Canna Lily

Canna "Zebra"

Canna Lily is a pretty common flower around here, it adds a splash of tropical color on hedges and road sides.  They're usually mass-planted in groups of the same color for a stunning effect.  Not a true lily, Canna Lily is a genus of 19 species of flowering plants; they're clumping, hardy  perennials with some of the most vivid colors that you will ever see.

With arms outstretched I thank.  

With heart beating gratefully I love.  

With body in health I jump for joy.  

With spirit full I live.

~ Terri Guillemets

Wishing you a peaceful and prosperous New Year!

Linking to Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flower

Signs: Lay Bare

A little reindeer whispered in my ear that Santa sent Lay Bare gift certificates to boys and girls who had been naughty this year.  Did you get yours?

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

Nostalgia: Christmas postmortem (Repost)

@ mirandablue

Christmas is over. How’s your Christmas hangover? Is the pocket bruised? The heart soothed? The wishes satisfied to the point of burping?  If you pretended at giving, succumbing to the season’s expectations, are you squirming still?  Is there any Christmas spirit left, or you're back to your grinchy self the day after Christmas?  Did you rekindle good memories, and remind yourself of the "reason for the season"?   Or maxed-out your Visa to buy people you don't like things they don't need? 

Forgive yourself and breath a sigh of relief.  It's 300 more days to go before the next one.:p

I usually feel deflated the day after Christmas. After the season’s excitement, the quietness of the following days is a welcome respite. The cool morning breezes roused my aching limbs but I stayed in bed a while longer and listened to the voices outside the door. I could hear Fritz barking as he runs into the house, anxious for its friendly smells and comforting hums of conversation. Aromas of leftover ham and coffee, sleepy footsteps, boards creaking under the weight of remembered feet, laughter of all pitches and ages. The music of a family, my personal scrapbook of memories. 

But still, four days to recuperate and gather strength for the hassle and bustle of New Year's eve seem too short.  I feel another wave of holiday stress coming in--too much togetherness is driving me nuts!

This post is linked to Nostalgic Marveling

Mellow Yellow Monday: Nachos with cheese

Ground beef nachos with pico de gallo, sour cream and cheese.  A perfect snack after a gut-busting Noche Buena feast.

Linking to Mellow Yellow Monday

Poinsettia

Poinsettia, Christmas flower, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Noche buena

Euphorbua pulcherrima, or Noche buena is a flowering plant indigenous to Mexico and Central America.  Commonly known as poinsettia after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the US in 1825.  In Spain, it is called "Flor de Pascua" or "Easter Flower".  This plant is associated with Christmas.  Source

Poinsettia is not poisonous according to this site.

Wishing you the merriest and warmest Christmas!

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; the spirit of Christmas which is peace; the heart of Christmas which is love.  

~ Ada Hendricks

Linking to Floral Friday Foto, Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

It's Christmas time [MYM]

Christmas decor designed by Weenie Lagdameo of Accent Pieces

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time.  Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?  ~ G.K. Chesterton

Linked to Mellow Yellow Monday

Kindayonan

Kindayonan, Kudyapa, Celosia argentea L., Feather Coxcomb

I have seen this flower since childhood but didn't know its name until recently.  Kindayonan is wild-crafted in the Philippines.  It is an erect, simple or branched, smooth annual herb.  The flowers are erect spikes, the spiky petals are not sharp though.  It is considered anti-diarrheal, antibacterial, hypotensive; stem and leaves are astringent and anti-inflammatory.  My neighbor said it is eaten as a vegetable but she has not tried it.:p

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. 

~ Brian Tracy

Linking to Friday Floral Fotos, Macro Flower Saturday, Today's Flowers

Kinilaw na Dilis

My cousin Mark's specialty--kinilaw na dilis (anchovies salad).  The raw, deboned anchovies were marinated in coconut vinegar for a few minutes then lightly squeezed to take excess vinegar.  Then the fillet was tossed in coconut milk, onions, ginger, kamias, tomatoes, black beans and crushed peanuts.  Spicy chili is optional.  This was a scrumptious appetizer over bottles of beer and kwentong barbero with my cousins.

Join us at Food Trip Friday and Food Friday

Signs: Traffic Advisory

It's great that there was a traffic advisory here---motorists couldn't complain about the traffic jam. I took photos to entertain myself.:p

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

Soft and Hard [Mellow Yellow Monday]

Do not be too hard, lest you be broken; do not be too soft, lest you be squeezed.

~ Ali ibn Abi Talib

Chase your Monday blues away at Mellow Yellow Monday

Cymbidium

Flowers are those little colorful beacons of the sun from which we get sunshine when dark, somber skies blanket our thoughts.  

~ Dodinsky

Cymbidium at my aunt's garden.  Cymbidiums are among the most popular winter and spring blooming orchids.  The word cymbidium comes from the Greek word kymbe meaning a boat referring to the hollowness in the lip of the flower.  More here...

Join us @ Floral Friday Fotos, Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers

Signs @ Culion Sanitarium

Signs at the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital, a former leprosarium under the American Commonwealth of the Philippines.  Culion Island is one of the islands in the Calamian group of islands in northern Palawan.  It was selected as a leper colony in 1901.

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

Mellow Yellow Monday # 44: Carambola

In Philippine politics,  a person who is a turncoat or has many faces is called "balimbing"---the local name of Carambola or Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola).  Carambola is a tropical 5-angled fruit with tart crisp flesh.  The taste ranges from pleasantly tart and sour to slightly sweet with a complicated flavor combination that includes pineapple, lemon and plums.  The fruit is juicy and crunchy, and can be eaten fresh (I dip it in salt), or used as garnish in salads, in relishes and preserves.  It is also used as a souring agent in various Filipino dishes.    It has tiny pink blossoms.

Chase your Monday blues at Mellow Yellow Monday

Duranta repens

Golden Dewdrop, Pigeon berry, Duranta repens

A large erect shrub growing to a height of 1-3 meters, with straggling and drooping branches.  Flowers have a mild sweet vanilla-like scent, fruit is a cluster of  bright orange-yellow berries, fleshy, and slightly poisonous.  Cultivated as an ornamental, usually as hedge or fence screen.

The flowers take the tears of weeping night, and give them to the sun for the day's delight.

~ Joseph Cotter

Flowers from around the world at Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers