Spring: The season of beauty and flourish

"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also. "
~ Harriet Ann Jacobs

"The earth laughs in flowers."
~ e. e. cummings

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy New Year!

A brand new year is upon us once again and to you my readers I like to wish you a year filled with great promises and joy. Thank you for sticking around even though I have been sporadic with the updates. Hopefully the juice will flow more easily and I don't succumb to laziness!

I shall leave you with a picture that expresses why I love my walk. Other than keeping me healthy it allows me to enjoy nature and capture beautiful moments such as this.


I wanted to take the footprints when the bird decided to take flight. Not complaining.

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Picture taken at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. (July 2010)

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Picture taken at Avenue of the Giants, Eureka CA. (July 2010)

I totally love the natural lighting. Awesome!

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Picture taken at Hakone Gardens, Saratoga CA. (Aug 2010)

Cooking Therapy

As a young child I used to watch and eventually assist my mom when she cooked. She would let me do the stirring/frying of the vegetables and I guess that's where my skill in frying vegetables perfectly comes from. I started cooking more seriously when I fell ill in 2004 and since then I have not stopped. In fact my love for cooking deepens ever since we relocated to the States because cooking becomes a daily affair. When the "experiment" is successful I feel a great sense of achievement and joy. When others (especially the husband) enjoy my food my heart does a little skip and dance. Here my creativity surfaces and takes a life of its own. It's fun and therapeutic! I also love reading cook books and translate them into delicious dishes. Most importantly, my husband and I eat more healthily because we know exactly what goes into the making of our meals. It's been a great journey.

I know that not everyone enjoys cooking. Some might even be intimidated by it. Others may not have the time. Hence I decided to share some of the recipes that I have tried and I promise you this - there are not only simple to make but healthy and delicious too. There is a saying in Mandarin that says,"Health is wealth." I could not have agreed more. The first step that anyone can take towards improving one's health is by eating better. Take that first little step today.

To kick this off, let me introduce you to the World’s Best Braised Cabbage. I was most amused when I saw the title and was keen to give it a shot. It's really easy to prepare. What you need is time because it takes about 2 hours ++ to cook. It is an excellent dish - the sweetness of the cabbage, onions and carrot is enhanced through slow cooking. A perfect example where yummy food is also healthy. Try it and let me know if you like it :)


I paired the braised cabbage with pork loin and croquette. It was a lovely meal.

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Picture taken at Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA (May 10)

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Picture taken at Half Moon Bay, CA (May 10)

I always have a thing for birds that are flying so freely in the sky. Somehow when I look at them, I feel happy and free.

"That little bird has chosen his shelter. Above it are the stars and the deep heaven of worlds. Yet he is rocking himself to sleep without caring for tomorrow's lodging, calmly clinging to his little twig, and leaving God to think for him." - Martin Luther

P.S. I'm not sure who is still reading since it's been a while since I updated it. It is my desire to do a better job and if you're reading this thank you for not giving up on me :)

TGIF

Something to brighten your day :)

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Picture taken in a bayou in New Orleans (Feb 10)

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Picture taken in front of our apartment (Jan 10)

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Picture taken at Magic Kingdom Disney World, Orlando. (Nov 09)

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Picture taken at Great Reno Balloon Race. (Aug 09)


P.S. We will be on holiday till early December. Thanks for visiting!

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Picture taken at an Waikiki Beach, Honolulu. (March 09)

An Irish blessing

You know how sometimes you hear a song or a hymn and it speaks to you? This morning, there were several hymns that spoke to me during mass and one brought tears to my eyes. I decided to approach one of the choir members to find out the title of the hymn. The title is May the road rise to meet you.

The choir sang it so beautifully and the words went straight to my heart. I am reminded that God is always here with me. I like to share this blessing with you and I pray that the road will rise to meet you especially if you are in need of His grace at this moment. Peace be with you.




May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be at your back.
May the sunshine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again
May you keep safe in the gentle loving arms of God.

For everything there is a season
a time for meeting , a time to say goodbye
in all things God is near
always guiding your way.

For everything there is a season
a time for loving, a time for letting go
in all things God is near
always guiding your way.

Thanks for visiting

Hi there! I like to apologize for the lack of updates on this blog. We were away on a long holiday and as a result i lose the momentum in keeping this blog. Thank you for still visiting :)

We had an incredible time on our cruise to Alaska. You learn so much when you travel - you get to see how other people live their lives, how they cope with life situations and most of all you get to see amazing sights. Alaska has lots to offer. On one of our excursions, we went on a train ride to Yukon, Canada and that place totally blew us away. Naked beauty is how I would describe it. When I look at all these beautiful sights, I can't help but feel humbled. I will share some of the pictures and let them speak for themselves. Enjoy!


Hubbard Glacier


Whale watching


White Pass and Yukon Route


Emerald Lake, Yukon Canada


Beautiful Glacier at Juneau


Dog-sled ride.


Beautiful skies

Picture of the Week (POTW)

Picture taken at an Hearst San Simeon SHM, CA (Aug 09)

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Picture taken at an Earthquakes' game Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (Aug 09)

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Picture taken at Big Basin Redwoods State Park Boulder Creek, CA (Aug 09)

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Picture taken at Mount Rainier National Park, Washington (Nov 08)