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Monday, December 29, 2008

My vegies...and more!

Look! It's day 28 of my Kangkung. It's ready and healthy to be picked. I took this picture the morning, just before I harvest it. And this morning, I used it to make Nasi Goreng Kangkung. Fortunately tonight, it is finally proven that everyone didn't get sick from eating my home vegies. Yay!!! Early this morning after Arishah took her morning nap, I went out and re'potted' some more kangkung, and this time I'm planning for 10 kangkung per planter. And, planting new ones every 2 weeks, so at least every 2 weeks I can harvest my own Kangkung. But that's later plan. Too much, takut tak terjaga pulak :)
And this is my Okra...alive and thriving. I added another two small ones, so that makes 4 okras in 1 big container. Looks like it's doing well, so I'm not planning to change place. This one is going to take more than 2 months before bearing fruit. So 1 months time is up. Waiting for it to grow, and show it's yellow flowers. Once the yellow flowers is up, it'll be a week later that the fruit start to sprung. Patience...patience..
This is my cherry tomato. I changed the one in a small pot, into a bigger container. This one is for Kak Chal later. I added more soil to cover the stem. They say that is the main idea in planting tomato, because the lower part of the stem will actually grow good root system, so covering it with soil will provide better growth. This one also takes more than 2 month. I can't wait to take pictures of dangling red tomatoes!
Now this is a quilt Tok Ma made for Arishah, after I requested it...hehehe. That's for upah Ici susunkan Mama punya pattern. See how Arishah is sleeping, menonggeng. She regularly sleeps that way now. Got temper now and again if she didn't get what she wants. Grrr! And she makes little grrr sounds, and I think she learned it when I read her book about animals. The picture said "Roar...like a lion." She's practically imitating everything. Got to watch what she's learning closely, now then ever before.
Arishah spent Raya Haji on the 9th with her cousins, Amin and Ammar, all sprawled on the same bantal, as Tok Ma tells her bedtime story. Hmm, sah dah besar nanti asyik mintak Tok Ma dia ceritakan stories...just like her Mama used to make Tok Ma do.
And what's this???!!! It's a Marshmallow bar, packed with peanuts and hazelnuts for high protein, topped with chocolate layer on top! First try was a disaster, I tell you, but also because I was in a hurry. First try was done 5 days ago, the night before on call, and I wanted to prepare it for...no other than healthy freak...BABA Rusydan. I thought, "Hey, I used to make these granola bar when I was a kid. Why does he have to buy one outside which cost RM5-10 a piece." So the second try, which was last night, was successful...according to Baba lah, since he's the judge. He was nice enough to temankan Ici downstairs main masak masak, while he browse the net via wifi in the kitchen. He said, it tasted just like the 'real' thing they sold outside. Wah!!! I feel so proud...hehehe. Even my in laws like them. I've cut them up, and rolled them inside a plastic cover, so if anyone wants to grab it before going out, they can do so. I hope it can last long. I bought more Marshmallow today, other ingredients are still a lot stashed away in boxes. Rusydan is asking for more so that he can take it during his biking sessions. He's making me add his protein shake.

Well, tomorrow is on call. I just wanted to upload these pictures. I'm very happy about this whole week. Going to sleep now.
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Saturday, December 20, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Pictures of My Vegetable Gardening



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Sunday, December 14, 2008

Gardening

...is my new hobby.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I just wanted to do something else at home. 3 weeks ago I thought of starting a new hobby. Not gardening, but scrapbooking.

I actually planned to do some scrapbooking ever since I was pregnant, thought of doing a scrapbook on my babymoon trip to Bangkok. I was 7 months pregnant with Arishah. Bought Canon selphy photo printer just for that. At first I wanted a full A4 colour printer, but the salesman said it's cheaper if I buy the canon selphy in long terms compare to printing it at the photo shop. It was about rm600, with 108 prints. I really don't like seeing pictures in the computer, it's just not the same. Photo album shall live on!!!

I was quite stressed a month ago, mainly because I don't know where I'm going with my career. So I thought I'd drown myself in artsy stuff. Hehe (excuses!).

I chose and collected pictures of Arishah during her neonatal period (first 28 days of life). It took me about 2 weeks to finish. I loved it! I bought some stamps and lettering and (expensive) scrapbooking paper. I don' t know why doing art have to be so expensive here. Hrmph! But I love my letter stamps. It costs rm100 in all! blargh. I found nice stickers at cheap shops, rather than buy them at art shop. The art shop can really be a cutthroat.

But now, I'm concentrating on gardening...Vegetable gardening. I don't think I like flower gardening much. The only plants I like before this are broad leaf plants...simply because they are easy to take care off...and really is a good air cleaner. It's just too much dust in the city! No wonder la Tok Bah suka duduk dalam hutan.

So last month was my trial month. I planted Pak Choy and Kangkung. Didn't worked well :( It would have gone great if:
1. ...Mama's planter have a good drainage. She pulled the lower layer of the planter...aiyah!!! Tok Ma ni!
2. ...Mama's soil was not a clay soil. When the soil was dry, it was like a rock!
3. ...Evil snails aren't eating my vegies!

I'm planning to plant:
1. Spinach - germinating. Ready to be transplanted, but no soil :(
2. Kangkung - didn't grow well because of the clay soil and bad drainage. Replaced the old one and waiting for the new one to reach full growth. Hopefully can be picked in 2 weeks time
3. Baby Pak Choy - gone and eaten by snails, but managed to germinate it well
4. Occasional salads - haven't tried yet
5. Tomato cherries - already transplanted to a bigger pot this evening. I'm excited about this one
6. Okra/bendi - this one transplanted to a bigger pot too
7. A round dish of parsley and chinese parsley (daun sup)

I'm worried about the snails!!! They are destroying my hard work! I bought a snail pesticide, metaldehyde, but I regretted it. It's not good for my plants and me and my family! I'm going to try to use mint leaves next, that's the most natural way to keep them away that I can manage. Killing them with beer (as if I'm going to go to a store and buy myself an alcoholic drink without being caught) or an organic snail killer (they have sluggo and escar-go, but not here in Malaysia I think), is a great idea but not feasable at this time.

Will provide pictures...tomorrow. Good night for now!