Our Frangipani Tree

7 Sep

We have a lovely garden at the back of the house. And in the corner, facing the garden patio is our lovely Frangipani tree. Over the years, the tree blossomed and is perfect for hubby to hang all his air plants on its branches.

Years passed and the corner thrived. But recently, our tree fell sick, noticeable with most of the leaves having orange splotches – rust fungus. Yikes.

Now all this while, the tree has been treated with organic anti-fungal spray but perhaps it’s not effective enough resulting in its state today. So it was either we chop down the tree as an easy solution to get rid of the fungus or trim it and treat with a super strong poisonous anti-fungal spray to contain the situation.

We opted for the latter because we can’t bear to lose the tree and now it is looking rather bald. Poor tree! But we hope the treatment will do wonders and the tree will regain its full beauty. Only time can tell.

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Looking lush and looking bald

Frangipani leaves

Orange culprit be gone!

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Box of Joy

6 Sep

Box two of my online shopping arrived yesterday when I least expected it. Yay! I can almost say my carving setup is truly complete with the addition of this block plane tool. Now all I need is a proper permanent work space.

This new toy, tool I mean would be used solely on Meranti wood to smoothen the surface when I work the shape. The current mini and cute plane that I have just doesn’t cut it because the holder does not push down the blade to sit snugly and keeps misaligning, thus rendering the tool useless.

So with the two long weekends ahead and having to stay put, I will definitely make full use of this new tool.

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Arrival of the new tool, and comparing the cute and the practical

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A Case of Too Many?

4 Sep

This September month has become a case of too many holidays. Honestly, I am caught off guard with the realization. On one hand I appreciate a holiday every now and then, too many in succession is very disruptive. And these are replacement holidays! Meaning when they fall on a Sunday, the next day Monday is a replacement holiday.

Next week, Monday is a replacement holiday because Sunday is officially the King’s birthday. And it just so happen that Tuesday is also a public holiday, Awal Muharram; so that’s like two extra days off, making the work week only a three-day working week.

I am not even looking at it from the angle of having a long four-day weekend because being caught off guard, we didn’t plan ahead to go away. Then again, we can’t go anywhere because M2 is having her trial exams in the midst of all this holidays.

Then the following week, déjà vu. Monday is again a replacement holiday because Sunday is Malaysia Day to make that week a four-day work week.

I feel this is a tad too many and can either make one stressed because of the disrupted work (or exam) schedule ahead or become lazy because there’s too many breaks. Sigh… I can’t decide if I am looking forward to it or not.

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Battle of the Boxes, Part 4

3 Sep

So my online shopping box one of two arrived last week. But before it even came, hubby received yet another box of plants ahead of me! I was like “What?!” Another one??? Actually there were two bromeliads in the box and to me, it’s no different from the sea of bromeliads in the garden. Maybe I should go out to the garden more often to appreciate the plants and all.

My box was a magnifying glass that has a light which I thought would be useful for me for carving. We shall see how practical this whimsical device would be.

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Another Year Goes By

31 Aug

2018 seems to be breezing by very fast. Another year goes by, another wedding anniversary milestone to celebrate. Sometimes I forget how many years we have been married, pausing to mentally count. What a dinosaur I am!

No words can describe the journey that we’ve had together and I cherish all the moments, good and bad. Happy 23rd Anniversary to us! A toast to many more years ahead. May we stay healthy and happy through thick and thin.

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New Pets, Part 3

30 Aug

So now we have three Marimo Moss balls – Pete, Kate and Moses, and they live in the mini aquarium which we have relocated from the old spot. Historically, the old spot is not ideal because all the fishes and crayfishes go to pet heaven much earlier than we would have liked. Don’t know why, maybe it’s the air in that spot.

Now the mini aquarium is placed in the corner of living room and three Gnomes are tasked to guard it. It’s an adorable sight.

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See the difference in size the two little ones with the giant!

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Such Bliss

28 Aug

I am in seventh heaven with the discovery of the perfect ice cream. It was the usual Sunday grocery chore and when I walked passed the freezer section and the pint of Ben & Jerry’s caught my eye.

Non-dairy! Whoa. That’s new and the first time I am seeing it. Of course I picked it up because it’s non-dairy and it’s a Ben & Jerry’s plus it’s my favorite flavor, Chunky Monkey.

Forget the sorbet (it’s still in the freezer) for I am going with this to satisfy my ice cream cravings without worry. Ahhh…. such bliss.

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New Pets, Part 2

27 Aug

We did the unthinkable. Just when I thought Pete and Kate Moss, our Marimo Moss Ball pets do not seem to be growing, we bought another one! But this time it’s an even bigger one!

The little two which we acquired six months ago, at the end of February this year don’t seem to have grown. Hmm… could it be they are still living in their little glass jar with little space for movement and growth? After all, we have not moved them to the mini aquarium as originally planned.

We do change the water periodically but maybe we should place the jar in the fridge to allow them to literally chill once in a while? Leaving the jar on the dining table with the evening sun beating down at it is not the most ideal situation. But now with a big fella, whom I have named Moses, they can all move into the mini aquarium immediately.

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It’s not a blob but a Moss Ball

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All Things Small and Cute

24 Aug

I like small things because I find them cute, in fact the smaller the more appealing to me. In my kitchen, I have the smallest grater, a mini chopper and a mini chopping board to match. They may be small but yet are quite practical, you’d be amazed.

My Citizens of Gigglesville are also small and cute. Many times, people are surprised at how small they are when seeing the real deal compared to the pictures I pose. Hahaha…

Two days ago, I bought a small and rather cute toolbox. It may be small but it ain’t no toy and it fits all my carving tools just nicely! Obviously I’m pleased as I find it practical to keep the tools instead of just having the tools laying in the box they came in.

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Battle of the Boxes, Part 3

23 Aug

I finally bought something online again after so long! In fact, I purchased two items from my regular online site, Lazada. Initially I had placed an item in the cart but it sat there for quite some time as I didn’t push myself to check out. I guess it was a case of want more than need.

Then two days ago, being quite free in the office, I searched for another item and before I knew, had two items and decided to check out.

Both are of course carving related. I eagerly await my boxes to arrive. Stay tuned to find out!

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