Retire in Style with Lolita

This year I dressed up as Fairy Grandmother !

Three years ago I joined the Silk Road tour in China. It was the most physically challenging of all my travels. It was also a most fascinating trip from start to finish. This was my third trip to China. It was an incredible chance of a lifetime to visit many places in China, meet the people and learn more of their culture. From Beijing we flew to Xian and from there we traveled by plane, train, and car through the Gobi desert. We visited Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, and Urumqi. I made a smilebox photo album of pictures that captured the many steps we took as we traveled important cities along the Silk Road. It was an incredible journey. The sand of the Gobi desert is very fine indeed. You will see me wearing a mask as we crossed the desert. Create your own free digital slideshow

Two days before our departure for Oahu I received the news that my sister's husband was seriously ill in hospital. The decision to cancel the trip to Hawaii was unanimous. A week later he passed away. Through it all we stayed with my sister. Family comes first. Hawaii can wait.

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A prayer shawl is a shawl that has been knitted or crocheted by a caring person (crafter) for someone who: is facing a serious illness or surgery, is grieving, is facing difficult life circumstances, or is rejoicing in a happy event such as a wedding, the birth of a baby, a baptism, a graduation, a new home or any other significant moment in life. Many blessings are knitted or crocheted into every shawl. The crafter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient. Prayers are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed, it is offered a final blessing during the Sunday liturgies before being given away. The shawls are meant to serve as mantles of God's gentle love and blessings, that the recipient will be enfolded in warmth, peace, strength and comfort. I learned about the Prayer shawl ministry when I joined our parish's Catholic Women's League. The prayer shawls that I make are submitted to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The...

There are some places you wish to go back to once more and such is Hawaii. Our first visit to the beautiful islands of Hawaii was on a cruise on board the Pride of Aloha in 2007. I always had this longing to go back, stay a few days, leisurely explore and enjoy the sights and sounds of the islands. In four weeks we will be back and this time we will stay two weeks in the island of Oahu. I first heard of Hawaii when I was growing up in the Philippines. I must be about 10 or 11 years old when I first heard of relatives of my father leaving for Oahu, Hawaii. They were from the Ilocos Norte and they were going to work in the sugar cane plantations. I learned through the years that many Filipino workers migrated to Hawaii to work and eventually settled there. The Hawaiian Islands: Please click picture to enlarge. Today Filipinos make up the second largest racial group in Hawaii. They are mostly in Oahu. Please click picture to enlarge. Hawaii, here we come !

I have a recipe binder of favourite recipes and proven winners with family and friends. The oldest recipe in this binder is from the McCalls Great American recipe collection published in 1973 . Quick Cherry Dessert. I have served this in several gatherings in the past and have shared it with many chefs whom I worked with during my years as hospital Dietitian. It has been included in many menus that I developed for several health care facilities. Instead of Cherry pie filling we sometimes substitute with Blueberry pie filling. Very easy recipe and always a winner. Here is the original recipe card Please click picture to enlarge. This evening I baked this recipe. I cooked some blueberry sauce to use instead of cherry pie filling. We have a stash of frozen blueberries. We pick blueberries from local farms and put aside lots in the freezer for year round use. The other modification I did in this recipe is to reduce the sugar to just 1 cup. This is also great for breakfast or snack se...

I Have been blessed to have traveled and experienced 6 of the places listed here. The Great Wall of China, Grand Canyon, Ephesus, Venice, Pompeii, and the Parthenon. Next year Petra in Jordan will be added to my list. I will never see all these 28 places but where I have been were all spectacular experiences of a lifetime. I am grateful. Portals into the Past Walk the timeless streets and byways of ancient cities on three continents – Mesa Verde – Pompeii – Tikal – Petra Feats of Engineering The world's surviving architectural wonders hewed from stone and mortar beckon as ever – Pyramids of Giza – Taj Mahal – Easter Island – The Great Wall A Matter of Timing Choosing the right year, month or even moment can make all the difference – Aurora Borealis – Serengeti – Iguazu Falls – Machu Picchu Triumphs of Vision Come face to face with history's finest works of art and design – The Louvre – Zen Garden of Kyoto – Uffizi Gallery – Fallingwater Scale New Hei...

Hot summer day. Fritata comes to mind for a dish that will not keep me long in the kitchen. Diced potatoes, zucchini blossoms, cheddar cheese and eggs. Just salt and pepper added to beaten eggs. Delish ! Please click on pictures to enlarge :)

Time flies fast indeed ! Please click picture to enlarge.

Canada is the birth place of my children and grandchildren. I came to Canada in 1971 and became a citizen in 1976. We belong to a multicultural nation. While we continue to cherish and celebrate our Filipino heritage, we are also very grateful, happy and at peace in this beautiful country we call home. An excerpt from the Government of Canada website on immigration: Canadian Multiculturalism: An Inclusive Citizenship In 1971, Canada was the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy. By so doing, Canada affirmed the value and dignity of all Canadian citizens regardless of their racial or ethnic origins, their language, or their religious affiliation. The 1971 Multiculturalism Policy of Canada also confirmed the rights of Aboriginal peoples and the status of Canada’s two official languages. Canadian multiculturalism is fundamental to our belief that all citizens are equal. Multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can keep their identities, can ta...

Dream Weaver is my four year old Hosta. Love the foliage and the white flowers. I gathered some first thing this morning and they look pretty in my red vase. Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers, plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.

I planted two Bleeding hearts plants a little later this Spring. One plant was past bloom time when I got it but the smaller one was a complete surprise. It continues to bloom, a few flowers now but a joy to see. Please press picture to enlarge.

Our new rock star has arrived !

I love hats. I was browsing around nearby mall when I spotted this Fedora hat with pink flowers.

I first saw a Passion Flower at a friend's garden when I was living and working in Bermuda. I was quite intrigued at the symbolism given this beautiful flower. "Passiflora is Latin for "passion flower," a name that Spanish missionaries, working in South America in the 16th century, gave the plant. Some missionaries used the flower's elaborate structure to teach about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The corona on the top of the flower symbolized the crown of thorns, while the five anthers represented the five wounds. The protruding styles represented the three nails, while the petals and sepals represented the apostles. The dark spots on the underside of the leaves symbolized the silver that Judas was paid to betray Jesus."