Paragraphs in the midst of monsoon

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Nothing's so happening here - it's a wet season running a dry spell.



~The garden~

Good news! It's finally getting fixed starting July! YAY!!!




~The bike~

Obviously, Bear wanted it at our place instead of our in-law's garage. Did I mention for how many donkey years Bear hadn't touched his toy, and that he had to hurt himself with a fall 2 years ago? And how he almost got me killed 2 times in earlier summers? I insisted on escorting him from behind on Father's day - the longest journey that made my tummy churn laminas away. I almost tore the wheel out whenever Bear shook me off. I prayed so hard that God stopped 2 rains in between that hour ( or we can accuse Bear of his hell speed that threw the raining clouds behind us ). Imagine my relief when we got back in a piece, THANK JESUS!




~ We heart shiitake ~




Yep. The Japs call this mushroom 'shiitake'. Bear loves it so much that he almost got some logs home to nurture home-grown shiitake at the rear. ( It's the fun he's after, not quite the shiitake. )


If you agree with me, the tiny one on the surface can almost pass as a heart!





~イナダのさしみ~

We've been frequenting this fabulous Japanese restaurant that always surprises us with extraordinary cuisine, always artistically presented. I wish I've brought my camera to explain what made us we jump from our seat last night. A raw fish 3/4 the length of my arm and twice my 'biceps' thick was brought up before Bear! It was a grotesque sight, with the fish head bigger than my fist; seemingly smiling and alive! Its flesh cut out in generously thick sashimi and... did I see blood? Unpalatable I'd say, YUCK! We laughed so hard after leaving the restaurant, it was definitely the most unforgettable dinner experience to date.



~Nothing too small~

I have this problem everybody is having, always hesitant about praying over trivial things I thought I could solve on my own, till there were close moments when pressure almost blew me up! But God was in control. Again, and again, and again, I've learn to put things at His feet ~ the great things and small ones too. Nothing's too insignificant I can't bring up before Him, for He's the fatherly figure that cares...


Thank you Father, for the garden thingy, the bike thingy, the heart shiitake, the garden thingy again thus the celebration at つづみ. We're blessed.





P/S : Dear MJ, you may have been gone for a year today, we still have you in our playlist. Always will.

Holey

It's monsoon.


Garden thingy isn't progressing like how we've hoped, and monsoon is always only good at decelerating things. Nevertheless, I'm pinning high hopes on the company we're meeting tonight. Please please, please make it work! =/





As I didn't see the vegetation plot commencing fast enough, I started seedlings of tomato and herbs on a planter early spring. Amazingly, the fellas are developing faithfully by inches despite a lack of sunshine. Given the less than ideal conditions, I should be more than thankful even with an average harvest this year.









The thing is, before I can touch them, who is munching on my basil leaves?






Now if Bear is right, where.are.the.caterpillars?? Every morning, I'll find my choicest leaves gone!


Incidentally, the defeated leaves sorta delineate the spirit inside - holey. The garden that isn't getting done soon enough, has a good chance of getting in the way of other serious business later. Landed vegetation isn't a piece of cake like balcony vegetation, especially if I want it done organic. I've overestimated myself.



But stuffs can be sorted out right? Right? I shouldn't sweat over what's resolvable right? Gotta tame this anxious heart.


~ Ok, you had the basil. Leave my tomatoes and rosemary alone, alright? ~


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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phillipians 4:6

Hydrangea, at last

First time I laid eyes on Hydrangea, my heart felt like a thousand flowers bursting from inside. Still unable to verbalize its spellbinding effect on me... Always mesmerized by the clustered blooms in magical blends of pastels and tones, so delicately layered. It's an everlasting passion unfolded.



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Japan being famous for its Hydrangea breeds, attracts collectors from around the world. The late Princess Diana who was fond of Hydrangea, would seize several back to England whenever she managed to travel Japan. Very often, I would wonder which were the ones lucky that left with her.










After all these years, I've finally started little pots of Hydrangea at the rear, in pastel pink, blue and purple. Their heads drooping at rainy intervals and all perked up on sunny days. In a couple of years, I'd have a surplus for cuts at the niche.



It still feels like how I've seen them for the first time. =)



Please share anything if you're a lover of Hydrangea too.

Home Alone II 2010

Home alone since Wednesday, or maybe not so alone - I had friends over for the past days!


Bear had better stay out when pals come over. ;P First batch was the 'wives-club'. College friends turned fiends when they took over the next day. Mahjong tiles lugged out, hair let down, we laughed, talked, snacked, made so much noise like brash teenagers. We forgot where we were.


Gotta love them. Oh, one of the girls who left us last year, has returned and probably staying here for good. =D


Home looks like a battlefield after the bash. And I'm still trying to make it the same old place before Bear returns tonight. Ha!

In His time

It may be the least fun May we have to date, darting across places for business rather than leisure, and not very rewarding... Still we're grateful for every time-out brief, and I'm thankful to Bear for offering his time when he should be grabbing it for rest.



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It's still a lovely May, though less celebrated, less fruitful than we've hoped... but we have it all - good health, and peace; can't ask for more. =)



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The heart fell from the petals when I had the vase refreshed! Not sure if it's from the sweet pea or carnation, so delicately shaped and sized... It answered the many 'when's kept in the vault, what's always making me anxious and remains beyond me.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

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So I'm not going to question when will the next 'heart' happen , and surrendering the other bigger 'when's to Jesus. I know He'll take care of them. =)


Hope you had a lovely May. ♥

Home Alone 2010

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Woke up 5a.m. to do breakfast, Bear had a train to catch.


I wish I'm a morning person. I wish Bear hadn't asked that stupid question when I was tackling a leaking trashbag. I wish I've answered nicely, so that Bear needn't feel nervous as a result and made further blunders. I wish I hadn't just check him in the side mirror, but turned around with a smile and said something nice. Silly Bear stood in the cold rain to see me drive off, I wish he had been furious enough and hurry inside the shelter. I wish these didn't happen when Bear would be away for a few days. I wish I hadn't been so touchy, foolish.


I wish I made an u-turn to plant some kisses. I pray that I can still make amends.


Lord I'm sorry. Please bless his work and bring him back safe and sound.

Remembering May

May is a hectic month. Feel like we're rushing in and out of it, and stealing time in between the runs. I'm sure some stuff can be taken care of by themselves? Haha, I must have caught some nonchalance from the Bear over the years. =P



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Taking some time today to remember May, before I rush out again. Pant pant...



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And yes we managed to join Bear's folks on mini trips this Spring...











Father-in-law is someone who holds his liquor extremely well, Bear said that he must have emptied at least barrels his life. It's an irony how his son knocks out at any fine hint of alcohol. I actually drink better than he does. ;P


It's hard to write when the mind is operating in dry Japanese. Zzz...

In a soft light

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はい、はい、はい。　大すきです。

1st May 2010