where is this sun you speak of?

Most of my childhood memories were set in the sea. I remember waking up early in the morning to witness the sunrise and feel the fresh sea breeze. I liked how calm the sea water was every morning just before some fishermen set sail. Most days when I was not in the garden, I was with my neighborhood friends playing tag, throwing sand balls, flying kites, catching small fishes, playing with sticks and building sand houses in the sea shore. Sometimes we're hardcore kids that we go with older people and catch fishes and pick shells and other sea creatures. When we have gotten lots of shells, we cook them and then we'd have picnic in the shore. I remember so much laughter, tears, silence, *hardwork*, friendship, enemies for a while, friendship right after, unity, freedom, a lot more. Those were the good old days. I am still living here but things have changed. My friends have grown up and I remember staying at home rather than being outside when I reached high school. Ever...

This one is probably the easiest salad to make. It's pretty common in our household, too. We add mango cubes, banana slices and other sweet fruits sometimes. In case you want to know this simple recipe, here it is. For 1 serving: 1 ripe Avocado; condensed milk; lemon juice; other fruits Cut the avocado in half and make cubes out of it. Same goes with other fruits such as bananas and mangoes. Put a little lemon juice. Pour some condensed milk. Chill in the freezer for an hour or so. Summer has been so intense since it started. I am not complaining (although sometimes I am) because rainy season is coming very soon anyway. I've been trying to grow basil and cherry tomatoes... in the balcony! (Which I am definitely sharing once I won't fail. I didn't know gardening would be this crazy but fun.) They need the intense light for them to grow healthy...or so I believe. Everything is fine for me. I hope everything is fine for you, too. Have a great week ...

What do you do when your sister left behind all her beads - of different colors, designs, and sizes -, materials and artsy tools to you? You make something out of them instead of letting them stay still in your drawer! That's what I did one afternoon with my little cousins. We crafted some beads for some of our relatives. My niece, Jasmine, will be celebrating her 6th birthday in a few days so I decided to make something for her as well. I gathered my materials: a small box, scissors, scotch tape, designed paper, red tie, and my tiny handmade gifts. These are the bracelets I made for Jasmine :) I wish I am very creative to make stuff like this one. I bought it from a stall near my university. It's a hair clip. :p I put everything in the box and covered it with a designed paper. A red tie to wrap everything up and a little note to greet the celebrant a happy birthday! :)

I made a carrot salad on a sunny morning. There's nothing much in it. I wanted to add some fruits but I can't find some in the kitchen. Next time, I'm going to plan ahead so I can gather more ingredients. It's one of my comfort foods. You might want to try it :) 1 serving: Carrot Mayonnaise (or any dressing you want) Slice the carrot in half. Slice the first half into thin bits Grate the other half Toss everything in a bowl Add your favorite dressing. You can add raisins and apples, too. And you're good! It was a perfect sunny morning! :) *everytime I make this, I remember my papa. He always eats fresh carrots. :)*

I am thankful for the people who have been with me throughout the years even if I look silly whenever I eat ice cream.Heh. I am thankful for a lot of things. I am thankful for having some friends and family. Those people who truly believes in me despite my imperfections. I am thankful for music, affordable fruits, book sales, and scented candles. Small things like these make me happy.  I am thankful for sunny mornings, rainy nights, or the other way around. I am thankful for knowing good people. Because they inspire me to act like them. I am thankful for knowing the bad side of them . Because they serve as lessons in life. I am thankful for freedom of expression. I am thankful for love, hate, and all other feelings in between. I am thankful for you . For spending time reading my words and understanding my thoughts. I am thankful for life , for life!

And here I am again trying to cook something for myself. It turned out so good and easy to cook. I never thought potatoes are good as pancakes until today. And my applesauce is not that perfect but it's okay. I'm still learning. Definitely making more of this soon! For Potato Pancakes: 8 potatoes, shredded 1 onion, finely chopped 1 egg 3/4 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup vegetable oil Mix potatoes, onion and egg in a bowl. Add flour, salt and pepper. (If the mixture is dry, add 1 tablespoon of water) In a skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Form pancakes out of the mixture. Place pancakes in hot oil. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side. Or until it is lightly brown. Drain on a paper towel. Serve with applesauce For Applesauce: 4 sweet apples, peeled, cut into thin slices 1 1/2 cup apple juice Mix all ingredients in a pot over medium heat Simmer for 40 to 60 minutes, or until desired texture is achieved. Stir occasionally...

The last day of the Holy Week in the farm was mostly spent indoors, TV, and food. Also, staring at cats. Makahiya plant makes me giggle. It closes its leaves when touched hence the name "makahiya" from the word "hiya" which means, when translated to English, shy. We harvested again this time but a very little amount like we used to. It's good to have something to eat while on our way home to the city.  A kid passed by us and watched us harvesting some rambutans. He was with his bike. I asked if I can borrow it. He just nodded. Hehe.   I enjoyed my three days in the farm. No cellphone and no internet. Looking for another adventurous  Holy Week again next year. I don't know where will I be, but I hope it will be as fun as this one.

Second day of the Holy Week. The morning sun brought us positive energy to hike, to harvest fruits again, and to hike some more. A view of the Mount Apo that I have yet to visit soon at the right time.  Part of our morning spent in the swings again. Staring at the sky and leaves with different shapes and sizes. Listening to classic rock songs. Talking about life in general and how the first day of harvesting was.  Biko or Rice Cake. A must-have during Holy Week. I wanted to harvest some Avocados but we couldn't find a tree that bears the fruit at that time. So my cousin suggested we'll go to their place and find something there. So we did. It was a thirty-minute ride up the mountains. Fresh air. Beautiful views. When we reached at their house, I found a Praying Mantis on a flower. It has been years since I actually seen one! We were at the top of a mountain.  Riding up a hill again. I remember those three coconut trees lined up when I...

A calm Holy Week for me this year. Just like last year. Except that, I had the chance to harvest fruits in the farm for the first time (with the help of my little cousins, of course). It was fun, thrilling, and fruitful . On our way to the farm, I spotted this white kite which I thought was a cloud from my peripheral sight. Wouldn't it be awesome if it was really a cloud formation? Hahaha So our adventure begins! Melanie climbed up the Rambutan tree. Filled a sack with lots of red rambutans (and some black ants along with it).   Another prospect was the Lanzones tree. These are the sweet kind.  Melanie, Tiya Petra, Geraldine, and me under the Lanzones tree. Yellow rambutans from another tree. It's my first time to see this kind. I got thrilled to taste it just because it's unique (for me, at least) but it was too high to climb for M. So, G was in search of a large stick with a knife on its edge. Beside the Yellow Rambutan-bearing tre...