Unwell, Again

I was unstable today and it was probably triggered by interrupted sleep. I just rested all day and didn't get to visit our cats, huhu.

Here's the horiatiki Sweetie prepared yesterday --

Here's how you can make it:

https://youtu.be/nwKXimtQURc?si=RG3R0XA4cihhTSU3

#BeKind #StaySafe

Throwback Thursday: Beach Time with Dad

My Mom told me they started to being me to out of town trips when I was still a baby. No wonder I'm so used to traveling. For many years, we'd head to Pasacao and Naga City especially during summer.

I was scanning photos again today and found a photo of me and Dad at the beach. I took his slippers and he was running after me. I actually kind of remember that day. It's one of my core happy memories.

Going to the beach always calms me down. I have many happy childhood memories there. I haven't gone for awhile now, so hopefully next year maybe?

#BeKind #StaySafe

Not Feeling Well

My body is fighting something, probably germs since my temperature is a bit elevated.

Resting for now.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Hand Quilting the Baby Yoda Project

I ironed the Baby Yoda project with fusible interfacing and then I sandwiched it in batting and backing fabric. I want to see if the interfacing will make a difference in the end quality.

The hard part has begun. I've decided to hand quilt it like the Pikachu project I did 2 years ago. I'll just stitch on the ditch for now, but will play with some of the colors since my Guttermann thread colors is limited. 

It will be hard, but quilting is my favorite part. I get impatient cutting and piecing fabric and absolutely dislike sandwiching, but quilting has always been the fun part for me. 

What are you working on now?

#BeKind #StaySafe

Groundbreaking and House Blessing

Our foreman advised it was best to do the ground-breaking and house blessing ceremony once they've dug the foundation. We waited a few weeks and finally Manong Val messaged us to go ahead and plan for the ground-breaking and house blessing. We also got advice from him on what usually goes on and we did some research too. 

We first secured a priest who would be available and then worked on the other stuff as the date drew near. Here's a list of what we worked on:

• 
  Candles
• Food
• Tarpaulin printing of the perspective made by architect
• Time capsule which included the perspective, drawings, religious items, and coins. I had Miggy paint the container gold. I checked my photos, of course, I forgot to take a photo of what I placed inside the time capsule. Whoever eventually demolishes the house in the future would find out, haha.
• Shovel (also painted gold) and hard hats

We went a bit early on the day of the ground-breaking and house blessing. I had met an accident and was still hopping around, so the boys had to assist me in going to the basement where the blessing was going to happen. It was surreal to see a huge part of the house gone. In my mind everything is still the same. I think it will only change when we've finally moved in. 

Fr. Marvin arrived and we had a simple blessing and celebration with the construction team. It was a happy occasion and it felt right. I was really sad when they started demolishing the house, but that day I felt light. The blessing brought in a new energy to our future home and I felt everyone who lived in it and passed were happy for us. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Seasons

It's a new month again and I'm amazed how time seems to fly faster. It feels strange because I'm just mostly home and only go out once or twice a week. I guess the three of us are home bodies and we always rush back home after being out for a few hours. 

After my birthday, I realized life is seasonal. The seasons differ as your circumstance changes. The past few years I kept aiming to go back to what I could do before. The harder I strive, the more backward my health goes. It was stressful because I kept comparing my productivity to what I was able to do. 

I finally stopped fighting it recently and accepted the fact that my body won't go back to what it was before. My doctors have time and again explained my issues are mostly mechanical. I was born with this equipment and I just have to make the best out of it. 

I've always had a hard time sleeping and I started to do breathing exercises which supposedly help your heart heal. There's nothing to lose since it's just breathing exercises. Just before sleeping and after your evening prayers, lie down, hold your heart, breathe in 4 counts, hold for 2 and then exhale for 6 counts. 

It felt awkward the first time I did it, but I eventually got the hang of it and I usually fall asleep while doing it. I'll check in a week or two if my heart rate has gone down. I noticed it's gone up the past two months and I had an AFib attack two weeks ago after pulmo rehab. My heart rate was steady during my pulmo rehab a few days ago. I'd like to think it's working since I've also been praying for healing while I do the breathing exercises. 

Have a happy Sunday everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

A Different Paprikash Version

I only watered some of my plants today and I haven't done any gardening for a long time now. I hibernated all week because of the haze and only managed to go out today since the air quality is much better because it's been raining like crazy again. 

Anyway, the intense rain woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep. We had to cancel our appointments since I was groggy from lack of sleep and my head hurt. I managed to sleep more and told myself I should have a productive day.

I ironed some clothes, sandwiched my Baby Yoda project in batting, watered a few plants and I cooked chicken Paprikash. I only had half a kilo of chicken, so checked if I could just add mushrooms. Ahh, apparently there's a version of chicken Paprikash with mushrooms. I didn't bother to take videos since I also lined up the cat food ingredients for cooking. 

Anyway, I added the mushrooms after I made the onion/garlic/paprika/flour paste and the followed the rest of the recipe. I was a bit anxious, but it turned out really tasty even though I only had half a cup of sour cream available. Ahh, next time I'll do this combination again. 

Here's how I made chicken Paprikash, if you want to try the mushroom combination, just add the mushrooms after you make the paste. 

Ahhh, I'm so full, I hope I have enough energy left to put the boiled cat food in the food processor. I want to make our cats happy too!

#BeKind #StaySafe