Birds in my Backyard

(This is a picture which Brett took when we were in the balcony of my house. I took two other shots which did not turn out so good because I was so short and my camera's zooming feature is limited. That's why Brett took this shot for me)


As I am at home all the time looking after my mother, I entertain myself by doing different things. One thing I love to do and find it interesting is bird watching. I need not go far to do this because the birds are right before me. In fact, when they are around me as I work in the garden, I always tell my mother, We are in good company, Mother.Different birds visit my yard: lorikeets, cuckatoos,pigeons, crows and magpies and two other birds unknown to me. These birds have made my backyard their home. I need not feed them because there are ample foods for them to feed on--fruit trees, vegetables and seeds I just throw on the ground to grow. Also, I got huge trees which they make as their resting place.


I was at the extension of my house doing some work on my desktop computer when I caught sight of this lone pigeon. I stopped and stared at the bird, then decided to go out of the house to take this photo.


As I stared at the lone pigeon, I wondered where could its friend or family be. My, wouldn't it be lonely to be just by itself? Brett talked to me about two families of birds which made his backyard their home and how happy they are--sharing the fresh water and food he provides for them...

After a minute or so, I saw another pigeon alight,not next to the first pigeon but on the adjacent lattice. Hmmm! What's going on? They seemed to be at odds...

I watched a bit longer and soon the bird that just alighted flew next to the first one. WoW, now they seemed to want to talk... about some issues?.. Perhaps! If they wouldn't, life would definitely miserable not just for them but also the other members of their family.



After a while or so... things must have been settled.. they could but just hang around each other--each doing their own thing. How good was that!



Yes, good on them! The bird business was finished and I thought I better go inside and finish mine.

Spring in Full Bloom

(These are pictures of the creeping roses my beloved late father planted. There are tens of thousands of these around my yard which to me represent his enormous love for me and my siblings)


(I will propagate this beautiful bloom in my backyard. I'm glad it bloomed. At the moment it is just alone in a pot in my front yard)




(This is one of the rose varieties in the rose garden Brett made for me. I was singing in my heart a traditional hymn which says I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses . I almost lost track of time breathing into my being the beauty of these roses. During the colder days I removed daily the aphids attacking them. My effort paid off. Such beautiful blooms!)





(This is one of the two varieties of Hibiscus which my friend Goodie gave me. I wasn't able to trim it in winter as I usually do. I hope it will give me great number of blooms till summer)


The rain has stopped. I thank God for watering my garden. For the past few days I days I did not have to do this because it had been raining. Needless to say, I stayed indoors all the time with my mother.

I have missed touching and talking to my plants and my trees so while my mother was still sleeping this morning, I went to the garden and took the photos above.

How the blooms brought delight to my heart! How glad and at the same time sad I was as I immersed my eyes and my thoughts breathing in the sweet scents of the creeping roses my late beloved father planted around my yard when I first bought my house. How I wish he was still here to see all of these beautiful florets.

I thank God for the comfort and the calm He overflooded my heart before I could flood the whole garden with my tears.

Yes, God gives me unspeakable and incomprehensible joy--both in good times and bad times.

I praise Him for all the beautiful and fresh flowers in my garden. Ahh... what else could I ask for in this life? He has given me all things that could not be bought anywhere but are free to those who are willing to receive and appreciate.

God is the Great Giver...and He gives generously. I praise Him and thank him for eternal life which is mine because of the shed blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Just the same, I thank Him for my garden which creates in me as always sunshine of happiness and spring of hope. Hallellujah!! Praise the Lord!!!

Five-and ten-Cent Coins--What is their Worth?

