Sweets for the sweet

CHOC CHIP COOKIES BY GG OVEN

SUPER YUMMY

chocolate chip oat cookies, chocolate chip oat raisin cookies

Chocolate chip cookies anyone?

Hajar followed a recipe  from a cooking booklet I bought from a news stand and it turned out very good. Ala ala Famous Amos.

Chocolate Chip cookies. Its delicious, it never goes wrong for any occasion, its a pick-me-up, that is, it lifts you up when you are down or stressed out and most important, it is made out of all halal ingredients which Hajar makes a point to find out its source and manufacturer.

You can order at RM10.00 for 20 pieces. Excluding postage.

Its really yummy.  Betooool

Pictures later.

Diana's miracle

My friend Diana has long longed for a child.  Married close to 20 years, she tried everything.  The gynae, traditional methods, year in, year out, still in vain.

Turning forty on November 4th, she threw a big party. A milestone in her life she said. Balloons everywhere.

She has a good marriage, a long standing career at A&W and a nice house that she loves to decorate.

She resigns to the fact that if she still cannot conceive since her biological clock is running out of time, she would accepts her lot with an open heart.

Until Allah gave her her 40th birthday gift.  Surprisingly and unsuspectingly and finally, Diana found herself pregnant. Mimi and I could only shout.

Only that, her womb is weak and some complication has occurred. She was instructed by the doctor  to rest and not to do anything vigorous.

She said Allah heard her prayers to have a child like everyone else. I controlled my tears.  Knowing how hard she tried to conceive, I told her that we will all pray for the baby to survive.  I pray that the baby is a survivor, like its Mommy, Diana.  Ya Allah, selamatkan lah dan sihatkan lah baby Na yang sekian lama kami semua nanti-nantikan. Ameen.

Mokcik Moh tersayang.

Mokcik Moh telah kembali ke rahmatullah pada hari Ahad 30 October yang lalu. Oleh sebab aku di beritahu 3 hari selepas pergi nya beliau, membuat ku masih lagi terdengar-dengar suaranya yang lembut, tawanya yang comel dan wajah nya yang manis di ulang tayang dalam kepala ku entah berapa kali sehari. Mungkin jika aku dapat menatap jenazah beliau dan memberi kucupan yang terakhir.....

Maka padam lah sebuah lampu yang menerangi hidup ku, itu sahaja lah yang dapat ku rungkaikan dari segala perasaan yang aku rasai ketika ini.  Terkilan tidak di beritahu. Menyesal kerana tidak berjumpa dengan nya ketika dia datang ke sini. Menyoal kenapa dia pergi tiba-tiba tanpa di duga langsung. Hati ku masih lagi meraba-raba satu kepastian, apakah yang sepatutnya.

Mokcik Moh atau nama sebenarnya Hasmah binti Jaafar, ialah mak saudara sepupu ku.  Seorang insan yang cukup istimewa, kerana beliau sangat sederhana.  Tetapi dalam kesederhanaann itu, terbit satu jiwa yang cukup menyenangkan. Yang tiada tandingnya.  Tak pernah ku dengar sesuatu yang kasar  keluar dari mulutnya, paling pun, dia akan diam. Bila beliau bersuara, dia hanya perkatakan yang baik, biasanya  di sulami  jenaka dan tawa.Yang pasti,  yang tak baik, tidak di sebut atau pun di sebut dengan cara yang baik. Yang memahami, akan tahu bahawa dia tidak setuju apabila dia diam.

Aku mengenal beliau sejak kecil, kerana arwah ibu rapat dengannya. Aku cukup bangga memilikinya dalam hidup ku.

Ketika beliau susah pada zaman dahulu kala, di harunginya dengan sabar dan senyuman. Apabila dia senang, di hiasi dengan murah hati dan senyuman.  Pendek kata, sifat-sifat tersebut sudah sinonim dengan beliau, dan saya pasti, amat sedikit atau pun tiada langsung orang yang akan mengatakan sesuatu yang tidak baik tentang beliau setelah beliau menghembus nafas yang terakhir.

Aku bukan menulis hanya sekadar hendak update blog ku.  Aku ingin kongsi di sini tentang seorang insan yang mempercayai pentingnya menjadi seorang yang baik, seorang isteri dan ibu yang baik dan telah mempraktikkan kebaikan itu seluruh hidupnya. Sungguh mengkagumkan.   Tak mudah,  kerana kita manusia kadang-kadang hilang pertimbangan dan kesabaran dan akan bertindak  kasar dan tidak pantas  terhadap orang lain. Kalau lazimnya, seperti orang lain, beliau punyai kelemahan, tidak ketara buat ku ataupun  telah di lupuskan oleh kebaikannnya.

Boleh kah aku diam ketika marah seperti nya? Bolehkan aku taat sepertinya? Bolehkan aku murah hati dan berhemah seperti nya? Bolehkan aku rendah diri  sepertinya?

Hatiku masih mengapai-ngapai kehilangan ini.  Dalam panggilan terakhir ku padanya,  sempat kami sayang menyayang  ketika aku  memberitahunya bahawa aku menyayangi nya dan dia pun membalas yang sama. Masa tu baru selesai kenduri dan aku terlalu penat untuk pergi berjumpanya. Kalau lah aku tahu masa beliau dengan kami terlalu pendek, akan ku gagahi jua, walau letih mana sekali pun.

Kini dia sudah tiada, aku akan sematkan semua kenangan Mokcik Moh di khazanah hati ku, akan ku petik sifat-sifatnya dan tampal dalam sanubari ini,  untuk mengingatkan ku bahawa benar lah  Allah tidak memandang paras rupa tetapi memandang akhlak dan taqwa seorang hamba. Kerana hati dan budi yang baik itu adalah perhiasaan yang terindah.

Mokcik Moh.....

Semoga Allah cucuri rahmat di atas roh Mokcik Moh dan di golongkan di kalangan orang-orang yang solihin. Ameen.

HAFIZ AND FARAH

Every weekend a wedding

For the life of me, I cannot understand why, at weddings, I always stop short from taking pictures with my humble and loyal Nokia handphone, and my post would be without my own pictures, and  I would have to wait for someone to send me some of theirs, which I would never get.

Last night, at Dewan Seri Hendon Putrajaya,  when Hafiz and Farah walked on the the red carpet in tuxedo and a lovely white gown and coincidently stopped by my table to wait for the next cue, I was just gaping at  how lovely they looked and bursting with pride, when I could have taken some really good shots.

October belongs to Hafiz and Farah because its weekends are punctuated by one wedding event. Nikah for family only, then home reception for neighbours  and family and another at the hall for office colleagues and family. I am glad I am family.

The guest were entertained with a show of Kuda Kepang, an energetic fast number joget  and  songs from the Balle-balle group. The mother of the bride surprised us all with a song.

For wedding favours we were given chocolates and colourful towels (see pictures).

As usual,  our not so shy and not so dignified group, were busy having fun, taking pictures, pairing Ding with Selena (so cute a couple ) and making Na dance with the Balle-balle group.

The generous and big celebrations for the newly weds is an indication of  the many good and big things to come into their lives. Hafiz and Farah, who in the own right, have achieved good careers and a promising future.  May Allah give them success in this world and hereafter. Ameen.

GG oven

GG Oven is their (Hajar and Nor)  brand name.  GG means.....hmmm....they might not want me to tell. But I will disclose to you the English translation. Fluffy.

They are burning their faces to the oven since morning, and the new mixer, I named Miss Maximix, is spinning its whisk non-stop. Going whirrrrrrrrrl, to combine the eggs with the cooked butter and flour to make the choux pastry. Then  they would pipe the mixture into  florette shapes onto the trays. Then wait for it to fluff up in the oven and cook at the sound of TING!!! And  repeat. 

Here are some pictures. Sorry, not clear. My nokia is losing its sharpness. 

Have you read any food blogs?.  I am a fan of a few food blogs which are very interesting .  Cafe Fernando is one.  Another is The Misanthropic Hostess. Best giler. With GG Oven starting their small home-based business,  I will write on food too.

Two ovenettes

Saved by the rain

Quite rested from the wedding, I am supposed to go collect something but the rain saved me a trip in a 'for sure' traffic jam from Kg. Semut to Shah Alam. So now I can sit and blog with the cats around me, munching snacks while I make some business plans.  Dream abit, google a little and doa alot. For better things.

I call this place Kg. Semut because for one, it is crowded with a capital C. Second, it is full of activity and life and noise which Aishah could not stand. hehe. Third, it has a system.

I like this place very much. For one because the azan is very loud.  I wonder what kind of loudspeaker they use because of the way it blasts and booms into our homes 5 times a day . I like!!! Second, I found out very late, living in KL makes me happy. For once, that shrinking feeling I feel in most places, I do not feel here.  Strange. Third, its a cha-cha-marba place, and I am a cha-cha-marba person. People here are friendly too.

What started a refuge from my house problems turns out to feel like home. It is a good feeling.  It has been so long ever since I feel good. Poor me. Huhu. Poor Mama. :-(  So girls, let Mama feel this way a bit longer ok?

We, Hajar and friends and I will start something from this place.  An order for 1000 creampuffs is a start.  See, good feelings results to good things.

This flat in Kg Semut will be home cum baking outlet.  Wish us luck. We hope from creampuffs we are able to produces more foodies to sell. Next project after this would be a stint selling this fluffy creamy puffs at the flea market in Amcorp Mall, InsyaAllah.  (as Mahir Zain sings, InsyaAllah, InsyaAllah, InsyaAllah, you'll find the way.....ay......)

I bought our first good mixer for Hajar could never be able to beat the mixture for 1000 like she usually does by hand. Her arms would come off.  Her friend, Nor is good at baking too and I have confidence in this two ladies. I will be their biggest supporter. Maybe QC. A bit of customer service and of course, the delivery lady.

This is the biggest order we have had and I hope our dreams to be self-sufficient would come true. Creampuffs, anyone?

A wedding!

A friend said 'bila kita suka dan buat sesuatu kerana Allah, setiap yang baik dan buruk kita terima dan redha.'
Also ' kita tak nampak yang buruk pada sesuatu yang kita suka, kerana kita tak suka dia kerana Allah'. Deep.

We had our first wedding last Saturday. My sister Idah's reception. At Singgahsana Hotel.

Upon writing this, I have just barely recovered from all the planning, buying, shopping, browsing, running around, answering calls, making calls and driving all over the place. Did everything but took pictures. So no pictures  of the wedding for the time being.

A last minute wedding. All the advise to Idah to make up her mind quickly so that we are not short of time was just a waste of time. Then an issue with a blackberry came about. Shah gave me a blackberry for my birthday. I told Idah I cannot accept because if she does not accept his incessant proposal, I will have to return the cellphone. Idah said  she will be accepting for she knows how much he loves her. I happily accepted the gift and within 2 weeks, the invitations were out.

Actually, doing the wedding was quite a scary task to take on .  With my house problem  and helping with  Hafidz's  wedding the week before, we now have a full blown wedding to organise. A hotel wedding package was called for.  Time was short.  Luckily my aunt is an experience wedding planner, so with the idea in our heads, we got things going, and going fast. We invited only 200 guest and kept it small but 'meriah'.

Being the bride's sister and filling my late mother' place, I bought the most expensive baju kurung I have ever bought in my life.  I had to, since all the dresses I saw at the shops were too fancy and trendy for me.
Finally I chose a simple one, of cotton and some embroideries which ended up more expensive then the prettier ones on the displays. But since its the first wedding we held, I still bought it, especially with Mimi's encouragement, "beli aje Ma, bila lagi'.

Our 'hantaran' was in silver since Shah's was in gold.  Silver flowers on parcels of silver wrapping paper. Silver ribbons were tied around all the items to customize them. Then Aunt Chor added on to the trays dark red roses to make it look more grand and spectacular.

I was everywhere that night. I was nervous and anxious for everything to go smoothly. Aunt Chor was in a hot blue long dress as the theme that night was 'any blue'.  She was at the forefront being 'mak andam' and I was at the back, seeing the door gifts given out to the guest and saying hello to everyone.

Alhamdulillah, it went quite well, with some hiccups due to not having enough time to keep everyone informed and the people who were not prepared to take on last minute task, gave me a scolding instead.

As soon as the recorded kompang started and the bride and groom walk into the ballroom,  we just let it roll as planned.  With En. Manaf giving cues and signals to his staff with his walkie-talkie, we opened the ceremony with doa,(recited by our very own ustaz muda, Hilmee) and merenjis.  Then followed by dinner, thank you speech by my brother, and cake cutting. We even had a surprise birthday cake for Shah.

My wedding favour was a goody bag filled with bunga telur (eggs from Bah, thank you Bah), bahulu given by Shah's mother, complimentary fruit cake from the hotel, some insect chocolates and I threw in a cute little ceramic bell. (picture above)

Siti, my wedding planner friend in Muar, advised me once,  to have a smooth wedding, we must give the best and to be ikhlas. I tried.   Partly on behalf of my dad. And my late mum.

Wishing Idah and Shah all the very best in their marriage.  Bahagia selalu.

Between the last blog and now

Between the last blog and now, so many things had happen.  Big things. Life changing. Mile stones of one's life.

After Nufaeel was born and made me a grandaunt, my nephew Hafidz got married to a very sweet girl, Farah.

Then my sister, Idah married a nice guy, Shah.

And I moved, not sure for temporary measures or for good, back close to where I came from, my real kampung, Petaling Jaya. (I am a lost child)

Turning 48 came with such big events, I guess 48 is one mile stone to mark, the real me.

I guess one will ultimately come home.  To what they are and to where they came from.  And being close to 50, an age that whatever that you are will be here to stay. I remember and believe what Oprah once wrote, to be careful when you get to 50.

Lay down all the charades, because what you will get when you squeeze an orange, is an orange. Thats one of my favorite quips, for if you want to know about someone, look at them when they are pressured.  If they are cool things, they would stay cool.  If they are hot, they will blow their top off.

We hear our elders saying, if one do not change after 40, one will not change. Except for some exceptional cases, I observe that to be true. I guess by 40 we lose the elasticity of putting up false pretenses  just as you start to lose the elasticity everywhere else, like your face.

This is not a good time to write, but I miss writing my blog.  My head is full of things I have to do before Idah's big day and my nerves are frayed from the events that are taking and had taken place.

So remember to always 'control ayu'  so by the time you get to 48 or 50, the 'ayu'ness becomes a trait to stay.

More stories to come.....tunggu....

My grandnephew

Day before yesterday, the stock brought in the 4th generation of the Ismail family. As cute as a button, Muhammad Nufaeel Harris made his entrance into our lives.

As his Nenek Izzah, this is my first role as Grand Auntie. Why I chosed to be called Nenek which sounds so old is because, other names like Tok Mummy, Tok Mama, Mak Tok, Tok Mak, Opah, Siti, Grandma, Granny already  have  a  formidable face attached to it and I had been 'Nenek' to wee little ones for quite some time. Also, no one else is fighting over this name, so Nenek I am.

As soon as I saw him on the sofa, all wrapped up in blanket, I know instantly he is going to be the gem in this family.  He is also the first son of the first son of the first son which, lets just say, makes him a 'a very special gem'.  This little thing has conquered everyone's attention.  His cuteness had got everyone cooing and fussing and silly.  I did got hold on myself from squeezing him too hard.

His uncles, my nephews, too are totally smitten.  The otherwise rowdy young men suddenly became big fat softies over this baby.  And the father, Hassan, as usual, took the role of daddy with such ease and so naturally, that we, the 2nd generation have nothing to worry about.

Alhamdulillah is all that I can say.

Nufaeel, Nenek pray that you will become a good slave to Allah, a good son, a good person who succeeds and is happy in this world and hereafter. That Allah blesses you and watches over you every single moment and you get alot of milk. (Mummy Intan not producing enough milk yesterday) Ameen.

My rock and it's shimmering light.

It's sad when a building becomes your rock and not a human being.

Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah aka Masjid Negeri is my rock.

When my Mum passed away and my Dad grieved in the form of giving me a cold shoulder, I had no one. And no where to go.  When I decided to come back here I felt so lost and alone.  Everywhere had some sad memory attached to it.  Everywhere I looked pained me.  The only place free from pain was Masjid Negeri. For many years, even before going to KB, this mosque had been my sanctuary.

But alas, something had to happen .  When the mosque authorities decided to close down the classes of which I have been attending for 2 years, they broke that special link.

But like all real and strong links, it does not break completely.  How ever bad I feel  but as I drive into Shah Alam and see the first sight of this majestic monument during the day and its shimmering lights during the night, standing unchallenged  in  look and stature, it is still my favourite and magical  place.

Now Masjid Negeri has a new 'culture'.  It is no longer a place only for solumn business of worship, piety and knowledge,  it has bazaars in its vicinity. So it became half suq (market place) and half masjid.  I cannot say I like it this way but I have always like buzz.  And this place is buzzing at night, what more during the coming of Syawal.

I love to pray terawih here.  The booming of the Imam's beautiful recitation, the large congregation and the familiarity plus the  programmes for puasa month  which includes free bubur lambuk, berbuka,  moreh and also free sahur pulls people from all walks of life.  A new trend of picnic at the mosque for berbuka has also started. Families comes with baskets of food and mats and goes back after completing their  terawih. Last night on my way to the car park, I bought myself  mango juice which tasted so good.  Reminding me of a tradition of ours during umrah.  Mango juice after prayers.

By the way, its already the 22nd day of Ramadhan.  The most auspicious month of the year is  leaving us pretty soon. Lets make the best out of these 8 days.  Selamat Beramal!

Klinik Iman 2

Kita kembali pada post saya baru-baru ini tentang klinik iman.

Alhamdulillah, Allah swt membantu saya dalam dilema saya mengapa iman saya merudum bagaikan sebuah avalanche di kutub utara.  Saya ceritakan di sini di mana silap saya.

Sebelum itu, pernah guru saya, seorang mu'alim besar, Ustaz Aleh Solihin telah memberitahu kelas kami suatu ketika dahulu, bahawa, jangan sekali-kali  kita patah balik dari jalan Allah swt.  Jika kita berbuat demikian, kita akan mendapat kesusahan dan penghinaan.

Saya tidak pernah berniat untuk patah balik, sekali-kali tidak, tetapi saya selalu bercadang untuk sederhana dalam amalan saya dan  secara jujur, saya takut untuk menempuh jalan 'warak'.  Saya rasa saya masih tidak mampu dan masih kurang ilmu. Ini bukan masaalah patah balik tetapi masaalah saya ialah untuk gerak ke hadapan. Ustaz Aziz di masjid cabang empat di Kota Bharu pernah berceramah bahawa, umpama barang,  orang yang kuat boleh mengangkat yang berat. Boleh dukung dan laksanakan perintah yang berat. Orang lemah tak mampu, boleh bawa yang ringan sahaja.

Akan tetapi, istilah sederhana saya itu lah yang saya dapati silap dan salah, selepas berfikir panjang.  Sederhana saya sebenarnya bukannya sederhana, tetapi lemah iman.

Tidak apa kalau lambat, asalkan sembahyang. Tidak apa tidak menjaga mata, kerana itu perkara biasa. Tidak apa mengikut orang demi menjaga hati. Tidak apa kita tak dapat buat apa yang patut di buat, kerana orang lain pun tidak buat juga. Saya hanya manusia biasa, bukan wali.  Demi itu dan demi ini.

Lama kelamaan hati semakin berkarat dan saya dapat rasai sudah ada yang tidak kena pada iman saya. Mujur dalam hati ini seolah  ada jangka-iman, boleh dapat rasanya naik atau turan.

Oleh sebab itu, terpaksa lah saya ambil pendekatan serius walaupun pahit.  Banyakkan taubat.  Ikhlaskan hati kerana Allah. Berhenti memandai-mandai. Stop Now. Dan sedar bahawa agama bukan bahan untuk kita olah sesuka hati. Jangan ingat ia disesuaikan dengan diri kita tetapi diri kita kena di sesuaikan padanya.  Jika terasa payah, mesti ada sesuatu yang kita kena ubah pada diri kita, bukan kita mengubah agama untuk diri kita.

