@camgoOnNoiseApp

Throwback to 2019... These were wildflowers growing in an untended part of a zoo that we went to. (If I remember correctly, the zoo was in Yokohama.) I love the contrast of blushing pink amongst the deep green. There were tiny white flowers that dotted the area too. This was somewhat of a secluded place. We went down wooden stairs and ended up in an open field where wildflowers abound. To the left was a small waterfall, which made the area cooler. It was a great day. The sky was a bit overcast at that time and the chill of early spring was still in the air. You could hear muted voices and children laughing. ❣️🌸💮 #NaturesPhotography

Tea and Meiji... My snack after I did some gardening. This is roasted green tea, which I prefer. I like the aroma, which is like that of slightly burnt rice. Meiji chocolates are also among my favorites, especially this black chocolate variety and the one with whole almonds inside. I love chocolates with all sorts of nuts, except peanuts. I don't know why, but I prefer to eat peanuts on their own and not with chocolates. Aside from being not too sugary sweet, I find Meiji chocolates to be creamy. They melt in your mouth quite quickly and so wonderfully so you can enjoy that creamy, gooey, chocolatey goodness. (This one tastes like a slightly bitter Nutella once it melts in your mouth.) 🍫🍵 #Snacks

Victoriae-reginae or Queen Victoria agave. I like this plant coz it's easy to care for. I planted it in a small pot, but it grew to the point wherein it had begun to tear its plastic pot. The Queen Victoria agave has thick, very firm leaves (more firm than aloe vera leaves). Each leaf has a pointy spine (second pic) so it's quite painful if you do get pricked. The pointy end is no joke. It is hard and very sharp, so you should be careful when handling the plant. What I love about this is the colorations of its leaves - white lines trace the edges of the leaves and run in the middle of each leaf. Plus the way the leaves form into a rosette is very pretty. Propagation is through division, like most agaves, gasterias, and haworthias. The one here is a mother plant. I did propagate a few when I replanted this a while back. I took the babies, which grew underneath, and planted each one of them; and I'm happy to note that even the smaller ones that accidentally broke off are now actually thriving. ❣️💮🌱

There is a time to bloom and a time to die. But not all dead things are truly dead. Below is a photo of dead flower heads that carry the seeds of the plant. I scored these from the lady who works at the place where we order our drinking water. (Yes, we buy our drinking water because faucet water isn't potable.) Anyway, I was attracted by the bright orange flowers of this plant. So I asked the lady if I could have some seeds, and she immediately plucked a few dead flower heads for me. These are quite prickly, like the spines of a cactus plant. I closed my palm on them and their pointy tips pricked me. It still stung a little bit when I washed my hands earlier. I'm excited to plant them tomorrow. I can't wait to enjoy its blooms 💮❣️ By the way, the seeds look like spaceships to me 😁🌱 #FlowerPicture

Covid, why...? I just heard that a good friend of mine died early this morning because of Covid. He was in most of my college memories. Whenever we were all together, we'd always be laughing and joking around. He told the funniest stories and was always just a call away. My college life was definitely more fun because of him. Although we sort of went our separate ways after college, we still chatted whenever there was a chance. The last time that there was a mini get-together was before Covid happened, and I wasn't able to make it. Now, I regret it a lot... Here's to you, ATC. 🍻🥂 ***This photo was taken by my husband during one of his cycling trips in Kanagawa. ATC, I hope you're frolicking around in a place like this. Laughing and having the best time. Thanks for being a good friend 😔🙏 May God embrace your soul, and may you find eternal peace. #RandomThoughts

