Baby Turtle Update

After the shock of finding a baby turtle in our garage, we scrambled to figure out how to make it comfortable. We watched a couple of videos, read some articles and pinged friends knowledgeable with animals.

We put the baby turtle in a container with rocks and lettuce. At bedtime we put a small lamp. It probably provided a little heat, but it's the best we have on hand. The baby turtle was really exhausted. I couldn't imagine how it dodged all our cats. It rested and just kept swimming.

By morning, I noticed it was cleaner. It's color is a nice shade of green. It had dots and reminded me of one of the stones Mom used for her stone craft business. Donatello would poke his head out of the water whenever I saw hello. Not sure if he was reacting to my voice or checking out if I'm food.

I was honestly bothered about finding a baby turtle in our garage. We are not ready to take on a new animal much as we love having them. Taking care of a turtle is a whole new ballgame. I was worried we couldn't give it a proper home.

I did more research about it being an invasive specie. I found that Chinese soft shelled turtles are not endemic to our country. The DENR declared it as alien and requires anyone who finds one to surrender it to them. They are also not allowed to be returned to the wild.

So, as a good citizen, I sent a report to the DENR office that covers our area. They had replied by the time I woke up. They wanted to pick up Donatello by afternoon, but we were out. We scheduled the pick up for Monday. 

As much as I'd love to have a pet turtle, I think it's best to surrender Donatello. If I let it grow it might eventually wreak havoc to the eco-system. In the meantime, we'll keep him company for the weekend. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Found this Little Guy in the Garage

I went out last night to check on the cats and give them some food. I called Grogu since he was outside the gate. As he came in, Sweetie went out and noticed I had so many cats surrounding me. He was helping move the cat plates when he noticed a round green moving object.

It was tiny and he almost stepped on it. We both exclaimed, "Turtle?". I immediately grabbed a pot plate and Sweetie covered the tiny turtle. There were 5 cats milling around and they were already curious, so we had to protect it first.

Finding an exotic animal in our premises is nothing new. Last year's surprise was a hedgehog! Luckily, a neighbor approached us a few hours after looking for their lost cat. We asked if they happen to be looking for a hedgehog. They were looking for their pet for more than two months already and were so glad to be reunited with it.

I pinged a friend for advise and she said to put it in water with rocks. We don't have any turtle stuff, so we made do with a container, new rocks and bits of lettuce.

Baby turtle was so happy when we put it in water. It put itself on the side and it's resting. Maybe it had a huge adventure before finding itself in our garage. I suspect one of the cats probably picked it up somewhere and brought it home. I hope it's not traumatized. We'll figure out what to with it today.

Welcome to our home, Donatello ❤️

#BeKind #StaySafe

What I Learned from Being a Fan Girl at a Young Age

I was probably about 10 years old when I went Gaga over Menudo. My favorites were Robbie Rosa and Ricky Martin. My Dad bought a cassette tape. I think it was my second casette tape after the Michael Jackson one my Dad bought for me.

Anyway, I drove everyone crazy since I listened to the tape day and night. Eventually, my Dad got us tickets to watch a concert at the Folk Arts Theater. He even got me a poster and a magazine. I got to watch another concert. Kuya got us front row seats! He was then courting Ate Joy. I was soon happy and one of the boys even winked at me. Haha!

Using BSB concert photo since I don't have any photos from the 80s concert 

Anyway, I eventually moved on to other things. After Menudo, I kept myself from fangirling another group. I felt silly for spending a lot of my time daydreaming about the group. It also dawned on me that none of my daydreams would come true. 

After that I realized that the best way to admire performers and entertainers is to do it from a distance. Enjoy their performance for what it is and draw inspiration when warranted.

Artists share their craft because it is their gift and talent. Focus on that and just shrug your shoulders if there is gossip about them. Don't judge since you don't really know what's behind the story. Best you can do is pray for them.

#BeKind #KeepSafe

Adulting Levels Busy

I haven't been able to blog since we've been busy with adulting stuff. I had to complete the tests my doctor ordered. Sweetie and Miggy also had to complete their check-ups. We also completed payment for our real property tax dues. We prioritized that to get the 20% discount from city hall. Also brought Anakin and Grogu to the vet to update their vaccination. Anakin's eye also had to be checked because it had a scratch. We're still not done with our tasks and I still have an appointment with my doctor. 

