Category Archives: Urban Living

Composting 101

I have talked about wanting to go back to backyard gardening here. This has been fueled more when we recently went on a field trip to a nearby ecology center and the proper way of composting, among other topics, was discussed.

The kids were made to dig for worms in compost pits. Ewww, I know but these worms are necessary to keep the garden in great shape. In fact, one can purchase these worms in gardening stores.

I looked up videos online to see how composting is done. I also came upon an interesting compost tumbler for composting.

Now, if you have a small space for a compost pit, here was what the lecturer told us: get pots (preferably clay pots) with a little garden soil in it. Put fruit and vegetable peelings, leftover food, dried leaves on top of the soil and cover with soil. Do this over and over until the soil and the other filings are mixed.

A good compost helps in fertilizing the soil to make the garden healthy. If you have a Starbucks branch near you, ask for free used coffee grounds for your garden.

Coco Jam and Peanut Butter

litratongpinoy

Matagal-tagal ko ding hinanap ito kaya laking tuwa ko nung matagpuan ko at matikmang muli: coco jam. Sa totoo lang, noong ako ay batang paslit, ayoko nito kasi mabaho, lalo na yung kending makunat na nakabalot sa puting papel, Yuck talaga! Amoy langis ng niyog.

Sige na nga, heto na ang paboritong almusal namin: tinapay na may manipis na palamang coco jam at/o peanut butter. Kelangan yung me buo-buong mani at mamantikang peanut butter ha (argh!)

Coco Jam, Peanut Butter and Bread for Breakfast

Bakit nga ba manipis? Kasi matamis ang coco jam at dapat manipis lang para di magsawa agad.

Siyempre di pwedeng walang kape.

Ayan, kumpleto na ang araw naming mag-asawa 🙂  Tsalap!

Coco jam, peanut butter and wheat bread are all from Pan de Manila. No, this is not a paid ad though a big white paper bag full of pandesal is very much welcome, lol.

Tidying Up After the Christmas Season

Have you tidied up already? Today is the last day of the Christmas season and tomorrow is going to be back to work and school for most people.

I am supposed to put down the Christmas tree today but I can’t. I have a swollen ankle and I can’t be up and about.

The house needs a lot of tidying up. The ceramic tiles need some scrubbing with soap to remove those sticky food leftovers that fell on it. The kitchen needs some a lot of cleaning. This library needs to be dusted.

Why I feel tired just thinking about how much cleaning I need to do I might end up looking for someone who will do this for me since I am not sure when I can be mobile effortlessly.

Sigh, what a way to start the year. I hope there is a hidden surprise after everything is well and good with my foot. My plans to go back to my morning walks is not gonna happen soon.

Paskong Pinoy

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Winter Cafe, sa loob nga lang ng mall.

Ang snow? Peke.

Ang Winter Inn? Hindi pwede pasukin.

Winter Cafe

Ganyan talaga ang mga Pinoy, mahilig sa scenery na hango sa ibang bansa: snow, Santa, pine trees, sled at kung anu-ano pa. Understandable naman dahil wala ang mga ito dito.

Pero sa isang banda, hindi naman masama ang ating parol, Misa de gallo, puto bumbong at Panunuluyan.

Paulit-ulit nating naririnig at nakikita, masaya talaga ang Paskong Pinoy dahil pagpatak ng -ber months, umpisa na ng paghahanda para sa araw ng Pasko.

Katulad ng mga nagdaang taon, ang obserbasyon ay pahirap ng pahirap ang buhay at iyon ay narireflect sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko: mas konting pailaw, konting regalo, konting handa,  konting “bago”  na gamit at maabilidad na pagtitipid.

Pero kung tutuusin, secondary naman lahat ito, hindi ba? Dapat ang pokus natin ay ang kapanganakan ni Hesus na ating tagapagligtas.

Sabi nga ng isang kanta ng APO, “Kahit na anong mangyari, ang pag-ibig sana’y maghari, sapat nang si Hesus ang kasama mo, tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko”

Urban Jungle

If only I have the power to travel back in time, I would do so.

I would like to see how these familiar places where we usually go looked like decades ago sans the metal buildings and artificial natural environment.

The other day, hubby and I talked about how the place where we live looked like when they first lived there in the early 80s.

He said the river was clear and there are so  many open spaces where they can frolic.

Now the river is full of floating trash that people fish for trash and not trout. The river banks are lined up with informal settlers‘ homes and yes, there have been reports of accidents where small children fall into the river.

Their children too have made the streets their playground. Heh.

I’m not exaggerating.