Three Weeks Since the Seeds Sprouted

It's been a month since I planted some seeds on a seed tray. I got Ramgo seeds for better chances and I'm happy I did. I was surprised some started sprouting in two days, some took a few more days.

One thing that takes time is transferring the seedlings to a bigger pot. That's what I've been working on the past ten days and I'm not done yet. I planted too many mustasa seeds and if it all grows I guess I can offer them to neighbors, haha.

Here's how it's going -

Cucumber 

Mustasa

Cherry tomato

Carrots

I have to rest today and hope I could continue work in the next few days.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Homemade Bistek Tagalog

I made some bistek Tagalog last night, but used thinner beef strips. I think it's the one they use for samgyup. 

I only marinated it for 15 minutes and it was already very tasty. Cooking didn't take a lot of time. Dinner was sumptuous indeed.

Here's how I usually prepare bistek Tagalog:

https://youtu.be/iS6aHdw_C8o?si=WKqJj4BhlICZI1F0

Nomnomnom!

#BeKind #StaySafe

The 80s: Why I Enjoyed Watching Stranger Things

We decided to watch Stranger Things again from the beginning. We only started watching it in 2021 when we got home. Internet was pretty bad in our old home, so when we watched season 1 and 2 it was like watching on a 2G phone, haha. So, I said, let's watch it from the beginning. 

The characters were just a bit older than me when I was a child. It was a treat to see the era again especially the toys, the food and essentially how they lived without phones, the internet and Google! Back then people went to see other people when they were bored. They were not stuck in front of their TVs/their phones/gaming consoles or computers. 

One of my 80s birthdays

In the 80s, our parents watched us like hawks, but we still went out to see our friends. I remember I'd bike around our village and bike to a friend's house to play. I'm glad I lived through that era minus gory monsters. Well, we had monsters and my childhood was riddled with political upheavals. 

Sweetie in the 80s

Anyway, I enjoyed watching the series from start to end. We got to review the earlier seasons and got to connect the story easier. If you watch it from the beginning, you'll also notice some nuances that you didn't see when you first watched it, like the different crazy 80s hairstyles which reminded us of some movies. The colorful outfits and even the socks they wore reminded me of some that I used to wear, haha. 

Of course, there were some noticeable holes in the story, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Back to Pulmo Rehab

I'm so glad my Ortho doctor allowed me to go back to pulmo rehab instead of re-enrolling in physiotherapy. I feel at this point I can do my knee and ankle exercises on my own several times a week. 

I need to get back on track to save the healthy part of my lungs. My therapist said we'll take it slow. We did and skipped the leg exercises. Ahh, it felt so good to do the breathing exercises and be with the team who's be taking care of me for almost two years now.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Quilted Christmas Blender Cover

I finally finished the Christmas blender cover I've been working on the past few weeks! I told myself to finish a project before working on another one. 

I chose to make a tree. I thought it would be easier than the snowman. It wasn't, haha. Anyway, despite making a lot of adjustments, I had fun adding embellishments. I used some old beads and got a cute star online (I was lazy to make one).

Very early for Christmas this year, heh.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Ikea Room?

Ikea is good at curating their products. They put on nice displays which give a good idea on what your home should look like. 

We haven't been to Ikea for over 15 months. It was on my bucket list last year. I wasn't able to check it off, so I scheduled a day to go.

We spent about 6 hours in Ikea. We first had brunch, but was disappointed since they didn't have meatballs. What I wanted to see were the room set-ups and how they mixed colors. 

I wish Ikea would make a family room display which includes display cabinets* for toy collections. They had a gaming bedroom set-up which I thought was cute, but it's not applicable for us.

It was a good trip, albeit tiring. It was good to see their rooms and themes.

*Their bigger display cabinets are so expensive though, so it's better to get from a specialty store (they are usually present at toy exhibits).

Forgot

I forgot what I was going to write about today. It happens often, haha. Sundays are supposed to be for reflection and to recognize miracles or to identify things I'm grateful for.

It's been a busy month and I'm most grateful for the energy to keep up with our activities. There are days I want to do more, but I rest when needed. 

And that's just it. Live simply. Make more happy memories.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Bought Plants at Ikea

At the end of the long trek across Ikea, you'll find their gardening stuff. I usually ignore the artificial plants and expensive pots. What I check out are the small live plants they sell. They have ornamental plants and succulents that range from PhP49 to 199. The prices are competitive with nursery plants, sometimes even cheaper. 

I picked up a couple of plants. What got me excited was the kokedama money tree. I've been planning to make one, but I just don't have the time. This will do for now and I hope I don't kill this plant! The last money tree I got from Ikea lasted a couple of months. I just overwatered it, haha.

I still have to research about the other plants to see how best to care for them. Wish me luck!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Love the Cool Weather

I wasn't planning to do a lot of stuff today since I wasn't feeling well yesterday. After I kept the fabric I used for my Christmas projects, I thought I'd do a quick round to water the plants.

The weather though was amazing. It was cool, so I decided to move a plant rack. The gumamela and bougainvillea plants I propagated need more sunlight. Sweetie saw me and helped me move more plants.

Ahh, it was so satisfying to organize the side garden. Sweetie helped me move select plants to a sunnier spot and I moved some under the bamboo to get more shade. I still need to re-pot most of them, but better placement would help keep the plants safe until I could get to them.

Happy Friday and happy weekend everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Not Feeling So Well

My body is complaining from too much activity, so it's forcing me to rest. Just leaving a photo of beautiful flowers for today.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Knee and Ankle Review, What's Next?

I saw my orthopedic doctor yesterday and he reviewed the report of the physiotherapist. The recommendation was to continue the exercises.

My doctor though remembered I'm supposed to have surgery, so he asked what's the plan. I told him I'm supposed to be reviewed by my cardiologist next month. I also told him I was hoping to go back to pulmo rehab to strengthen my lungs. Part of the exercises include the leg, very similar to what I was doing with the physiotherapist.

My doctor agreed I can just do that and do the exercises at home thrice a week. I was relieved since I think at this point I need to work on my lungs too. My pulmo said we should continue to work on saving the healthy part of my lungs. 

After seeing my doctor, we immediately went to the pulmo rehab department to schedule my sessions. I'm so relieved my favorite therapist is back and he'll take care of me moving forward.

Praying for better health so we can make more happy memories!

#BeKind #StaySafe 

Binding My New Blender Cover

I was hoping to finish the blender cover last weekend, but I got busy. I decided to attach the sides of the cover to the base by hand sewing it. It's easier than immediately machine sewing it.

I'm now working on binding it, then I'll be done. Yay!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Hit and Misses Online Purchases

Since I don't go out much, I rely on buying some stuff online. Here's a few things I purchase online:

House Items 

One thing we learned is to buy items for house repairs from physical stores like Ace Hardware or Wilcon Depot. I follow this tip for electrical related repairs. There are items though that you cannot find online, like the top part of sink drain covers or anti-rust paint (not QDE). For DIY stuff like adding anti-slip tape for stairs, you can just buy online too. If you're buying solar, stick to reputable brands like Bosca or Philips. I bought a lot of solar items online, a lot don't last. 

Not good

Gardening Stuff

I noticed, buying materials from garden nurseries can be quite expensive. There are a lot of gardening suppliers/farms online. Sometimes their items are better than buying from nurseries. I usually just get vermicast/chicken manure perlite, coco chips and coco husk online. I have earmarked favorite stores that don't disappoint. I still buy some stuff in person especially when I'm looking for a specific pot size. One thing I learned also is to buy seeds from a reputable brand (like Ramgo). 

This blue hose is good, just don't buy it if you have cats

Cat Care Items

I stopped buying re-packed cat food. I became wary about it since I've read a lot of feedback that they oftentimes just re-mix it. I'm also scared my cats might get sick, so for cat food I just buy sealed and not re-packed food. I also try to cook their food often. I used to buy cat beds online, but it's hard to find something that will last. So far, the cots I got are good. I stopped buying furry beds, they don't last. Don't bother buying cat towers online, they're usually just good for kittens. We finally found a good one from the Australian Surplus Shop in Muntinlupa. 

Craft Materials

I miss going to Divisoria! My Mom and I used to go there to buy craft materials. It's been years since I last went and I think my boys won't allow me to go there anymore. Luckily, there are a lot of shops in Divisoria who sell online and there are fabric stores online too. We don't have Spotlight here, so I just usually order online if there's any sewing or craft materials I need. Everything I used to re-furbish a vintage case, I just bought online.

This is just a short-list of some items I purchase online. There are some things I prefer to purchase in person like food/ingredient, wearables and gadgets/appliances. If you're buying from an online store, read feedback and check first if it's a legitimate store. I check The Budol Group also for referrals and reviews (just use the search button). Always be careful :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

Zero

I'm an introvert and I have depleted my social battery for the month. The scheduled get togethera was supposed to be spaced out, but one was rescheduled.

Miggy asked me last night why I looked more depleted than him. I actually conked out when we got home yesterday, haha. I told him I was overwhelmed being in a room with so many people. 

I looked forward to seeing former colleagues and my high school friends this weekend. The get together with HS friends was easier for me since I've known them for decades. I still enjoyed both get togethers and look forward to having another one (maybe in March? Hahaha).

#BeKind #StaySafe

Growing My Own Veggie Stash

The seeds have sprouted and I took the opportunity to move some to a small pot. It's really easier if propagate them on a seed tray. You can just scoop them up with a spoon when you transfer it to a pot. 

