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Jinx of the Grapes

2 Nov

Like many people, we enjoy fruits, all kinds of fruits except grapes. Whole grapes are considered a jinx for us because to us, it is a fruit that is eaten only by the sick, not the healthy ones. If everyone at home are well and healthy, we do not eat grapes to avoid falling sick.

You don’t see people bringing grapes when visiting other healthy people, do you? But grapes are something people usually bring when visiting the sick, whether at the hospital or homes. I’m not trying to be mean but that’s the reality of grapes.

I simply would not buy grapes no matter how nice and enticing they can be on the shelves.

So I don’t know what got into me last week when I bought two containers of grapes. Not just one but two. Unbelievable! And guess what? Whether one chooses to believe or not, the jinx struck. M2 fell sick the very next day!

Not just sick but so sick to the core (two containers remember?) with a viral infection that caused vomiting and diarrhoea; it has been terrible beyond words causing M2 to miss school for three days.

This incident just reaffirmed my belief that we always get jinxed by grapes. Sigh… I should have known better than to make that purchase.

We better finish the two containers quickly before another person succumbs to an illness the next few days. Coincidentally, we spoke to M1 yesterday and she said she’s sick too. I asked her if she bought grapes? She said she did!

Told you, grapes are a jinx. At least for us. Sigh… hope both girls recover soon.

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What a Harvest

30 Oct

We have a lovely garden and on top of all the air plants, hubby-the person with green fingers not me-also has some editable plants and herbs in the mix. Being quite the farmer, he finally harvested the batch of turmeric yesterday after taking care of it for some time.

What a lovely bunch! I guess we will be having meals peppered with turmeric for the next few days.

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My Citizens, Your Citizens

19 Oct

It has become an ongoing joke between hubby and I on the subject of birds (and owls), with me labelling his troop as citizens too.

As you know, my Citizens are my owl carvings for the imaginary township of Gigglesville. And his citizens are the visiting birds who would come by the garden daily to be fed.

Every evening when we return from work, all the citizens await – mine in their tray, his at the garden. As my citizen count grows with an addition almost every night, so does his count too!

It is now more than Fat Bird, Bird 3 and Bird 4; it’s a whole flock of all sizes, big and small! I would poke fun at him that his citizens are awaiting, being so demanding, constantly wanting to be fed unlike mine, so docile and not demanding at all.

His citizens are also very territorial. Each time he has the bird seeds out, they would ‘fight’ especially the pair that comes down to the ground, pushing and shoving whilst pecking away. While this is ongoing, my citizens are just chilling and being cute, living harmoniously together without any in-fighting.

I just find this so funny. My citizens and his citizens. Hahahaha….

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Homes for Citizens of Gigglesville

26 Sep

Hubby was at a Plants & Garden Exhibition two weekends ago and he bought these little homes for me. How sweet. He said the minute he saw them, he felt that they would make nice homes for the Citizens of Gigglesville despite their being gnome-sized.

I think they are rather cute and see them as the basis to draw up my township’s master plan. I just need to put in all on paper. And when it’s shaped up nicely, I am thinking more of a painting for a backdrop. If the mood hits, I may even carve up a little home or two for my precious Citizens of Gigglesville.

Gigglesville

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Why Not?

28 Aug

Not too long ago, a friend posted an adorable picture on Facebook which showed a cute little door at the foot of a tree for the neighborhood squirrels. She befittingly named them Mr and Mrs Squirrel, the squirrels that is, not the neighbor. Who made the door, she wasn’t sure but I thought it was adorable and got me thinking.

We already have a bird house for the visiting birds but no ‘home’ set up for the visiting squirrels. And since we have a frangipani tree in our garden, why not—just for fun—make a door just like that posting so that Sammy and Lefty (that’s the name I call our visiting squirrels) can feel more at home.

Maybe I should divert to this if I am still stuck for inspiration for a new Gigglesville’s citizen?

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Lonely Bird

22 Aug

Birds come in pairs, along with it, a spare. We have Fat Bird and the pair, Bird 1 and Bird 2, visiting us daily plus some other little ones.

Because they are a pair, Bird 1 and Bird 2 feels that Bird 3 who tags along with them is a third wheel and most times, they bully the poor fella. This behavior is most evident when jostling for food at the garden. They wouldn’t give it a chance to eat, so poor Bird 3 is always left hungry.

One evening, it was raining and we spotted Bird 3, sitting sadly on the tree, braving the rain. We anticipated it was waiting for a chance to come down to the ground to eat as Bird 1 and Bird 2 was nowhere to be seen.

Luckily when the rain subsided, Bird 3 descended onto the garden and managed to eat to its heart’s content. Thank goodness otherwise if the pair showed up, the opportunity would be gone and poor Bird 3 would be left starving again.

Can you see Bird 3?

Maybe you can see Bird 3 now

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Fat Bird, Part 3

21 Aug

While we appreciate Fat Bird and the pair of birds visiting our home, there’s another Fat Bird that we appreciate more. Specifically, it’s a Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region in New Zealand.

Lovely wine. Highly recommended!
FatBird-4

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Fat Bird, Part 2

18 Aug

Talk about having no fear. While Fat Bird is wary of us, the pair of friendly birds, Bird 1 and Bird 2 are just so daring! On Monday evening, they casually sauntered onto the garden terrace and right into the house!

Yes, into the house without hesitation or fear. Walked right in as if they do this all the time to explore the house in all directions, towards the dining area and the living room. 

They even came right up to my carving area. I sat quietly to admire their head bobbing and funny walk, mesmerized by their bravery at the same time.

Then suddenly they realized they were ‘lost’, they panicked and tried to fly away. In their frantic flapping, they knocked themselves against the windows that were closed. Silly birds.

Hubby managed to catch them, one by one and gently set them into the garden again.

Thank goodness, no injury to the pair. Phew. I hope this spooked experience won’t make them stay away from the garden and us. We shall see the next few days.

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Fat Bird

17 Aug

Nature is wonderful. Everyday hubby feeds the visiting birds and they have become so tame and friendly, they are not afraid when we are close to them physically.

There’s two birds, a pair that will come close within a foot of us and sometimes just plop themselves down on the garden, waiting to be fed. Hubby then throws bird seeds onto the garden and Bird 1 and Bird 2 would peck away happily without fear.

Then there’s this one bird and we call him ‘Fat Bird’ because well, he’s fat.

Fat Bird is a little wary and does not come as close but still, friendly enough for us to appreciate him.

He would pave the wall back and forth when it’s time to eat. There was one evening we were having dinner and there he was, pacing the wall as if asking us, ‘Hey, Where’s my dinner?’

He’s rather entertaining. And fat.

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International Owl Awareness Day

1 Aug

As I indulge in my free time by carving up a whole township of owls and creating their characters, I am also slowly discovering a lot of information about this creature.

While they may be carnivorous, mysterious and nocturnal in nature, mine are a little bit more fun – cute, giggly-looking and certainly not carnivorous. And I’d like to think my Citizens of Gigglesville do also hold a special place in the hearts of all who appreciates my efforts.

Owls are enigmatic birds and can be lovable or spooky depending on how one looks at it. As 4th of August is International Owl Awareness Day, here’s a good site: http://www.owlworlds.com (there are plenty more) to learn about this fascinating creature.

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