My brother and baby niece came by yesterday, and he told me something disturbing. I didn't want to write about it last night coz it scared me. I didn't want to think about it coz the image he described was stuck in my head, and it was hard not to think about it. So here's how the story goes... The other night, my bro and his partner woke up because their baby wanted some milk. They both got up - my bro carried the baby as J got the milk ready. All of a sudden, J gasped. She pointed to the glass window and tugged at my brother's arm. It was like she couldn't say anything but just gasped and pointed back and forth to the window and to my bro. When she could finally speak, she told my bro that something just smiled at her from outside. She described this thing as dark, with teeth visible from its smiling mouth. It walked sideways, and it kept looking at her/them as it passed by. The smile was unnerving - unnaturally wide but didn't reach the eyes. I forgot to ask about what color its eyes were coz I didn't want a clear picture in my mind as it was getting dark when they dropped by, and my daughter and I live alone. So my bro said he went outside to check. There was nothing or no one. Their dog was still a puppy, so I guess it slept through it. If it was an adult dog, I believe it would have given them a warning that something wasn't right. He said that many strange things do occur in J's family's house. That place is old and it's quiet there. They live in the outskirts of the city, and across from their home is also an abandoned house. J's twin sisters have heard footsteps and banging in places when there's no one else at home. I advised him to maybe have the house blessed again. ***Anyway, here's a photo of a young lizard hiding underneath the leaf of my Caladium Florida Elise. The story scared me some, and I couldn't stay outside for long last night. #RandomThoughts

Most 90s kids will get this... Can you guess what's the hidden image below? What you see here is a stereogram/autostereogram where a 3D image is hidden in a 2D image. It's an optical or visual illusion. We had so much fun with these when we were kids. The first one to "see" the hidden image wins! It's a challenge to actually see an image in a stereogram. It takes some practice. Here are some tips based on my experience 😁 1. Put the picture very close to you, like almost touching your nose. 2. Focus on one spot. 3. You'll get blurry vision, which will actually help you to see the hidden image. 4. Slowly move the picture away from your face. Make sure that your hands are steady because any small movement can affect how you see the image. 5. As you slowly move the photo, you'll notice the 3D image become more clear. 6. Practice 😁 start with beginner stuff. There's a lot online. So, what's the hidden image below (which I photographed from Google using my phone, hence the glare...)? Answer -- it's a family of lions. There's the papa, mama, and baby lion. 🦁 Isn't this fun? My daughter is getting exasperated because she couldn't "see" anything (^^)💮🦁💮 ***Picture of stereogram photographed from Google. 💮 #RandomThoughts

Aptenia. This was my aptenia plant that died due to being peed on by my fur babies 🐶🐾 I had two types - one with variegated leaves and one with non-variegated leaves. These are photos of their tiny blooms. Aptenia is also known as aptenia cordifolia or baby sun rose. They also belong to the succulent family. So, watering is only once medium is dry. Do not allow plant to stay moist because it will rot. Propagation is through cutting. Cut a healthy-looking stem and plant. Remove or pinch off blooms so that the plant's energy will be focused on growing roots instead of flowering. Sadly, in my experience, my cuttings did not survive mainly because they had been peed on and it could've affected their survival. I am on the hunt for an aptenia, but they are not common here. I did love their blooms, which is why I miss them in my garden.

I came across Liziqi's videos on FB. Her vids are inspiring, if you are the type who loves gardening, planting, farming, and other DIY stuff. What's inspiring about her is that she chose this life so that she would be able to take care of her grandmother. From what I've read/seen somewhere, she worked in one of the big cities in China before. But when her grandfather died, she went back to the province to take care of her grandmother. This is when she began to make her videos, which became widely popular. You'll see her harvesting cabbage and making kimchi with these, or planting tomatoes which she then makes or incorporates into all sorts of stuff. She harvests rose petals to make her own lip tints, and she hunts for wild mushrooms in the mountains beyond her home. I don't know what's the real truth about her backstory, but I find it endearing whenever her grandmother is in her videos. You can see how Liziqi cares for her. Plus, although there isn't much dialogue, the background sounds are relaxing ❣️💮 I'm a fan... Are you one too? (^^) ***The photo is my screenshot of her official page on YT. 💮 #MyGarden

Calvin and Hobbes... In college, I had a few dorm mates who collected these comics, much like those Archie books. I borrowed what I could and read these whenever possible. This was how I came to love Calvin's antics with his best buddy, Hobbes. These comics always entertained me. Now that I'm older, I still love the comics in a more poignant way, I guess. I've come to realize that Calvin had a lonely childhood with only his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, as his companion. Calvin did imagine so many scenarios and had a lot of interesting experiences by himself. I think being in his situation made him more imaginative and creative. But still, it's quite sad... ❣️ #NoiseCash

What a way to start the day! I went to put the trash away (coz it's trash pick-up day), and I didn't notice that the neighbor's dog (my in-laws) was let loose. Our gate is closed but the iron grills are a few inches apart. This dog, which is also an American Bully, started to sort of scratch the ground and he will often pee through the gate. This was fine, (although I believe it is territorial behavior, am I correct?), as long as my dogs were not being hyperactive coz Skye, the white one, is usually hyper when he sees me go out; and he was jumping and whining at that time. I guess Skye's energy didn't sit well with the other dog because I was a few feet away when they began to fight through the fence. What I didn't expect was that they would be able to open the gate, and things escalated quickly. My bro-in-law, who owns/takes care of their dog, poured water on them, which didn't work. So he began to pull his dog away and out of our gate, while I had to grab at fur and feet to keep Grimm and Skye inside the gate. While doing this, I was trying to close the gate too. I feel like I used a lot of dormant muscles because my body is aching. Skye didn't get injured, but Grimm has a scratch on his chin. I gave them all a bath, the three of them including the puppy (which was thankfully inside the house during the fight), and put medicine on Grimm's scratch. My patient boi, Grimm, will not start a fight, but he will defend his pack. He considers Skye as part of his pack, which is why he did not back down from this dog. I feel for this baby 😔🐾 All of this happened before 8 in the morning. Now, I feel like it's 5pm. I'm ready to call it a day 😔🐾 #MyPets

Our "dessert" after breakfast - fried bananas sprinkled with sugar. I forgot that I had these "saba" bananas in the fridge. They had gotten quite ripe, so I decided to fry them instead. Saba bananas are the type of bananas that are for cooking, although they could be eaten raw. These are widely available in the Philippines, and I guess it could be likened to plantains in a way. However, saba bananas do get sweeter as they become more ripe. I prefer to boil saba bananas that are halfway to being ripe as they are sweeter. These are good for health and good for those on a diet coz they are quite filling. Plus, they are tasty and can be eaten with some butter, sugar, "latik," or even spicy "ginamos" or fermented fish, usually anchovies. Latik is from coconut milk. You cook the milk with brown sugar for hours until it turns into a caramel-like, gooey spread that's really a good dip for boiled bananas or sweet potatoes. This here is a fried saba dish. Just slice in half (or fry it whole, if preferred), and cook until golden brown. I like to cook it a little longer as it does get crispier edges that are sweet coz of the caramelization of its own sugars. Eat as is or sprinkle with granulated sugar, like we do. This is a great snack alternative too ❣️ #Foods

Some say this is an orange caladium. Others say it's a green spider caladium. It doesn't matter what it's called. To me, it's one of the prettiest caladiums that I have. (I mean, they're all pretty and unique ❣️) I love how the green veins are so vibrant against the pink. It really adds a pop of color in the garden. I replanted a few pots of caladium a couple of days ago. My other pot of green spider is still recuperating because its roots were infested with bugs. This one here is from the lucky pot, I guess ❣️💮 #Houseplants

If a person is confident in herself, and she affirms that each day, there will no longer be a need for her to seek affirmation from others. Seeking affirmation from other people could perhaps cultivate insecurities, especially if one doesn't get the affirmation that one needs. So, be confident! Tell yourself how wonderful and talented you are. Appreciate yourself first. Once you do realize your worth, others will follow. ***Photo taken one super early morning when Kit-Quat woke me up before the sun was up. 🐾❣️ 💗 #myquotes #clairequotes #camquotes #justsaying

Locally known as Dauis Church, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption was built in 1697 by Jesuit priests. Today, many might not know that the Philippines was under Spanish rule for more than 300 years, which is why the religion, even up to this day, is largely Catholic. What's strange, and many deem as miraculous, about this church is the spring that is found underneath it. An opening to access the water from the spring is located near the front of the altar. Here, they draw water which is said to heal, amongst other things. The water is fresh, like tap water, when it's supposed to be salty as the area where the church is located is surrounded by salty sea water. This is one of the reasons why they believe the fresh spring water is unique, special. One time, a group was taking a tour and the guide showed them where the spring water could be accessed. Naturally, I gravitated towards them as my curiosity was also piqued. That's when I learned where and how they get the special water.⛲⛪ The church sustained heavy damage during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake of 2013. Today, I believe the renovations are (almost) done. Outside the church is a beautiful park where you'll see a huge banyan tree, which we locals call "balite" tree. It is said that elementals or "engkantos" live in these types of trees. 💮🌳 #Architecture

This is my island home. To the left is the sea, to the right are mountains. At the foot of one of those mountains is where I live. Before developers came, our place was quiet. Some were even scared to go there once night falls because it was rumoured that an "aswang" lived in the area. An "aswang" is said to be an evil creature in Philippine folklore. It fed on babies, taking them from their mothers' wombs while they slept. Anyway, I took this pic the other day. Missing sunny days like this since it was overcast the entire day today. 🌫️☁️🌥️ #NatureBeauty

I took this photo during our visit to a zoo in Yokahama in 2019. I used an app to help me identify this plant, and it came up with "mahonia." There are many varieties of mahonia. Judging from the colors of the fruit, it is possibly a Leatherleaf mahonia or Mahonia repens. I'm not sure though. According to Google, it is a type of mountain berry. What attracted me is the color of the fruits. I guess it is in different stages of ripeness based on how the hues go from green to deep purple. I'm curious if its fruit is edible. If it is, how does it taste? Google to the rescue!!! So I learned that the fruits of the mahonia repens are edible. However, the berries don't have a lot of flesh, and the taste is tart. But some mahonia species have sweet berries. How interesting ^_^💮 #PlantsPhotography

What kind of spider is this? I've seen quite a lot of types because we caught spiders when we were kids. It's surprising how I was not scared of them before, but now... They give me goosebumps. (The movie, Arachnophobia, which I watched as a kid made me afraid of spiders 😁) Anyway, this is the first time that I've seen a spider that's all white. What could it be? Is it an albino spider? I read that it was believed that spiders did not possess melanin, which is responsible for pigmentation in humans and animals. So technically, it was thought that there were no albino spiders since albinism (being albino) is a condition where there is an absence of melanin or an inability to produce melanin. Recently, however, scientists have discovered that spiders actually have melanin. So... I am wondering if this is a specific kind of an all-white spider or perhaps it's an albino spider? 🕷️🕸️ It looks cool though, like this could be Spider-Man's nemesis - the Silver Spider (^^) #LovelyAnimals

Before I turned off the lights to sleep, guess what I almost bumped into?! In our language, we call this "tuko," which is a type of gecko. (Google says it's tokay gecko or gekko gecko.) This here is still a baby. They can grow about shy to a foot. I haven't seen huge ones yet (and I don't want to!) Anyway, he comes and goes as he pleases. We hear him and his family at night saying, "Tuk-ko... Tuk-ko..." Hence, the name, I guess. We just leave him alone coz he eats some of the flying insects around. He gets in through a small gap between the screen and the sliding window. I guess when he gets bigger, he won't be able to get inside anymore. He's okay... As long as he doesn't jump on me. If that happens, I'll have a conniption! :-)🦎 #RandomPosts

This is a seaweed dish that goes really well with fried or grilled meat or seafood. We call this "guso" which is formally known as eucheuma. There are two types of edible eucheuma - the E. spinosum and E. cottoni (red guso). The green variety, like in the picture, is the E. spinosum. Guso is readily available in our market, but you have to be early to get some. The texture is a little slimy but the inside is firm, crunchy even. To get rid of the sliminess, the guso is washed a couple of times with water and then with vinegar. Then it is boiled until it's soft but still holds some crunch. After boiling, I strain the water and allow it to cool a bit while I slice some onions, tomatoes, and ginger. I season with salt and pepper, and the dressing is made of vinegar (red vinegar from fermented coconut juice goes really well with this), fish sauce, and a dash of sugar. Add chilis if you want it hot. Mix everything and serve with grilled dishes. So it's like a spicy seaweed salad that awakens the taste buds. Guso carries the taste of the sea. I remember my Grandma because she used to make jelly desserts made from guso. It was okay. Not yummy, just okay 👍^_^ i prefer to eat this like a salad as a side dish to grilled food. #Food

I just realized that we have quite a few photos where I am a few feet behind them ^_^ I always get left behind because I'll be stuck somewhere taking a photo of a blade of grass, a petite flower, weeds, and all sorts of things that'll catch my eye. There's beauty all around us if we only care to look. If we appreciate even the smallest of things, the things that we were led to believe were inconsequential, then I think we'll be able to lead happier and more content lives. It's not always about the huge, extravagant things. More often than not, what can make us happy is already at our fingertips. ❣️💮 **These photos were taken during different times. My family has gotten used to my habit and will wait and do something else (like eat snacks 😁) while waiting for me. #NoiseCash

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Kit-Quat already lost his baby teef! Puppies also have deciduous teeth, which are also called baby teeth or milk teeth. Puppies begin to lose their baby teeth as they turn 4 months old. Most of their permanent teeth, which are 42 in all, are already in place by the time they turn 6 months old. A few weeks ago, I was able to get a photo of Kit-Quat's baby canine tooth beside the newly-grown permanent canine tooth. Today, I noticed that he'd already lost his baby canine tooth. I guess puppies are like babies in the sense that they like to chew on things because they are teething. I've read that the most intense chewing phase occurs while a pup is teething. Still, mature dogs might still like to chew on things from time to time. I give my dogs chew toys so that they won't munch on furniture, wires, and such. I prefer organic materials, like boxes and twigs. They also have stuffed toys, but I make sure that these aren't the ones with plastic or button eyes because these could be swallowed and might cause an obstruction. I also give them empty water or soda bottles to chew on or to play fetch with.

Gasteria nigricans (monstrose). This is one of my gasterias, and it's looking a little... bleh... I have been planning to repot this, but I always forget. I promise to repot this tomorrow coz I just repotted 10 pots of caladiums and it's getting really hot outside. Care of the gasteria is a little tricky. They are like succulents since they do not like moist medium. It's best to pot them in well-draining medium, like 80-90% pumice as they are prone to rot as well. Mine here is a little dehydrated coz it's been sitting in a corner for a while now. My bad, i know :-( Propagation is challenging too. But the good thing is that they can be propagated via division. You can separate a section and it'll become a new plant. In the second photo, i have encircled two sections. As you can see, they already have the beginnings of root growth on their sides and underneath too. If the section is still quite small, leave it with the mother plant to allow it to grow bigger so that it'll have a higher chance of surviving once it is separated from the mother plant. I think I'll have a few babies from this mother plant, which has been spilling over its pot because its been multiplying a lot. I plan to divide it and replant some directly into the ground with some of my succies and perhaps have a few in pots as well. We'll see ^_^💮

If you are from a place where coconuts abound, then you probably know what this is :-) In our dialect, we call this "botbot" which could also mean "joke" or "lie." In other countries, this is known as coconut pearl or coconut cotyledon. This is the embryo or the baby coconut which is found inside a mature coconut shell. If left undisturbed, this is what develops into a coconut tree. We ate this when we were little and quite adventurous. My bros, cousins, and I liked to try all sorts of stuff. Whenever someone would crack open a mature coconut and find a "botbot," we'd all have to have a piece ^_^ Today, I went to the market to buy freshly shredded coconut for a dish that I am now cooking for lunch. I asked the vendor if the "botbots" were for sale, and he said they were free to anyone who wanted them. So he gave me a whole bunch, which I really appreciated coz it's a treat for my fur babies. I don't eat it as much these days, though I like to nibble from time to time. The taste is similar to coconut milk but a bit watered down. As for the texture, it's like that of Java rose apple - a bit of crunch on the outside and somewhat cottony on the inside - like a soft pear but without that grainy feel. #NoiseCash

