№ 65. Renewal

It's the new year. It's a season to plant, nurture and grow roots. Let's paint the earth green, kid.

This is an old favorite that refuses to just gather dust and fade from memory. Classics have a way of resisting oblivion and forgetfulness.

Enjoy.

Bento Box:

"The Man Who Planted Trees (French title L'homme qui plantait des arbres), also known as The Story of Elzéard Bouffier, The Most Extraordinary Character I Ever Met, and The Man Who Planted Hope and Reaped Happiness, is an allegorical tale by French author Jean Giono, published in 1953.

It tells the story of one shepherd's long and successful singlehanded effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps near Provence throughout the first half of the 20th century. The tale is quite short—only about 4000 words long."

Thanks Wikipedia, please don't black out again.

№ 64. Happy New Year, Again!

Yes, it's the Chinese Lunar New Year. Water Dragon.

I drenched the yard, garage and the garden and made sure all the pails, tabo (dipper) and jugs were filled to the brim. I turned on the lights just in case Wushu got lost.

Earlier, I also brought home goodies from San Fernando: macapuno tarts ("loco coco" tarts. Market Manila, the food blogger, says macapuno is a mutant coconut.), cashew boat tarts and puto paowow. We were hoping for more homegrown Pundaquit goods, but there were none. So we went to the Food Capital of the Philippines: Pampanga, which was on the way home. Luck was abundant.

That should be enough bait, right?

As a last siren call for the lost dragon, I banged the piano with a Rachmaninov and a Beethoven piece. On the brink at 11:59 PM.

Wushu, where art thou?

Bring more luck, will you.

№ 63. Happy New Year!

Ok, ok. This is rather late. Been slacking, busy and slacking back. There ought to be a better excuse.

Happy New Year!