LOVE is .... without words ...

Love  without words ....

Posing with grand childrem...

 Praying for friends who have left ahead ...

Doing selfie with a grandson...

Being a godparent ...

Catching up with friends ...

Cooking for  ....

Goofing with grandsons....

Giving mom a new hairdo .....

Making new friends ....

Visiting a cousin

Showing off a newly learned dish ...

Again

Once again, I am here trying my  blogging skills.  
I asked for help because this site of mine got infected.  I am happy to use it without any interruptions,   so far.
I hope it stays that way 😊
I chose this picture to accompany this post as a reminder to me that if I smile those I meet will smile back.

Nature Photo Challenge #1

Nature Photo Challenge:
Keeping nature alive around the world, I was nominated by Tina Medrana to be part of the evolving sharing. For 7 days, every picture shared will continue to spin off to new extended horizons from the new nominees designated along the 7 days.

BREED TO BREATHE--
The sowers of life. They can fly thousands of miles and spread the seeds of life. The pollinators of this great planet called Earth. A third of our food supply comes from these species, even medicines that treat us. As their numbers are declining, we should take action by planting flowering plants and by not spraying harmful chemicals. Let them breed so we can breathe!
Today, I nominate Rachel Roxas-Yapchiongco to continue sharing her Nature's discovery. Rachel, it's your turn to keep it moving (please tag me)

Day #1
I was walking to my car after attending a nephew's birthday party when I saw a fence covered with this vine with tiny beautiful flowers. I was intrigued by the geometry involved in the arrangement of petals and pistils. in addition to it's beautiful colors.
How can you not love nature?

THANKSGIVING

It is that time of the year again when we think of falling leaves, turkey on the table accompanied with stuffing and mashed potato and gravy plus, lest we forget, pumpkin pie!  It is also that time when we find gratefulness in our hearts for everything that had happened in our lives.

This year, I am doubly thankful for my grand kids.  Just thinking of them brings lightness in my heart.
I am thankful for our health, hubby's and mine.  Though not so perfect we are still able to do our "apo-stolic" mission.  We are thankful we are still needed and that we can still help in our own little ways.
I am thankful for our sons and their wives for doing good with their own families.  I pray that our Lord continue to shower them with HIS abundant blessings, that they be granted the wisdom to understand and love each other as we have loved them.
I am thankful for our friends - for their thoughtfulness, concerns and kindness.
I am thankful for our families - for their unconditional love.
I am thankful for the all the governments that continuously work  for world peace.
And........
I am thankful I am alive!  

Musings of a Grandma in her Seventies

I have not blogged for a long long long time and I can't explain why.
I think FB is the culprit.
I need to be more vigilant in putting the drops on my eyes.  They are getting dry and I feel uncomfortable.
I noticed that the green tops affect my gout whenever I eat them.  I am not absolutely sure yet, but I think they do.  
The house has become very cold these last three days I had to put on my pj's.
Have to  do my  nails .....
.... select what to wear for Saturday......
.... might color my hair.
Need to water the lawn before it turns all brown.
Been enjoying going back to read old old blogs.
Catching up on my reading.
Need to hone my cooking skills to make new recipes.
Have to re-learn how to write again... so I visited First 50 Words ...

Dona Nobis Pacem

blog blast for peace

Love is.... REMEMBERING!

30 Days of Love

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

This is a re-post in honor of my love for an aunt as she showed her love for me.   blog4peace@blog4peace.com

MY TIA PARING !

According to Rose Kennedy: "Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments."
This is my, Tia Paring.  She is pretty, isn't she?

If I can only put into words those moments I spent with my Tia Paring my milestones will fill a book!

To mention some:

She sewed my dress for my first piano recital .. a white organdy dress with flowing  layered skirt.  I can not forget those times she would come home during her break from work just to show me how to do the lazy daisy stitches on each layer. We chose the maroon color and  I felt  like a princess as I proudly sat before the piano that morning of the recital with my beautiful skirt covering  the whole piano bench!  I was 9!

Then, one day, I discovered a secret!  I often wondered how she always had money for everything.  One day somebody came, crying.  They talked.  Then she went to a  cabinet, took something from inside, gave it to the neighbor who thanked her so profusely I thought my Tia's hand would get detached  from her arm. That's when I discovered that in that mysterious cabinet she kept a box for her loose change so she could have something to give to those who come  to her unexpectedly.  No wonder  her house was always full of people on Christmas day.

Like many parents of her generation, she never demonstrated her affection publicly,  but, next to her own children,   I know that she loved me and my older sister very much. I just felt it.  She was the one who showed me how to "take care" of myself when I first had my "monthly visitor".  I was coming home from school when I noticed her by the door, which I thought was unusual.  As I entered the house,  she whispered to me to go to the bathroom and there she talked to me about that girly thing. That's when I learned that she had been checking the clothes I took off every morning.  Oh, I can jus imagine how many of my underwears she had hand washed for me.

All of my uncle and aunts my mom's side called me by  another name: Minda.   That's one thing I will miss the most. I will never hear her call me by that name anymore.

A Month of LOVE

I have not visited you, my blog,  for more than a year!  It is because every time I open you, something pops up on the screen that makes me hold back.  Now  it is time for me to be brave and do my part for Mimi's 30 Days of Love.  I can't promise I can post 30 times that is why there is no number on my entries, but I will try my best even if I go beyond the time limit.  I hope Mimi won't mind.

Thank you, Mimi, for giving me the courage and inspiration.  

Blog for PEACE, 2014

Promise Yourself

Peace to All Men

My New Hobby

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!!

I Miss You

Hi, Ate Baby!

