Home Cactus

A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.(Helen Keller)

I was flabbergasted when my small cactus in a pot decided to produce a lovely gigantic white flower over last weekend :) Life is indeed full of little, happy miracles...

White...my inspiration!! *daydreaming again*... new beginnings...angels...clouds...and my love far far away....

What greater thing is there for 2 human souls that to feel that they are joined...to strengthen each other...to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories. (George Eliot)

A white flower whispers pure and sweet love

For it reminds me of you

I knew you were thinking of me...walking with me

Through the light and darkness

In happiness and sadness

Do all things to keep us one

Being miles apart

Prickly Pear

Trample over flowers, yet only to embrace a cactus... James Joyce

Hello to all my dear friends and fans...it has been a good 3 months since my last post. This is a long overdue post but I am glad that I finally found some time to continue what I had started... to share with the world my love for nature and photography.

Happiness is an attitude...we either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong...the amount of work is the same. (Francesca Reigler)

This year has been a roller-coaster one for me, but in a good sense :) I am where I dreamt to be 2 years ago and thank God, I am my very happy self again. I am now a teacher by profession; loving every minute of sharing life's experiences and guiding our young generation to achieve their goals in their lives. I always tell my students (my kids!!!) that we must set small goals to achieve along our way so that life is more meaningful...so that when we wake up each morning, there is hope and love and smiles.

I drive past these beautiful cactus every day and always, I admire their strength. You see... along with other parts of the world, we have been experiencing stormy days that I thought would never come to an end! These cactus have been standing strong and firm all these rainy months. And...look at them now!!! Beautiful as ever...

By nature we have no defect that could not become a strength, no strength that could not become a defect. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its lust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen. (Anonymous)

The cactus flower is a symbol of maternal love...simply because the cactus is a plant that endures harsh conditions and also thrives; its flowers are symbolic of a mother's unconditional love.

Orange Jasmine

A flower's fragrance declares to the world that it's fertile, desirable & available! When we inhale its ardent aroma, no matter what our ages, we feel young and nubile in a world aflame with desire. (Diane Ackerman)
The Orange Jasmine...known to many in Asia as the flower that has a "7-mile fragrance"!!

I love these little small white flowers; looking so humble and innocent. I planted these shrubs at the main entrance of my house because its fragrance is simple intoxicating. It's like a sweet smell of perfume welcoming anyone who comes to my house!
It is a whole new year again...to never let go of hope...to never quit dreaming...to still believe in miracles...to look forward to sweet memories and unforgettable times...and to always have love in our hearts.
To all my friends, new and old, thank you for your beautiful friendships. Every one of you are a unique flower in my friendship garden whom I treasure greatly. I look forward to a new year with all of you; we will take time to smell the fragrance of life's special moments and may we grow together, in joy or sadness.
A little note for the New Year 2011...

Your mind is a garden...

Your thoughts are the seeds...

The harvest can be either...flowers or weeds :)

Organ Pipe Cactus

What is a native Mexico & United States cactus doing in Malaysia? It has to be the love for the sun. We might not be a desert but we are summer all year round and we certainly have our share of droughts and stormy spells.
Cactus symbolizes endurance and warmth.....
I love my morning walks as it's usually quiet and I enjoy the fresh and cool air. This columnar cactus has caught my attention a long time ago...because I am amazed that after the sun rises, the beautiful huge "rich" flowers closes. Certainly....they are midnight blooms.
Because of a cactus' exceptional survival abilities...I see "victory" each time I walk pass this giant beauty. Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory. (William Barclay)


Love knows no limits to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope. It can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen. (Anonymous)

Year 2010...

This year has been exceptionally difficult for all of us around the world. Even to the last month, I see people battling with floods and snow storms. There is a Japanese saying...Beginning is easy, continuing is hard...so here's to the CONTINUATION OF LIFE everybody!!! Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning; to make our time, bodies, and words into instruments of love and hope. (Tom Hard)

Happy New Year to all :) May the love in our hearts continue to burn...to free us from the weights and pains of life xxx

Wild Crocus

When the sun touches them, they open like stars and bask...
None can have a healthy love for flowers unless he loves the wild ones. (Forbes Wilson)
According to legend, young Crocus was a shepherd boy of fine and noble spirit. The gods were so impressed with his deep love and devotion to the beautiful nymph Smilax, they granted him immortality and turned into a flower. In addition, Smilax was turned into evergreen, the yew, so that the lovebirds would live happily ever after :)
Happily ever after..................does it exist???
Being happy is something I have to learn. Every morning, I have to remind myself that I have the power to make me happy. The choice is all mine and mine alone. So I guess "happily ever after" may exist for everyone depending on how one sees happiness and how contented they feel about their lives.
The crocus means love...
Since Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner...family love comes first to my mind. Family love is life's greatest blessings. I am truly honored that I have my own family with me at all times, and families whom I have spent time with in the past years. Memories that have been embedded in my life forever more.
I like to take this opportunity to give thanks to families across the seas, whom I have had the honor to spend time with, for moments shared, for tears and laughter, and for blessings poured upon my life until this day.
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. (Thornton Wilder)

Orange Lily

The Lily generally symbolizes "beauty"...however this particular Orange Lily symbolizes "hatred" in some countries and "passion" in others. These light orangey-pinkish lilies are common flowers in Malaysia...you can actually see them growing wildly by the ditches. Some people actually detest having them around as they grow fast and can be quite uncontrollable. If given proper care, I think these flowers are beautiful. Beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder :)

...A love-hate relationship...

Almost everyone I know has experienced a love-hate relationship...when it comes to the famous Mother-in-law...or is it Monster-in-law?!!!! Especially when one has been brought up in an Asian country where respect is priority to our elders....no matter what. My late grandma used to say "If you do not speak, no one will say you are dumb"...in other words "Silence is golden" for most daughter-in-laws :))))

My late Mother-in-law was a typical China woman. Strong. Determined. Stubborn. Cute at times! We were not close because of our large age gap; she was as old as my grandma. But I was determine to have a peaceful household therefore, I learnt to shut up when I need to!!! Fortunately for me, there were no fights, no throwing pots and pans, no pulling of hair....*grin*

I actually have a fond memory of her. I remembered we took her to the cinema to watch "Babe". Mom-in-law loved animals and even though she didn't understand English, she was happy enough with Chinese subtitles. Haha...for the life of her, she couldn't understand how that piggy could talk!!!!

A loving heart heals hate...Terri Guillemets
You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived...

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back or you can open your eyes and see all she's left...

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her or you can be full of love you shared...

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday...

You can remember her only that she is gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on...

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back...

Or you can do what she'd want,

Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

*** David Harkins***