Missus Bounty Basket

  It was a quiet day, everyone's at school and I had the whole house for myself. Being bored was not on the agenda. Yet this would mean eating alone, talking to the hens, gardening , and keeping our home organized .  I am decluttering . Slowly... As I let my life unfold and learn to be more gentle and loving towards myself, projects don't look as daunting as before. Something is shifting inside of me and being aware of that is just gloriously amazing. 5 things TODAY:  Gratitude Trust the process.  Just when I thought that this beautiful zucchini plant called  trombetta  would not grow, it suddenly gave three fruits. And as with life, I am trusting the process.  River . Calms the soul. Being kind to myself. Choosing to be quiet.

Days have passed and I wonder when to write. To sit down and just write all the things that had happened during the past few days but I'm keeping it off for a long while now. It's not the lack of inspiration but there's not really an urge to share what I have in mind.  Thoughts of altogether leaving my blog entered my mind, but the need to express my feelings in writing persisted. This is a draft written in 2011.  And there are 200-something of them on the list. I want to select which ones are worth keeping and finish each and every one of them, this means sticking to my plan for writing. According to this book , one has to choose one goal at a time. Focus on just one.  But focusing on just one made me anxious about my time here.  How can I do the other things I'd like to accomplish like learn another language , have 250 subscribers on youtube by February, write a book , optimize my health , augment my earning capabilities and pass my driver's license ?  If i...

She was holding onto the magnolia tree , smiling.  Looking at that polaroid photo, I thought she resembled  Sharon Cuneta .  It was my Nanay Manang, my paternal grandmother who showed me the picture. The girl was the granddaughter of her friend and was living in America . Once, she was given a blue sweater and let me try it. I itched all over. What is this sweater, I asked? It keeps one warm, she said.  In my young mind, I wanted to be that girl. She seemed so happy and contented. I also wanted to go to America. The United States . It's the only country that existed in my mind. The magnolia tree, the only tree I love.  But, the love did not persist for long because my interest turned to our  yard.  Chesa tree was fruiting, there was also jackfruit and santol , and not far was the sampalok tree. Sampaguita were everywhere and though not as big as the magnolia tree, the scent overwhelms me with joy every time I sweep the yard. The chore which I have ...

It's a sunny day and though the weather is slowly changing our garden is still bursting with color. Moreover, my garden to-do list is mostly done. As I roll the lemon grass leaves to be stored for our future use, a warm feeling of joy and gratitude enveloped me. The thought of our kitchen filled with the delicious aroma of lemon grass during the winter days excites me.  That simple rolling jest, being in the moment, with no distraction only a light breeze and nature's blessing around me brings me joy . Undoubtedly, it's in simple things that we feel contented.  I'm on the right path because, for so many years, fear of the uncertain has shadowed everything in my daily life. Giving rise to stress. Paralyzing my body , figuratively, and causing me not to use my full potential as a human being. As I slowly modify my habits and introduced new ones, my attitude is steadily changing. My focus is shifting to the present moment. The HERE & NOW.  This new me is far f...

This is not really about the famous character  originally played by Christina Ricci . Though I have watched season 1 on Netflix and my daughter was upset that I finished the last two episodes without her. So, I promised that we will watch  Season 2 together. Back to my Wednesday.  Here in Switzerland , where 22.9 % of the population speak french ,  Wednesday is translated as mercredi and they do not write the days in a capital letter . Even the dates are written differently. Date first, then the month, then finally the year. Today is 08.12.2022. Below is  a nu rsery rhyme   by   Ann Eliza Bray . Apparently, it is supposed to help children remember the days of the week. As someone who was born on a Wednesday and has a lot to learn and unlearn about woes, I am embracing a more positive connotation for it.  My Wednesday is particular because it's the day I was born. It is also when my writing and posting  are done. This might change however b...

Dear Ellen, It was very late last night when you suddenly appeared in my thoughts. I stopped with editing my video and greeted you in my head then said a prayer. Later, images of us during our university days flashed before me and I smiled. Do you remember when we use to go to HP and were mistaken to be SM sales clerk because of our school uniform? The Graduates of 1991                             This morning, which I am sure is your bday, I realized that you were in my dream. There were  3 girls on a hill and one was pointing where Pantabangan was. You have mentioned that your family was displaced a long time ago and I know that the girl was showing   your family's village . It might have been so hard for everyone to leave their birth place and  start in a new one. Before finally getting up, I greeted you again,saying how I miss you and that I love and admire you, my dear friend.  My de...