Saya telah tiba pada satu kesimpulan bahawa, tidak ada kompromi dalam  beragama walaupun pintu keampunan Allah sentiasa terbuka.


Harap-harap belum terlambat. Doakan daku.

The B and the P

It finally arrived.  In a big way. With a bang. And a crash.

My BP. Blood pressure.

Before this I never knew how your blood can pressure you. I only hear others suffering. I have high cholestrol and high this and high that but my bp was usually ok. Until....the accident on that fateful night. Then it shot up to 159/90. I was dizzy most of the time, I feel the back of my head clutching and hard to focus. Twice I did not notice the steps and fell. Bad.

So I rested to relax and to bring down the bp. Cut down the 'God knows what' running around to half. Was not doing great.  A week later still high.

Two weeks later only slight changes. I felt I have to seriously rethink my life. I cannot afford this bp.  I have to change my diet.  I have to change my lifestyle.  I have to change.

For starters I chose to be a better servant to Allah since I might go to see Him quicker with this bp. I said  "Ok, Allah, I will pull up my socks".

I started to mend where I have slacken terribly.  Pray earlier, read more Quran. Leave the frivolous.

Now, I feel my bp has gone down.  Alhamdulillah.

Nothing comes easy.

I just came back from terawih prayers at Masjid Negeri. My first terawih at the mosque on the 18th day of Ramadhan.  The first few days I was travelling, than, I "was on leave". Could not make it any earlier because I was busy as always, doing God knows what.

Yesterday I was trapped in a raining jam from Ampang.  What I thought would all in all take me the most, 4 hours, took me 8 long hours.  I broke my fasting in the car.  My leg cramped from changing the clutch too many times. Tears streamed down my face. I was hungry for rice.  I reached home too tired to eat.  The padlock would not close and I need to use it since I am alone in the house.  I was making funny noises at the verge of more tears. Then I realized, this is my 'once a while ' jam experience. Other people have to go  through it EVERYDAY.  Nothing comes easy.

Keeping these cute cats is not easy.  Other than the time they make us go mushy and fuzzy over how cute they are, there is also a part not cute at all.  That is when you have to clean up their poop everyday, wipe their fur ball puke, and wash the poop off them.  The other day when I was geared to go for terawih, Gio-gio came back drenched in black, smelly drain water. He must have fallen in the drain or  ended in the drain from the cat fights. I let out a cry from the sight of him, boiled water quickly and bathed him until he is clean and cute again. Our cats wake us up everynight to give them food.  Mimi and I have never slept soundly ever since we have them.  Sleeping behind closed doors does not help, Shu-shu scratches the door until we wake up. But....when I  look  at Shu-shu sleeping on Mimis' right and Gio-gio on her left and Tutty hidden somewhere  in the comforters, we accept what comes with having them.

With the garden and the cats, I cannot leave the house for long.  When I told Mimi I was going to KB when she is off to Thailand for her dental gig, she said, "Ma, what about the cats?".  I said, "I cannot give priority to the cats over your sister!" But then again, Picipu is grown up, while these cats needs feeding and cleaning and the plants needs watering. Sorry Peaches. (Picipu is actually from the word 'peach', not Pikachu's cousin).

So, as En Salleh ( a 'tall' man) said, when we do something, we must have 3 things in mind. To do it with patience, to do it with sincerity and  to do it with compassion. All not easy. But do we must.

Selamat meningkatkan ibadat

SELAMAT MENINGKATKAN IBADAT PADA MALAM-MALAM TERAKHIR RAMADHAN.

Garden herbs omelette and saving the tomatoes

I am no longer content making my omelette with onions and chillies like we usually do the whole of our lives. One day, I thought of adding the herbs I have in the garden in it  (chives, mint, dill, basil ) and Viola! I will not want it plain again. The omelette was fragrant and delicious,  the herbs diminish the smell and taste of the yolk, adding alot of flavours to otherwise, an eggy dish.

Yesterday I noticed some of the tomato plants are shrivelling and drying up. Oh No! I have to do something to save them.  These are the fruits of my life. Those who knows me  ever since I was young, which is few, would know that I consume tomatoes raw and plenty. Aishah takes that after me. She too eats tomatoes like apples.

Eventhough I was fasting,  I have to do as the book says. Tomatoes need a lot of soil.  And I guess the make-shift pots won't do.  But how do I make a bigger bed for the tomatoes. I have no choice but to make it from the bricks.  So I piled up the bricks that seemed heavier during the puasa month, into a small retainer by the wall. I will buy some soil and manure to fill it up. Before that,  I dug up holes to put the plants in.

In gardening, the fun part was plotting the patch and planting little seeds and little seedlings.  It a joy watching it germinate, producing its first shoots and grow steadily.  After that comes the difficult part. Maintaining and keeping it healthy and productive. Some thrive, some does not even when you treat and tend them all the same way. Why??  I asked. Hajar said, "rezeki, Mama." I guess.  But I will do my best to save all these rezeki.  That takes hard work, and know hows.  Maybe I have to use the pesticides which I am hoping I do not have to. Planned on going organic.