This morning as I was having breakfast with my mother, I caught sight of a ten-cent coin at the base of our mug holder. I chuckled because this coin used to be in the kitchen sink for ages. I moved it from there because I finally got tired of it being on the way every time I clean the kitchen sink. Poor coin! No one seems to have found any use for it.
As has been my custom, I usually take out all other coins except gold coins from my shoulder bag. All the five-cent coins I put in the blue dolly bank and all the ten- cent coins in the Mickey Mouse girlfriend's bank, the twenty coins and fifty coins altogether in a wide-mouthed wooden container so I could easily get them as needed.
As my piggy banks for the five and ten cents are full, I just put these wherever I happen to be when I take out coins from my bag. If these fall on the floor, I never really bother to pick them up. Needless to say, these coins would stay forever on those spots or wherever they end up after I sweep the floor.
I remember the time when I went to shop for souvenirs to send my relatives overseas. As the shop assistant was handing me the change from my purchase, I asked her to put these also in the bag. Her reaction was a thousand words to paint. Unsure whether she heard me right, she asked if I really meant that she put the money with the bagged items. I said yes.
I could laugh out loud. Was it really weird to have the loose change with the bagged souvenirs and not in my shoulder bag. Why, these were just coins... five, ten, twenty and fifty cents!
I asked my mother whether she remembered the comedy show where Dolphy, a poor unestablished man was always the subject of his mother-in-law’s ridicule and insult where the latter always put on airs by asking her maid to sweep the floor for money. I told my mother, we could also sweep our floor technically for money—not for notes though, but just for five or ten cents.
Do I really regard these coins valueless that I would not bother to even keep them in my coin purse?
As we oftentimes find five-cent coin on the path when Brett and I take a walk, I asked him why he thinks people don’t even bother to pick it up. Just right then, he told me the story of a five-cent coin.
I could re-tell the story, but I may not give justice to it. The moral of the story is—as little value has a five-cent coin, we can not underestimate what it can do to us in the long run.
True indeed! If my bus fare is short of five or ten cents, the bus driver would definitely not let me in the bus or give me a ticket. The consequence is disastrous--I would not be able to go to my destination or miss my pay as a contractor. As I know exactly where to find the five or ten- cent coins around my house, I just pick these coins to add up to my bus fare. That’s why as valueless as these seem to be, I don’t vacuum them.

I don’t know how long that ten cent coin would stay at the base of our mug holder because I don’t take the bus anymore—ie I could not leave house now as my mother needs a high level of care. I’m positive, though, it’s going to be of use to me one day. Ït just has to be patient--as I always tell myself.

My Books-My Best Friend and All-time Companion

I probably have accumulated tons of books over the years since I began to love reading and also when I develop the desire to articulate my mind through writing. As I consider my books as my best friend and my all-time companion, I have tried my best to look after them and protect them from their enemies—worms and water (in my personal experience). Another enemy, according to Brett, to which I definitely agree with --is people who borrow books from you and never return them.
It was unfortunate however, that I was not able to protect my books when I left Manila to migrate to Australia. When I returned for them, I found them already damaged by flood, if not by worms. I wish I could take with me the books that have been of great help to me as a student and a person like Genetics by Strickberger, Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale, Holiness by JC Ryle, my few books on writing and journalism, and my two art books on landscapes and seacapes, as well as my Scandinavian cooking books-- but all these were badly damaged. As much as I wanted my book called Joni by Joni Eareckson, I knew this was quite an impossibility because I had lent it to someone and never got it back.
Anyway, my coming back for my books was not a total disappointment, because, as worn out as it was, I went back to Sydney, with the pocketbook that helped me a lot when I was studying Radiation Genetics and Radiation Biology. This book is called Atomic Radiation and Life by Peter Alexander.
As I left my house in Park Homes during that homecoming, I consoled myself with the thought that I could always buy copies of these books I once had. Anyway, I have already accumulated books since I arrived in Sydney. For documentation, the very first book I bought was Ryrie’s Study Bible, the New American Standard Bible version. I wanted to buy it very much then when I was a theology student, but couldn't--because I could not really squeezed it in my budget.
Today,23 October, I should really be having delivered the three bookcases I ordered from a local furniture shop. Since Brett and I walked into this furniture shop two weeks ago, I had been wishing that days would be shorter so I‘d get these bookcases (two measuring 3x5 and one measuring 3x6). I wanted them very much so I could organise all the books that had been lying for ages on the floor of the extension of my house. Everytime I passed them by, I always told myself I should not be treating these books like this. Even if these books, except for my cooking, gardening books and The Purpose- Driven Life by Rick Warren, could be classified as already archivable, I still enjoy browsing or skimming through their pages every now and then. I thought jsut as I regard my old friends as priceless, I should regard these books just the same. As old as these books are, they had contributed to my growth as a person. That's why I bought these bookcases to give these books their proper place.

However, I was not thinking the bookcases would come earlier than I expected them. I thank God I had become wiser, ie by having just put the minimum deposit. I remember what my big brother Nimrod told me when I was stressing out chasing a piece of furniture I paid in full because it never got delivered on time. He said to me then, don't pay anything in full until it is delivered. Everybody knows that! (except me?)
I needed these extra bookcases because my archivable books have no more room in what my sister refer to as Lilian's Library (which is actually my study). The custom -built bookshelves that run from the floor to the ceiling were full-packed. These housed most of my favourite books in theology, arts, literature and medicine. I also have in this room copies of the Marquis Who’s Who in the World, Who's Who in Science and Engineering where I am one of the biographees, my thick Ph D thesis and my newly bought, thick Macquarie Dictionary (Australia’s National Dictionary). I used to have in this room also my thick Webster Dictionary which I bought as soon as I could because I was not able to bring back the one I got in my house in Manila. I have already brought Webster down to my extension so I'll have one good realiable dictionary here.
It could have been better if I could just have all my books in one place in my house because at the moment I got books everywhere. I have all my devotionals, Sabbath school lessons booklets somewhere else, ie in a spot which I thought should be a place where I could do my meditations.
The present arrangement of my books suits me perfectly at the moment. When I could not fall asleep or could not go to sleep after waking in the middle of the night or at dawn, I could easily walk into my study which is just next to the room where I sleep.
During day time I spend most of my readings and writing in the extension as there is so much sun in this room.
Technically, I know could get rid of all my books because all the information I might ever need are at my fingertips by just surfing the internet. However, I prefer to keep my books. I like the feel of them. I love the colours, the cover designs and of course their contents.
The three little books I particularly love in a special way are my own two books Strings of Words and Solitude which has perfect binding and green cover, Love Across the Sky which is cloth bound and has purple cover. The third one is called Italian Dreams which is also cloth bound and has a dark orange cover. At times I take them out of the shelves and group them together as shown in the picture and just take delight looking at them. Sometimes I wish I was the one who wrote Italian Dreams because I like its cover, it presentation and the pictures inside them. One dream I have in fact is to be able to publish something like this little book.
I’m continually organising my books so that they could be at my service when I need them and also, if I may put it, give them the due respect I owe them. Why? because my books have made me wiser, more knowledgeable and happier. Through my cooking books, I am now able to confidently cook chicken curry. Through them, I am also able to give my mother foods that are not harmful for her medical conditions. If I need to be entertained, my books are just there always waiting to serve me and make me feel good.
Hmmm! It is good to be a bibliophile. My books is my best friend and all-time companion. With them, I never feel alone.

Breathing in Fresh Country Air

What could be lovelier than to breathe in fresh country air early in the morning! That’s just what Brett and I did last Sunday. Brett came to my house just right after I had my water therapy. As his car rolled away from the street where I lived, I could see the moon smiling at me. Ah.. it seemed to be telling me, "You've been kept in the house for awhile. It's time for you to be out in the open where the grass might be greener and the sky bluer. It is time for you to breathe in fresh country air.

We drove for quite sometime until all that my eyes could see were just rows of open fields, paddocks, meadows and hobby farms. I had a vague idea where we were heading. But I needed not asked. I had been going for a drive other than the Westfield or McDonalds with Brett. Besides, I could read the signs.

As usual, we did not drive a long, long way as he needed to take his young son to the library later in the day. As we drove along the small and big roads, it occurred to my mind the poem of Dorothea MacKellar. I used to know it, but could not recall the lines. Brett knows it by heart so he started reciting it...
I love a sunburnt country
A land of sweeping plains
Of ragged mountain ranges
Of droughts and flooding rains...

I went to a dreamful state and time stood still. When I first arrived in Australia and was able to save my first $5000 dollars, I wanted to buy a hobby farm. I was not thinking it would require hard work because my plan was just to go over there in the weekend and jsut throw some seeds of fruit trees and leave all the work to the God of Abraham. Anyway, it did not materialise. Mainly because my siblings thought I was crazy to ever dream of it. Who was going to take me to this hobby farm when I don't drive? Not them as they got their own families to whom they are responsible to.

I forgot all about the hobby farm and just continued saving until I had enough to buy not just a hobby farm but a country house in Mudgee with two dams. The same question came up. HOw would I manage to live in the country when I don't even drive.

The solution I reckoned was to learn to drive. So I bought a car, sat for the written test which was like eating peanuts having passed it at one go. When the actual driving test came, however, I failed. Pastor Smith, who is long retired now and the one who helped me negotiate with the caryard people to do more work on the hatchback Nissan car I picked to buy, advised me to take the test again. He said if I could finish a PhD, then I could surely pass the driving test. How I wish na nagdilang angel siya' (literally that he's got the angel's tongue)! '

As I expected it,though, I failed the test again. Pastor Smith said it was odd and surprising that I could probably finish another PhD and yet could not even pass the driving test. He wondered if I was too intellectual who do not even have any mechanical ability.

I did not waste anymore money getting a driver's licence. Needless to say, I realised it was crazy to pursue my dream so I just let go all about my farm and country house dream.

After driving in a circle as was his custom and having enough of the country air and scents, Brett pulled his car over at the Warragamba Dam.

