№ 69. Next Best Thing

If we can't fly to New York, we'll settle with this small gem: A curated tour.

№ 68. Sorry, just a batch of cookie monsters....

brightnightsanddarkdays.tumblr.com 

Dunk them in a wee bit of basket.... And you get... LIN-sanity, LIN-credible, f-LIN-tastic, ef-LIN-g....

№ 67. The Elusive Art (not Science) of Sleep

I get by with just about five hours every day. But I need my power naps to get me going.


Via: Online College Advice

№ 66. The Art of Divination in Bangaan: Orpi

Every February, when green seedlings of mountain rice have already sprouted from the nursery, the Ifugao farmers of Bangaan, Banaue in Northern Philippines begin the long ritual of transplanting them to the terraces. Water, a plentiful resource from the slopes of the mountain, flow through a network of irrigation channels carved on the sides of the terraces. Fresh water makes the fertile soil yield to the manual labor of sowing the tender roots of the grass.


On this occasion, the village, through their priest, the Mumbaki, and the elders, gathers to perform a communal ceremony of song, dance, sacrifice, prayer and hepatomancy. Hepatomancy is a form of divination also practiced by the Babylonians where the liver, the "source of blood" and the "base of life", is examined to discover the divine will. The priest is specially trained to interpret the "signs" of the liver.(1)

№ 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!

№ 62. Tabang Mindanao: Help Mindanao

Tropical Storm Sendong (international name: Washi) ravaged Mindanao, slamming it with devastating rains and unleashing flash floods and landslides that have left a horrifying trail of destruction. As of 10AM, the death toll has reached 497 (Cagayan De Oro 215, Iligan City 195, Bukidnon 47, Negros Oriental 22, Lanao del Norte 9, Compostela Valley 5, Zamboanga del Norte 3, Surigao del Sur 1). Most of the dead were asleep Friday night when raging floodwaters pounded their homes from rivers and cascaded from mountain slopes following 12 straight hours of heavy rains in Mindanao. The typhoon has affected a total of 5,884 families, with 202 injured and 162 still missing. 2,252 are still sheltered at 23 evacuation centers.

Online Donations to Philippine Red Cross