Sunday, 31 May 2009

Seedlings for Cucumber and Tomatoes

I finally planted the cucumber, tomato and chrysanthemum seeds which I bought many weeks ago. The seedlings of the cucumber and tomato have started to emerge from the soil on the fourth day, all thanks to Crystal's effort to water them every morning and evening. With much anticipation, we ain't see any seedlings from the chrysanthemum seeds probably the seeds are no longer good for planting.
The cucumber seedlings

The tomato seedlings
No sign of seedlings for the Chrysanthemum seeds
I will have to buy a few larger pots and some black soil to transplant the seedlings to allow more room for them to grow. Hopefully I can get some home grown cucumbers and tomatoes soon.

Friday, 29 May 2009

Happy Harvest Festival (Kotobian Tadau Ka'amatan)


Wishing all Kadazan Dusun friends a very Happy Harvest Festival, Kotobian Tadau Ka'amatan.

Harvest Festival is celebrated in the whole month of May in Sabah as thanksgiving dedicated to the rice gods and invoke good harvest the following year. The highlights of the celebration would be on the 30th and 31st of May, statewide holidays in Sabah.

Traditionally a thanksgiving ceremony, Magavau is performed by the Bobohizan or High Priestess, another highlight is the Unduk Ngadau or traditional Harvest Festival Queen contest.

Tapai or home made rice wine is served throughout the carnival with music and cultural dances from daybreak till dawn.

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

Dragon Boat Festival

Duanwu Festival (端午節) or also called The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the 5th day in the 5th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar, it would be on the 28th May this year. It is a festival that is widely celebrated in the mainland of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau . It has been declared as a public holiday in these countries to commemorate the death of a famous Chinese poet, Qu Yuan.. The main activities for the festival is dragon boat racing, and eat zongzi (rice dumpling).

It is not a public holiday in Malaysia, however, we do celebrate this day by having Dragon Boat racing normally organised by the local Chinese Association. We usually have a good meal with family and of course eat zongzi.

Actually zongzi are being sold everyday in the market here, with the festival approaching, the prices of zongzi will go up a little in respond to the demand. Many mothers will start to roll up their sleeves and show their skills to wrap their own zongzi for the families and friends.

For those who do not have the skills to wrap the zongzi will buy the zongzi with the fillings of their choice in the market. I am one of them. I bought 10 zongzi from my colleague for RM2.00 each. I gave a few to my parents, they love zongzi too.

I am having one of them for my lunch in the office today. Yummy! The fillings are chestnuts, dried shrimp, Chinese mushroom, pork with glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Monday, 25 May 2009

Angelina Jolie with her daring high slit gown

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, walking on the red carpet at the premiere of ‘Inglourious Basterds’ at the 62nd Cannes Film festival on Wednesday, May 20. She looked stunning in a chiffon backless tea rose Versace Atelier draped gown with diamond earrings, matching evening bag and peep toe heels; The most eye catching would be her daring high slit revealing her right leg most of the time.

Thursday, 21 May 2009

Pet Care for Pet Lovers

I visited my friend, Jessica, for afternoon tea at her home last weekend. I was amazed to see the number of dogs, cats and birds she is having at her home now. I still remembered her 2 dogs were locked in the cage and treated with flea problem last year, and now they have total free from fleas with very healthy looking hair. She has got 5 dogs, 2 puppies, 3 cats and a dozen of birds under her care now, they all look very healthy and clean.

I was very curious on how she manage to take care of so many pets with all of them look so health, happy and clean. She proudly shared her secret with me saying that she came across a website which tells her all about the know-how on dog care and cat care. It has since provided her with the knowledge she has been looking for on how to care for her pets. The result is remarkable.

At the same time she learnt about the essential tactics on bird care. That’s how she discovered her passion for birds too. She started with a pair of love birds and she was very excited to see that the numbers has multiplied in just a few months. A comprehensive pet care guide is all you need to keep the pets happy and the owner happy too, she said. She is so very proud of her pets indeed and planning to bring them for this coming dogs and cats competition.

Monday, 18 May 2009

KFC Petronas Buddy Meal voucher

On our way to Melinsung Summer Bay Resort, Papar, yesterday morning, our car petrol indicator light started  to blink. Whilst busy talking, Clet drove passed several petrol stations without realizing it, finally he stopped at the Lok Kawi Petronas petrol station to fill up the tank before we proceed our journey. After filling up the tank, he came back with a smile and handed to me the bill and two KFC discount vouchers. He knows I love discount vouchers. It’s the KFC Petronas Buddy Meal voucher where you are entitled to buy a meal consist of 2 floats, 5 pieces chicken, 1 potato wedges and 1 coleslaw for RM22.50 (normal price is RM25.05), with a discount of ONLY RM2.55, sad to say companies like KFC and Petronas join effort can only offer their customers with this tiny little discount. But a lot may say RM2.55 is better than none.  What do you think?

Sunday, 17 May 2009

Honey Chicken made simple

To save time on preparing and cooking , especially on working days, I usually think of the simplest way to serve dinner on the table before our girls start digging the fridge for food. It will tend to spoil their appetite if they have some snacks just before dinner time, to avoid that I have to prepare our dinner superly fast.

One way to do it is to use ready packed paste whereby I just need to add in chicken or meat or fish and some vegetable to the sauce, usually only requires few steps to come out with a dish.

I used the Maggi Honey Chicken Paste, it is a little spicy. I posted my version of the recipe here.

Saturday, 16 May 2009

Mango season is here..

The mango season is here again. We have got such a privilege to have a mango tree at my house backyard. I can hear the ripe mangoes start falling down on the ground anytime of the day. It is exciting to check how many mango I can picked up in the morning. I grew up with two mango trees at the backyard of my parents' house, I could not explain why I still get excited in finding magoes on the ground!!! I remember my brother used to bring one bag after another of mangoes to us before the house was sold.


This mango tree does not bear big mango fruits but it sure can supply us mangoes without having us to buy from the market during this fruiting season. My mum can not resist to have a taste of the mango that she asked the maid to get some mango off the tree to make marinated mango with belacan. Very appetising....will show a picture of marinated mango with belacan soon. I have given my mum some mangoes again this morning for her to marinate.

Friday, 15 May 2009

Monogrammed Koozies

I came across a very interesting online shop selling wide varieties of gifts ranging from mom agenda planner, monogrammed key fobs and monogrammed koozies, and many more other interesting gift ideas to choose from. I stumbled upon this site while searching for a gift for my niece’s birthday. Knowing that she is fond of fabric stuff, I am very happy to find this wrap monogrammed koozies 100% made in U.S.A for $15.75 as a birthday gift for her, I am sure she will be very delighted to receive it.

It comes with a foam insulated koozies with stylish fabric shell. There are 39 different fabrics to choose from and the best thing is its personalised monogram embroidery, looks classic and style while sipping your favourite cold beverage wherever you go. The drinks will be kept cold for long as it is foam insulated. I chose the Large Pink Houndstooth pattern embroidered with a big letter R for my niece, which I find the pink is sweet and lovable by most girls. I also like the Baby Gate pattern which I am thinking of getting it for myself. Whoever knows me would know I am not quite an organised person, so a mom agenda planner would be a good organising tool for me to start getting organised!

Sunday, 10 May 2009

Happy Mother's Day

Right from the Sunday School, Crystal presented a card she coloured in the class and said, "Happy Mother's Day, God Bless you, mummy!" Here's the Mother's Days Special! that follows.