I miss you.

I miss those small trips and short walks we had.

I miss waking up and not smelling the coffee you had prepared.

I miss telling you to keep your "wealth" in your purse.

I miss showing you how to hit the right arrow on the computer.

I miss seeing you and Ed watching your teleseryes.

I miss sitting beside you when we say our daily rosary.

Ed and I miss you!

My Valentine Roses

Happy Birthday, TATAY!!!

Tatay, happy birthday!

Tatay, I know you are up there in heaven,  How do I know?  I do because every time I have concerns and I look up in heaven to call your name I could hear your voice; I get thrills from your laughter, and I feel your touch as you kiss my forehead.  That's how I know.

Tatay, you will be happy to know that Ate Baby, Neil and his family, finally made it to visit us here in the States.  Now it is my turn to care for Ate Baby, even for only a little, as she goes about her daily life.  You will also be very proud of your grandsons.  They've been very caring and thoughtful with her. I've never seen Neil so concerned with his mom's well being and every time I see them together I can't help but smile with pride. Ken and Jaz are as concerned and thoughtful, too, especially when they make fun of their Lola (in a good way, Tatay,  uh-oh, I can see you frowning, lol)!

I've been enjoying and grateful for their short stay with us.  How I wish they could stay longer.  Ed and I still have so many things and memories to share with them!

Happy birthday again, Tatay, and sleep tight!

Introducing Timothy Andrew

Timothy Andrew is our latest grandson, a gift from heaven.  He looks like his grandpapas, I think.  His two brothers were all excited as they introduced him to us when hubby and I visited them in the hospital.  We are sure he will grow up smart and God fearing like them.
We welcome you, Timothy Andrew!
Lolo and I love you and we can't wait to hold you!

My Kitchen Guests

I have loyal guests in my kitchen: a lion, a tiger and a fish!
They have been giving me company every time I cook, do my computer games, read the newspaper, cut my nails,  clean  pots and pans which is a never ending chore , and many more.
These friends were given to me by friends who knew my weaknesses and strengths. They have collected dust and grease through the years,  two decades to be exact,  but I still adore them!

We Will Survive

I couldn't sleep last night.
There were so many questions in my mind about the last disaster that hit a place in my homeland.
This picture (from google images) answers them all.
We will survive.
We will join our hands together and we will do that.
Mabuhay, Pilipinas!

MY TIA PARING !

This is my, Tia Paring.  She is pretty, isn't she?

According to Rose Kennedy: "Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments."

If I can only put into words those moments I spent with my Tia Paring my milestones will fill a book!

To mention some:

She sewed my dress for my first piano recital .. a white organdy dress with flowing  layered skirt.  I can not forget those times she would come home during her break from work just to show me how to do the lazy daisy stitches on each layer. We chose the maroon color and  I felt  like a princess as I sat before the piano that morning with that skirt covering the whole piano bench!  I was 9!

Then, one day, I discovered a secret!  I often wondered how she always had money for everything.  One day somebody came, crying.  They talked.  Then she went to a  cabinet, took something from inside, gave it to the neighbor who thanked her so profusely I thought my Tia's hand would be broken. That's when I discovered that in that mysterious cabinet she kept a box for her loose change so she could have something to give to those who come  to her unexpectedly.  No wonder her house was always full of people on Christmas day.

Like many parents of her generation, she never demonstrated her affection publicly or privately, but  I know that she loved me and my older sister very much.  She was the one who showed me how to "take care" of myself when I first had my "monthly visitor".  I was coming home from school when I noticed her by the door.  That was unusual.  As I entered,  she whispered to me to go to the bathroom and there she talked to me about that girly thing.  That's when I learned that she had been checking the clothes I took off every morning.  Oh, and I can't imagine how many of my underwears she had hand washed for me.

On my mom's side, I have another name: Minda.   That's one thing I will miss the most. I will never hear her call me by that name anymore.

YouTube isn't kidding....

A cousin posted a paper snowflake on facebook and I thought: 

 "How did she do that?" 

So I went to YouTube and voila!!!!  my very own snowflake!

Only,  I had to use hospital tape 'cuz 

I found out I was

out of glue!!!

Pomegranate - A healthy snack

The last time I visited my hairdresser

she gave me a plump 

pomegranate.

Hubby thought of slicing

it for our morning 

snack today.

Crunchy, juicy and 

nutritious!

Meet Ron Kneale - The Piano Tuner

Grandson #1 was complaining about the keys on the piano.  "Grannie, these keys don't make any sound that is why I can not practice today."

"Just pretend they do.  Come on, practice your piece or else Ms. Jian will be disappointed."

So early Saturday morning I started looking for a piano tuner.  There was someone who lives just a few blocks from our place.  Great.  But to make sure, I googled his name.  Ah, he has a website and  customers can e-mail him.  So I did informing him of my problems with the piano.  I was surprised to get an answer the following morning, Sunday!
Early Monday I gave him a call.  His wife answered,  (he mentioned her on his website.) and placed me for an afternoon appt. for Thursday. Fine with me.  Then Late Monday, I received another call that he could accommodate me Tuesday morning instead. Even better.

In the course of our introduction/conversation he asked if I was from the Philippines.  I said "Yes, I am. How did you guess?"

He is a military son and his childhood is spent in several countries where there are American bases. They were in the Philippines when he was about 5 and 6 years old.  He talked about his vivid pleasant memories of my motherland!  He mentioned that he still can cook pancit, and that he loves lumpia.  He even remembers his calamansi lemonades.

Before he left, I gave him some calamansi fruit.

Thank you, Ron Kneale!!!
 

I Blog4Peace