Garden Chef's Needle and Pen

Inspired by Oombawka Design , I attempted to make my own version using almost the same color but different shapes for the bead frame and the beads. This is what came out. I wanted to send a gift to an old friend but I've been going home late from work. I didn't have much time to go out and buy something so I browsed through my Pinterest board, Crochet Patterns I Like . The goal was to look for a pattern that I could do in one sitting because the kind lady who offered to bring the gift was leaving the following day. I had to finish it before my eyelids drop for the night. Oombawka Design's pattern for the Simply Easy Crochet Necklace was exactly what I was looking for. Simple and easy to make, indeed, it was! Instead of the usual friendship bracelet as souvenir, a friendship necklace it has become. Symbolizing a long-lasting relationship, I thought the circular bead frame I found from my stocks was just perfect! Not only that, the chain around the neck could be...

This is one of those days when I would prefer to just spend more time in bed but I'm left with no other choice but force myself to get up to fulfil some domestic duties. One, prepare food. Two, the garbage.  Opening the cupboard oftentimes offers a speedy solution. I see a can of corned beef grinning down at me. The veggie bin also has more to offer. There are string beans. So after frying three eggs for a late breakfast for my two daughters and myself, I use the same pan to cook the corned beef. Presto! Lunch is ready! Ingredients: Oil 1 medium onion, sliced thinly 1 medium tomato, sliced 1 can corned beef 1 bunch of string beans, cut into 2 inches long salt to taste Steps: Spray oil on pan. Sautee onion and tomato slices.  Add corned beef.  Add string beans. Allow to simmer until string beans are tender. Add salt according to taste.  This is one such good idea if you are looking for a simple and easy dish. Exactly what bu...

Telling a person that he or she has turned one's life upside down gives a romantic undertone. But in this post, I use the expression in its literal sense. Take a look at this photo to get a clear picture of what I mean.  Credits to  The Woman and Her Exiguous Aspirations  for this photo. Now, see what I mean?  I wasn't able to take a view of the whole facade as shown above when we stopped over for breakfast in this place. I just had enough time to take a portion of the whole view. Look at the photo below. This is Pan de Amerikana Bakery and (Upside Down) Restaurant located at 92 Ordonez Street, Marikina City where you can enjoy pan de sal and various breakfast menus anytime of the day.  Map from Google   This is what the place looks like up-close.  The entrance I know, I know, I'm not good at taking photos, but do you notice the unique design at the entrance door. Come on in!  Photo b...

The blood of Jesus My family came home from the Good Friday Service in our church tonight. The choir rendered a number of songs, in between preaching and reflections on the Seven Last Words of the Lord Jesus Christ, as they have always done every year. They didn't sing this one in particular but the lyrics of the song have been reverberating in my ears for days now.      "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow... I'll wash my garments white  in the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb." The verse below would make a perfect sequel to the lyrics above.   "...And the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." ( 1 John 1:7) The powe r to cleanse, indeed, is in His blood. " In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Hebrews 9: 22) Such power in the blood that ...

Enjoyed an extra rest day this week, Thursday, having been a holiday in celebration of the Chinese New Year. I've been seeing greetings all over. Kung Hei Fat Choi. Gong Xi Fa Cai. Gong Hey Fat Choi. Whether or not they mean the same, I really couldn't tell. My great maternal grandfather is pure Chinese, making me 1/8 Chinese. Sad to say, I haven't learned any Chinese word since birth although when I was a kid, my parents slightly entertained the idea of putting me in a Chinese school.  Since last week, I've seen Chinese dishes featured on TV. Chinese New Year preparations--- noodles, rice cakes, or anything sticky. Dragon and lion dances, too!  All these brought to mind the Taoist Temple my husband and I visited in Cebu City, one of the oldest cities in my very own country, the Philippines. Located in Beverly Hills, this temple was built in 1972 by the Chinese community in Cebu. Sincethen, this temple, a center of worship for Taoism, has fast become a famous t...

It's back to work today, after five days of rest, something I've been looking forward to. As if the  long Christmas holiday vacation was not enough :) Well, days just seem to fly so fast! Thanks to the additional non-working holidays brought about by the Pope's visit to my country, the Philippines. I had time to relax, stay at home, bond with family and yes, sort picture files in my computer. In between social networking, of course, I cooked for my family. With my husband home, there has to be fish and vegetables on the dining table. There was a bunch of mustasa (mustard) leaves left in the vegetable bin. What could be a better and perfect partner to fried fish than Ensaladang Mustasa (Mustard Salad)? Very simple and easy, here's how I did it. Ingredients: 1 bunch of mustasa leaves Rock salt 2 medium-sized tomatoes, sliced 1 small onion, sliced thinly 3 tbsps vinegar Iodized salt, ground pepper and sugar to taste Steps: 1. Cut mus...

While many of you might have written down a list of resolutions for the new year, here I am, beginning the year with a confession to make.  I haven't done much blogging these days months. I know, I know, I've been missing so much --- craft and recipe ideas from not attending link parties, blog hops and worse, for not regularly checking my own blogger dashboard. Guilty me!!! Well, I realized that when I browsed over my dashboard and saw all my unfinished posts. Let me see if I can count them with my fingers!?? My picture files are a mess! But good that I was able to clear my desktop a few months ago! Good job, eh? Give me a pat on my back!!!  In my previous post, I mentioned about having two days left before going back to work. That simply means I have to hurry and finish all the pending chores... keeping my fingers crossed, though. Now, what do I do next? Hmmm... let me see? First things first--- finish this post! Yeah, good answer, that's right, finish this pos...