A 100th post that rejoices

The counter says it. It's a 100th post for the God-Blessed Box!

When I first started the blog and totally clueless about what to DO with it, the 100th post did not cross my mind and even if it did, I reckoned it should take ages to arrive at. =P

Honestly, a 100th post isn't all great like a milestone to me. It can't be special like the friendship I've found across the blogosphere, and the great blogs that nourish my days. Here, I give thanks to all that I know and going to know better...

However, this 100th post that I don't deem special, is SPECIAL as I didn't see it coming that it'll depict a celebration!

A year ago, it hit us hard when my husband's medical report highlighted a polyp found in his stomach. It so happened when we were in the middle of much huge plans... Another detailed checkup confirmed the growth, and we were forced to abort whatever plans that had meant everything to us.

It was a difficult period... With the odd medical system, and to top with, my husband's frequent travel, the growth was ' left ' as it was. Never a time was I freed from the thought of the growing polyp, and the many ' what ifs '... I was truly scared. Then early this year when my pastor had to get his entire stomach removed due to a malignant tumour, there were questions like; was it what I was supposed to be prepared for... There was no peace.

So many times feelings surged and drove this young wife on bended knees to pray. Together, we have prayed hard, as we remembered to play hard. It was a year of fear, delight, tears and laughter but we kept our faith and hoped that the growth would not get worse, while we quietly prepared our hearts for neccessary treatment.

Then at long last, came the medical report and we examined in disbelief... The polyp is gone!


GOD knows how it's been haunting us and now, in His mercy, the Bear is healed! Overwhelmed, I truly find no words to describe this healing miracle, our gratitude and joy ... and now as I write this, tears flow. The Bear is questioned about positive change in his lifestyle that causes the healing, all we know is it happened as a prayer answered. The Bear is HEALED, we are freed!!

You have no idea how important this is to a young couple like us. We can never thank God enough for His miracle, and all the grace that brought us through a struggling year. We are all consumed by His love, and I just want to shout to the whole world, that GOD is GOOD all the time... He is to be praised!!

It doesn't matter if you believe in Jesus or miracle, rejoice with us for our lives are restored! We're affirmed of our faith, and I know that this will keep us strong all times as we unfold what God has in store for our future. And I pray that our peace be yours too, that all will be blessed in many wonderful ways perceived, or not. May this joyful 100th post, be a blessing to many...


God bless.

Good Bougainvillea

Summer is a good time to catch tropical flowers in cold Nagano. The visual treat being 期間限定 which means ' for a limited period only ', ends once the friendly temperature dips low cold.


On this day when the ever so familiar plant showed up before me, I felt the good old Bougainvillea took away every single tire after a ballet lesson, and I was completely rejuvenated... =)


I miss Bougainvillea... How queer that I've never noticed them back in Singapore even though they flourish proudly everywhere.

In a way, I agree with some that man is strange. I realise that in the past, I used to snub at the good things presented to me unreservedly. Man tends to take things for granted and crave for things that he does not own. Nope?




While Bougainvillea has never appealed to me in the past, it's a wonder how they pluck my heartstrings when I see them in Japan. The coveting bug was acting up, badgering me to get a pot of Bougainvillea, but I stayed composed and decided to check. True enough, Bougainvillea needs to be brought indoor during winter period and only thrives at extremely hot temperature.

I love Hibiscus too, but my pots didn't do well and they withered as soon as winter set in. Rearing tropical flowers in seasonal countries prove to be regretfully tricky indeed, and I'm just not too prepared for a second heartbreak.




So, admiration of Bougainvillea is limited to Summer or when I'm back to Singapore. You who see Bougainvillea all the time, do you not gasp at its beauty?



Japan will be enjoying the ' Obon ' holiday ( ghost festival ) with a stretch from tomorrow to Sunday! Yes, I'm looking forward to a good break though we may not be travelling far. For starters, the Bear is taking me to some secret treat tonight =) I wonder what is he up to this time... =P

Back to rice again

Slap thigh! You've missed it!


A post before this is written in a way that some would have thought is suggestively provocative. =P Anyway, I've been advised to remove the post before it invites regret. Ooops. Ok, I'll be careful next time... =P Thanks to the advisor who cares... Hugs.


So I'm making up with what we've had for dinner. ;P


These days, I blame it on the heat that I find it hard to swallow rice as usual... We need alternatives!


.........


So, the answer is SUSHI, uniquely Japan! Do you know, most Japanese would rather have sushi at restaurants than home. What's being prepared at home, can never be compared with the fresh and raw seafood prepared by skilled chefs outside. Homemade stuff is usually accompanied with cooked ingredients, to avoid danger of food contamination.



Light and savory with a tint of sweetened vinegar, sushi is most pleasant on summer days. My favourite is the Inari sushi. Anybody knows ' Inari sushi '? It is a kind of sushi wrapped with sweetened beancurd skin rather than conventional seaweed. This evening, I've prepared 4 kinds of topping for them : crab salad, sweetened shiitake, prawn mayonaise, and bought grilled eel. Hehehe, I don't know about you, but I thought they look like amusing uglies draped in wet blankets and coarsely belted. LOL!!!! =D



They are good like how I like them, but we're so sick of beancurd now, and all ready to return to plain rice again. =P So, you see, sushi acts like a good alternative on days when rice seems all too heavy.

I shan't share the recipe for this sushi though, as I doubt many are able to get the basic ingredients. Just an idea of what the Japanese have at homes. ;)

Happy Birthday!

Today marks the 43rd year of independence for the Republic of Singapore. As soon as I've started living in Japan, I don't get to watch the National Day Parade anymore.


I miss those days that I'd stay alert by the window and wait for the fighter planes pass by. The sight and sound of them soaring the skies always exhilerate me much...


At home, it's also the celebration of the youngest child's birthday. Times flies, he's turned 18 today. =)

Happy Birthday, Didi! You've been such a great loving brother! May health, happiness and blessings be yours always. Love you ...


Happy Birthday Singapore! I waved our flag madly when I saw our representatives at the Olympics opening ceremony. You remain my beloved home. I wish Singapore everything the national pledge says, may you grow strong evermore. Majulah, Singapura.

Lavender Sable

Given its enchanting aroma, I guess nobody possibly hates Lavender.




I've told most about my love for Lavender earlier here...





It's of no surprise to me that many would keep dried Lavender at home for baking. Lavender seems to bloom from within the oven with its evident scent... always so mysteriously therapeutic...





From time to time, when I feel a need for some good Lavender basking, I'll search for recipes that use this lovely flower. And this is it, the Lavender Sables and I've probably ended my quest for a quick and easy Lavender recipe. ;)





The Bear has been suffering a cold for days and finally agreed to rest yesterday! To cheer up the sickly Bear, I took the chance to bake with Lavender with hope that he'll enjoy the aromatherapy baking. The thoughtful move is repaid with an unappreciative grunt, ' I'm having a blocked nose. I don't smell a thing... '

Was I to laugh or sigh with resigned dismay... Hmm... I laughed anyway! LOL!!!! =DDD

But wait. For one would be awed how the fragrance would find its way into a nose blocked. As the baking prolonged, Bear turned to look at me and as if mesmerized; he said, ' I think I smell it now... '

And the scent is but a prelude to what pleasures the sables bring! Buttery melting moments, a texture so light that lets the scent of Lavender dance freely. My efforts were not in vain, the Bear was totally comforted. =)

Check out my findings from this wonderful blogger, or the recipe below that is less sweet and yields around 14 sables.



Recipe for Lavender Sable

Makes around 14 sables

All purpose flour : 113g

Cornstarch/cornflour : 13g

Dried Lavender : 1 teaspoon

Butter : 100g

Sugar : 30g

Egg yolk : 1

Zest of half a lemon

Salt : 1 very light pinch

1. Beat butter at medium speed until smooth. Add in sugar and beat until it's well-blended.

2. Beat in egg yolk, salt, Lavender and lemon zest.

3. At low speed, add in flour and cornstarch until just incorporated.

4. Turn dough out onto a counter, gather dough into a ball, wrap up using a plastic wrap. Chill dough for 30 minutes in refrigerator. Form dough into a log that is about 1 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter.

5. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350F.

6. Once the oven is ready, slice the log into 1/4-inch thick and place on a lined baking sheet with 1/2 inch interval. Bake for 12- 14 minutes, or until the sables are set but not brown. Tranfer and cool the sables on the rack.

I'll surely enjoy its tenderness again. Next time, with my favourite tea. I hope it delights you too. =)

Little things mean so much

Since Sunday, there at the center of the dining table stands this mug with herbs and Lavendar.



When we left a restaurant on Sunday afternoon, my feet paused as I admired the herbs and plants raised by the owner of the restaurant. Bees hovering over Lavendar, fluttering butterflies... the fragrance of flowers and herbs must have smelt like paradise...




Mint


The owner happened to leave and noticed us. In a very casual manner, she plucked some mint and offered them to me. You have no idea how touched I was... Next moment we knew, she started plucking Oregano and Lavendar, insisting that I should have them...




Oregano


Extravagant and expensive things are but fleeting pleasures and they delight me no more. On the contrary, simple gesture like this brings me such joy. A warm ' Hello ', some simple sharing... when people take time just to get their thoughts across to me. =)




Lavendar


Lavendar can be gathered at a very cheap price at this place we visited sometime before, but I didn't have the heart to snip off the beauties. The lady who must have taken pains to raise them, gave them away so generously. And though one may think these are nothing from her overgrown heaps of herbs and plants, I really appreciate her gift cos they must have been precious to her.




Oregano



Ok. I've learnt some tips in the past on how to raise herb from a single stem. I'm trying the method now, hopefully it works and I'll be able to generate my own Mint and Oregano. Shall keep you posted if progress is showing here. ;)


I thought they look good in the mug I made =) Should they really grow, I want to share my Mint and Oregano with others too. And spread the love...

Where have the flowers gone?

Hubby took me to a hillside that he has ever been to in his younger days. A landmark he claimed to be carpeted with wild lilies of bright yellow, and it should be the best time to catch them now.

What greeted us was this.




This was what the entire plain offered. According to the man who tends the hillside, wild lilies have not been blooming well since recent years. The reason could be well again due to global warming. Bear asked, ' Where across the wide plain should we go in order to find the lilies then? ' The man answered, ' Umm... sorry, no lilies. It looks like they're not blooming this year at all... '





We took a rest at the spot below. No... I wasn't cross at the zero blooms, though it felt like a sweet promise denied. As we gazed upon the pasture in the cooling breeze, a feeling of emptiness swept over me... So this is all we have left for our future generations.





Our children may be even more deprived. They probably won't sight a single wild flower, because we ' took ' them all... If this is described as a feast, we must have taken all the most delicious, juciest parts, and left nothing but bones and scraps for our children.

The bees will have nothing to work on. Maybe, gone are the butterflies too. These poor creatures must be totally confused when they are brought into the world with nothing to pursue.




Some of the wild flowers looked as if they are burnt even before they could bloom. The harsh reality stares at me as loud as the barren plains, I thought I could hear its plea...


' Is there anything you can do better to help us? Can you take the trouble to peform those eco-friendly tasks? '





So this is all that's left from the once gorgeous plains.






..........










Yes, we're considered fortunate to be able to see them now. Perhaps, they will be here no more in another few years...

Dear friends, I'm sure that we can help improve earth's health with every single eco-friendly effort we make.

Is there anything that you're faithfully performing, keep up the good work. Are there actions that you've been avoiding because of inconvenience, do you think you can help by performing one of them first?

I hope that you've heard the flowers today.

Floral wishings

So, it's August! And I'm madly looking forward to the Olympics!! My lock-ons : Gymnastics and Synchronized swimming. Yours?

We're having a cool week so far, with the wind rather chilly. If only Summer ends with the same cool note.

The scorching rays aren't very merciful to the dainties at the porch though. Isn't flowering a lot and starts browning a little. Here's sharing the beauty before the heat wave hits heavy again.

To the friend who is welcoming her new baby, may the Lord send lots of peace and blessings to your household, His mercy overflows...




To friends who are ill, may your health be restored quickly. May your spirit be uplifted and renewed again.

To friends who face challenges in work and other difficulties, may you have the wisdom to deal with situations, and strength to overcome tough times.

To friends who face new environment, new agendas and new issues in life, may you find ways to adjust quickly, and discover secrets to new joy.





To friends who are down and depressed, life is about ups and downs, not just soley the ' downs ' all the time. Look up, and cheer up.

To tired friends who badly need rest, it isn't too much to rest for just a day, it'll fetch you days of better performance. So, rest.




To friends who are going on holidays, have a good time!! Share the fun when you're back.




To Bear, thank you...






To Viola, my favourite flower shown above : Thank you for blooming so much for us, I shall surely see you again. =)



Nothing much today, a silly post perhaps, but the wishings I mean sincere... I wish all a pretty, lovely weekend.