I'm just a bit worried there's not enough sun. I'm considering moving them to another part of the garden to get better sunlight. For now, they are where they sprouted. I'll give it a few more days before I move them. 

While waiting, I decided to try rooting an onion and garlic. I re-used a coffee cup and cut a hole on the cover to fit the bottom of the onion and garlic. I then put some water (barely touching the bottom of the garlic and onion). I made the mistake of soaking the bottom of a garlic and it eventually rotted. 

Anyway, I placed the onion and garlic in water last Wednesday. By last night it had grown roots already. They both started to produce leaves. I can use it for fried rice or other dishes. I may eventually try my hand again at potting them to grow. I failed before, so this is my third try at doing this. 

Tips are welcome! I'm hoping to be successful at growing veggies this year.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Road trip to Binan

I was craving for cake last week. By Thursday night I haven't had any and told Sweetie where I thought we could get cake. It was late at night when we decided to head to Binan the next day. 

We left after rush hour and had brunch at Pancake House at a gasoline station. Google Maps directed us to exit at Greenheights. We realized later it was a better route since you get to skip the busy bayan area.

In no time we reached Chef RV's Cafe. Our parking angel prepared a slot for us and we didn't have a hard time parking. It was our first time to go there on a Friday. We were surprised there was a line outside.

Luckily, we didn't have to wait long and we got a few slices of cake, longganisa, brownies, ensaymada, and peanuts. They were out of bibingka. It was still a happy experience. Just staring at the fridge full of cakes make me happy. I have the same feeling when I'm in Calea and Lachi's.

Next time we'll go on a Tuesday or Wednesday. They always have bibingka whenever we go on those days. :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

5th Clotiversary of my Second PE

I was hospitalized several times five years ago. After a confinement in December 2020, my doctors tried to wean me away from taking blood thinners. By Christmas I started having SOB and by early January it got worse.

My respiratory doctor confined me. My scans were clear, but I wasn't getting better. By day 4, my doctor had me scanned again on a guy feel. I had a smattering of clots across my lungs again. Discharge was postponed and I spent the weekend in ICU. After a few more days, I was discharged.

Recovery was harder. I was in and out of the hospital for the rest of the year. That second pulmonary embolism led to more complications and that's why I had to retire. It's been five years and I'm just glad to be alive.  I can create more happy memories with my boys.

#BeKind #StaySafe 

Graduated from PT for My Knee and Ankle... Maybe?

I finally completed 12 sessions of physiotherapy for my knee and ankle. They are much better now, but still a bit wonky.

I got the report made by my last PT yesterday and she noted that I felt some improvement, but still experience some pain. She recommended I continue the exercises to help heal my knee and ankle completely.

I'm making an appointment to see my Ortho. He can best advise whether I should do another round of PT or if my pulmo rehab can cover it. My knee and ankle isn't completely healed yet. My whole leg was in pain past night. I'm not sure if it's due to my knee and ankle or a vascular issue. Oh well, doc can best advise.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Work in Progress: Blender Cover

I'm still working on my last Christmas project, a new cover for my blender. I always make kitchen covers in threes. One for my KitchenAid stand mixer, food processor, and blender. I cover them since things strangely easily get dusty here. 

Anyway, after making the Snowman blender cover, I wanted to make a Christmas tree. I thought it would be simpler, but I ended up still making a pattern to get the sizing right, haha. To make up for time, I made the main cover simpler and I just used one whole fabric for the back (#gotlazy). 

So, here's my vision: Christmas tree in front:

Red and green rectangles as the cover:

And a simple Christmas fabric for the back from Mom's stash:

I finished sandwiching it with wadding and backing fabric. I completed quilting it last night, so I just need to assemble it and add binding. I hope my binding would be cleaner this time around. Gotta practice more!

What about you? What are you working on?

#BeKind #StaySafe

Cat Care

One of the things we budget for annually are the expenses for our 8 cats. They were all sent by the cat distribution system. The cats are well bonded and have been self-regulating. They are a tight community and chase off intruders. They understand that the pawmily has to live within a budget. 

Every year we make sure they are vaccinated, get anti-rabies, and dewormed (2x a year). We also put anti-flea/tick meds. Each cat has their own "passport" provided by the vet. We're working on getting everyone through the annual requirements and started today with Eevee and Grogu. 

Mama Brimsley Marie

It's not as easy as it looks. Our cats are feral and only semi-domesticated. They live outdoors and sleep on cots, boxes and cat trees we provided for them. They prefer the boxes though, so we change them often since they like scratching it over scratching posts (better than scratching the wheels of our car!). 

Meredith (Photo by Sweetie)

Should we transfer, we'll bring them with us. We'll probably work on enclosing them within our property since we're afraid they might run away and try to go back to our old place. That's going to take time though, so we'll see. We love our fur babies and try to provide what's best for them. 

