus to rue Monthoux, we were half an hour early. So then off to a café , where we ordered a too-strong for us ginger ale. She reminded me again that I was supposed to leave her at the Gare Cornavin. I smiled and crossed the street with her, leading to the hotel . We s...

This morning, I had the privilege to stay amongst the greenery while contemplating the sky. Looking up, I could see clouds of different shapes and formations. A baby, a face etc.  Then suddenly they were all gone and the blue sky was all that was left for a brief time.  I  could stay looking up at that peaceful sky the whole morning but duty calls and various errands are to be done. My to-do list was not full this time. I remember when a friend found out that I love to prepare a to-do list, she seriously told me that people who make To-do list would have Alzheimer's . I look at her in disbelief. I did not say anything. Not saying anything to keep the friendship and at the same time to avoid confrontation eventually caught up with me. I am losing my voice. Being silent for as long as I can remember would mean not disturbing anyone, or not causing any harm. Keeping quiet means calm and not voicing anything. Growing up, I believed that I was shy yet I found out that I was ...

A long time ago,  I learned to type , however, I was not at ease with the number keypads but the letters were just a breeze. Thanks to my perseverance on sleepy Saturday mornings and some typing courses my aunt gifted me. And now here I am again, typing some more and revisiting the ease and pride I feel every time my fingers hit the keypads. There must be a reason why I have learned this, there must be a reason why I like to write in English. Maybe it's not that perfect but my brain will just switch and use Uncle Sam's vocabulary. It is awesome. Now as I turn older, a word/vocabulary sometimes skips and hides and won't come out that easily, I savor the day and time when they flow easily.  I would like to type at least  3 paragraphs and let the words turn into something useful to me or to someone who might read this but what can I say or write? I'd like to inspire someone like me, a 50-something who is trying to remember what she wanted to be when she was 5 years ol...

 Life is unfolding the way it should be, which makes me look forward to what's next. It's not easy to comprehend, a challenge most of the time given my old mindset yet considering the learning and unlearning that are taking place at this moment I am welcoming the shift that's taking place.  I am not writing about my 5 things TODAY.  I am still deciding if I should continue to write at 8 p.m. There are so many things to do in so little time yet I am learning to focus and put my creative energy into important things. Yet, the question of being proactive and productive as an unemployed 50-something mother of 2 creeps in. How can I do both, how can I fully engage my being to create and be creative every day? Maybe because I am worried about being labeled as lazy. Or maybe, I should stop thinking what others might say about me and just be Me.  I have been living with fear, worry, and stress most of my life. Being too kind and too nice so that there's peace around me. Sayi...

The garden. My plot is steadily taking shape hopefully in time for the greenhouse . Not much effort is needed to pull out the weeds yet it's a challenge to level the soil. I wanted to get this miniature level to make sure of that. Solution. I have finally found out my hens' problem and now, will be able to apply the proper solution for them. It will be a long process but that's how it is. Clutter . Father and daughter team clearing the attic. A part of it, nonetheless what's important is they have started. Agenda. My spring notebook is almost full not only with my to-do list but with book titles, quotes as well as recipes. There are times when not everything is accomplished yet seeing my daily written plan works for me and I function better with it. Packed lunch. Cooked chicken curry for Erin's lunch and she's not convinced that it was a curry dish. 😄 Nanay's pretend chicken curry 5 pcs chicken thigh a can of coconut milk 2 spoonfuls of Panang curry past...

  We had a very early morning. Dropped one daughter off at the tram station , left the other while she was getting ready for school, and drove to Plateau de Glières to forage some bolet and chanterelles . It's an hour or so from Lancy . We were not the first ones to arrive and hoped to find a lot of mushrooms .  5 things TODAY. Silence. We were together in silence amidst the forest. Coffee. It was a bit cold while walking in the forest and we thought of having some coffee once we were in the village but due to time constraints went to do the grocery first and headed home in time for lunch. Next time we plan to be coffee-ready even stay longer and have the day only for gathering mushrooms Kindness. We all need that today.  Patience. Foraging mushrooms is synonymous with patience. We walk towards that goal of finding the chanterelle yet if and when there's none, it's alright. Next season again.  Being grateful. Of our time together, of the lone chanterelle and the...

  Thrilled to celebrate my first month of 5 ThingsTODAY posting, I let myself slip away and wasted my time waiting to recenter and get back to the flow. But rather than starting slowly and then betting back, I slipped further away and felt that I needed to take a day off and did not post anything. I felt guilty at first yet did not curse the world because that was my decision and no one was trampled on.  I thought of writing something else than my 5 things just to shake things up. Maybe I should document my plan to sort out my things. Maybe...maybe. Yet here I am again. 5 things TODAY. My truth. The most important thing that matters. The past. Should stay where it is.  Staying in awe (once again). Be it seeing an enormous walnut tree for the first time or that bird that landed on our table.  Côté Jardin . It has been a while since I listened to this garden program in TSR. Canton Vaud . Went to Aubonne , not in Ikea , mind you but to the Arboretum . Took home two pot...

 A month ago, three days after my birthday, I decided to write  5 things as a blog post. A very short one, less than 5 min. read.  My goal was to create something and answer the whisper of the Universe that I have been ignoring for as long as I can remember. Then I  asked? What am I supposed to write? What if nobody reads it. Then I remembered that my main goal is to create and let my life unfold without asking or waiting for other people's validation. Of course, I still check how many visit my page. But it is not the most important thing that motivates me to write and answer the whisper that's getting louder and louder. The most important thing is that after the busyness of the day, I can put Bach and let the magic begin. It does not make any sense but it's a way of getting to know myself, which  I  have long forgotten and abandoned to be able to follow the path dictated to me.  In writing my 5 things for the day, I am reconnecting to my soul and waki...

  Today: Conversation. Nothing compares to talking to a friend and inspiring each other for future projects. Happiness - it's finding hazelnuts on the sidewalk while biking on my way home. And I just can't leave them there, trampled on or gathered by the machine to be thrown out and forgotten.  Kitchen . To clean up before going to bed, whatever state I'm in.  Shops. Boucherie Dussauge and Thu Hang . Two of the few places I like to go to while doing my errand in Geneva. Mairie . Went there to buy tickets for next week's day tour with Mama.