Grow Baby, Grow!

This is what makes me happy !
For a few months out of the year, I am able to supply ample vegetables for my table and those of my neighbours. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to show up at your neighbours' front door with a basketful of harvested greens for their pickings. And they do taste sweeter and crunchier because this farmer grows it with love and no pesticides.
Once in the ground, snow peas will grow rapidly.

I had a good find this year at our local Fred Meyer. I think this may be the first year they have started doing this as I have never seen Bak Choy seedlings on the shelves before. That is such a welcome sight as frankly, we need a variety of different Asian vegetable seedlings out there ready for us to just plop into the ground. I have to confess that I have never had great success growing vegies from seeds. I remind myself not to buy anymore packets of seeds as I either run out of space to grow them or enthusiasm, whichever comes first.
Bak Choy

Romaine Lettuce

I'm one of the Two hundred !!

Today is my first day of learning how to blog with Holly Becker, author of decor8blog.com. When I read that I am amongst one of the 200 students of the 800 who applied, I felt really lucky indeed!

Did I have butterflies in my stomach even when in reality we were all safe and snug in our own space at home? YOU BECHA! And I made darn sure that I changed into my day clothes and combed my hair!! I took Holly's advice and made myself a pot of tea and sandwiches whilst I listened to her. Somehow, she made me feel sure and relaxed about all this new learning that I am about to embark on.

We have had an incredible day today. Not a cloud in the sky! I thought I'd share this with you in the hopes that everywhere things will get better for everyone.

THE BATHROOM PROJECT SO FAR...

After much delay, this is what it looks like now. In my absence and over the phone, I have been able to relay to my "craftsman" how I envisioned the finished bathroom in its finished state. So far, the colours we have chosen for the room falls together nicely right down to the colours on the cabinet. The blue doors were purchased from Ikea and Jack had to paint the face of the sink cabinet with Bombay Mahogany Gloss and it came out nicely! The wire shelves have been installed and I have yet to go through the clutter of so many unwanted toiletries that one tends to accumulate after a while.


We tore a hole in one side of the wall so that we can have a small shelving space for toiletries. He has made a wooden self and stuck it right into the space. After the piece of sheet rock was removed, I couldn't but help wonder in awe that what I am seeing inside has not seen the light of day ever since this house was built in the late 80s!!


We finally installed the new lighting and I must say it works with the rest of the room. I knew I didn't want the traditional lighting so that made things easy. Next stop ~ shopping for the sink countertop, sink and faucets!! I shall hold you in suspense then?

cafe broder

It's Sunday and we didn't feel like having breakfast at the regular watering holes on this part of Portland. So, with the Portland Monthly in hand, we drove out across the river to SE Clinton where to our surprise we discovered a pleasant and quaint neighbourhood lined with blossoming magnolias and cherry trees.

The restaurant was already filled to the brim with patrons but instead of waiting for a free table, we decided to take the one right next to the WC where we found an interesting piece of equipment. Take a guess as to what it is for.

It is actually an old-fashioned hand dryer. At the bottom left-hand corner, there is a key you twist to turn on the equipment and then hot air will exit from the spout you see above.
We love the old neighbourhood shops and restaurants as it has so much more character than the huge mall shops which if you're not realizing yet, are going out of style.
Simple , clean and very Swedish.
A simple menu with some interesting fares.
Our breakfasts arrived on top of wooden boards. The portions were just right and we did not feel too stuffed by the time we scoffed down our last morsel.
Classic aebleskivers also known as Danish pancakes and you have a choice of lingonberry jam, lemon custard and maple syrup to dunk them in.

FEET FEAST


We decided to treat ourselves to something very unusual while we were over at the Island today ~ Fish Reflexology! We have heard about it enough that we thought it was time to give it a go.

After washing our feet, we were directed to the pool area. One had smaller fish and the other had slightly bigger fish measuring approximately 2 inches in length. The lady told us that the smaller fry are very gentle on their nibble whilst the larger ones are more ticklish. We decided that we were brave enough to try the latter pool. For ten minutes, we screamed and wailed, holding our hands to our heads, and resisting to jump out of the pool. But we found out that if we allowed ourselves to relax a bit, it actually didn't feel too bad. A good foot rub and neck massage followed afterwards and when we exited the place, all of us felt renewed!


This resort is Rasa Sentosa Shangrila and I have vowed on the spot to go home, work hard and come back again next year to spend a couple days on this island. Apparently, it caters to people of all incomes and yet the place is immaculately kept and everything is made to blend in nicely with all the nature on it. I cannot wait to explore this place the next time I come back. It goes to show that if one sets the mind to it, anything can be done. This country educates and motivates its people to take care of their domain and take pride in showing it to their guests.
The man-made beach.
Our beach umbrella.
My camera does not give the colour of the water any justice but from where I stood to take this picture, the waters is actually an azure blue.

THE MALAYSIAN COFFEE LINGO

I have only recently taken the initiative to learn how to order coffee when I got back to my hometown a few weeks ago. First of all, a coffee shop in Malaysia is called Kopi Tiam. Kopi means Coffee in Malay and Tiam is actually a Hakka word for shop. Many Hakkas settled in the peninsula a long time ago and it is not surprising that a lot of the Hakka dialect has become part of the local lingo.

But, coming back to coffee ~

It pays to know the lingo when you are at a Kopi Tiam :
KOPI-O-KOSONG = Coffee without sugar or milk.

KOPI-O-GAU-GAU = Black coffee that is really strong.

KOPI-SI = Coffee with evaporated milk.

KOPI-O = Coffee with sugar.

Similarly, the same applies to tea.

Memories of the old hometown Kopi Tiam:
A boy with a white towel on his shoulder would approach us as we sit down at our table. My father would rattle off the orders to him, to which the boy will shout from where he was standing all the orders to the beverage master in the kitchen. A toast with kayang always tastes so much better at the Kopi Tiam than if it was served by my mother if we were at home. My father would pour our hot coffee onto the saucers to let it cool so we can drink it without burning our lips. Then, there will be side orders of soft-boiled eggs that are slurped down with some white pepper and soy sauce. Ahhhhh....those were the good ole days!!

NUMBER 155

If I am correct this old house now stands at roughly 59 years of age. I can remember the stories my father used to tell of how they bought this piece of land with bags of Japanese notes that they carried on their backs. Part of the house has recently succumbed to termite invasion and after it has been sprayed and the termites removed, the infected part has been rebuilt.

It is however, the old wood, the old concrete that makes the place.  There is a certain nobility to it all.

ALL WHITE

The original door with the original piece of wood that secures the whole house at night.

Hinge on the garage door which is now the store room.

The original iron grill window bars.

At night, the wooden windows are shut up to keep out the unwanted.

The original lock for the window.

The original arm that holds the old piece of wood that locks the door.

ALL GRAY

The original concrete drain that carries the torrential rain from the roof to the sungei ( river ) and then to the laut (sea ).

The original concrete flooring in the common area.




The original unpainted wood has turned a lovely silver gray.

Wood and iron that has seen the best and worst of times.
An iron hook that holds the window open.
The original hinge.