our work in progress

I love gardening since young, 
but I do not know when I really fell in love with growing plants.
having said that, I however does not really have green fingers, 
but I never give up easily ... I will try and try and try.

I've tried to preserve the small piece of green in front of our home and gradually start growing edible things.
At our backyard, there is a piece of vacant land.
Previously it was managed by my neighbour but seeing my passion for growing things, aunty decided to let me grow plants behind. 
I couldn't thank her enough as it had always been my dream to grow my own edibles fruits and vegetables.
I do have dreams that every taman (housing estates) have their own organic farm.
and every city to have fruit forest / park concept. 
Last year, I went to the extend of putting in a feedback to DBKL for them to ponder over planting fruit trees in place of the normal decorative trees.

Although we may be far far away, at least I can do what I can do.
In fact I think we Malaysians are quite a green lot. 
Try walking around your neighbourhood and you'll realised that about 85% of houses will have at least some kind of plants. 
The heart warming thing is that we despite not with many spaces available, make full use of it. I see people planting sugar canes, papaya trees, banana trees, nangka trees, mango trees, pandan leaves, serai, mulberry trees in that little piece of land outside the gate, in between our house & neighbour house.

Here's my work in progress 
hoping my little farm will grow and flourish.

my collection of pandan, lime, mint leave, serai, ladies finger, aloe vera

Newly planted sweet potatoes leave vegetables, and tiny papaya tree

little banana tree inherited from aunty

 

some sugar cane inherited from aunty

the holes are planted with ladies finger & long bean.
Thank you to the uncle & aunty that helps us with the backyard.

 

From far top : newly planted pineapple, aloe vera, pandan leave, lime tree, serai

inherited this nangka / cempedak tree (I dunno which is which)

 

the tree in the middle is custard apple tree ... again inherited from aunty

these are ladies fingers freshly picked from our front garden

about judging (playful reminder)

Sometimes at office, I try not to join in any 'discussions' about people that are non-work related.
If I was inadvertently included, I prefer to keep quiet even if I'm being labelled as 'no own stand'.
Because I realised when I start chipping in, I start to make judgement about others.

This video sort of convey a very important message :
that all of us, no matter what ways we use, are trying to do our best for our loved ones.
So why judge? 
Like in the end of the video, we are all same ... why make life difficult for others?
and who are we to judge?

幸福不难

志在四方 The Dream Makers 

currently I'm watching this singapore series. 
Our neighbour do produce good quality series with good stories.
And with equally good theme song as well.

Killing 2 birds with 1 'series' 
Learn mandarin & learn about life...

Meanwhile, enjoy the song =)

peer influence

Towards the end of last year, new experiments being tried out.
One of my colleague who had high cholesterol started eating healthily.
And I was unconsciously influenced, I find myself on a few occasion yearned to eat salad for lunch. But mine was with much more 'solid' ingredients to ensure tummy full as need to produce milk.
some of my 'twists'
vinaigrette balsamique bioloqique (reduced to clear from Natural Health Farm Tesco)
buttercup lettuce, coral lettuce (reduced to clear from Tesco)
cherry tomatoes (reduced to clear from Tesco)
2 hardboiled eggs
2 slice of cheese
sunflower seed 
mixed herb (Tesco)
as I ran out of above ingredients, I started adding carrot, steamed shitake mushroom, goji berries and whatever I can find in my fridge or the reduced to clear section...LOL

* Hoping Tesco got more reduced to clear lettuce soon. As I find the normal prices a little pricey.

new year new responsibilities

New year, everyone at home got new responsibilities.

Besides the 2 elder ones going to school to learn, 

they've got new responsibilities.

Vacuum, vacuum 

and more vacuum

Then they gang up and say their 'lau ye che' need vacuuming too

helping sister with bicycle 

2014 2015

The transition from 2014 to 2015 this time was just like any other day.
Doing things that I would have done on any other rest day.
And as previous years, I think I'm still lagging behind, stranded at 2014.

2014 was a mixed year for me 
a bag filled with 'goodies' and still ok 'goodies'

Among the things worth memories in 2014 (in no particular order though) :

• the blow of no increment & no bonus 
• the transfer that almost didn't happen
• continue breastfeeding
• newphew : new addition to our family
• Sister in law got married
• Passing of ku yeh
• depleted a big portion of my savings
• watching my children grow
• free / almost free vacations
• diversification 
• gone a little more green & eco-friendly 
• more spiritual learning
• learning to let go
• cleared quite some clutters at home

For 2015, I 

• to continue breastfeeding
• To practice 三好 : 存好心, 做好事, 说好话
• catch up pay wise and bonus (although not possible to compensate back loss of a year)
• time to rebuild my savings / emergency funds
• Intensive learning Chinese
• Exercise
• To love myself 1st & take care of myself 1st 
• Learn to drive around independently
• Live in the present & be present
• Be a better 'me' - as mother, as daughter(in law), as wife, as friend, as colleague, as a member of society.

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2015 ahead. 

Go ahead! 

Smell the roses and make your lemonade!