Sky Watch Friday

Happy New Year everyone!

On Friday, 18th of December around 7:50 pm after an overcast day with some drizzles.For more Sky Watch Friday photos please click, Sky Watch Friday .

My 13 lucky fruits and Happy New Year!

As 2009 is getting close to an end and 2010 is just only an hour away, my 13 lucky round fruits are already on the table. It is a tradition in the Philippines from the Chinese to offer 13 types of round fruits to bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. I have grown up with this tradition to celebrate the arrival of New Year which I continue to do here since I arrived. I never miss preparing 13 lucky fruits every New Year's Eve. My husband doesn't mind and never ask at all, yet, very supportive and helping me out gathering the fruits. Lucky this time that I found all the 13 kinds of fruit in one shop close to where we live. It didn't take us long to buy them as there were only few people at that time.

WE WISH EACH AND EVERYONE A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR WITH LOVE, PEACE AND JOY ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Watery Wednesday

It's been a while now since I last joined this meme but glad today I finally grab the chance. My entry was taken last year in the garden next to the Old Parliament House, Canberra ACT, Australia.
Please visit Watery Wednesday for more watery sites all around the world.

Today's flowers

Pictures were taken during our first visit to Bowral Tulip Festival in the Southern Highland of NSW one Spring weekend.


To see more Today's Flowers entries please visit here.

Camera Critters-hairy caterpillar

I found this hairy Caterpillar on one of my orchid plants munching on the flowers.
To see more Critters from all around the world or if you are interested to join please click, Camera Critters .

Cookies and milk for Santa

Every Christmas my kids don't want to miss to give Santa cookies and milk. They used to prepare it before they go to bed every Christmas eve. Last Christmas eve, they placed it on the table instead of outside our front porch, quite different this time for they wanted Santa to come inside. What was missing this time was the carrots for the reindeer. They had forgotten the reindeer because of their excitement, I guess. Yet, last year they had some carrots for the reindeer.
Since Dorothy started her pre-school, every Christmas eve she doesn't forget this tradition and she wants David to continue it. David actually doesn't much care about this cookies and milk thingy for Santa but just follows what his big sister is doing.Dorothy was the only one who thought about it last Christmas eve. When she asked me for cookies and milk, I said to her, I think that is not necessary anymore but she insisted that they should have to do it and asked me not to spoil it for David.
Well, anyway, to make the story short, morning came and we woke up early. The first thing David did instead of checking his Stocking and presents was checking out Santa's cookies and milk on the table and was so surprised that all cookies and milk were gone. When my sister's family came by for a Christmas visit, David informed his uncle excitedly and saying, "you know what uncle Greg, Santa ate all his cookies and drank all his milk". Big Dad always love to share his part being the "Santa" for Dorothy and now for David.

Christmas Greetings

We are just about an hour away from Christmas and we would like to take this opportunity to greet each and everyone, A Very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Loving New Year to come.

My Daughter's birthday

It is not just Christmas what we are always looking forward to every December, but because our special girl celebrates her birthday as well. Here are some of the pictures I took during the celebration. She turned 11 years old last 17th of December and last Saturday was the celebration attended by few friends and relatives. It was so much fun for her. She had a good time and surprises as well even if it was just a simple celebration at home.

Ruby Tuesday- Sublime Point Lookout

This was taken from Sublime Point Lookout, Bulli, South Coast of NSW which offers 180 degrees views over the sea, the rain forest and beaches that span the coastline of Wollongong.

As you can see in the foreground, there is a little bit of red . I don't know if that is a kind of plant purposely planted there or a kind of weed just growing there.

If you would like to join or want to see more red please click here.

Today's flowers

After all those beautiful lilium blooms that I had, this is the only one left in sight and doesn't look good either. The intense heat , heat waves and the wind made my lilium blooms wither quickly. I just noticed this in this state and not able to capture a picture when it was at its peak for it is partly hidden by some leaves and is not of a size that it used to be. This is one of my favourites and I've been waiting for this colour to show up. Well, there are still few buds coming but don't know if they can make it as they are starting to get black spots now.

To see more Today's Flowers entries please visit here.

Camera Critters

My Camera Critters entry for this week is a green grasshopper I found camouflaging itself on the leaf of one of my citrus plants.
To see more Critters or if you are interested to join please click, Camera Critters .

Sky Watch Friday -Yesterday's sunset

These were taken around 7:40pm yesterday .



Have a wonderful weekend !

For more Sky Watch Friday photos or if you are interested to join please click, Sky Watch Friday .

Potato salad

This is not my first time to make potato salad. I did try a few times on some family gatherings and occasions before and all turned out good as expected. I just grab a traditional potato salad dressing every time ready to be mixed with the potato, boiled eggs, bacon and spring onion. The other day, I tried something different with the use of whole egg mayonnaise because I got few jars of mayonnaise (whole egg and plain ) from a friend who is presently working in a mayonnaise factory and she gave me few jars enough for our months use. Many thanks to my friend for such generosity. You are such a blessing for us because I have 3 recipes line up for our Christmas lunch that needs mayonnaise and now, I don't have to worry the mayonnaise anymore.

I did a quick research of a potato salad recipe in the internet and found one which is interesting to try. The thing that most of the ingredients were available in my kitchen at that time, it prompted me to make potato salad.

It's our long summer holiday

Today is the last day of the school year in my kids' school for a long summer holiday. And that means, spending more time with my kids now. I love being with my kids always and I am always looking forward to this time of the year. The getting up early in the morning and the waiting of the school day to end at 3:00 pm are not in my schedule anymore for weeks. I always enjoy taking them to school and picking them when its finished. Every time I pick them, each of them has each own exciting stories to tell which I am sure I'm going to miss for a while. This summer holiday is just quite normal the same as the previous years. We don't have any plan for a grand vacation this year except for a few weekend away to some places of interest around NSW and visiting friends up to the North Coast and we are all getting excited about it. I still have to organize our schedule after Christmas and New Year because I am pretty occupied this time for Dorothy's birthday is coming up and the Christmas season is getting closer. I want to keep my kids busy and enjoy as much as they can this long summer holiday season and not feeling bored all the time. I have to check out summer holiday activities around our area, activities which are not burden in our pocket, of course, and something which are interesting and fun for them too.

Their school will open for school year 2010 on the 28th of January, Dorothy will be in year 6 while David will be in year 1 by then.

Ruby Tuesday-David the Lion

Here is my Ruby Tuesday entry for this week. This was last Sunday when we went out to a plant nursery close to where we live to check out something. I like this plant nursery so much because they have a playground to amuse the kids while we are busy looking for the things we need.Then, the kids noticed that there was a free face painting going on at that time just beside the playground and David asked if he can have his face painted so I said to him go ahead if you want . He chose to be a lion and here he is:If you would like to join or want to see more red please click here

Today's flowers

My Dahlias in full bloom this time.To see more Today's Flowers entries please visit here.

Christmas Gratitude Award

Khim of Man & food and Anythingforkhim shared me this Christmas Gratitude Award. It is always a great feeling if someone remembers us if they have something to share. Thank you so much for the thought and your friendship Khim. I really appreciate it.

Anyone can grab this award. Please feel free to spread this award this Holiday Season.

Camera Critters

While we were in a park close to a beach watching the kids playing in the playground, I spotted these cockatoos up in the tree. It looks like they were making a home for their coming little ones though.
Then, one flew away leaving the other one behind.
And just up the next tree nearby, an onlooker taking a close watch of the two cockatoos.
And a group on the grass..
To see more Critters or if you are interested to join please click, Camera Critters .

Sky Watch Friday

Last Monday's sunset .


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