Crepe Ginger

The symbol of strength

"It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done." - Vincent van Gogh -

The Crepe Ginger is one of the very few flowers in the world that will be proclaimed as "native to the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia" in the Internet. Isn't that wonderful? It's our very own baby!!!

Characteristics of the Ginger: Passion... Success... Wealth... Power

What an awesome foursome to help us start a new year!

The foursome can sit about, having coffee, or wine, and talk about how they can enrich our lives in the coming days.

The foursome can head into each of our beings and teach us the pros and cons of living with them.

The foursome can then ride into the sunshine, or into the starry night, and have a good laugh at us or be proud of us.

This is a picture of my shadow. Ohhh I was just being silly and needed to stand a bit after all the crawling and bending under the hot sun.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and A BLESSED NEW YEAR from my home to yours.  

Thank you for following my blog. I am indeed grateful for all your messages, views, and compliments. Here's wishing all of you...

To be passionate in living while looking for missing pieces in life!  Everyone is a giant puzzle and the puzzle pieces are all over the world. At times we get to find our own missing pieces and fit them together. Other times, we need someone to come along with a piece that fits perfectly in our puzzle. It is important to keep that enthusiasm alive, because passion gives us purpose, and purpose gives us hope.  

To be successful in achieving goals. Get your health in order. Adopt a positive attitude, at all times if possible! Don't just set goals. Move it!

To increase your wealth in knowledge. I am not talking just academically. It's about enhancing your level of observation, competency, and reasoning.  Don't be a dumdum! 

And, to have the power to be the change you want to see in this world.  Instead of waiting or blaming... find yourself. Then, want, choose, and commit to create the change. Bear in mind that there is no reward waiting for you! 

"Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. 

Who is powerful? He that governs his passions.

Who is rich? He that is content.

Who is that?  NOBODY!"

-Benjamin Franklin-

Tiny Purple Polka

Why did God create weeds?

Weeds, to many of us, are useless, ugly, pesky, intrusions in our garden, and it takes a whole lot of time plucking them away in order for our garden to look immaculate and just the way we like it.

In all existence, there is an intrinsic worth. Weeds may be a huge nuisance  to us but they teach us hidden life lessons, like perseverance and patience, among others.  Some have good in them: hardy in nature, edible, medicinal ... but most of them have beautiful flowers.

I learn more about God from weeds than from roses
Resilience springing through the smallest chink of hope
In the absolute of concrete
(Philip Pulfrey)

Until I find the exact name for this tiny beauty I am naming it the Tiny Purple Polka! The flower is so puny, I actually have to lie on the ground and stick my camera right up to the face of the flower to see it in detail. And... it is a beauty. It took some aches and pains to get these closeup shots but it was worth it. Who would think this is a weed flower? An unloved blossom. An invaluable bud.

Take a step back and ask yourself ...

"How do I know I exist?"

What does life mean to you?

Are you living like a useless weed, easily trampled and plucked away?

Or, are you living like a a flowering plant who gives oxygen to humans to live?

Life is real. It has its happy and sad moments. It can be simple or complicated.  It is up to you to write your own life story. Your choice to make life work for you. Your rights to change its route when you believe it is time.  Just like every blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life and strength (Joseph Conrad) ... it is the same for each and everyone of you (and me!) to live life for YOU!

We have, each of us, a life story, whose continuity, whose sense, is our lives   -  Oliver Sacks -

The Pea Eggplant

May I present to you... The Pea Eggplant, but I call it the Queen of Green Curry

Not an easy plant to photograph especially when I love closeups... got poked in a thousand places all over my skin... them thorns are just vicious!!!  Just look at them... grinning at you...

 Simply breathtaking little white and yellow blooms... aren't they?

Today happens to be the 57th year Malaya got her independence from the British.  This year's theme is Malaysia Where Love Grows.... I think it is a beautiful theme for our country and for each and everyone of us.

Love...

Starts out small, unsure, unfolding in its power, pure
No knowledge of hate, fear
Unstained, tender as a flower bud growing alone among the thorns in life's garden

Love grows...

By whispers of hope
Laughter in the moonlight, hand in hand
Silent happy tears
Loving souls together

Love sown...

Tiny enough for love and strength
As they grow true but never alone
Becomes a peaceful loving path for two hearts to follow
Together, every step of the way

Love blossoms...

In the gentleness of the flowers, fragrance in the breeze
Soft dancing waves on the ocean
Everything you touch, feel, think... in your mind
Spirits are infused

Two lives together...

Revolves around each other
Dreams together, Hopes together
Never ever want to give up
Always and forever

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.  - Saint Augustine -

My favorite photo of all.  It is telling me... no life is a bed of comfy pillows. Along the way, there will always be a torn. What will you do then? Will you let the torn rule your life? NEVER! Not in my mine, anyways.

Thorns and stings

And those such things

Just make us stronger.. (and beautiful)

Our angel wings

- Terri Guillemets -

 My little productive patch in my backyard

 Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us  - Voltaire -  

A very meaningful entry for me at this time of my life...

It has been a challenging cantankerous past 2 months for me... new job description that came with a whole new pile of responsibilities.. my pursue for another degree is still on-going; am still determined to achieve that goal, by hook or by crook... just slower than I had planned.  So WOW... it has indeed been a thorny journey since July but I feel good today. I feel on top of the world... for now (I'll worry about the new obstacles as they come). It's a long weekend. I am home. Relaxed. Happy. Loved.

My life is part humor, part roses, part thorns  - Brett Michaels -

Barleria Repens

The Red Barleria is a pretty unusual bloom. I love the way the bud creeps out from between 2 leaves. Guess that's where its other name The Coral Creeper came about. 

Facing tough challenges... feeling a little blue as I am out of my comfort zone... still determined to pull through with flying colors...and I came across this saying:

"Be like a flower:  Be open, frank, equal, generous, and kind."

Be open to all that surrounds the flower; where there is sunshine, rain, wind, and air...  as I radiate joy and beauty.  I can exert a spontaneous influence...

Be frank, from within and in depths... in life and death... for all flows naturally and in due time.

Let there be equality where every single soul may enjoy the flower's beauty and fragrance.

Be generous, without restriction or reserve. Ever wonder how a flower mysteriously gives out its personal perfume of Nature? How it sacrifices entirely for our pleasure? And for those who truly believes in its magic, it reveals the beauty and secrets of life itself.

Kindness is shown with much tenderness, sweetness, and love. When you enjoy the beauty of a flower, happiness will fill your heart and soul. There will be gratefulness to Mother Nature...

Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change - Bob Kerrey -

Kind hearts are the gardens

Kind thoughts are the roots

Kind words are the blossoms

Kind deeds are the fruits

(19th century rhyme)

Looking at my pot of Red Barleria, I am reminded that this tough period of my life is just a passing phase.  I see buds hiding between 2 leaves,  coincides to my exact feelings. My goal is to have emotional positivity. I want to bloom beautiful and bright red.  Passionate, Strong, yet Compassionate.  I trust it will all be okay eventually.  I know it will be. 

You can, you should, and if you are brave enough to start, YOU WILL - Stephen King -