Syngonium Strawberry Ice. One thing that I love about this plant is that every new leaf is slightly different from each other. While others may have more green than pink, some will have more pink and white. New leaves are usually pink and as they mature, the pink areas could develop more white areas. Propagation is usually done thru cuttings. Simply cut in between nodes (where roots usually grow) and put in water. You can also plant them directly into moist soil. In order to grow more pink leaves, it's best to put them in the shade. The more sunlight it gets, the greener its leaves become. This one here is in the shade. It gets just a bit of afternoon light, about an hour or so. As you can see, the newer leaves have more pink in them compared to the older leaves (please see final pic). Also, too much direct light can burn the leaves. Because I love this so much, I bought two pots a few months back. The other one is placed in an area near a column since I want it to climb up. What I discovered is that the leaves are quite thin, especially the young ones. They tear easily when there's heavy rainfall. 🌸🌼

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White Flag by Dido. She said in a YT video that this was a "messy song to write" and a "messy song to sing" and have even said that she "shouldn't have written it." For me, however, it's a beautiful song, and I thank her for it. The lyrics hit you in different ways depending on mood or where you are in life. I haven't heard this one in a while. It just popped up on YT as I was listening while cleaning yesterday. After that, I had it on loop a couple of times. To me, it's about not waving the "white flag" on love or not giving up. It's about standing up for your decisions or choices whatever they may be. It really all depends on how you interpret it and how it relates to your life. Now, I find myself humming it again ^_^ plus i love the husky quality of her voice too. ***Photo is a screenshot from YT. This was a live performance of the song. #Music

Skye. I came across this picture of Skye when he first came to us. The first pic was a few days after he was left on top of our water meter outside our gate. I guess he was left for dead coz he was very weak. He could barely move and was covered with fleas. He often cried/screamed whenever someone or anyone would approach him, and was very scared of everything. This is why we believe he was abused before. The next two photos are of Skye today. He has been with is for 7 years now. As you can see, he has the most beautiful light brown eyes. He also likes cuddles but only with people that he trusts. He is very picky and distrustful of others. He can be quite impatient too, but he is very loyal. The person who threw him away never would have thought that Skye would grow up to be such a handsome boi. I just think that if people can't or are unable to care for their puppies or dogs, they should give them to those who could give the dogs proper care. Too many puppies are being thrown away, and it makes me mad to see such irresponsible acts from other dog owners. It is also a good idea to have dogs neutered for those who don't want the burden of caring for puppies. 🐾🐶

Kanagawa blooms... Here is another beauty that looks like a mini purple firework display. I think this is known as an allium (am I right? Because I'm thinking it could be another type coz of the leaves 🍃), which also pertains to a group of plants that includes scallions, garlic, and onions. Alliums are from the amaryllis family. They also have bulbs and their bloom time is usually during June. Their flowers do not have any scent but their leaves or foliage smell like onions. There are many kinds, and I believe this one here could be a purple variety of a Gladiator or Globemaster allium. The Globemaster allium has a larger head compared with the Gladiator type. So, I stand corrected. This is not an allium although the blooms look similar. I was doubtful too coz of the leaves. It's still a pretty purple ball though. Don't you think? ☺️🌼❣️🌸 *Photo from husband taken during one of his neighborhood rounds. #NaturesPhotography

Jac n Jon's burgers are really good. They offer different types, and this one is a New York style burger with caramelized onions and yummy cheese. Many years ago, somebody told me how a true burger lover eats his burger. He starts outside and eats his way in a circular fashion, which will leave the middle portion as the last bite. This is the best part, he said, because it has bits of everything - meat, cheese, pickles, onions, etc. I kinda believe it, but I still tend to eat my burger in the manner depicted by this pic because it's less messy 👍^_^ #Foods

My husband knows how much I love to take pictures of nature. So he sent me these photos of an exquisite butterfly hovering over tiny purple blooms. He saw this while cycling. It's summer in Kanagawa and more flowers are blooming and insects are now truly up and awake. I miss traveling so much. I miss spring and taking photos of random plants while walking around the neighborhood. I miss takoyakis and other yummy street food. I miss strawberries in spring as they are the sweetest and juiciest. I miss that feeling of safety when walking alone even at night and even when you're alone... I miss Japan (^^) #NoiseCash