We did have a huge unexpected spend last year when Grogu got hospitalized for a few weeks. He had a huge wound (dunno where he got it). We almost lost him and had him confined until the wound got better. He has fully recovered and is actually heavier than Eevee now. 

I can't imagine life without our fur babies. I always pray they will all be healthy and live long lives :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

15 Years Without Dad

It's been 15 years since we lost Dad. I miss him everyday and wish he's still around. 

Fifteen years has passed by so fast. A lot has happened since then and we just moved forward. We still celebrate their special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. It's good to not forget and keep them close to your heart.

Miss you Dad. Love you forever.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Started My "Expanded" Vegetable Garden

I was so shocked with the prices of vegetables. It increased a lot in the past couple of weeks. I told myself I need to take growing veggies seriously. I enjoy it anyway, plus it will benefit us. After successfully growing bell peppers, I embarked on expanding my vegetable garden. 

Got some tomato, cucumber, and carrot seeds the other day. I wanted to get some lettuce seeds, but it wasn't available. I went for Ramgo seeds to increase my chances of getting the seeds to sprout. The day before I bought seeds, I planted the mustasa seeds which I already had on hand. I was so surprised it sprouted the day after! Using a seed tray with cover really helps. 

I went to work and planted the new seeds I got the day after. I had prepared the trays already last weekend. It's pretty cold lately, so I hope keeping the trays covered will help. The mustasa sprouted so fast, I'm just a bit anxious it's getting leggy since the sun hasn't been consistent. I'll move them if needed, but I'll need to keep them elevated so snails don't get to it before they grow! 

I hope I see more of the seeds sprout this weekend. I'm not sure if it's the best time to do this since the weather is quite cold especially in the evenings! My bell peppers are growing nicely and I'm seeing more growing since I re-potted them. I still need to re-pot two more and will do it this weekend. 

While waiting for the seeds to sprout and with the bell peppers now more stable. I'll work on the orchids we rescued from my childhood home. To be honest, I haven't had that much success with orchids! Gah! They're so hard for me. I have to pray for guidance to successful save what Mom left!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Homemade Baked Porkchops! Yum!

One of our all-time favorites is baking porkchop with whatever barbecue sauce we find from the grocery. We recently found a honey mustard BBQ sauce variant from SNR and had to try it. Making this is so easy, just marinate the meat with salt, black pepper, calamansi and the BBQ sauce for 30 minutes, then bake it. We ate this together with the homemade atsara. It was so good!

Here's how we made it:

Try it soon!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Our First Home

After our wedding, Sweetie and I moved to an apartment we rented from Mom's friend. It was several streets away from my childhood home.

The first few weeks were really memorable and we had a number of mishaps. Our newly installed washing machine broke down within days. It gave a loud bang which made our neighbors nervous. Then there was the smoking sink due to liquid Sosa. And many other issues.

At that time, I only knew how to fry. We'd have fried rice, omelette and Spam or hotdog. We'd usually buy Baliwag for real good. That's what we did when Mom's party leftovers ran out. I finally learned how to cook only when we shifted to an  electric stove (there's no learning when you're scared of fire).

It's been 16 years and I still hold these memories close to my heart. It was where our family started and grew through the years. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

2026 Health and Wellness Goals

Having chronic conditions is hard. The baseline is to stay stable, not pick up any germs, and not get hospitalized. I missed my last session of physiotherapy because I woke up very dizzy on the 27th. I'll complete it this week, get my report and then see my Ortho doctor again. 

There are a couple of things I want to work on for this year, especially since I need to prepare for the replacement of my mitral valve. I had ten years to prepare last time I had heart surgery. I've managed to delay it for a year (thanks to my knee and ankle), but it's imminent. 

Anyway, aside from the baseline, I'd like to increase my stamina, increase my oximeter level, reduce weight and eat healthy. One thing the dietician of my boys said is it's better to eat home-cooked meals. It's better also than ordering prepared healthy meals. It's important to know what's going on your food and you can control the ingredients. 

I did notice the difference the past three weeks. During Christmas and New Year, I tried to cook more. I had less bloating and it was easier on my tummy. It has probably helped reduce some of the red flags on my blood markers. The thing is I need to have better stamina so I can cook more. 

Physiotherapy helped me to move more. My knee and ankle are a bit better, so I've been able to do more gardening (sometimes 150 minutes in a day!). I once had a day where I did gardening and cooked. I was half dead though the next day, so I need to temper things. My physiotherapist also said I should still take it easy since I still experience pain when I do too much. 

In summary, here's what I want to do for the year:

• be more than stable
• increase stamina
• increase oximeter levels (will go back to pulmo rehab after I complete my PT)
• move more and get more sunlight
• reduce weight and eat right 
• survive heart surgery and be rolling by my birthday or Christmas (depending on when it happens)

Have a healthy new Year everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe