Surprise!!!

Got home from work sooooo hungry at 1:35AM. It was a very busy shift, Then found this on the counter............

Crispy Pata!!!

Warmed-up some left over rice and a slice of the Crispy Pata,,,,,,, problem solved.

          Actually someone in the family had his birthday on November 30. With his wife, they went for few days off to Napa Valley to celebrate and unwind from hard work. When they came back  late Friday night, on the day of his birthday, he decided to drop off this at the house we live at the moment. It  just perfect to any starving man.... and it was there at the perfect time. Thank God they had keys to the house. At 10:30 PM,  my daughter and mother-in-law were already sleeping. By the  way, same couple who brought us this owns the house.
   
          After I drop off my daughter to school every morning, I go back to bed and sleep for few more hours. When I woke up at noon, my mother-in-law ask me;

 Mother-in-law :  "Unsang ohasa di-ay ka ka-uli gabii?" ( What time did you go home last night?)
 Meeh : " Mga ala una media."(At around 1:30.)
 Mothrer-in-law : "Dis-a di-ay ka gabii, Mee."( Where did you go last ningt?)

I gave her a puzzled look. She turned her head towards where the Crispy Pata was. I laughed so hard then............told her the story.

 Meeh :  " Aw abi ko dihay gilakaw nimo gabii, unya kaagi ka ug Max's restaurant."
              (Oh, I thought you   went somewhere last night and happen to pass by a Max's Restaurant.)
                with disbelief.

          Are you thinking what my mother-in-law 's thinking........whatever she's thinking?


         Last Saturday morning, the birthday celebrant drop by the house to pick up some of their mail that are still addressed here. I told him the story and he laughed. And we all laughed except her. I could see my mother-in-law's face......that she was wrong.

1st School Camp

My daughter transfered to a new school. The School District have an outdoor school at Foothill Horizon Outschool in Sonora, California. This was my daughter's first trip away from home without my Sir and I. As a mother, I was so worried especially that the camp do not allow cellphones. Besides, there is no signal at the camp. The whole experience taught the kids to write letters, be independent, and be able to start to stand on there own feet. It was for four days and three nights, from Tuesday morning 'til Friday afternoon on November 1 to 4. 

I was so worried. She might have a hard and bad time.

the Dorm 

soccer and tennis court after a rain

 the tree stumps they sat on during outdoor classes

They assemble here at night with a camp fire.

One of the hikes they had

Huge tree in the camp

 more trees

 and even more trees

 the tree with heart shape holes

Look closer ...hearts on the tree!

Huge basin size mushroom, the largest by far she had ever seen.

the deer they saw during hikes

 Deer foot print

She found a fat squirrel.

my daughter and the counselor

Grinding acorns

Making fire

Teepee

my daughter and the naturalist

 friends and classmates

my daughter's friend holding a smooth-bark tree.

... and my daughter did the same. 

Do you think she had any sad moments?

She told me she had a good time  the whole time during the experience. She told me with a big smile.

Exotic Taste

At around 4:00 PM, my daughter said ; "Gutom ko, ka-un ko ani!" (" I'm hungry, I want this!"),while holding a can of anchovies. I nod my head agreeing her. It reminds me of when I was growing up with my siblings that when there is nothing to eat, ginamos is always there specially if sauteed with a lot of tomatoes and few cubes of pork. 

Abre gana (appetizer): chicken empanada

Main Course: Rice and ginamos (anchovies)

Beverage: wine for kids (sparkling cider)

What do you think about that!!!!!!

November Gloom!

Drizzling! Cloudy! Cold!

This is one of those days perfect for a cup of hot cocoa and puto maya with  sliced mango!

   A few photos of my short travel to my daughter's school today!

This is what you see here. Sometimes, I still miss Anaheim. The traffic, the friends and family I've been with for almost 15 years, the city itself, and even the pollution. For now, I am appreciating the beauty of this small town called Hughson in Modesto, California. and of course, that includes the almond and walnut plantations I see even from my bedroom window.