Some Household Items Saved from Downsizing Move

The other day, I posted my indoor plants that survived my downsizing move last year. Today's posting is on some of the old items ( furnitures and knick knacks), that I was able to bring with me here at THD.  These items make me feel at home and alleviates the pain and nostalgia of my downsizing move.  

When I decided to move here at THD from my single Residence home in Fair Oaks, CA last year, I had to get rid of more than half of my belongings including furnitures, household items hundred of potted plants and my numerous personal accumulations for more than 6 decades of my life here in the US.  My 2BR and 2Bath Apartment here at THD is about half the size of my 2200 sq. ft former home in Fair Oaks. 

However I was able to bring with me three old furnitures and other small items here at THD. Here are photos of my Victorian Dresser Set,  Side Table and a Secretary Desk with a Secret Compartment.  Are these antiques? I believe they are.

According to Wikipedia, An antique is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old, although the term is often used loosely to describe any object that is old.

I was also able to bring my wife's jewelry box in-laid with mother of pearl, a leather foot stool and a Wheel Picture Frame and a couple of Table Lamps. The Victorian Dresser, Side Table and  Secretary Desk with Secret Compartment, were purchased by Macrine( RIP) in 1960 in Chicago, Illinois.    

 Here are the photos.

Victorian Dresser with Stool

Secretary Desk with Secrete Compartment( hand carved) with lock 

Jewelry Box with In-laid Mother of Pearl and wine bottle decorative Cork stoppers

The Maple Mantle Clock-in the background some of miniature liquor bottles and decorative wine bottle cork stoppers

The Wheel Picture Frame Holder-with our Wedding Photo, May 8, 1957

The Leather Foot Stool-purchased by David E III in 1990

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/03/downsizing-is-not-for-faint-hearted.html

My Creation-Succulent and Cactus Terrarium

The Top Ten Tourist Destination in the Philippines

Photo Credit: Getty Images: Tagaytay and Taal Lake and Volcano

  Top 10 tourist destinations in the Philippines according to wanderwisdomtravel.com:

1. #BoracayIsland - Famous for its white sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife.

2. #Palawan - Known for its stunning landscapes, including the Puerto Princesa Underground River and El Nido's limestone cliffs.

3. #Manila - The capital city offers historical sites like Intramuros and cultural attractions such as Rizal Park.

4. #Cebu - Features historical landmarks, beautiful beaches, and diving spots like Malapascua Island.

5. #Bohol - Home to the Chocolate Hills, tarsier sanctuaries, and picturesque beaches.

6. #SiargaoIsland - Renowned for its surfing spots, such as Cloud 9, and pristine beaches.

7. #BanaueRiceTerraces - A UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing the ingenuity of the Ifugao people.

8. #DavaoCity - Offers attractions like Mount Apo, Philippine Eagle Center, and pristine beaches.

9. #Vigan - Known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial and Asian architecture.

10. #Batanes - Offers breathtaking landscapes, rolling hills, and unique stone houses.

https://wanderwisdom.com/travel-destinations/TOP-10-TOURIST-DESTINATION-IN-THE-PHILIPPINES

THE PHILIPPINES has 18 regions, 81 provinces, 145 cities, 1,489 municipalities, and 42,029 barangays. There are so many places to visit. Make a Good Choice, by asking People Knowledgeable about the Philippines and its tourist Attractions.

My Personal Choice: Marinduque Philippines, Heart of the Philippines and Location of Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center ( no longer in business since 2020). I have only been to #1 and #3 in the list above. I left the Philippines when I was 26 years old but after retirement in 2002, we built a retirement beach house in Marinduque.

Meanwhile, Here are two photos from nature you might be able to identify! 

Mountain Goddess. A temporary ice cave formed a vagina on Mt St Helens about 20 years ago. This photo has ever since been the subject of a great deal of humor and not much else, though seems to me it should've been much more often noted as further evidence of beauty in nature.

and Cambodia's Penis Plant

Recently, the government of Cambodia requested its citizens to not pluck the rare plant Nepenthes holdenii after a series of images went viral with women plucking and posing with the plant, due to its shape looking awfully similar to the phallic shape of the male genitalia when glanced upon from a certain angle.

Health Benefits of Walking

In my previous postings, I discussed the health benefits of singing and dancing. Singing and Dancing are two of the many activities I enjoy here at THD in my aging years. This posting is about walking. In my youngers years, I enjoyed walking. 

Today because of my knee problems, I can only walk slowly and am using a quad cane for support. Walking on stairs hurt, but I found my regular weekly Thai Massage therapy helps. My massage therapy ( weekly for one hour) also help with my lower back problem. However, I try to walk more often and also try my best on the Zumba Exercises here at THD every Saturday. Here's what I learned about the health benefits of walking.

Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health. Just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance.

It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.

Unlike some other forms of exercise, walking is free and doesn’t require any special equipment or training.

Physical activity does not have to be vigorous or done for long periods in order to improve your health. 

Walking is low impact, requires minimal equipment, can be done at any time of day and can be performed at your own pace. You can get out and walk without worrying about the risks associated with some more vigorous forms of exercise.

Walking is also a great form of physical activity for people who are overweight, elderly, or who haven’t exercised in a long time.

Walking for fun and fitness isn’t limited to strolling by yourself around local neighbourhood streets. There are various clubs, venues and strategies you can use to make walking an enjoyable and social part of your lifestyle. For details visit:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health

Lastly enjoy this Northern Lights from Norway, just the other day.

 

Mother's Day Photos

Yesterday was a perfect day celebrating Mother's Day Here at THD with Dinah, my oldest daughter.  After our brunch Dinah invited me to walk around the vicinity of theTHD Compound, that I enjoyed very much. Our route started in the Front gate ( Shuey Ave) and ends at the back Gate ( Sharp Ave) just at the back of my Building (Fairmount Tower) with a detour near Mt Diablo Blvd.   It was a delighted 3.5 blocks slow walk💚 with one cross walk.  I plan on doing it again. 

During our walk I discovered a short cut from THD to CVS ( side of the Plaza Building) across Bonanza St then into Mt.Diablo Blvd.  We passed by the now closed Scott's Seafood Restaurant  in the side walk of the Plaza Building that gave me pleasant memories of the restaurant. Scotts Seafood is gone but the Walnut Creek Yacht Club( Locust St.) is still open for your dining pleasure if you enjoy seafoods.     

It was nice for THD to give Dinah a fresh rose Bouquet to take home ( see photo above). The French Toast with Berries was A+ and the Prime Rib delicious.  Here are some photos I took during the Brunch.

Prime Rib and the Much-Awaited French Toast

-
Sandi Green and Daughter, Sandi Thanks for taking our photo below. 

The table near us with Steve Kam and new resident Mary Alice Rathbun Conversing

The much-awaited French Toast with Berries💜

💜https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2024/03/responses-to-my-e-mail-on-french-toast.html

💚Tune In for my next blog on the health benefits of Walking...   

Mother's Day Brunch-Prime Rib and French Toast

Finally, the much awaited French Toast is in our Menu again today's Sunday Brunch ( see flyer above), after a hiatus of several months. Norman Nelson  and I and several other residents here who love French Toasts thank the Kitchen Staff and the THD management for listening to our requests to have French Toast in our menu.💗  

💗https://marinduquemyislandparadise.blogspot.com/2024/03/responses-to-my-e-mail-on-french-toast.html

Besides French Toast we will have Prime Rib and Eggs Benedict and Mixed Green Salad with fresh strawberries and other Goodies. 

Speaking of Mothers Day, Here is my previous postings on this Day. 

💚https://planningtovisitthephilippines.blogspot.com/2021/05/mothers-day-may-9-2021.html

Here's also one of my favorite acrostic Poem for your reading Pleasure

M - O - T - H - E - R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER," A word that means the world to me. Howard Johnson (c. 1915)

Here's an excerpt from my blogs about my own mother- Paz Barrido Balleza Katague

My Mother and Me, Lapaz, Iloilo City, Philippines, 1978

"My mother, Paz Barrido Balleza and family are big landowners in Barotac Viejo and the neighboring towns of Banate and Ajuy. The Balleza family were considered rich at that time. She was born on January 14, 1909 and is the youngest of three children, the only girl with two older brothers, Modesto, Jr (lawyer) and Jose who are much older than her. My mother’s parents both died, when she was only in high school. So, she was under the care of her oldest brother, Modesto. At that time, Modesto Balleza family had a big house in Iloilo City, just across the street from St. Paul Hospital and one block from Assumption College-an exclusive and private school for girls.

My mother went to high school at Assumption College until she was a junior. In her senior year, she met my father, fell in love with him, stopped school and got married. My mother with tears in her eyes told me that the reason she married without finishing high school was to get away from the control of her oldest brother. When their parents died, there was no will. Thus, the Balleza properties (rice and corn lands, coconut plantations, fish ponds) were all under the control of her two older brothers.

The division of property according to my mother was very unfair. The brothers claimed the best rice lands to themselves. What was left for her to inherit were the properties in the distant barrios, rice land with no irrigation, except for one parcel of rice land (20 hectares) near the town. Of course, she did not receive one-third share of their parents' properties. When she married, control of her properties was given to her. My Dad then helped her manage the rice lands and other properties.

My mother was very frugal. She would not leave a morsel of rice on her plate. I remember her saying, “If you do not finish your food, God will punish you”. So even today, I always have a clean plate after lunch or dinner( not true anymore). My mother had a strict budget and allocated 10% of the farm income into her savings. By the time, I was in college, they had enough savings to purchase a commercial property in Iloilo City. With the back pay that my father received having served as a Dental Officer in the Philippine-American Army from 1941-1945, they were able to build a commercial building at Iznart street, just across the YMCA building, etc...". For the whole article, you are welcome to read my blog dated💚 12/15/11 as indicated above".

Again, Happy Mother's Day to All the Mothers of the World!!! 

My Indoor Plants that Survived My Downsizing Moves

 I loved indoor plants. For the last six decades I have always collected numerous indoor plants. The above (see photo above) plant has survived several moves. I have this plant as a gift from Ditas(my youngest daughter) when we moved to Fair Oaks, Ca in 2002 when I retired from FDA that year. 

It has survived two moves. The most recent one was last year when I moved from Fair Oaks to THD. You can see it's thriving very well with new growth and very happy in its new location.  Below is the money plant that survived my move to THD. I forgot the name of the plant above. Anyone can give me the name of the plant above? 

I have written several articles on indoor plants as follows:  

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-health-benefits-of-indoor-and-house.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2021/06/taking-care-of-ditas-indoor-and-outdoor.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2021/04/popular-and-easy-to-grow-house-plants.html

Here are some photos of my indoor plants here at THD. Some of them are thriving very well. Others need more sunlight. I may moved some of them outside this summer for more light and sunshine. 

The variegated wondering Jew cuttings from Sandi- my neighbor and the Welcome Orchid from THD

The remains of my Christmas Poinsettia decorating my kitchen Sink

My Hanging Spider plant and Snake Plant in My Second Bedroom-Office-Computer Room

Indoor Plants in My Bedroom

 

Indoor Plants in my Living Room

Lastly here are quotes about Plants and Gardening

• 
  
• “The love for gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” - ... 
• “Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.” - ... 
• “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” - ... 
• “Garden as though you will live forever.” -