One fun thing we did was complete our Christmas list. We were able to mail a few Christmas cards. I am not confident though it will reach the recipients. I hope the post office staff will actually put stamps and send the cards on their way-- I saw the cards stacked on other cards that didn't have stamps on. Postage cost has gone up.

We also had fun buying gifts for our support teams. Half of it are our doctors, their staff and my pulmo rehab team. It takes a village to keep me stable, haha. The other half are the ones who help us maintain our home. I had completed the other gifts a few weeks ago. I just got items from my friends businesses. 

The difficult part, as usual, is finding something for my boys. My usual theme for Christmas for them is something they could add for their toy collection. I take cues when they mention something in passing, but I couldn't differentiate what they already have in their collection. So, I have to be creative this year. Wish me luck!

We plan to just stay home for now. Traffic has been so bad. It took us almost two hours to get home from BGC the other day. We skipped some stopovers since I didn't want to get stuck longer. We also have to finish decorating and I hope to finish my Christmas quilt throw pillow covers by this weekend.

BTW, my pulmo rehab therapist reminded to wear mask whenever I go out. He said there's a lot of people who are sick. So best, to be  inconvenienced with a mask for now. 

Happy weekend everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Vet Day: Eye Check and Vaccination

The boys brought Anakin and Grogu today to the vet. Anakin's eye had pus the past few days. We were worried that he had another infection. He ha his left eye closed all week. We've been gently wiping away the pus. Grogu has been randomly coughing. Miggy finally got an appointment for them today.

The vet said, Anakin either got in a fight or scratched himself. She looked in his eye and saw the scratch. Poor baby. He was given eye drops and antibiotic to help heal the eye. We hope it will heal properly and go back to normal like Bailey (his Mama Kaley scratched him when he was a kitten). 

Grogu, on the other hand, is fine. The vet said it's likely hairball causing him the cough randomly. I've witnessed it twice in the last few weeks ans it's scary. Vet said to just observe for now. His vaccination was also updated.

Anakin and Grogu also got micro-chipped. You can have this done either at the Paranaque Veterinary Center or at a accredited vet. Our vet just did it and they both now have microchips. We'll do this for the rest of our cat family too.

Oh, and both Anakin and Grogu gained weight. Anakin is now 3.2 kg. Grogu at 3.25 kg. They're both very active and so far not getting chonky unlike the others, hehe 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Got 9 Books for Just PhP2--!

We have made it a point to visit Booksale at least one to two times a month. We want to make sure (in our own little way) that the branch near us stays open. 

We buy books not just for us, but to give as gifts especially for kids. It will help cultivate the love for reading and stretch the imagination of young minds. I'm lucky because Miggy loves reading. We always visit bookstores whenever we're out. 

Visited Booksale again today and we each got a couple of books. We only paid PhP265 for 9 books. My craft books were just 15 to 35 each. Miggy's fiction books only cost 35 and 50 pesos. Not bad noh? 

#BeKind #StaySafe

New Mouse for My 40-Month Old Chromebook

My Thinkpad Chromebook is now 40-months old. It still works like I just got it yesterday. I use it mainly to blog, edit videos and do adulting things (i.e. accounting). I used to do groceries on it too, but we've been doing it in person the past year. It was a good decision for me to invest in a Chromebook since I don't do fancy dev stuff anyway. 

The most tedious thing I do on my Chromebook is edit videos. Editing sewing and cooking videos don't require effects. It's pretty straightforward and I just use WeVideo. Most of my files are uploaded through my phone. I still use a camera sometimes and I just transfer files like how I used to do on a Mac or Windows OS laptop. Easy peasy. 

The mouse I got when I bought my Chromebook conked out on me. I only changed the battery once in the past 3+ years. It worked really well on my Chromebook. I may have forgotten to turn it off and didn't use my laptop for 2 weeks. That's probably why it died on me. Sweetie lent me two of his devices, but it didn't work well on my Chromebook. 

I found an upgraded version of my old mouse. It's a Logitech M330. It's pretty pricey at PhP995, but it works well on my Chromebook. The only complaint I have is it doesn't have a clicking noise! It's a silent mouse! This GenX grew up with noisy clicking and noisy keyboards, so this is certainly weird, haha. I hope I don't forget to turn it off before I keep my Chromebook so it lasts me a couple of years. 