I remember when I was young and there were many tomato plants in the pots around the house. Being impatient and impulsive,  I would pick the fruit green and eat them.  My late mother would get angry for no fruit could get ripe for her to see and enjoy. Now, with these plants in my garden, the distinct smell of the tomato plant and leaves are the same as ever.  It all comes back. Just from that smell alone. The sneaking, the plucking and woofing down the fruit before the old people shout.  "JANGAN PETIK!  BIAR MASAK DULUUUUU"!!!.

I really really hope I can save the tomatoes. Selamat Berpuasa.

Fish and garden

Yesterday after a ten steps only stroll in my edible garden, Kak Ann, my sister-in-law, asked me to buy her a few seedlings at the morning market.  Hihi, Hajar and I have inspired her with our little project.

I feel a sense of accomplishment welling in my heart.

Looking at other people's site on edible gardens makes me want to plant more. Plant what we do not have. What we think is hard to grow.  Just try. My motto when I was a teacher. Just try.

Is there a course that I can go to learn more or shall I get books or just learn from internet?

Take a look at other people's edible garden. Awesome kan?

.

Recycling vs spending

A facination in recycling and improvising

Adi thinks I am stingy. Me? stingy? Okay....Maybe I am. After all I am my dad's daugrhter.  And to me, he is stingy.

Both my parents were poor.  They had a hard deprived childhood.

That hardship never left them.  Especially my great grandmother who brought me up.

Mok kept everything. Nothing should be wasted.  She loved to keep bottles which she called 'jebo' (please pronounce properly) and that trait, I followed.  I keep them too, which I call 'jars'.

Other than realizing the aspect of saving , to me there is an aspect of creativity in it all too.  And at times of economic gloom like this, (which might get gloomier) we should find ways to minimize spending and maximize saving, so I very much so believe in recycling.

In my garden,  I make use of plastic bottles, tins and containers for pots.  So you see a jumbled, whatever goes and eclectic sort of a garden. Butter cookies tins holding the pegaga and sireh.  Daun sup in the toiletries holder.  Tomatoes growing from cut plastic bottles. As soon as I can figure out how to use the drill, I will make more pots from whatever is old and cracked or chipped that I can get hold off. There is the paint palette that we no longer need from painting this house.  The old pails and 'gayongs'.  The cooking pots that have holes in them.  These will all be holding some plant or other one day.  And I am sure if I ask around, I will get more.

So far, I find  gardening and recycling the second most fullfilling,  compared to the array of things that I do.

Okeh! Next change, will show the pictures.

The cats' antics

Gio-gio the supercat

Na's cat, Pak Abu who knows life at the condo includes going up and down in a lift

Gio-gio smuggled into a hotel in an ikea bag because of blackout at home

Shu-shu refused to be put in the hotel's toilet with the others

Tutty will always go for the soft comforters 

Kakak Kucing who loves cats and the cats love her

Love is looking at the same direction.

Endangered species.

My cousin Kak Ani is a person whom  from young is diligent. In every way.  She would do what ever that needs doing.  She would study when she has to, help her mother with house work, does all sorts of activities and hobbies and never seem to be tired.  My  congratulations to Mak Long who has produced such a fine woman.

I dropped into their household when I was 12.  The 3 years with them have a very strong hold on me. People rarely guessed I am half Kelantanese.  And my constant drop-ins these days to check on the old lady had brought back memories I thought no longer existed.  When Kak Ani came to break fast with Mak Long and I day before yesterday, being together preparing food  brought back memories of us, as girls,  helping Mak Long in the kitchen 36 years ago. Yes, 36. She was going for her training at a Maktab Perguruan and I was a student shipped off to Johor Bharu by my parents.

Kak Ani's  last vocation was as School Principle.  Out of  all 5 of her children,  except the youngest who is in medical school, they have obtained their Master's  or in the midst of their Masters or applying for their Masters.

If you see her, she does not have the airs of a successful person she is, for her heart has always been for her home and family. Slim and simple, always so proper.  She would find time to make delicious  kueh talams for tea .  Would 'sembat' her daughters' baju kurungs in the teacher's room.  Would make her own delicious biscuits for hari-raya, her capabilities are endless.

If I could be half like her.  As a single parent I am thinly spread out.  That is the excuse I give myself.

Probably if she is in my place, she would still be what she is today......

I feel like telling her I am so proud of her, dulu, kini dan selamanya. But shy to say it.  My cousin sister who has achieved so much, mainly a result of sheer diligence that I knew so well and admire so much,  since 36 years ago.

Klinik Iman

Iman ku sakit.  Mungkin juga tenat. Sebabnya saya rasa ada sesuatu yang tak kena dengan iman ini. Ia semakin lemah untuk beramal.  Alhamdulillah saya masih boleh bezakan apabila iman saya ok dan apabila iman saya tidak ok, walaupun penurunan dalam iman dan lupa kepada ilmu-ilmu yang sekian lama di cari adalah sesuatu yang amat tidak baik dan sangat di takuti oleh orang yang beriman. 

Tak tahu apa sebabnya.Atau adakah saya tahu tapi buat-buat tak tahu?  Adakah sebab saya beri tumpuan  kepada perkara lain?  Atau adakah perkara lain yang memesongkan tumpuan dan kuderat saya?  Adakah kerana kelemahan 'time management'? Ataupun sebab2  fizikal seperti kekurangan vitamin dalam diet saya yang menyebabkan  saya tidak cukup tenaga?

