A Visit to Woodburn, Oregon

Week ago, hubby and I flew to Portland, Oregon for the church dedication of baby Isaac. We had no idea how far is Woodburn from the airport where Michael and Tasha live. We both thought that it's just a few minute-drive but it took us almost an hour to get to their house.

Michael decided to stop at the Market of Choice to buy something for Tasha's recipe, since the place is on our way. As usual, hubby can't just get inside the store without buying anything. We both decided to buy the things we needed to nourish our body while we were there.

We were starving when we got to their house. There was a lot of just-to-get-by-food that we were left without a choice but to eat it. Hubby really tried to open a bottle of sardines which we bought at the Filipino market week ago. He could not hold himself so he ate it with bread but he did not finish it for some reasons. Everybody was eager to go somewhere which we had no idea where and what it was. Then they told us that they planned to go to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm to see the Tulip Festival. So we went with the troop just like seaweeds being moved and carried by the water current. Anyways, we did not know the place so going with the group was the best thing we did.

These pictures were taken at the entrance of the farm. We thought that these were already the best.

This blanket of colors covers over 40 acres of land with over a hundred kinds of tulips. It was amazingly beautiful! There were different types Daffodils that I have never seen yet in my life. I could hardly believe what I saw. I seemed like a dream.

I wish I had the eyes of a professional photographer. I could have done better than this. There were tons of nice subjects but my attention was all destructed by the beauty surrounding me.

This beautiful bright yellow tulip flower flamed with red is called Mickey Mouse. It's already in full bloom and does not look tulip at all.

Seeing the farm was such a wonderful bonus pack in our trip. We never know if we ever have another chance to come again to this place someday but it really was worth the time.

A Visit to Woodburn, Oregon

Mister Chef

I have not seen hubby making the main dish since I arrived here in America. He always had excuses telling me that I already kicked him out of the kitchen and that he did not know where to find the things now. The truth is, I was only trying to put everything in the kitchen in order which most men have no concern about it.

Oh well, he finally was able to put his Starbucks apron and transformed himself into Mister Chef on Easter Sunday. He kept telling me that he wanted to make alcatra for me to see (like a demo...LOL!) and learn how to do it. His demo cooking was just very timely. He did it when we were both free from any commitment be it family or friend.

This is him trying to clean the meat. He does not want fat in his meat so he cut off every fat he could find in all his meat. I was surprised to see him bring the pan to the kitchen without asking me "where is this and that" questions. Our original plan was to make just a small dish so he brought the smallest pan that we have in the house but then after seeing the amount of meat he decided to use the biggest one.

He asked me to cut the onions and placed them on the pan. That's all I did, and he did everything else. He looked cute on his apron especially when he asked me to take a picture of him for documentation. LOL!

This recipe calls for a lot of wine to soften the meat and to give aromatic flavor. This whole pan took 4 hours to cook in a 450º- oven temperature. So we were able to put inside the oven on time for dinner which was just perfect.

I took this picture when it was already peace time. In short, this is now how much leftover we got from this big pan of the Portuguese Alcatra. So we have two containers in our freezer and another one just refrigerated.

Mister Chef

Three Friends....

It always nice to have someone whom you can call a friend, one who is always there to lend a hand. Finding a real one is really hard. But once you find one, it will be a real treasure to keep.

This is Vilma. I met her in one of the parties in Sunnyvale that she was involved in the planning of. She's very friendly and very outspoken. She speaks what's in her mind whether you want to hear it or not. She's a single mom of four boys. Her husband died trying to rescue their second child from the kidnappers in the Phils when they went there to visit her family. For almost ten years now, she's been raising the kids all by herself. Her problem now is her Mom who wants to go back to the Phils. She's been Vilma's help in watching the kids while she goes to work. But lately Nang Mading has been making trips to the hospital. She's always saying that she wanted to go home. This alters Vilma's planned trip with us next month. She wants her Mom to take care of the boys while she's in the Phils but now she can't leave her behind with her present health condition. So she decided to take her with us and asking her mother-in-law instead to watch over the kids.

This is Maui. She is Vilma's neighbor in Hayward and I knew her through Vilma. Since I met her the three of us became friends and were always together in family gatherings. She's on her family way with her fourth baby. She and her hubby planned to have the baby born in the Philippines so they scheduled their flight this 25th of April. She plans to stay there for at least 2 or 3 years for her to get another degree in the medical field. But just the other day, she got the news that her daddy in the Philippines died. So the plan of having a baby shower for her on the 18th was canceled because she has to fly today. I called her yesterday and shared her my condolences. She's busy as a bee trying to run last minute errands.

I have my own concern, too. Hubby and I are also busy trying to get things done before our trip to the Philippines next month. But next week, we need to fly to Portland for the church dedication of baby Isaac. But as always, my real worry is my Mom who is always going back and forth to the hospital. I hate to say how scared I am especially now that their golden wedding anniversary is at hand. It's going to be next month that's one of the reasons why we are going home. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that nothing will happen to her and I'm hopeful of God's mercy to her in sparing her more years in this world.

Indeed we are friends with different problems and concerns in life. The thing is we have each other to give words of encouragement and for support.

Three Friends....

Surprised Birthday Party

When Elsie came to the house to pick up little Kona (the dog), we talked about hubby's birthday. Much as he did not want a celebration grande, we decided to make it a surprised one for him. Actually, our plan was to hold it on the 22nd of March which was the day after Brianna's birthday. Hubby is so used to celebrating his together with his granddaughter. But Elsie got a message from Michael and Tasha in Portland saying that they were driving down to celebrate their wedding anniversary with baby Isaac here in California. So we agreed to move it later to make their presence an added element to the surprise.

Hubby did not doubt anything. Elsie took charge of the invitation, the decorations and food. I made few Filipino dishes. I made chicken adobo, pancit, lumpia and braised beef. But my honey never suspected anything big. He thought that the food I made was only for a small gathering between us and the Wolfe's.

Since we were to go to Great America on that same day with our grandkids, I decided to cook the food as early as I could. So when Elsie dropped off the kids in the morning, the food was ready. She took it with here but we told her that we were to pick up Brianna's cake in Union City on our way to her house in the afternoon. I also told her that I would cook rice when we arrive from the picnic while preparing everything to take with us to Pleasanton.

We had great time at the picnic Brianna and Bryan. But then we still had things ahead of us. Hubby begun questioning me when I started to pick the shirt he had to wear. He wanted to go with the same shirt he wore at the park. I finally convinced him to dressed up nice since he was to celebrate his birthday with Brianna. I almost came to the point of showing him the picture of last year to show how he dressed up. But he listened to me.

To make the story short, we were late. We arrived just few minutes before 8 in the evening and everybody was waiting. He was already suspecting that Elsie was cooking up something for him, especially when she called to find out where we were at and to ask him to park in front of her house. I just gave him few speculations to pacify his mind but he is really smart. He did not come in right away. He unloaded all Brianna's gifts and made few trips back and forth from our car to the porch of Elsie's house. It was an excuse. He did it on purpose to listen and to see if he could pick up a clue. The kids and I were already with the waiting crowd inside but he still did not come in. So I decided to come out and help him. I asked him to get inside first and I stayed behind. So he opened the door and walked to the side. He wanted to peek but the lights were not on. Finally he did and was surprised to see all the people waiting for him. What struck him the most was Michael and Tasha's presence with baby Isaac. It was a real big surprise for him.

These are few of the pictures I took with my camera.

I took this picture in the morning as we both decided to sleep over at the Wolfe's house. He's gleaming with happiness just being with our three grand kids

Surprised Birthday Party

My Brother's Birthday...

I did not forget my brother's birthday which was on the 30th of March. I just could not get close to my computer. There's just so many things going on here brother Boy. I really did not forget about you.

We will just get together when we get there next month, hopefully. I know we will but just to let you know you were on my prayers not only on that day but everyday.

My Brother's Birthday...