Archive | January, 2018

Full Bloom

12 Jan

We have been experiencing wet and cold weather these past few days. Last night it was 23 degrees Celsius which was unusual for our location. While we are not complaining – in fact appreciative, I think hubby’s air plants agree with the weather. Although it’s not proven that cool air does accelerate blooming, it’s more of the timing truthfully. Hubby sure does have the green fingers.

These air plants was in full bloom last night. So pretty they look! All the other air plants are thriving as well and we should see a few more in full bloom soon.

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Obsession?

11 Jan

I seem to have an obsession for tools. My latest purchase is a complete set of knives and gadgets! This is on top of the online purchase not too long ago of the gigantic chisel set which I have not even started to use.

Why am I buying so many of these things? Obsession beyond belief.
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Dinky Takes Shape!

9 Jan

Now that M1 has gone back to university, the home front is back to normal. In other words, no trips to the mall for shopping or eating out to check off a To Eat List on a weekday. I can go back to carving, hubby can tend to his air plants again and amazingly, M2 has even started doing her revision without being told.

The first thing I did was to finish up Dinky the Dinosaur. Chopstick limbs were added (with ice cream stick feet) and over the weekend whilst tracking her flight path flightaware.com, I gave it a gesso base. And Dinky will be given a good sanding down before a second gesso base and colors are added to bring it to life.

Finally, Dinky is taking shape. Next in cue, a whole new batch of Citizens and perhaps some new species.

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We Say Goodbye

8 Jan

After almost a month being home, our firstborn M1 returned to the US on Saturday evening. It had been simply a wonderful month, spending quality time together as we did so much or sometimes nothing at all. We had our family vacation in Hong Kong which was really fun.

And we enjoyed a sinful gastronomic journey covering her To Eat List; I think we managed all on the list. Needless to say, my waistline expanded and I gave up standing on my bathroom scale.

But how fast time flew by. My heart broke a little when we hugged her and saw her into the Departure Hall at KLIA as she headed back as a Junior turning Senior for her final year. Sniffle…

Fast forward to today—a Monday but a Sunday for her—she finally arrived, surviving the 3-leg journey with an unavoidable ten-hour layover in Hong Kong. I feel a sense of relief now.

Have a great year ahead M1!

Mass Migration, Part 2

5 Jan

Every now and then, the Citizens of Gigglesville do a mass migration. This time it’s en bloc for ten Citizens, with Lab Owl leading the way. Lab Owl is following M1 back to the US with giant Citizen #100 tagging along too while the rest, Citizens #96, #97, #103, #108, #109, #110 and #114 are migrating to spread love and giggles.

On top of these citizens, I actually managed to find a little time to carve a Friend of the Citizens character because M1 requested for one. In Gigglesville, there’s the normal Citizens, the Superheroes, the Monuments and this; not a gnome but a fish specifically, a Spiny Lumpsucker.

Named Spiny Lumps, it even has an occupation – a Marine Researcher. An apt career considering it is an ocean creature and Spiny will assist Lab Owl with research. Who knows? Maybe the storyline can evolve with flair… Hahaha…

With the mass migration, looks like I have to carve up more Citizens for Gigglesville to grow!

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500 Days

4 Jan

I thought it’s significant that I reached Day 500 today on the iPad Mini for the Daily Bonus in Candy Crush Soda. Yep, 500, it’s crazy. It’s Day 299 on the iPhone5S.

I don’t know why I am still at it when I have sort of stopped playing. Actually I can’t go pass Level 1473. Sigh…
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A Quiet Start

2 Jan

It was a Monday but felt like a Sunday. The girls slept in because we didn’t have any solid plans and being so stuffed from dinner the night before and the many nights before as well! We have been dutifully ploughing through M1’s To Eat List before she goes back.

As for us, hubby was at his usual puttering around the garden and I was back at carving after a hiatus. With M1 back, there has been so much to do but unfortunately, sitting around at home to carve has not been one of the activity.

So yesterday, it was nice to relax at home and Citizen #120 was born! 120. What a significant number and on the first day of the new year. I have come so far for Gigglesville and I think this year the township will boom at an even greater pace. I am excited at the prospect.

It may be a quiet start but it’s a good start. We are back at work today and M2 is at school without any issues waking up.

Happy New Year

1 Jan

Happy New Year folks! A brand new year and a brand new outlook. Does it feel any different? Honestly, no. I have stopped making resolutions because I know I cannot keep them, so no point in trying to kid myself.

We had a quiet lead-in to welcome the new year. Nothing out of sorts, the girls and I spent quality time together whilst hubby was with his friends for a bit. We actually went shopping and as usual, felt overwhelmed by the crowd. Then dinner was at my sibling’s home, a simple home-cooked meal, nothing elaborate.

We even managed to reach home on time to watch some fireworks display within and afar from our neighborhood in the comforts of the house. Unlike last year where we were at a friend’s place for a party and caught some dazzling displays up close but after that, was stuck in a traffic jam upon leaving the place.

A quiet usher-in, let’s hope 2018 will be an exciting and positive one more than anything else.