As for my Chromebook, I have no plans (and no budget!) to change it. I hope Google will keep it updated forever! (BTW, my older Chromebooks also still work!). 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Happy 1st Meredith

Meredith first visited us a year ago. She looked like she was someone's pet since she didn't look like any of the regular feral cats that visit us. She wasn't really friendly and didn't come back until the end of December.

By the time she came back, she was visibly pregnant and looking for food. The tabbies were also very territorial and chased her away. By January she came back, left two fetuses in the garage and left. Few days later she came back looking very sick. None of our neighbors responded to us when we asked if anyone lost a cat.

She wasn't eating solid food, so we gave her some broth. She perked up, became affectionate and never left. We figured out she was abandoned by the neighbor who moved out. And that's how she became part of our pawmily.

We brought her to the vet and she's been spayed. She's now a chonky cat, sometimes sweet, oftentimes maldita. She's the princess among the tabbies. She gets extra scratches since she has the softest fur among everyone. Just be sure to pull your hand out immediately since she might nip you. 

We love you Meredith! Happy first year with us! ❤️

#BeKind #StaySafe

Another Hour I Can't Remember

Twelve years ago, I had a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram). It's where a doctor slips down a camera through your throat. Yup, it's nasty and after the first time I never wanted to do it again.

My doctor ordered for me to do it. It's been eleven years since I had OHS, so my heart is due to be checked. I re-scheduled twice since I've been unstable and I was so anxious about the procedure. I bravely went for it today and just prayed.

The last thing I remember was the bitter taste of the throat numbing spray. I also saw the anesthesiologist injecting something in the IV. An hour later I woke up to a medtech doing a 2D echogram on me. I realized I didn't even see the doctor who did the TEE. I'm so glad I was sedated and didn't have to endure what I did 12 years ago. I'm just hoping my throat doesn't react badly. The doctor have me meds, so that you should help.

Resting for the next few days. The procedure is pretty invasive and my body needs to recover. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Our Muradito Experience

I had Muradito Home on my list of places to visit. They carry an array of useful items. I was curious because they have themed ceramic dinnerware. I also wanted to see whether their items are affordable.

It took a year before we went. I didn't really have anything to buy. My neighbor though makes really good ramen and we realized we didn't have bowls for ramen. That became my excuse, haha.

We went to their Alabang branch. We decided to go in the evening since warehouses tend to be hot. The first thing we saw was a cute cat grooming at the entrance. Beside it was a huge table with Christmas plates, mugs and other dinnerware. I think about half of the items were Christmas items.

The area was big and I was overwhelmed with the variety. Good thing they only had a few ramen bowls. We were able to choose quickly. 

As much as I wanted to buy Christmas themed stuff, the practical side of me won. I just wanted a quirky serving bowl that I could use all year round. So I just got something that would be useful and perfect for serving home cooked dishes. 

One thing we also decided to get were platitos. We only have three and they also don't match. We got three more that also don't match, haha. Each small plate only cost about PhP50. Not bad huh. 

The prices were affordable, even the cutesy serving bowls and plates. The options can be overwhelming, so it's useful to have a list of what you need before going. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Made a Pokemon "Pikachu" Quilt

I was really curious whether Pinterest grids of characters would work as a quilt. Since I had a lot of yellow fabric, I decided to make a Pikachu quilt. I originally intended to make it as a throw pillow case, but it was too cute. I decided to turn it into a wall hanging since we don't have anything on our walls. 

I started the project last August. I was busy with other things. I worked on it on and off and piecing together 400 1"x 1" squares wasn't easy. I had to take breaks in-between to rest. The hardest part was hand quilting across the project. I'm happy I now have a Pokemon wall decor-a homemade one!

Here's how I made it!

Will I do it again? Maybe. I definitely want to have a Yoda one and if I have more energy maybe I'll complete the Pokemon starters. 

Yet Another Day with My Cats + Pulmo Rehab

I managed to sleep well last night. I was able to pinpoint where the forearm pain stemmed from. It's likely a pinched nerve somewhere in my neck. I haven't been able to see my doctor since she's out, so I looked for a home solution. I found one last night taught by a chiropractor and I had instant relief! The pain is still there, but at least I was able to sleep without taking a pain reliever (Dr. Koo always cautioned not to get addicted to pain relievers!). 

