Pillows of the sky

I have always wanted to take pics of clouds, from "take-off" to "landing" and I finally got my wish last month.  These pictures were taken from a little town named Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu, my home. The plane ride took about 30 minutes. Hope everyone will enjoy being in the clouds with me in this entry of mine :)

Leaving Sandakan...after spending 3 days there...a mini family vacation during the Chinese New Year holidays.

Now, if God made the clouds so beautiful, did HE not mean us to gave upon them and be thankful for them? - Alfred Rowland -  

You can't save a cloud like you can save a leaf or a flower or a rock...clouds are now! - Terri Guillemets -

They are fair resting-places for the dear weary dead on their way up to heaven - Joaquin Miller -

I am the daughter of Earth and Water, and the nursling of the Sky. I pass through the pores of the ocean and shores; I change, but I cannot die... - Percy Bysshe Shelley -

Afflictive emotions - our jealousy, anger, hatred, fear - can be put to an end. When you realized that these emotions are only temporary, that they always pass on like clouds in the sky, you also realize they can ultimately be abandoned - Tenzin Gyatso -

My beautiful home approaching....

Home Sweet Home

Shades of Purple

A sophisticated person has a millionaire's confidence!

Be inspired to be classy and sophisticated, not focusing on being like the rich and wealthy but rather to have high confidence in oneself that radiates the inner beauty and inner qualities that are royal-like.

A truly elegant taste is generally accompanied with excellency of heart

- Henry Fielding -

Class comes from your inner spirit...

Class is a relaxing and graceful spirit...

Sophistication is a quality...in expanding our minds, widen our horizons, and believing in ourselves.

It is a more beautiful way of doing things and experiencing life...

Fall in love with your life...

Each layer of sophistication adds quality to your life...

The only real elegance is in the mind; If you have got that, the rest really comes from it 

- Diana Vreeland -

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!

Lemon Basil

 Basil...it means King in Greek.

- Christmas began in the heart of God; it is complete only when it reaches the heart of man -

 For weeks, I have been searching with much difficulty for the perfect flower to feature this December, to close this year meaningfully. It has been quite a strenuous year for me but thank God, it ended beautifully.
Thus, I present to you the Lemon Basil to conclude the year 2012.

 Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart. - Basil Rathbone -

 This year started off majestically for me, with a tour around Europe. Work demanded more of my time and tolerance, but I endured. My dad braved a couple of surgeries and is recovering superbly, Praise God. Furthermore, I have a teenage daughter.....enough said!!!!!

This year ended contentedly...for the love of a family is life's greatest blessing.

 A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.

A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship and he who plants kindness gathers love. - St Basil -

 Lemon Basil, a wonderfully fragrant and deliciously fresh herb, is a symbol of love.

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself; to melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night; to wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving 
- Kahlil Gibran -

Around the world...

Italian suitors signaled their love by courting with a sprig of basil in their hair.

When a boy accepts a sprig of basil from a girl in Romania, love and marriage is in the air.

In Mexico, the basil is carried around in the hope of returning a lover's roving eye!

Love is the flower of life

- D. H Lawrence -

A new year is unfolding - like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.

 - Anonymous -

Another year is blushing at sunrise

Dear Lord, let it be as long as you promise to be with us

I pray for another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace

Another year of gladness in Your presence

Whatever coming days may bring

It matters not, our hands in Thine

For we shall continue to live in Your strength, love, and grace

I pray for peace, for light, and for hope for the new year

May we all step into the unknown with confidence, positive thoughts and love for one another.

- I am the new year, I am an unspoiled page in your book of time -

Milano Pink Chrysanthemum

The Chrysanthemum is November's birth flower. November is also my Dad's birth month.

I chose the Milano Pink Chrysanthemums this time around simply because pink represents joy and youthfulness. If you know my Dad in person, he is all that! 

Cheerfulness is the very flower of health...Japanese Proverb

The Chrysanthemum symbolizes optimism and joy...

two very important life characteristics I learnt from my Dad.

A sense of humour is indeed armour.  Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life

- Hugh Sidey -

The Mums also show that Scorpions are focused and very active people. In other words, Dad, the flowers are saying that you are a workaholic and can never sit still!!!

Especially for Scorpions, this flower indicates there are many layers of you! Yup, my Dad is the Jack of all Trades AND the Master of all :) 

In the Chinese culture, the Mums signifies life at ease. 

Having Mums at home means having good luck around you at all times. My Dad is a great believer in luck...he finds that the harder he works, the more he has of it!!!

Only a dad, with a tired face,

Coming home from the daily race,

Bringing little of gold or fame,

To show how well he has played the game,

But glad in his heart that his own rejoice

To see him come, and to hear his voice.

Only a dad, but he gives his all

To smooth the way for his children small,

Doing, with courage stern and grim,

The deeds that his father did for him.

This is the line that for him I pen,

Only a dad, but the best of men.

- Edgar Albert Guest -

Happy 75th Birthday, Daddy!