I married a super adventurous husband. He knows how to add excitement of super blooms, that of wild California daisies to ultimate driving to the coast.
Clouds were sitting on the mountains, with yellow daisies carpeting the ground, while on the left, verdant hills contrasted with yellow unopened daisies by the marker junction sign to Washburn or Highway 58. Daisies were plentiful along Soda Lake Road inside Carrizo Plain Monument, interspersed with wild mustard flowers. Soda Lake Road was rough, unpaved except for a few feet of smooth and paved. Perhaps a metaphor for the US today?
A simple lunch of taco beef satisfied us as we see the yellow daisies and an open landscape. I helped the taco owner of the truck by flipping the meat and tortillas, while she gave change to another customer, who apologized for not helping. I told her it is okay as “you were engrossed in sharing”, with the tractor driver. She gave a hefty tip of $22.
One of our best days ever. He played with #grandpa in the library. Then, we went for a stroller walk, more than 20 minutes and admired the jasmine, the daisies, the roses and more. It was time for breakfast – fed him omelette made with cheese, asparagus and red bell pepper – he had 3 triangle servings. He loved @max and Lucy’s milk bread and he had almost a third of it. Of course, raspberries – ten to be exact. After, he was ready to play.
After an hour of play he pointed to food. So I gave him 1/8 of Asian pear which he chewed for a long time and he finished an entire bottle of yogurt. He is growing.
A bit more play, walking around, then he was ready for his nap. He slept about two hours in mid morning to afternoon.
When he woke up he had #xialongbao, a whole big one which I cut into 4 pieces and 1 piece of food for the Gods.
I whisper to his ears:”#maharlika2023la is kind, smart, handsome, loving, adventurous, compassionate.” He claps his hands and smiles.
We played roll the orange and lemon as if a ball, and minutes later, he was picked up by his dad.it was a very good day for all of us.
I gave a copy of my book to Kristina Wong whom I have followed during the pandemic and grew to love what she does. She gives to needy folks but also expresses her art with social awareness about our realities. For example in researching food insecurity, she described lines form so early at 5am to get grocery baskets filled by hungry families in LA City.
This is her feedback:”I read your book last night that you gave me. What a treasure you created to capture all those stories !”
I am so elated that she got my intentions and the essence of artists’ legacies in Even The Rainbow Has A Body. I have sold out all, except one case.
Foitnote: That’s Giselle Tongi Walters who did one of the substantive interviews on Channel 18, Kababayan Program when she was the anchor/producer/talk show host. She paired me with Mia McLeod Mercado a highly ethical, honest, smart leader/realtor, who conducts workshops to broaden awareness about home buying, preserving generational wealth and leadership tips. She sells homes and helps you buy homes in less than average escrow period because buyers, sellers and lenders trust her and associates.
Break apart kababayan into kaba (fear) and Bayan (nation), you are dangling by yourself, lost. But if connected with a kababayan, a country person, you have support and become part of a caring network. Be a caring kababayan to others! Only way to live.
As soon as my apo saw me, he pointed to the door and the stroller. We went for 50 minutes He pointed to the water bottle and said water. He is speaking single words and was singing to the birds that we saw. He loves the outdoors.
While he is napping, I baked his lunch as well as for his sister #princess2015la. I try to make it a balanced meal with carbs, protein, vegetables and fruits.
Reve said water and pointed to water in a cup. When I asked him to bring me the spoon that fell down, he went under his high chair and gave it to me. He needed changing and I said, where is your diaper? He pointed to the black bag. So smart!!
He was fed 1/2 an avocado and 1/2 a banana for morning snack by his #lolo.
He and I went for 40 minutes stroller walk. He napped for an hour and a half.
I fed him fritatta that I made from cabbage, eggs, cheese, bacon and potatoes. He had 3 spoons and 2 bites of oranges.
He played in the library and did another #2. First was too dry like a pebble – not enough water yesterday. Second was pinkish from raspberries and green from avocado – huge huge one, normal. He got plenty of water this am.
I fed him oui yogurt and he finished entire bottle. I just put him down for his 2nd nap. But, no way! He wants to explore more.
We want to make sure he is well taken cared of. Today I am a tired and took a nap, so did his Lolo. Hoping for an early pickup.
#maharlika2023la walked outdoors three houses down from my door, then back. He went inside and walked some more.
When I prepared his plate, he had banana, yogurt, and small bites of porkchop that I cooked last night at midnight, before my bedtime. He successfully spooned yogurt into his mouth, then with a pierced piece of pork chop, half a bite, he put it into his mouth, followed by another spoon of yogurt. Two bites into his mouth, all by himself. Yehey!
We are now mastering drinking from a cup. Love his development.
Today, he wanted to go outdoors for awhile. So we walked a bit of distance. He loves patting the green bushes on my neighbor’s front lawn.