  In December 2019, I decided that the following year would be a better one for me. So I listed things to do and projects to complete. My goal was that everything in that list should be crossed-out, accomplished. Then my body pain got worse,Taal Volcano erupted, Covid19 entered and my father got sick.  By March 2020, Switzerland went into semi-lockdown. Everything I wanted to do has taken a backseat. As if the lockdown was my excuse to carry the pain and fear in my  body and mind, to not do anything. I was anxious, my body was in pain and I cried not only because of what seems like helplessness but it felt that I am not going anywhere. Goodness, gracious, I am 50. What am I doing with my life? In my head, I started to create a more positive scenario. My day as a Nanay in a pandemic went on. As the semi-lockdown started to ease up, my therapy restarted and slowly my body received the re-education, love and care it needed. I remember during one of my sessions, my physi...

in front of Three Rondavels  Our travel album is now almost a year in the making. Maybe even 2 years. I have been keeping it off. Too many pictures to sort out. But it's a long overdue project like my duck house, passing my driver's permit,language lesson,writing and art class to name a few (more of those next time) and I do not want to carry them till 2021. There's a need for me to off load these unfinished projects because my shoulder is really bothering me--literally.  roaming free in India

 It took me forever to watch Crash landing on You . My sister has been bugging me to watch it. Every time we talked in Messenger our conversation would mysteriously gear to #CLOY . Her voice would change and there was this excitement, that kilig about someone.  But I was trying to avoid it like a plague. Knowing for sure that it will invade my whole being, my household, and my entire day, just like the  one where a woman cooks in the palace . So, what's the fuss about  this series , I asked myself. This didn't take long to answer, because one sunny afternoon while waiting for my laundry, I gave in. Few minutes after starting the first episode, I almost fell asleep.   Some of this Kdrama's locations were set here in Switzerland . 📷: Norilyn Mendoza Iseltwald Charmilles' Seri & Capt. Ri  📷: Norilyn M.                                           ...

my schanafouilles  Monday was the first day of school. My eldest is in secondary or Cycle d'orientation while my youngest is in the primary school.  T he girls were anxious and I tried not to show mine.  However, compared to previous years, this time, it feels like we're ready. I am not talking about being on time, having satisfying breakfast, and all but rather the changes and the possibilities ahead. As their mother, I lovingly embrace it now, not without the first day anxiety :) and welcome the fact that my babies are growing up and becoming more independent. No more brushing their hair into pigtails and braids. School snacks are not prepared anymore. Though this time, one wore my t-shirt and the other one my light jacket. Some years ago, when my youngest did not feel like going to school, I drew a heart on a piece of paper with a little note that says: I love you forever. I told her that though, Nanay cannot go to school with her, my heart is with her and hopefully, s...

somewhere in India It has been three days since the girls went back to school after two months of semi-lockdown. To prepare for that back to school, one late morning, I have started sewing face mask for them but unfortunately I have yet to manage my machine and the sizes of these masks. It's kinda frustrating that a simple task like sewing gives me headache, yes, I am not good at this. I should have listened more to my Practical Arts teacher in high school. So, they don't have any mask on when going to school. The re-opening of the school makes me anxious. I worry about my children but at the same time glad that they will see their friends again and perhaps they might feel the normality of life again. I thought that our lives might go back to normal again but what is normal now? Everything has changed and we are all going to adapt to the circumstances. I wish to stop worrying, given that it's almost half  of the year and now what? I am turning 50 and there are so ma...

December 2018 We arrived on the 20th of December in Manila from Bangkok and were excited to see my brother, Rolan, cousin, Pogi and some of my daughter's cousins at the airport to welcome us. It felt great to be back in my home country .  We have spent Christmas with the whole family and met most of our relatives during this festive time. My sister-in-law, Zem , who was supposed to spend Christmas with us, went back to Bangkok after spending a night with us due to her boyfriend's accident. JANUARY 2019 Instead of partying with a friend and her family,we opted staying in our town to spend New Year with our family. My parents were happy we were all together. My friend, Fibs came home as well and we went to Puerto Galera without my daughters. The girls started their schooling after New Year. They both didn't like having uniforms. But rule is rule and without exception. I usually wake up before 5h and prepare their p...