My, that was good! I wanted to take the pictures of the cows, the sheeps and the vastness of the plains. How could I with Brett's car running up to 100mph. Further, Brett could not just really pull over his car on those spots. I was sorry having missed the chance to take pictures of fat sheeps.

Thanks to Brett, however. At least I could take photos of the dam and its surrounding areas. I really wanted to take photos of nature for future posts on my Pray and Praise Page on facebook.

After taking photos of the dam which was one of the largest dam in the world, Brett pulled over so I could take photos of one country house. WoW! That was a dream house minus all the horses.

The highlight of the day of course was breakfast at my favourite Maccas. I don't know why but I always crave for McDonald's big mac, fries and Sundae. Ooops. But it was only breakfast time....

So I just settled for the pancakes and cappucino. What a lovely day! I had an enjoyable time. Thank God and thank Brett too!

God makes me smile

I had spent most of my life pursuing an academic career so I had missed out on some of the things which make life more interesting. One of these is gardening which I only got the chance to do at a later stage of my life when I bought a house here in Sydney.

Over the years I dug and created garden beds consisting of beautiful geranium blooms. I was overjoyed because geraniums were so easy to grow and the splash of colours they created in the garden was fantastic. If I could say it, these are plants you cannot kill unlike the African violets I killed when my lady boss went for an official visit to India.

While I focused on geraniums, my parents were more concerned about planting vegies and fruit trees. When they became older and became afflicted with myriads of medical conditions, I began to involve myself with aspects other than watering our vegetable gardens.

Where did I begin? As bookish as I am, I began by reading gardening books and magazines. First, I grew tomatoes--which became frustrating at the first instance having been besieged by enemies. If I would apply pesticides, I could not see any point why I had to bother growing them. So I practiced cultural method of control--bagging the fruits and treading under my feet the bugs. My! that was laborious and painstaking!

I resolved I should change the manoeuvre--sow ten thousands seeds and pick them while the fruits are green. Statistically, I should have more than enough and the surviving pests by the same token would have their share and the rest go back to the ground. It worked beautifully for me! Soon I was harvesting basketsful of tomatoes!! Unbelievably magic, Yay!!!

What do I do with all the hundreds of tomatoes? I made pasta sauce and freeze them, cut them into rings and freeze them too! Consequently I never run out of tomatoes till the next growing season.!

I never thought that my fine hands which I thought were only suited to dissecting out organs of insects could do wonders on the macroscopic level!.

What more can I ask for in life? Could there be something else fulfilling than to enjoy the fruit of your labour? Yes I had worked so hard to become an established biologist, but then there is more to life than the prestige of being in the academia. Thank God I realised this when I was not older older.

I am glad I chose to give up my career to look after my aging mother. Having done this meant getting out of the rat race. Further, it meant giving up a life driven by the clock. It meant going beautifully through a seachange, being able to relax and just watch the sun go by---and ?do more gardening.

In the garden is the absence of loneliness...because God is there to make me smile.


N.B

Six weeks ago, I went to Westfield to do some brisk walking then as my blood pressure was a bit up. When I was done, I walked in Go- lo. I was not aiming to buy anything, but then I saw the rack full of seeds. I read through all the packets of seeds.

What could I plant in my garden? I asked myself. Snow peas? Would I still get a harvest? When I visited Julie, she showed me her vegetable patch and her snow peas were almost finished. She said she had already got good harvest and the ones left were for sowing next season.

I thought it was quite absurd if I would still sow seeds of snow peas. As I was not familiar with the other vegetables, I picked a packet of snow peas. I resolved it would not hurt if I still sow some seeds.

When I went home, I prepared two rectangular tub and threw in all the seeds in the packet indiscriminately, not bothering to read the instruction for example of how deep and far apart the seeds were to be sown. I watered them as often as I watered my broccoli, celery and mustard.

In no time, I saw some growth. I watched the seedlings grow each day. One day in midSeptember at the shop, I met my friend Julie and showed by my hand how tall my snow seedlings were. She replied she was actually pulling out her snow pea plants because the season was now over.

Well, I got no idea if I would see some pea pods in my garden. I continued to water them and watch them grow. Soon they were bearing flowers. Hahaha! would these turn into pods soon?

Yes they did!!! Yay! Each day I picked a handful of baby peas to put in my noodles. It is now mid October. The peas are still growing taller and continually bearing flowers. Needless to say, each early morning I am bringing in not just a handful of the snow pea pods to freeze for later use. Am I not blessed? Indeed God makes me happy.