After an almost 2-year hiatus, the orchid plant occupying space on my kitchen counter started blooming again!
Buff, Polish, Shine
It’s that time of year: a total clean up treatment of my concrete floor. First, a buff with the Oreck orbiter. followed by a thorough vacuum, and finally, 2 coats of Zep’s High Traffic Floor Polish. For that shiny, glass-like finish!
Homemade Steamed Pork Buns
Made these Filipino-style steamed pork buns (“siopao bola-bola”) yesterday based on a recipe from this YouTube video and they turned out very well. The perfect savory snack, ingredients include pork meat balls, Chinese sausage, and salted duck eggs.
A Christmas Vibe
A cinematic Christmas video, shot on iPhone 14 Pro.
Christmassy String Lights
[25 November, 2022]
New LED light string I installed in the hot tub area is app-controlled and has a “Christmas” mode.
Nutella Babka
Fresh, homemade, chocolatey treat from the automatic bread machine.
Nicer on the Feet
This weekend, I installed a new “area rug” in the master bedroom - actually, a combined 30 carpet tiles from FLOR, specifically, Upcycle in Blue Jay. Cold mornings won’t be as startling on the feet as before.
Outdoor Dining
New outdoor dining set is finally in and now completes the new Japanese-themed backyard space.
Backyard Landscape Project: Day 7
It is finished! My Japanese-themed rear courtyard patio and landscape which the house’s main living areas open to, finally completed today! Backyard serenity starts today.
Backyard Landscape Project: Day 6
Almost done … I can almost taste the finished product! Still, some minor niggling details need to be corrected to finally call it ‘completed’.
Backyard Landscape Project: Day 5
Good progress today. A few minor details need to be addressed, but otherwise, happy with how things are coming together.
Backyard Landscape Project: Day 4
Things went much more smoothly today. Boulders placed properly after a meeting with the project site manager, additional plants delivered and installed, and now, the vision is slowly coming into focus.
Backyard Landscape Project: Day 3
New plants I selected delivered and installed. But newly placed boulders may need to be moved around.
Backyard Landscape Project: Day 2
A bit of a mess of a day. Plant, rock, stone, and boulder materials all selected and delivered without my input. A few pass muster; most will have to be returned and replaced.
Backyard Landscape Project: Day 1
Work began this week on the Japanese-themed back courtyard landscape, including a dining patio, fire pit, and lots of rocks, stones, and mossy boulders. Really excited about this one.
Media Room Window Treatment
Finally completed a long-planned home project (since move-in in late 2013): floor-to-ceiling vertical sliding panels from IKEA for the sliding door in the upstairs Media Room.
Another Boodle Night
Colleagues from the EU were in town for three weeks (work-related) so we had to go to Bonifacio in Grandview for a can’t miss boodle feast, Filipino-style.
And So, The 6-Week Process Begins
When life gives you lemons, make limoncello.
LeKlint Light Dimmer Switch
Set the LeKlint Pendant Light up with a Wemo Dimmer Switch. Now it goes from ‘dreamy’ to ‘sunny’!
Egg Custard Pie
I made an old childhood favorite: egg custard pie. Cue a flood of memories and a taste of home.
