Missus Bounty Basket

22 March 2012 80/100+ Present day This draft contained an image of my daughters,taken a long time ago in Mama's home. I have added some elements and a quote. Now, reading it to get inspiration on what to write. It's almost 6h in the evening and still bright.  Adobo is simmering and tomorrow our packed lunch will be ready.  I am debating between finishing this line or putting my art stuff in the car. We are heading out early tomorrow for the yard sale, and for the 2nd year, I am selling some of my creations - paper crafts, drawings, postcards, and some bookmarks. There are also some indoor plants potted into mugs and cups I no longer need at home.  Yard sales are one of the things I love here in Geneva. Maybe because at a very young age, I was into selling. Halo-halo, banana cue, fritters, you name it. Yet, we didn't do any yard sales. We held on to our things, reused everything until we could no longer use it.  Maybe this is part of my learning while away from my hom...

22 March 2012 As the plane reached the runway, everyone cheered! Fellow Pinoys started gathering their things, much to the dismay of the plane staff. I couldn't help but smile and was overwhelmed. Home at last! The challenge of travelling with two toddlers seemed far behind now. I made it, with two additional wrinkles on my forehead. 81/100+ Present day It got easier; I am telling you. I used to get stressed out on the plane.  Not wanting to bother the others because of my children. But my toddlers were experiencing something distressful that we as adults could not comprehend. So as a not-too-experienced Nanay of two, who thought of having a relaxing flight and at the same time not wanting to cause no one any trouble, the stress level  could go throuht the roof . It didn't help the emotions that one or both of my daughters were experiencing. The heavens knew it but I was all ears to my daughters and to my inner being.  Anyway, the lesson was learned. Or maybe not really...

20 January 2012 The tram is full at this hour; good thing that I was able to get a seat, though it's the one facing the opposite side. The pain that this sciatic thing is causing me is not bearable anymore. Outside, it's drizzling--this made me long for the blue sky of Cavite. 82/100+ Present day My barrio -  its progress is bittersweet. I long for the rivers, the bignay trees, the bridge where one can see the mini falls whose waters flowed straight to the Kutsarita River, where the clear water mirrored the dragonflies and blades of grass, trees, laughter, splashes, gossip, and birds. The big mango tree. The carabaos grazing along the path leading to my grandparents' home. The coffee trees, cashew trees, jackfruit, santol trees -everything was there, even the sampaloc tree. What more could one ask for?   In those days, we longed to be in Manila, to be mapusyaw . Not knowing that the color of our skin is not as important as the values our old folks have taught us. We walked....

6 November 2011 83/100+ Present day These pictures were taken in my sister-in-law's garden. A long time ago.  There's just one issue: I have to figure out once again the HTML code to bring all these images in a grid. It has been a long while since my last tutorial. Well, there are so many things now that take time for me to figure out aside from the latter. But I have to remind myself that at this point in my life, rushing may be good, but it will not get me faster to what I want to achieve. I rush to finish a book, to knit my poncho; I rush to do the laundry and to harvest the figs. I rush to do this and that, then forget the essence of being here on earth. I rush to make a difference but, in doing so, forget my own journey towards inner healing. How can I make a difference if I am all over the place, if I want to finish everything to be able to acquire abundance and forgetting my essence? And what is that essence? How, with all the noise and yappers, can I feel my...

6 September 2011 Lotto winnings* still eluded me...but for some time now, small prizes like tickets to cinemas or concerts have come my way, and just recently I've won a 5-month subscription to Baby Gym, which costs chf 475. Not bad. So today we're off to check Baby Gym in La Praille for a once-a-week session for one of my girls. Really excited. *I'm not really playing -conscious of the money I'd spend on that. 84 /100+ Present day It was not an imposed deadline. But as I said before, instead of just erasing my drafts, I would complete and finish them all before the end of 2026. That is why I am working on it.  So here it is, my 84th of my 100+ drafts where I wrote my winnings a decade or so ago.  Reminiscing about that, it looks effortless. It flowed with ease into my world, but I could not remember if I uttered a word of gratitude for everything.    Recently, there was one rare occasion when I won a box of donuts, and unfortunately didn't see the message from th...

