MY HOUSE REVISITED

EAST WALL OF MY SMALL LIBRARY AT THE FRONT ROOM

THE WEST WALL OF MY SMALL LIBRARY

THE FRONT AREA OF MY SMALL LIBRARY

PART OF MY LIVING ROOM. THE TWO CHINESE CHAIRS I BOUGHT FROM HONGKONG AND THE CABINET FROM PILA, LAGUNA

THE HANGING CHINESE FRAMED WALL DECOR CAME FROM THE MUSLIM STORE AT BF HOMES, P.I.

PART OF THE MAIN DINING ROOM. THE CREDENZA CAME FROM PILA, LAGUNA

PART OF THE LIVING ROOM WITH XMAS DECOR IN THE HANDRAIL OF THE STAIRS GOING TO THE BEDROOMS.

PART OF THE LIVING ROOM SHOWING THE JARS THAT I BOUGHT FROM FARMERS MARKET IN Q.C.




Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I did not go to work last Friday and Saturday and I was off today Sunday. The snow is so bad, I cannot even move my car from the garage. The driveway alone has at least 12 inches of snow and all of our cars at the back garage are buried in snow also.

Since there is nothing else to do at home, and with this bad weather outside, my wife went to work and took the train, I decided to clean the house for the holiday and decorate some sections of it. I moved some furniture and tried to pull the sofa, but I cannot because it is so heavy. I still can't move and pick up heavy things because I had hip replacement surgery just last summer and my surgeon is telling me to be very careful of what I do and how I walk, especially in snow.

My house has plenty of things that I have bought from the Philippines and I was able to ship it to the States. I love the things that I have bought back home. It reminds me of home . Even my bed frame came from back home and it has been with me for the past 32 years. My dining room set is also an old piece from home. The credenza is old piece that I have bought from Pila, Laguna and the mirrored cabinet in the living room, I bought it in Pila, Laguna. I was passing by and saw this upright cabinet with now mirror, made of Narra with a small pig tied up to it. I immediately stepped on my brake and asked the old lady to sell it to me. She was asking why I want to buy such a thing when it has been under her house for a long time and she likes to tie her piglet there. With the prize that I have offered her, she immediately gave it me and I took it to a cabinet maker in Paranaque and asked him to clean it and put a mirror into it. Now lots of my friends who visits my house always ask me where I bought it, I don't want to tell them the history of it.

The dining room set and the credenza, I bought it from an old family in Pila, Laguna who was migrating to the U.S. and said they cannot bring their "Muebles" to where they are going. They are wrong, I know how to ship it to the States. I work for a shipping firm back home for 10 years.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, I was able to clean the house, and tried to arranged some of my furniture in the living room and dining room and my small library during this winter time. I was able to put up Christmas decor also.

You should come and see it.

SINCERELY YOURS,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

THE ONGOING SNOW STORM

View of the snow storm at my my backyard showing my neighbor's car. View of the snow storm taken from my front door.

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

I did not go to work this morning because My backyard was buried in snow and I cannot move my car. The man that I hired to plow the snow has not yet come to plow the snow because the snow storm will be ongoing until 5pm tonight. The road is okay because the city has plowed and salted it. The problem is the side roads and my backyard.

This is the second snow storm of the first months of the season. I hope it does not rain tomorrow because this will cause more problem. The snow will turn into ice and it will be more problematic. I just bought three bags of salt for the pavement and my driveway. When the plow removes the snow in my driveway, I need to salt it so that it will not become ice and slippery.

This is the time of the year that I am always very careful and afraid to venture outside especially walking thru the snow. I don't want to slip and fall because I had already hip replacement surgery. I don't want to have another one.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, in pictures, our friends from back home is so excited about the snow. But when they are already here and have stayed in the States for a long time, they will be wishing to come back home to the Philippines.

Sincerely yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

TOO HOT TO HANDLE!!!

JALAPENO PEPPER

KOREAN LONG PEPPER

YELLOW PEPPER FROM NETHERLANDS GREEN HOUSES

BANANA PEPPER

RED PEPPER FROM NETHERLANDS GREEN HOUSE

GREEN PEPPER FROM MEXICO

Dear Auntie Pattie Koh,

Yesterday, I went marketing to buy some pepper for the catering that I have accepted that requires me to use some peppers. I did not know there are still some fresh peppers available in this particular place that I shop even it is already winter time.

Question:

------------

Which one is sweet in taste?

Which one is the one that is really hot and could burn your tongue?

And so Auntie Patti Koh, it is up to you to choose which one is hot and which one is sweet.

I am going to pick the ones that is needed for my Kaldereta and Afritada.

Thank you,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

LAST OF THE FRUIT HARVEST IN THE U.S.

Golden Plums

Persimmons

Valencia Oranges

Granny Smith Apples

Red Plums

Florida Oranges

Washington Apples

Michigan Apples

Dear Auntie Patti Ko,

This is the last of the harvest in the U.S. for this season. After this, all fruits will be imported from South America, like Chile, Brazil and Peru. America always have fruits all year round.

We are now producing fruits that is supposed to be coming only from countries like China and Japan. Fuji apples are now planted in the states and even Persimmons are also harvested in the States. Some fruits like the Asian Pears are still being imported from Korea and Longan from Vietnam and China. Grapes are now coming all the way from Chile including Bananas and some watermelon coming from Mexico.

The American diet always have fruits, and so Auntie Patti Koh, I will miss the real taste of fruits that are really planted and harvested in the States. Anyway, there is nothing we can do, because of the change of climate and the abundance of fruits from other country during winter time.

I hope you liked the pictures of the fruits that I have posted for you.

SINCERELY YOURS,

INFRATERNAM MEAM

FIRST SNOW STORM OF THE SEASON

Dear Auntie Patti Koh,

The snow storm came late last night Sunday and when I woke up and check outside the window the parking behind my house is already blanketed with four inches of snow. I hate shoveling the snow and scraping the snow in the car. I needed to go out with my wife and I have no choice but to clean the car of snow.

The snow stopped at 12noon and so the pictures are all taken after 12noon. We have to go to the grocery and get some of the necessities for the house that the two of us needed. Even its only the two of us, we still need some necessities for the house. I have to buy a new winter boots because my old Timberland boots is so tight and feels like it no longer fits me. I need something that is fully insulated so my feet will always be warm and dry.

After shopping, I told my wife to check the Forest Preserve along St. Marys way. It was so white and as if the branches of the trees are covered with cotton. The lake was covered with snow, but we did not venture further near the lake platform because it might be slippery and I don't want to have another hip surgery. We took pictures from inside the car.

And so Auntie Patti Koh, I have a feeling we are heading for a bad winter this year. According to the weatherman, there is another storm coming and it will bring another four inches on top of what is already in the ground. I have to shovel the snow and spread out the salt to melt the slippery spot in my backyard and front step of the house.

Do you still want to come to the States??

Sincerely Yours,

INFRATERNAM MEAM