What I like about...daisies

Daisies are so beautiful and eye catching. They also come in various colors and each color always reminds me of some essence.

For example, white daisies always remind me of innocence, of the softness of babies. Pink daisies on the other hand remind me of a debutant, a sweet girl on the brink of womanhood. Orange daisies meanwhile remind me of a lady, confident and alluring, oozing with life.

What about you? What do daisies remind you of?

Daisies are also perfect subjects for photos. Their symmetry is always fascinating. One can zoom in or out and each view enhances their symmetrical nature. .. reminding me of fractals...

Have you ever wondered why daisies are usually the ones used in that crazy, juvenile game of ...”(s)he loves me... (s)he loves me not... (s)he loves me....

And why do we say..."upsey daisy" when we pull up a baby or sometimes toss her/him in the air?

Just shows you... daisies are fascinating!

What I like about...clouds

Have you ever imagined playing among the clouds? I have, when I was a little girl. That's a long time ago of course.

My friends and I used to watch clouds go by. We would point out the many different shapes that clouds would assume. We were however more like Charlie Brown who just saw shapes of animals or other characters and not like Linus who saw whole scenes like “the Nativity” or “the parting of the Red Sea”.

I would also imagine then that I have dresses made of clouds or that I could hop from one cloud to another and travel to exciting places.

As I studied science in school, I of course learned to identify the different cloud formations and the kind of weather associated with them. So cumulus, nimbus, stratus, cirrus and their various combination became part of my vocabulary.

Clouds still fascinate me even up to now. I have never outgrown the magical spell they create for me. So even if I already have hundreds of cloud photos, I still take their picture especially if I am on a plane.

I can still remember the first time I have ever seen night clouds while on a plane from Paris to USA. The moon was bright and it had a eerie and mysterious effect on the clouds. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me at that time, so I was not able to take a picture. However, the memory is still with me.

I simply love clouds ... they awaken my imagination.

What I like about ... bananas

We have so many varieties of bananas here in the Philippines but there are 3 varieties that I really like... “lakatan, latundan, and saba”.

“Lakatan” (also known as Cavendish internationally) has a light yellow flesh when ripe while “latundan’s” flesh is white. Lakatan is the only variety that is exported because it is hardy and has thick skin. However, the exported kind is bigger than but not as tasty as the local kind.

“Saba” although it can also be eaten raw when ripe, is known more as the cooking kind of banana because it is prepared in so many different ways. It can be broiled, boiled, stewed or fried. It can also be cooked plain or coated with sugar or flour. It is also used as secondary ingredient in many dishes. My favourite way of preparing “saba” is what is locally called “banana cue”. This is made by rolling in brown sugar a ripe banana , deep-frying it in oil and then skewering it in bamboo stick. If you should ever come to the Philippines, you should try this... it’s really good!

I can sing praises about bananas all day but I think it’s better if you just read the following item sent to me through email. I have been eating bananas every since I can remember but knowing about all the benefits from the banana based on this article, I have come to appreciate this fruit even more.

By the way ... Never, put your banana in the refrigerator ! ! !

Read on... and please pass on to friends....

From an email....
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in
the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose
combined with fiber.

A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout No wonder the, banana is the number one fruit
with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also
help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and
conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.
This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the
body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood
and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates
blood & nb sp glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin
in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium
yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so,
the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry
to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of
blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped
through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and
lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the
potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a
banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and,
with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while
the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you
suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.


Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood
sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it
amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work
leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at
5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more
likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid
panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by
snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.


Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw
fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.

It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the
lining of the stomach.


Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit
that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant
mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure
their baby is born with a cool temperature.


Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because
they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.
The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in
them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat,
sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we
are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium
levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana
snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,
"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill
off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with
the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or
surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it
to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three
times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the
other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of
the best value foods around. So maybe it’s time to change that well-known
phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

One more thing ------want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the
INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry
cloth.

A m a z i n g f r u i t............................

I love bananas!

Ever wonder why there is an expression "going bananas"?...

Check out my article in hubpages for more about bananas...

http://hubpages.com/hub/I-Recommend-Going-Bananas

What I like about...angels

source of image: http://www.angel-guide.com/images/angels-picture-angel-prayer.jpg

Do you believe in angels? I do.

Some of you might raise your eyebrows about this, but I know that some of you also believe in angels.

Anyway, as I thought about what I will write today, I realized I have so many topics to choose from and I had problems deciding which one to write about. So I thought it a good idea to do it alphabetically. When I thought about “A” the first word that came to mind was “angel”. So, I’m going to talk about angels today.

If you don’t believe in angels, please just bear with me. If you do believe in angels, then I’m sure you also have a story to tell about them. Why not share it too?

Well, what do I like about angels?
... I know they are always there as our guide
... If I hear a whisper and nobody is around, I know my angel is talking to me. Have you ever experienced this?
... I have called on angels especially my guardian angel, and I always get some kind of answer. I know it’s hard to explain especially to those who don’t believe, but to those who do believe, I’m sure you know what I am talking about.

Do you remember all the movies and tv series about angels?
... Angels in the Outfield http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109127/

... Touched by an Angel http://www.touched.com/touched05/index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touched_by_an_Angel

... City of Angels , starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan

... Angels and Demons http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808151/

... and many more...

So, angels are really interesting or those movie and tv series would not have been made.

And even if we (ordinary mortals) do not see them, we can feel them.

Or I think we do see them... in a baby...in somebody you love... in a flower... in a blade of grass... in a raindrop... in a friend .... a neighbour... a helping hand....

Angels are always there... watching. And the beauty about this is ... we can always call on them.

What I like about ...receiving letters

Don’t you just love receiving letters? I do. I love getting letters especially from people I like and love. I don’t like getting solicitation letters though, but that is not the topic here.

So what do I like about receiving letters?

Well...
... first and foremost, I get to know how the sender is of course.
... then I get to know how or what he/she has been doing
... then of course I may receive answers to some questions or reactions to what I have written before

... I even get to learn new words. For example, “conundrum” has never been part of my vocabulary, but a friend used it to describe me. Ha ha

... letters in the form of emails are especially fun because we can get almost immediate answers
... but traditional letters are also just as much fun. Plus we also get stamps that are either: informative or decorative, commemorative or fun

... letters can make me laugh or frown, cry or sing, or even blush...omg!

... letters can make me introspective or interrogative

... letters can profess love

... letters can coax me to action

... letters can inspire

... letters can puzzle

... letters can move mountains

... letters can also irritate or anger, but this is not the place for that

Letters are always welcome ... the written word has a special place in my heart.

What I like about ... raindrops

Every time I see raindrops, I always stop and say a prayer of thanks. If I have a camera with me then I take pictures. You don’t know how many raindrops pictures I have collected. I think that one of these days, I will set up an exhibit just showing my raindrops pictures. Hmmm, come to think of it, I think that is a good idea. What do you think?

Raindrops, raindrops...
... are always refreshing
... are beautiful
... remind me of the wonders of God’s creations
... sometimes reflect our world upside down, so we get a fresh view
... can create works of art
... I love them on my face
... I love them on flowers
... are really angel tears according to a song
... are priceless jewels

Oh..., I simply love raindrops!

What I like about ... rainbows

If you see a rainbow in the sky, what do you do? Do you stop and savor its beauty? Do you exclaim, "wow, a rainbow!" I do. Or if I am with somebody, I always point out and say “look, a rainbow!”

I never tire of looking at rainbows. They are breathtaking.

Every time I see rainbows, I always try to follow the arc to its end and then I would wonder if there is really a pot of gold at the end. Ha ha, it’s always fun to make believe.

When I was in college, I decorated my room in rainbow colors that extended from side to side. The decoration always made me happy. It made me smile. Everybody who entered my room would always comment that my room seems so bright and happy.

Who does not smile if one sees a rainbow?

I wonder if anybody frowns when he/she sees a rainbow?

Rainbows remind me of:
... freshness
... new hope
... new beginning
... God

What I like about ... bookstores

Before I took up photography, guess where I spend more time in any place I go? In bookstores – that’s where. Books have always fascinated me and I can never resist bookstores every time I see them. Sometimes my friends can’t believe that I’d rather browse through books than try dresses or shoes, but that’s me.

Anyway, what do I like about bookstores? Well, as I said, books fascinate me and I already mentioned in a previous post (Jan 23) what I like about reading. So just put the two together (reading and bookstores), and there you have it ... those are the reasons why I like bookstores.

Another thing about bookstores, they usually don’t just carry books, they also have other things like pens, colored pencils, gift wrappers, all sorts of paper, craft things, albums, magazines, school supplies, art supplies, and many more.

So bookstores are really books plus.

What I like about... writing, a follow up

The other day, we watched the movie, “Inkheart” and I was really amazed at how it echoed what I have just written in my last post, “what I like about...writing”, so I thought I would write a follow up today.

The movie is about the adventures of a girl and her dad as the characters in the book they were reading (Inkheart), came to life.

Do you know that the tagline for “Inkheart” is, - “ Every story ever written is just waiting to become real”.

This movie is exactly what I have just written about writing! Isn't it amazing?

I also made a search about the book “Inkheart” and found that there is really such a book. It is supposed to be the first book of the “Inkworld” trilogy. The other two books are: “Inkspell ” and “Inkdeath” and the author is Cornelia Funke. Now, I think I have to get hold of those actual books. They probably are fun to read.

In the movie, the author of the book “Inkheart” is Fenoglio and not Cornelia Funke of course.

I must say though that the movie itself came out rather flat. The promise of an exciting adventure is there, but the movie just did not take off I think. Still, I found it interesting in the sense that I kind of identified with the plot.