Garden,Trinkets and Food!

Salam, everyone...
Life as normal...this morning, Hb's Physio at U.Hospital....no intention to go wandering around the Mall. I had my brekkie at 10.40 am at Austin Chase Cafe at The Gardens, and there I was relaxing.. watching people passing by. Fetched Hb at 12 p.m, and lunched at Hasrul November, Subang Jaya.. I skipped lunch...


Back home..took advantaged of the nice weather, raining heavily at early noon. Superb temperature in the evening that made me wanting to stay longer in my garden..I've been so cruel for neglecting them!! I added more soil in the pots, replanting and got them fertilized. It seemed half a day's work was like two days... carrying and arranging the pots with my Anik...

Cananga Odarata or Kenanga.

Gardenia

My newly bought Gardenia..
can't wait for it to bloom

Lime

Like any other occasion I would become more or less a Superwomen and not knowing the aftermath *body ached*. During the B.day party I enjoyed my time preparing my work peacefully without any disturbance until I would call for help from the members of my family, if I needed any... I do not like to be stressed out when I was doing functions. Organized and trying to be systematic such that NO chaos on the very day...especially the surprise one I did...where you had to pretend nothing happen. Preparation for my girl's party did not cost us a bomb...except for some Food, Chocolates for the cake n gifts and Teddy bears.. the teddy bears, got them at discounted price at Memory Lane.

The door gift, teddy, cute ehh!

Other than that.. all I could find in my house, like ribbons.. I had bundles of them when I was doing Cushions and embroidery years ago. Remember the Door Gift? Hahaha, it's only paper bags that I bought at Bagus cost me only rm9.00 for more than 20 pieces, I stapled it with ribbons and doilies. I had a good laughed when the sales person at Bagus gave me a puzzled looked when I brought the teddy bear into the shop and put it in the paper bag. He then showed me a nice paper bag with string and I shook my head. He must be thinking... sungguh kedekut perempuan ni! Well, look at the result, ain't it sweet, and CHEAP too.

About the flowers that I spread on the table.... my maid Anik dropped and broke the vase while cleaning the house, instead of getting angry.. told her to soak and wash the flowers, and later I displayed it on the table... Bits and pieces in the house can beautify your project if you know how to place it right and sure it will look presentable. ...learning to be practical.


And whether I am ready or not to be in the kitchen, here are some pictures of food I cooked.
Today's Menu...

Seri Muka Gula Merah for Tea

Tom Yam Mee Hoon for Hb and the Kids for dinner

Since I skipped lunch, I had Tom Yam with rice and fried French beans.

Yesterday's dinner..

Roasted Chicken marinated with plenty of herbs, Salad
and Mash Potatoes.

Bread Pudding for Tea.

The Night before.....

Can't get enough of Brushetta....

That's all for today, peeps....I can't get my eyes open wide...yawning all the way thru...
Goodnight and Adios....

She's twenty one!

Salam..

Another project done! I threw a *Surprise Birthday Party* for my daughter on Saturday...happened to be on that day. With the help of some of her good friends the party was considered successful. I got 14 names given to me and I started to plan theme and colors for the table setting...as I wanted them to be treated like princesses. I thought pretty flowers and ribbons would be nice for young ladies.. Yes, my girl is twenty one.
21st birthday is certainly a momentous episode in our life. And 21st is also a mixed feelings occasion for parents.

Many are sad when their kids bid farewell to childhood.... remembering every birthdays she had celebrated with us. And watched with joy and laughter and let her controlled her life... her own way. And now she has the key to open the door to the adulthood world and start a new life..as an adult.


I got to give her the best on her special day. It's a celebration not only for my daughter but to all her friends who has just passed their b'days and turning twenty one this year! It's fun to be together with her friends on this day.... most memorable moments for her...



She and my niece Kamelia *who was at our house since Thursday night* went out for a drink at Alexis in Bangsar taken by my eldest son..that's the plan to surprise her. And having the music on to liven up the atmosphere, my kind of music ..ahaks..El Divo you!
When Kamelia forced her into wearing something nice..nothing special about what she wore maybe to my eyes she looked amazingly gorgeous... my babay!!!


I was a little stressed when the situation turned to be not what I expected..they came back 35 minutes later after her friends arrived! I wanted her to get excited or overwhelmed when she saw her friends gathered at the house..but her reaction was however very sober, calm and so unlike her Mum, hahaha...Oh ya..she is Papa's girl. And Papa seemed to be extra supportive on this occasion.

My Menus were Chicken Pie, Marinara Fettucine, Bruschetta, Toad in the blanket*sausage rolled in Pastry*, Chocolate Banana Cake, Triffle and Red Velvet for the Birthday Cake. I set the table for 14 girls, 2 girls backed out last minute due to family matters. And not forgetting I had prepared *Door Gift* with the helped of Kamelia, for her friends to take home, a teddy bear and chocolates.

The two Brothers..

Door Gifts

And so so relieved when it's finally over... I was rushing and running looking for things, planning and cooking. Well, I love handling projects especially that's close to my heart... I had the passion and determination to ensure every bit is done successfully till the end! But some small distraction that cannot be helped in the course of the celebration.

It's time for me to relax now...told them, I won't be in the kitchen until I am
ready!!!
Adios.....

Life is about......

Salam...
Life is not about having to relax or eat out all the time. Life is about....getting up on your feet and start your duty!! I guess I had just got up from my laziness and here I am running and jumping....Wow! I feel recharged! I don't know why? Or maybe I have a new project on the way *wink* Having or planning good activities color our life. Running and jumping, oh yes, I was out everyday, but I felt energetic. Hb's appointment was full since last week and so as this week. I even went to the same Mall on Monday and Tuesday...I knew the sales people could recognized me as they greeted and a welcome smile..


Monday, as I came back from Pantai Hospital at 2pm, I started kneading my Bread, cooked Beef Stew and marinated my two slices of Salmon, cut them into small pieces *being thrifty.. hehe* before I fried them at 6pm. I made coleslaw from purple cabbage and carrot..hmm crunchy and delish!

Hb's portion..

My Anik enjoying herself cooking or bersantai at the outdoor area...as tho it was made for her..heeehee. That everyime, I had to rearrange the brooms and mops where she placed according to her way...nyampah !!

The herb plants, as you can see is for my cooking...pluck at any time I need..fresh from my garden..gitu!

I made Apam kukus Gula Hangus on Sunday. The color of the Apam will be darker if you bake it then to steam. Didn't look hangus at all ya.. Tasty, yes..
I am a fan of Apam..

This wonderful *Salad Dish* inspired from my recipe book.. Grill Chicken Salad *mine..not grill but fried, marinated with lots of herbs* I go nuts for Salads! do not mind having it everyday...
I try not to make the same dressing..this one, I poured the left over gravy from frying the chicken, mushroom and snow beans onto the Salad *I normally fried with very little olive oil*..I never forget to add fruits whatever I could get from my fridge.



Lucky us! My dearest daughter never failed with a tray of fruits for *Supper*
That was Mangga Lemak Manis, looks kurang masak but too sweet and lemak to be described.

Wait for my next entry...
Adios...

Project..done!

Salam and Happy Saturday greetings to everyone..
I had a handful of things that I attended during the week.. Hb's usual routine and my 'backyard Garden' Well, I got carried away with the project. We had bad experienced with the contractor who claimed a professional, work wise not too bad..but a lot of miscommunications and the worst part was the delivering of materials to my house took longer than expected... a nightmare! Glad that it's over. Tho it's not 100% of what I dreamed it to be, but it's okay, I did a little make up here and there..

Laksa Lemak

I did not actually know what concept I had wanted the backyard to be. All I know I always love the outdoor table top with the surrounding area topped with Sandstones...especially in Red brown brick color..but ended in Granite grey.. Ahh! dull..but Hb insisted, to match with the existing sink tiles. Anyway, I have to make the best of it.....
Hmm.. after a while I tend to love it...the natural earth color.

One satisfied lunch..

The touch up needed a lot of energy.. why? getting some new plants, *herbs* and pots and stones and of course it needed to be carried and arranged here and there. Ya, we were occupied, me and the maid. Hb was excited from day one supervising the workers.

A tray sent to our bed by my princess for super...

I went to Sungai Buloh for the plants and had been out at the garden from morning till late noon.. With the excitement I had during the day without even thinking what it's like to be feeling in the night..My God! my body was crying with pain...lenguh yang tak terhingga. But when I wake up in the morning everything seemed to be different... the urged of being in the garden excite me again. Life has to be filled with things....especially the ones we love, right?

The orange color flowers is called Camsies..a beauty! The two small pots
is called Begonia for my Mum..she loves the plant. You can see Kantan,
Okra, Basil, Oregano, chilies and Brinjal *not in the picture*
I also bought Honey Sucker, white stella and Gardenia.

Pancake for Breakfast and Fried Mee for dinner.

In between the hard work at my garden I still did my usual sending and waiting for Hb. I went to Bangsar Village on Monday to do some errands and later stopped at Plan B. Well, after some thoughts, I came to term with me being at Cafes... how else could I be spending my time waiting. Shopping? imagine the price of things compared to one cup of coffee...err..and a slice of cake.

A cup of Flat White and traditional Chocolate cake

Our normal practice when Hb was well we love to have a cuppa at Mamaks and at cafes. However things has not changed...we still do our outing...only when I sent him for treatment I need to occupy myself for two long hours. And I guess, I am enjoying having my *Me Time* once a while.

This was Thursday lunch at Nyonya's House in Plaza Masalam Shah Alam.
A treat by Abg Fauzi and Kak Faridah.

It's rather late now, I need my beauty sleep, peeps.
Adios..Have a productive weekend.