Palazzo dei Cento Preti, Roma 6 August 2011 Nope, I'm not really into railroads; there's just no appropriate title available right now;) This whole thing is because of our recent trip to Italy, where we took the train from one city to the next. Actually, there's nothing more exciting that train rides, you got to see the scenery but this could be a bit of a challenge when you have 2 small children and 2 big luggages not to forget a pushchair. It could get really stressful, and you wish you were in business class on a Boeing 747 specially when all you hear is "Mama Mia". 85/100+ Present day Italy. I am not sure of the exact moment when I fell in love with this beautiful country.  Was it during the camping adventure where my daughters were free to roam, went to Baby dance and parents stayed late to eat ice cream afterwards and where Lina's stand displayed an array of fruit and veggies grown in her own orto, or the time when I first had apérol accompanied by a tra...

14 June 2011 Frugal living in this expensive Switzerland seems very unlikely for someone like me, but this is what I've been practicing for sometimes now. Though I don't consider myself religiously applying it. So there would be moments of giving in to something, but still in moderation, I think. However, my sensitivity was put to the test when I found out that some people were commenting on the way I dress, also adding that it's because I bought them at a yard sale. Even my daughter wasn't spare of this. It hurts. I then questioned my ability to provide for my daughter. But does buying new stuff for my girls make me a better mother? We each choose how we want to live our lives, and buying second-hand is one of those things which brings me joy.  This is me. And as long as there's a yard sale in Geneva, you guys would find me there. Rummaging through stuff, admiring every knick-knack, and filling my bags with Hello Kitties and Dora books that make my girls and their ...

29 April 2011 You might also like: Sunny Day Liwaliw/Going out and having fun My postcard-like view Getting back into shape Howzat 87/100+ Present day My Nanay Manang's fried rice came to mind as I looked at the plate of dried fish, or what we called "lawlaw".  These days, we rarely eat fried rice in the morning.  Having spent half of my life away from home, I have slowly changed my habits, be it with food, time, or raising a family. Being away, though, hasn't fully changed my values; in a way, I was able to discover and apply to my life what is truly important for me to grow as a person. It is a long process because, along the way, without me knowing it, I still attached myself to my old ways, and relearning to live and be different was a challenge. But as with most people who migrate to another country and create their own family, I learned to adapt- body and soul but not witho...

29 April 2011 The girls, housework, gardening, lessons - these are just some of the things that occupied my time. How I wish to extend the time so that blogging won't be left aside. But anyway, now that we're almost done with half of May, school vacation is just around the corner. There will be other things that will occupy my time You might also like: window garden update Luntian/Green We are family My loving chef Howzat 88/100+ Present day Apart from undusted table, my workspace is finally breathing. A money plant next to my desktop, and some of my pink Post-it reminders were stuck on the latter. Books on writing, "No Dig" to remind me to amend my garden soil for a better planting season next year. Pens and a writing pad I was gifted.  It is 9h19 and filling this draft in with something interesting is somewhat of a challenge on a Sunday morning. But here I am, finally typing awa...

90/100  Present day  I cannot remember who Kuya Oka is or the reason for using his name as my title on April 20,2011. So today, let's figure out what to write to fill in this draft.  The other day, the girls were both at school,  so the whole house was filled with Bresh and Gazzelle. And today, being a weekend, both my daughters are at home.  So let's be silent and welcome Bach. His pieces are now penetrating the whole room as I type this phrase, and it brings serenity and calmness to my being.  Faint music is coming from Erin's room, but my surroundings are still tranquil. Radio Italia is not on.  Having had noise all day yesterday, I need to subdue my whole being and create quiet.  There are times when I can go on with my day without any music. Just total silence. It's like replenishing my soul with something other than music.  After being surrounded by noise, silence reenergizes me. Being alone, undisturbed, can sometimes be addictive; the...

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...