It got me more in touch, though masked and at a physical distance, yet connected to true genuine friends who are great bakers, cooks, and more. Thank you @anndavid8@nikkidoodledo and @mzeenger, the COO of @max.and.lucys.
Shown here are classic bibingka and the best cassava flan cake, not too sweet, and just right! Recipe formulation by @anndavid8 and passed on as a heritage recipe to @nikkidoodledo.
I also love seeing my daughter @coriput bake Christmas cookies with her 5yo #princess2015la‘s.
Now, I feel elated starting my daughter baking at 3yo @coriput who has now passed it onto my 5yo granddaughter, whose wisdom is that of a ten year old.
Yesterday, she explained to her grandpa the concept of “not blaming others. Why is that, she continues, because it hurts their feelings. Just say sorry for what you did.”
Then, she shared another story of a criticism she heard, “I am not sure he listens to his own voice, as he doesn’t know he is hurting her feelings.”
I smiled and felt satisfied that even if I leave the earth suddenly, not my wish to reach my bookend yet as I want to live for my granddaughter and see her grow to be an adult, maybe the first Filipina American Senator, VP or President, I know deep down in my heart that I would have left the earth with #earthangels, better than I found it.
Our #princess2015la got a school assignment of writing two sentences about producer trees.
She chose the orange tree, harvested with her grandpa, some navel oranges, which I was lucky to share with Miko Zuñiga who stopped by.
How blessed I am to still see friends, wearing masks, and stopping by.
She drew a vibrant orange tree producing so many fruits as well as a dormant non – producer. I especially like that she paid attention to both producer tree and non-producer tree.
Are we producing for the world, contributing to the welfare of others, using our gifts and talents? Or are we staying dormant waiting for others to benefit us? What is your legacy – a producing, giving tree whose shade will benefit others to sit under for generations to come?
Context: Stay at home orders, quieter streets, less traffic, no outdoor dining, no outdoor gyms, hair salons closed, no indoor dining, curbside and delivery only. Why?
Worldwide: 66,461,706 new #CoronaVirus cases, 1,542,094 deaths in 191 countrues/regions. In the US, 14,909,148 new cases with 283,503 deaths, with 1,379,632 cases in CA and 19,976 deaths while Texas has 1,326,651 cases and 23,179 deaths.
We can do this together if we wear masks outside and while with folks who donot live in the same household, social distancing and washing hands with soap frequently, after using the bathroom, before eating and after doing errands outdoors, wash or sanitize hands first to be indoors in your car or home or office.
My sweet, handsome, octogenarian neighbor, Larry comes by with a warm from the oven, freshly baked #appletartin, the other half went to my other neighbor, Bonnie and her son.What about you, I asked? “If I want one, I know where to go, @republiquela.I am crying as I am missing his lovely wife, Lola who I would have talking stories with, during the holidays. I like that she would at times, lovingly borrow a stalk of celery for her tuna sandwiches just so we could talk or a cup of sugar. We also shared our to go dinner boxes and homemade meals with Larry throughout the pandemic, as he did, buying pastries from Republique.
Our children and granddaughter came by to bring us lobster rolls that @coriput made from #livemainelobsters flown in yesterday that arrived at my door, 10am, still iced (a very generous gift from our very loving friends). After hosting our Thanksgiving lunch, she baked #briochebread. Today, they came after a hike to share a lobster roll lunch in the garden, next to the bursting yellow Japanese gingko tree that turns yellow in the fall.My children and granddaughter are my pandemic heroes who led with their courage to keep us fed for weeks during the complete lockdown in Mid – March to June 2020, kept our spirits up and checked regularly, and gave us more indoor plants to take care of.We are approaching a worst surge, of widespread tier 1 purple transmission, and we are bursting with joyful hearts and quite grateful for these beautiful and handsome human beings, proud to say are our descendants from the sun. We are still cautious, wearing masks for each other indoors, eating outdoors, and not adding to the intimate pods that they have created, to reduce transmissibility.
Live lobsters were flown in from Maine, delivered to our doorstep at 10am today. Oh my, what a huge treat, a grand gesture of thoughtfulness from our longtime good friends – Maraming Maraming Salamat for this sweet sweet surprise! It came packed in ice, still icy cold and so easy to cook. I steamed it for 8 minutes and my son in law finished it in the grill for 3 minutes. It was so good. Leftovers will be made into brioche lobster rolls by my favorite beautiful daughter @coriput, who hosted us, masks and all and socially distant.
Theme of our lunch was ube and seafood. I purchased a well made package of escabeche wild snapper, ube mashed potatoes, sakahan vegetables and chicken lumpia from Tatang, who gave us complimentary ube ice cream. We loved the ube mashed potatoes, vegetables, lumpia and fish – some of us easily had 2 servings.
We also had ube drink which my daughter spiked with more ice, to dilute the sweetness. I had 2 sips of this good drink. Thank you for delivering my purchases to our doorsteps, Giselle Tongi Walters – so nice to see you and your hubby, Tim.
The lemon tart capped our lunch and it was wonderful to contrast that with the seafood themed lunch. We loved what we all prepared. Meat is out for the moment, as fish and vegetables and ube mashed potatoes are better on all our digestive systems.
Thank you very much @tatang_nohowho – you did a great job and to the Walters family for this ube concocted buko elixir. It hit the spot!
Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal – may we all see vibrant, healthy beginnings in 2021, photo courtesy of Niña Samantela-Ruivivar. Thank you to you all for being with us, connecting to our lives, despite the #CoronaVirus.
My marriage is a bed of roses. Not just fragrant rose red petals, but also the thorns. But, what I count on is my husband’s principled character. I have always counted on that in the 41 years we have been together, and in 40 days, our 42 years. It is a marriage with several common purposes: serve the people; help restore democracy and human rights in countries like the Philippines and Latin America; camping in county, state and national parks; helping with medical missions; babysitting our precocious, empowered and imaginative 5 yo granddaughter; tandem biking in beach trails and camping with our children; walking trails with family; baking breads and fruitcakes during the holidays for family and friends; celebrating all our anniversaries even if fighting and not talking one year; and during this pandemic, writing essays for Asian Journal, as our commonalities.
I also rely on my heart, forgiveness, my Catholic faith, the Holy Spirit, Mama Mary and St. Rita, to weather the storms and darkness.Going towards the light and staying there with the help of priests/friends and spirit-conscious friends are my lifelines in close to 42 years or 4 decades.I would like to say thank you to you all as without you, as my lifelines, I am not as happy as I am now, during this pandemic 2020. Salamat po sa inyong lahat!!
Last year #hubby surprised me yesterday and joined me for #breakfast in the #farmersmarket. His timing was impeccable-had just purchased my #produce and just ordered my food. Then, as I look up, I said, “Hey, what a surprise or some happy greeting.” What a lovely day to enjoy the group who was extra happy too in singing. Lovely to see you @enriquedlz