Anyway, I was able to attend my pulmo rehab session today. My therapist congratulated me for making it for four straight weeks! That's a rare occurrence since sometimes I wake up with a headache or I'm not able to sleep well. I learned my lesson and make sure I'm well rested the day before my session. No extraordinary activities! 

I fell asleep after eating lunch. The exercises were the same, but I used heavier dumb bells for some of the exercises. That probably required a lot more effort. I immediately went to the pocket garden when I woke up. Anakin, Bailey and Grogu soon appeared and asked for belly rubs. Meredith followed and also asked for scratches. They've been so sweet lately and I can't imagine not having them around.

Kaley and Grey have been missing for 2 to 3 months now. We have no idea where they've gone. We can only hope that they found someone to care for them. It's not the first time we lost feral cats. We also never saw Cheyenne and Sandra again. Maybe they also found their fur-ever homes. 

I also realized Christmas is less than a month away now! We honestly haven't done anything yet. Maybe we'll put up our trees this weekend :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

My Afternoon Companions

Every afternoon my cats accompany me while I water the plants. They greet me and ask for belly rubs. When I get busy with the plants they wrestle or run around. Sometimes I get surprised when they do zoomies and brush against my leg as they pass by.

This afternoon, Meredith sat beside me after I finish watering the tea tree plant. I sat on the top step beside her and just hung out. The weather has changed and it's pleasant to stay outdoors towards sunset. I'm glad the old Meredith is back. She became aloof for awhile and even moved out. She came back when she realized no one else is going to feed her. I guess she now understands that they are one huge cat family and we love all of them just the same.

I went out again late evening to check on the cats. They were all napping, but soon woke up when they heard me. Anakin was missing. We heard him running on the garage roof and wanted help to get down. Last time that happened he jumped ten feet to the ground. Good thing he wasn't injured. This time his paw daddy held a box for him to go down. He still fell, but managed to land properly. 

His body was stuck in a plastic bag. We suspect it came from the construction site beside us. We immediately removed it and checked if he was okay. The handle of the plastic was pretty tight. Good thing I checked on the cats and saw what happened.

I love our cat family, all 8 of them and I'm grateful Papa God sent them our way.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Ganapables

I was watching an interview on YouTube when I heard the word "ganapables". Gen Z has introduced a lot of new words to me. "Ganapables" which I guess means "happenings" or "events/activities". I couldn't help but giggle over the new terms I'm learning. 

Other terms I learned include, "jumper", "situationship", "cavite" (not the city), "bruh" etc. I honestly had to look up what situationship meant. It's like the new term for "MU" but not quite it they said. 

I remember when I was growing up I also had to explain certain words to my parents. My Dad was fascinated to learn new terms. My Mom mostly raised her eyebrow, haha. Miggy's generation is really different from Gen Z and he's also not familiar with some of the terms. I guess we all just need to continue learning to bridge the gap.

So, what's your ganapables for the next week? 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Gardening Helped Heal my Forearm Pain

I've been having forearm pain the past two weeks. I'm not sure if hand quilting triggered it (probably). My neuro told me to see her if I have pain since she flagged my scoliosis. She's out so I haven't been able to see her. The ointment my spine doctor has helped and I've been doing some of the exercises my PT taught me before.

I read on a hospital's page that you can do some gardening as home treatment for forearm pain. After exercising yesterday I felt I could give it a try today. I had to transplant the avocado I propagated in water anyway. Two avocados and one money plant was my plan. 

I ended up transplanting two avocados, the Ikea money plant, and re-potted some succulents into a bigger pot. Plus I prepared 2 big pots for calamansi and four smaller ones for seeds that sprouted from my propagation tray (I'm not sure what they are, haha). I didn't feel any pain and it felt good. It was good exercise and the cats watched me the whole time.

Hope to see my neuro next week! 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Transformers One and Jaybucks

Sweetie wanted to watch "Transformers One" and we discovered you can watch it through Google TV. I used to watch Transformers on TV when I was a child, so I'm familiar with the characters. I also get to watch whenever Sweetie views videos and I usually ask him a gazillion questions. 

We decided to have a movie night to watch Transformers One. Sweetie and Miggy prepared Jaybucks 3-cheese pizza and we just ordered pasta and chicken. Perfect meal while watching a movie!

I didn't know what to expect. Sweetie just said it was the story on how Optimus Prime and Megatron started. I was surprised to find out that Optimus Prime and Megatron were besties and we're once upon a time smaller. I loved the storyline and how it seemed to have references to pop culture. I also loved how it was animated. TBH, it's much better than the movies that had humans in it. This one is more nostalgic and ties nicely to how I was introduced to the Transformers when I was a child.

That's all I would say for now since I don't want to give any more spoilers. Watching it is worth the time and renting the movie. Now we'll watch BTS and easter egg vids!

Happy weekend!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Pulmo Rehab Progress

I'm happy I was able to attend my pulmo rehab sessions the past 3 weeks. Yay! My therapist usually ramps me up whenever I go MIA because I'm sick. We did the full set today and oh boy, I'm depleted! Haha. I think it was the right level-up since I didn't conk out right after the session. 

I have been feeling heavy since I was rendered useless after our Ikea trip last month. I took awhile to get better, but my back has been painful and I think it's affecting my appendages. I'll probably see my neuro first and have her refer me to a spine doctor. 

I feel the difference though after three pulmo rehab sessions. I'm getting stronger again. I hope we'll be able to start spinning again next week. I'll probably try to use the stationary bike in the next few days to prepare. I just need to make sure I don't overdo things so I can consistently attend my sessions. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Sometimes This is All You Need

My hair had grown so long. It already reached my waist line and it was so annoying already. I haven't been able to have a haircut. It always got pushed back.

Since we came home from Singapore, I couldn't find the right hairdresser. I'm a creature of habit and I really had a hard time finding a new hairdresser when Mama Red left the salin I frequented since I was in high school. I found a good salon in Makati and that worked for me even when I moved to Singapore. When my trips to Manila dwindled, I experimented and got a haircut in Tokyo. The hair stylist didn't want to cut my hair short, but since I insisted he eventually gave in and gave me a nice haircut. The pandemic ended my love affair of getting haircuts in Tokyo and I was forced to find a salon in Singapore. (Check out when it took two years before I could get a haircut, here).

I have been hopping from one salon to another the past three years. I'm not really fussy and to be honest, I don't like going to the salon. My friend Gab used to have someone in his team who could do hair, but she left, so that started my quest to find a new hairdresser.

I badly needed a haircut and had one last Sunday. It looked really nice, but my hair was all over the place the next morning, haha. I guess that means the quest is still on. I'm just happy for now that my hair isn't as bothersome as before. It will grow out and I'll probably try a new salon again.

Get a haircut. Sometimes it's all you need to reset 🤗

#BeKind #StaySafe

Booksale Made Me Panic!

The other day, Booksale's CEO posted a gratitude post and mentioned that they were closing some branches. Sweetie had brought home five books for me just last week. Of course, I panicked and wanted to know whether they were keeping the branch near where I live.

There is nothing like Booksale. I grew up buying books there. It has the books I like for every season of my life. There was something similar in Singapore, but the books were still expensive. Whenever I went home I would visit Booksale whenever I can. It's a staple shop for me and that's why I had to visit and reassure myself it's still there, haha.

We had errands today. We finished it quickly and immediately went to Booksale after. I told the staff I wish they'd keep the branch. She said it's saw till there. I know it's close to their warehouse, so I'm hopeful they'll keep it. Sweetie and I left with 4 books each 😅

Miggy loves to read. We always visit a bookstore whenever we're near one. His love for reading started when he was in nursery school. We encouraged it and buying books is always part of our budget (that's why we love Booksale!). If you have children or nephews and nieces, encourage them to read. They will surely gain a lot of wisdom and knowledge from reading. 

Go visit a Booksale today. A list of their branches can be found here.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Be Kind also to Persons with Invisible Disabilities

I lost my greatest ally last year, my Mom. She understood perfectly that I wasn't functioning normally anymore. I didn't have to explain to her why I finally went home. She just knew and protected me as much as she could.

When you look at me, you won't think I have serious medical conditions. I guess that's God's gift to me. Let her look normal, but let's hide all her issues. I always get weird looks from guards whenever we park on PWD parking. Weirder looks when I give my PWD card at restaurants. At the clinic yesterday, the medtech didn't bother to ask me if I was okay while I was gasping for breath after being asked to lie down for an ultrasound. And the other medtech had to be told to help me move the foot stool so I could get up on the bed.