Apakah  yang harus saya buat? Seriously.  Okay, pertama, istighfar banyak2 dan bertaubat sekiranya saya telah alpa dengan sengaja.

Jika tidak, saya harus  betulkan priority saya. Yang mana lebih utama dan yang patut di dahulukan?  Apa harus di teruskan dan apa yang harus di hentikan, tidak pun, di kurangkan.

Mungkin saya patut kaji selidik di mana saya telah silap langkah dan salah percaturan.

Mungkin saya mesti periksa balik apa yang telah saya makan  kerana makanan jasad kita ini jika tidak halal dan toyibah akan menyebabkan hati kita hitam dan keras. Juga jika kita tidak berhati-hati dengan apa yang kita baca lalu  menerima bulat-bulat mesej-mesej yang tersurat dan tersirat tanpa kembali kepada apa yang hak dan batil  juga boleh mempengaruhi perbuatan kita.

Saya kena overhaul iman saya.  Haruskan saya lakukan secara drastik atau secara beransur-ansur?  Nilai balik semua perbuatan saya dari titik penurunan dan dengan tekun halusi apa y;ang saya buat sekarang yang saya tidak lakukan dahulu.  Think hard, very hard. Evaluate and reevaluate.


Dan yang paling penting, ikhlas dalam penilaian ini dan berani untuk membuat pembetulan walaupun sesusah mana pendekatan yang patut di ambil dan sepahit mana akibat-akibat yang akan di rasai.

Juga tak kurang penting untuk menjaga setiap anggota dari perkara yang menjauhkan kita dari kerethaan Allah.

Ya Rob, Ya Rob, Ya Rob. Bantulah aku.

How it has grown

 

                                                   At the beginning
               

Now after constant watering and care

This sunny small patch has grown into........

a much loved edible garden

Brinjals, chilies and tomatoes.

Assalamualaikum.

It is fruiting time for our edible garden. The flowers are out. The 3cm tomato seedlings have grown to be 3 feet tall, so do the brinjals and the chilies. It no longer look nicely arranged and in line since they grow in all directions.  But cannot beat the joy of seeing the flowers turning into little fruits and growing bigger and bigger everyday. I love having ulam raja with my rice but now the plant had exhausted it's leaves and had to be emm...'put to rest' and to be replaced with a new one. I will get it at the morning market on Sunday, InsyaAllah.

All this gardening is therapeutic you know.  It one of the natural prozacs in life.  It never fails to make you feel better. I guess humans are made to come in contact with nature and one cannot survive without the other so much so that people who lives among trees and greens are in a better well being than those that live in the concrete and steel jungle. I read of sick people who got better when they change their lifestyle from urban to a more nature surrounding habitat and  a diet of processed food to wholesome  natural food especially organic vegetables and fruits.  Gradually they regain their health and  their sickness subsides and dissapears. I guess, nothing like the real thing, huh?

What we do with our life is a lot like gardening. It starts with a seed.  The niat.  The right seed would produce the right plant.  If we plant a mango seed and wait for a durian fruit would be dumb. So if we plant the wrong niat in our hearts and hope for the right things to happen, it would not. For instance, if we are doing it for the money but say we are doing it for God, then you get a cut your salary, what happens?  You leave in a huff and a scoff. Arguing that one cannot live on water alone.

Then the ploughing.  Preparing for what ever you are out to do.  Getting ready the necessary. As a friend says, failing to plan is planning to fail. Something like that.

The weeding would mean staying away from the pest or parasites that suck your money and happiness and destroy your leaves of hope.

Watering and manure is like taking care of our physical health. Good food, vitamins, good diet.

The sun is love.  You need all the love you can get.

With all the above, you will be able to produce the best fruits to be benefited by yourself and others.

But nothing would happen without any effort.  No effort, no edible garden.

Love you, Selamat Berpuasa. Next change, pictures!!

hamper making

It started with my sister Idah  having to make hampers for an office function.  If both of us have something in common, it is the love of making hampers.  Maybe because we both love presents, to give and to receive.

We made 50 small packs in pretty boxes with ribbons which we filled with chocolates, chocolate chip cookies, 2 coasters and a pack of sweets. Within the range of RM15 and I do not think we made any money. All the going round the round many supermarkets to find things nice but cheap. We argued for choice since good things to me means wholesome healthy food, whereas for Idah, packaging is everything. She puts back whatever I take from the shelves.  Then we came to a compromise, good things and good packaging and cheap which became more difficult to find.  Finally, low profit but satisfied with our little hamper of something the receivers would appreciate and what we would want for ourselves.

Then we made 5 bigger ones.  More goodies to put in.

I name our hampers. ( I name everything) 'Sweet as you',' Everlasting Love' (which I gave Bah and Man, wink, wink).Today I made 'Tea for two' and God knows what I will come up with tomorrow.

Nowadays, when I see something cute and sweet, thinking it would look good in my  hamper, I would buy. The other day, when Shaz came to visit on her break, on short notice, I put these cute foodies in a cute bag for her to bring back to Kuching.  Threw in a Lovely Lace candle too. And a painted enamel box.

