Tumbling n Stumbling

Hi everyone,

A moment in the garden after the afternoon rain.

I saw it kept trying not to slide off from that big waxy leaf. It tried to stand but the legs failed to straighten. Couldn't take off for flight.  Kept tumbling many times. It kept crying, yes crying, I thought.

Somewhere in the tree, there was an adult which kept calling, urging the young one, so I thought. Well. I don't know, I am human, they are birds.

We human, always assume.  That's what we, I, especially do best anyway.

Perhaps both were independent of each other. I shouldn't be worried. But I kept watching and hoping the little one won't fall off to the ground. Scared for it, the cat might come!

But I would come for the rescue if ever a cat comes to pounce.

Suddenly everything went quiet. The bigger bird stopped calling. The little one stopped crying. It stood tall, then flew off.

No worry!

That's my little story for today, we'll be meeting again on the coming entry, have a happy day.

Would You Like Some?

Hi friends,

When I bought my present house the first thing I did was to plant a few trees in the side yard. However, after a few years, the trees succumbed to termites and died except for the belimbing tree which remains good until today.  Other trees that I have now, the gaharu, cempaka and the mulberry were planted much later.

All the trees are thriving and making my home garden a little crowded. I don't mind that because they give shade and makes the place cool although scattered dead leaves become an eyesore. The belimbing tree very frequently bears fruits in abundance and there would be lots of scattered ones rotting away on the ground.

The belimbing tree with its low branches is a perfect place to hang the orchid pots. I feel it is more natural than building a structure to hang them. The only drawback is when the tree bears fruit I have the extra task of clearing the fruits that got dropped into the pots.

The belimbing fruits do not cause any excitement as do some other favorite fruits like mango, for example. They do get noticed sometimes but only due to its sheer abundance. Other than that there really is not much interest to people. 

The fruits seem to have no value. When offered to friends, they declined. To batter trade with the vegetable seller in the market will invite just scoffs :( 

Even the birds give them a miss. How I wish they taste like grapes, then maybe you don't see them fallen and scattered to rot.

The sour acidic taste of the fruits makes it impossible to be consumed fresh. Other than using them in masak lemak  I don't know how to use it any other way. Sometimes it makes me sad to think about the fruits being sidelined and so unwanted. So one day I plucked some and try to turn it into something which can be more palatable.

Here is how I made sambal sandwich filling using the fruits as ingredients.

Ingredients: belimbing fruits, anchovies, chili paste, onion, garlic, ginger.
Not in picture: oil, salt, palm sugar.

Process

Add a lump of palm sugar some salt and oil

Fry until quite dry

Final product

Yummm

The texture is like jam. Taste is sweet but hot. Unexpectedly delicious!

So there, friends, a recipe for you to try.


Till next entry . . .

Evening Dream

Sitting on the rocky beach
looking out as far my eyes could reach
mesmerized by the colorful mystery
I feel small and tiny

An artist if I could be
would express what I see
in the play of colors
on a big blank canvas

With artistic touch
I would sweep lovely strokes
as nature greets
and my heart speaks

But I have not a touch of artistry
finesse is beyond me
the marvel of colors
would lose in my inability

I am just ordinary
like most, a dreamer
all I do is stare deep into the horizon
till all colors are gone.

Busy April

Hi friends


Was a  busy April . . .

. . . but a happy one.


Cheers.