I'm a fighter. My pulmo rehab team have recommended for me to use a wheelchair whenever I'm out. I insist to walk because my legs still function. They are worried my heart will be strained with the effort. 

What people dont notice is I stop every 10-15 steps or I walk very slowly. Every 3 steps on stairs, I take a break. I also always have either Sweetie or Miggy assisting me. Yes, I look normal, but my lungs and heart are not. I could easily faint if I'm not careful. My doctor requires me to always have someone around whenever I putter around the garden.*

And that's why I keep mostly to myself and stay home. I don't want to bother others since they don't understand my medical condition. Only a handful of people do. I see friends in a similar plight raising awareness about invisible disabilities. Sadly, very few can really grasp it.

To have an idea if my circumstance, just think you're carrying a 30 kilogram backpack all the time. Can you imagine the weight? Now think you're carrying the heavy backpack up the viewing deck at Chocolate Hills. Can you feel the strain on your body? That's how I feel most of the time, even when I'm in bed. Can you still breathe? 

I've had to keep to myself. I avoid people who don't understand that I'm on a different path. My pace is different and I cannot possibly follow the norm. Since I lost Mom I had to learn to set boundaries to protect my wellbeing, my mind, my spirit, and what energy I have left. I'm grateful I have people around me who understand, provide guidance and prayers. 

So, please be kind also to people with Invisible disabilities.

*It's probably why our cats always hang out with me whenever I water the plants. They are watching over me.

#BeKind #StaySafe

The Executive Check-up Didn't Go as Planned

My medical insurance team reminded me that part of my package includes an executive check-up. I was so happy to hear this since I go through a battery of tests usually twice a year. Since I'm due to see my cardiologist soon I scheduled the tests so I can have it in time for my appointment.

My appointment didn't go as smoothly as planned. I had my LOA, but there were communication issues between my insurer and the facility. Well, I read the reviews about the facility last night. A lot of the complaints were about communicating with the facility. So I set my expectations low.

Good thing I set the bar low because the facility failed to complete their internal communications. I wasn't on the appointment list. I'm glad I was still accommodated since I already fasted for 10 hours. I didn't finish all the tests and the interview. After three hours my energy was already depleted and I was due to drink my medications (full stomach required). We just rescheduled the rest of the tests.

I really don't like being in a clinic, so we went for comfort food after. Then did some adulting stuff again, haha. And had merienda before we went home.

Health is wealth and I'm glad I just kept my cool. I just passed on my feedback to my medical insurance team since I think the facility needs to improve with how they handle PWD patients. They do have a great phlebotomist (Pat) and I'll ask for her in case I need to go back for a blood test.

Rest well my friends.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Safe!

Thank you Lord for keeping us safe from the typhoon. I pray for my fellow countrymen severely affected by it. Please keep them safe and give them strength to recover from the disaster. Amen 🙏

#PepitoPH, Let's All Pray for Safety

I've been monitoring the news closely since the third typhoon that came in the past week, #PepitoPH, is now a supertyphoon. I saw some videos showing storm surges occurring even before the arrival of the typhoon. It looked really nasty. Warning has also been given for those in Metro Manila. We're currently at signal #2, so far no rain as of writing.

Source: DILG CODIX/DOST PAGASA

We've heeded the warnings and have prepared our home. We even moved some of the plants indoors. 

Let's all pray for safety. May God keep us all safe from this weather disturbance. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Garden Notes: Cactus and Succulent Soil, Calamansi Soil, Avocado Soil

I have different kinds of plants and I can't find the notebook where I used to write down notes for my plants. I realized I should have just noted it here in my blog. That's what I do anyway when I need to refresh my memory. It's also why I make cooking videos at "Recipes for My Son". 

It's been hard to keep track of the needs of my plants. There's soil needs, fertilizer, pesticide, watering etc. So I thought I should write down what I use. It's easier to find it here than my (currently) missing notebook. Miggy can also put it to good use one day when he becomes a plantito (haha). 

Okay, so here's what I generally use for different kinds of plants -

Cactus and Succulents - loam soil, perlite, tiny pebbles, a little compost (learned this from Manong at the nursery)

Calamansi Soil - loam soil, compost/manure, rice husk, coco peat

Papaya Soil - loam soil, compost, rice husk, Coco peat

Avocado Soil - loam soil, compost, perlite, Coco peat, rice husk (use when you transfer from water)

Soil to Propagate Gumamela - loam soil, coco peat, perlite, rice husk

Gumamela Soil - loam soil, rice husk, vermicast

Bell Pepper Soil - loam soil, compost, rice husk

Desert Rose/Kalachuchi Soil - use succulent mix

Belly Buddha - use succulent mix

Ginger - loam soil, compost, rice husk

Dill Soil - loam soil, compost, sun drenched coffee grinds, rice husk

Rosemary Soil - loam soil, compost, sun drenched coffee grinds, rice husk, can also add some pebbles

Will update for other plants :)

#BeKind #StaySafe

I'm Back! (Mega Blog-Backlog Update)

It's almost been a month since I took a hiatus from blogging. I was unwell and so I let both my mind and body rest. It felt like my "cache" was overflowing and needed a hard reset. So that's what I did. I was down for almost two weeks after visiting Ikea. My whole body just hurt and I could barely do anything. When I eventually felt better I took baby steps to get moving. 

Baby steps meant re-potting my papaya and calamansi plants (haha). I'm glad that worked out since they all adjusted well to their new pots. I also transferred one avocado seed I propagated in water. The leaves has grown in just over a week. I'm glad it rained after I transferred it to a pot. It helped the avocado adjust faster. 

I spent a lot of time with our cats and kittens. They help heal, so that's what I did. Sadly, Grey and Kaley have gone missing. We haven't seen Kaley since September. Grey has been gone for a month now too. They just visit us to eat. We hope and pray they're both okay and eating well. 

I did some cooking too in the past two weeks. That's a good sign I'm getting better. I managed to make pink pasta with scallops, Dad's beef and Mustasa dish, and Bistek Tagalog. Whenever I get in a slump, I re-trace my cooking skills by making all-time favorites. Next week maybe I'll make salmon with cream cheese and chicken afritada if I can complete the ingredients. I'll slowly work my way up to cook at least 2-3 times a week. 

The funniest thing that happened to me the past month is my slippers from c.2008 finally retired. The old Havaianas slippers really last long. I got a new one and used the GC benefit from my medical insurance (yup, I could be very stingy haha). It's so cute and has gumamela in it. 

I've also done 2 pulmo rehab sessions. My therapist was very happy I wasn't absent today! It's really challenging to have medical conditions since recovery can take so long. I have to make sure I manage my energy well so I stay stable. After the exercise this morning I'm doing more laptop stuff and will just water the plants later. 

How you doing my friend?

#BeKind #StaySafe

Signs of Old Age

I probably went beyond my quota last Monday when we went to Ikea. 

My whole body hurts and I have been having fever on and off. I did a test, so it's not COVID-19. Whew! Just probably over fatigued.

Resting for now 

#BeKind #StaySafe

What's Unique at Ikea Philippines Restaurant

I know I've been living under a rock. We were only able to eat at Ikea's Swedish Bistro yesterday. Yup, yesterday 😂 

We frequently ate at Ikea's restaurant in Singapore even during to the pandemic when restrictions eased. The resto here was always full, so we'd either just buy at the cafe or buy frozen meatballs. 

Since it was our first time, I observed what was different. They actually had a proper line for PWDs/senior citizens. A crew member promptly escorted us when I mentioned I was a PWD (I was breathless from all the walking). The menu is fairly the same except for dessert!

There's turon! And much cheaper than SM's (lol).

Buko pandan and mango sago

And leche flan!

I was tempted to try the leche flan, but I had some banana bread for breakfast and Miggy's planning to make leche flan this week. Anyway, next time!

Of course, Miggy and I had meatballs. (What's up with the peas, they were bit undercooked I think).

Sweetie had salmon and spaghetti (and some of my meatballs).

We had a fun time reminiscing our days in Ikea Singapore. I won't forget it since I used the Tampines branch for my cardio exercises post OHS. My surgeon encouraged it to keep me walking! I loved it since Mom always bought me toys, haha. 

Here's the Westies at Ikea Alexandra (SG)

I wish though there's a lot more shortcuts. It always takes us 3 hours to go through the maze. Or at least have more seats across the store for PWDs like me to rest in between. I now have salonpas on my back from too much walking 😅

#BeKind #StaySafe