Now I cannot stop.  I started copying the things I see at the shop.Snapping their pictures with my not-so- latest Nokia.  Buying tiny containers and small doilies to put the goodies in.  Must taste good.  Small in quantity but big in taste.

It takes my mind away from the problems I am facing.

Just now when I delivered one hamper to my brother for Father's Day (because he is, without a doubt, a good father), he wants me to make few more for him to give his neighbours for Ramadhan.

Hihihi, I am so happy.

Never ending story....

.....of everlasting love

Nora commented on me for being hard to contact with a 'you and your never ending story'.  So I added on.  The Never Ending Story Of Everlasting Love, which made her laugh. Glad to make someone laugh.

For one who does not know me, they do not know that for a person who is not working, I am very very busy.  Whether life makes me that way or I made my life that way, its up to you to perceive. But the challenges keep coming.  There is a big lost looming ahead. It might happen, it might not happen.  Let's pray it does not happen.  But if it does, I hope I still have my dignity even if I lose the rest.

I have learnt one big lesson which I hope you will learn from it too. Do not trust people you do not know. No matter who they are or how they appear to be.  I trusted completely and here am I, at the verge of being the dumbest women in the world if not the most gullible.

Being good has a price.  So be smart good, not dumb good.  Because the value of good has eroded  and even if you live by it, others might not uphold it and take it as a chance to trample all over you and your good intentions. So be fair, be honest, be generous, but do not at anytime loose your guard or be oblivious to the other person's motives and what they are capable of.  I ignored many gut feelings  and warning signals that was ringing loud in my mind.  So here I am, hanging on to only one hope. That there is honesty in at least, one out of 4 parties.

Before I am crowned the most gullible, I still  would not compromise what is good and right even if others take it as my weakness.  But I would no longer believe that good is reciprocated with good. Nevertheless,  Allah knows what is in your heart..

A new member of our family

First, this old lady now knows how to transfer photos from the handphone to the computer.  It might be nothing to you, but for old ladies, its an achievement.

Today's post. Maybe Allah knows I need cheering up, He sent a kitten mewing her way into our household.  It is a common cat. Plain, in a shade of grey with specks of orange, big eyes and extra big ears. We found it outside the house, mewing away, so we gave it food and water.  I was worried because the cars were going in and out the porch very frequently and the kitten was all over the place.  But I noticed it was smart enough not to let itself get flatten by the cars, staying out of the way when it hears the engines ignited.  There had been cats that do not know what it means when the cars start 'vrooming' and keeps sitting there, waiting to be run over. I know, because I was the one who ran over them. Twice.  But not this kitten, it would move away, only when the car is out of the gate, it comes back again. Another thing about cats, there are 2 kinds, the ones that comes to you and the ones you have to go after.  This cat comes to you, the rarer kind.

Before long, Mimi was bathing her and pretty soon,  Tutti Frutti  was making herself very comfortable in the house.  At first Shushu and Giogio frowned at her but Tutti was not bothered.  Tutti found her way to the litter box, to their food and drinking from their big cup,  as though she had been here all her life.  But she does what the other two does not do,  like sleeping on the bed, sitting on our laps and curling up close to us.  Shushu is too regal and aloof while Giogio is too macho to do such things.  Now they play together and Shushu would chase Tutti and the amorous Giogio, does come up to kiss her.too.

When Giogio first came, it was not easy to get acquainted with Shushu  but a little thing like Tutti, she found her place without any fights at all. Hmm...that's something new.

Caring for the plants

I read this line in an article. WHATEVER YOU CARE FOR, GROWS.  Tooiiinggg! Goes my heart strings. That happens.

It is only too true. To be taken cared of or cared for is indeed a blessing. It holds true for nearly everything.  Caring for your family, your home, your friends, your belongings, your health,  for the matter.   What is left uncared for would collect dust. Literally speaking or not. 

Nothing is more true with plants. Not tending them would make them wither and eventually die.  Love them and they thrive well.  Hajar is very good with plants.  She said always read Bismillah before you start anything especially when planting a new tree.  We must be gentle for plants have souls too, so she said.  When shifting them or dividing them, or cutting them, do it gently, do not pull or rip them apart but softly, softly does it. No wonder what Hajar plants always grew fat and healthy.

If I recall, there was a certain time when we were busy and watered the few plants at our previous flat only when we remember to.  The leaves were not so nice.  This time, when we put our hearts to look after them, what was growing slowly before  seems to be greener and has more leaves.  We have to weed, manure it and when necessary shelter the new seedlings.  I covered the tomato seedlings with cut water bottles to shelter them from the pest and from too much sun or too much rain until they are bigger and stronger.

And this goes without saying, water them twice a day.

Whatever you care for, grows.



Initially, this is hajar digging and loosening the earth to start our garden with Shu Shu feeling her way on the ground.



We planted brinjal seedlings (left) and what grew from a soggy tomato (right)

 Kesum and Kadok

Hajar's pegaga hanging by the wall

Daun sup that grows from a stalk I bought at the market

Mr Reddy

We have flowers too

Our labour of love

Jeng, jeng, jeng....our edible garden.