Brookside Baby: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

A little, often

The phrase "A little, often" I picked up from one of Anthony Bourdain's travel and food shows. It was advice from a weathered Basque chef concerning the consumption of rich food, wine, song and all good things in this world. I like it. It's my mantra for this season or maybe yet, for the rest of the year. In my case, I mean the sharing of snapshots from the house on foggy hill.

Buddha's knot

Father's Day approaching

Kimi's drawer

Nemo orange

Photos by Babeth Lolarga

Thursday, May 30, 2013

All new in my eyes

Whoever said, in a galaxy a long long time ago, "Behold! I make all things new!", was a wise wise person, someone who now guides my hand and eyes. Today's quartet of photos:

Hairclip

Pocket

Candy colors

Sock drawer

Photos by Babeth Lolarga

World-class musical artists at Ayala Museum

Trickster on the guitar | Vera Files

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Keeping it down to four

Stomach flu kept me away from this space. But it didn't keep me from seeing my small world through an old digicam's lens and finding more subjects to add to an expanding gallery of sorts. The subjects make me think of writing prompts.

I'm also taking to heart a critic's (naturally, it has to be a family member) advice to limit the number of photo uploads to about four. It's more out of consideration for those who have slow Internet connectivity--the pictures take sometime to appear on their screens. So four, the critic said (she should know; she works as a social media analyst), is ideal. So four it is.

Cola strike is over

Clothespins

Kid's gate

Lil one's collection

Photos by Babeth Lolarga

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Music Flashmob: Verdi, La Traviata

Weather condition and an unplanned purchase

Saturday
May 24, 2013

Weather condition: "Back to Baguio weather." The person in charge of the Cinematheque made this comment after he stepped out of the cinema's darkness to take a breather.

The hem of my gray sweat pants is damp from rain, and so are my socks. The rain was sudden, strong. The downpour caught me along upper Session Road on my way to Hill Station. The entrance or patio portion, though covered, started to experience a small flash flood as water flowed down the steps so I moved to the bar where I ordered a cappuccino with Splenda. The slice of dark decadent chocolate cake I asked the server to return to the chiller until my coffee-drinking companion arrived.

Coffee and Baguio--they go together like tea and sympathy (honk! honk! for being corny there) or mangga at suman at the height of an Antipolo summer.

My old journal has a few more blank pages--the entire time I was here, I couldn't bring myself to open it, except for the times when Kai wanted to doodle lines and circles.

Simply irresistible

Page marker, with a reminder to also write the day of the week and the weather conditions

I fell in love at first sight with this new journal when I swung by Mt Cloud. I just intended to browse, but I couldn't help myself. The cover illustration was truly death by cuteness!

Twice L tried to drive out of her place to get here, twice the rain held her back. But I know of people who'd rather be up here in this weather than when it's dry and sunny.

Only the bar and its smoking area are open--the Hill's main dining room is being prepared for a product launch so tables are scarce, including my favorite one. But the light at the bar is good, and the bartender Albert is familiar with my face.

Nice amber light cast in bar area

That table with the only couch I already reserved once it empties. The couch is what a couch ought to be--cushy, comfy, gray from its thin black and white stripes and tiny white dots. There I can slouch and write at the same time. What to do with my old notebook? Maybe my lesson plans for the first weeks of classes will go in them.

Proprietary about this couch

Finally, I realized that I have this "timeout" hour to myself outside the house. I'm not counting the whole days when I chose to remain home alone.

This.... (unfinished thought)

Photos by Babeth Lolarga

Saturday, May 25, 2013

In Kai's room

Our journey on the top floor of the house has moved to the child's room where the light is better. Here are some of my finds from yesterday's wandering. It's a happy room, I must say, most especially when it's primary resident is busy talking and singing while playing. I hope she goes on doing all that till she's 12!

Assorted minis

Rays through the blinds

Beloved dinosaur

Fave instrument

Folds of a onesie

Hello K!

Hello K again!

Rubber mat

Photos by Babeth Lolarga

Aze Ong takes crochet to the next level | Vera Files

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Wandering eye

I am extremely motivated to rise before the sun now that I'm earning "accolades" for my explorations into still life photography. Oh, I don't want to sound so pretentious so I'll call them "snaps." Today I took advantage of the light between 7 and 8 a.m. when the toddler wasn't up and asking for attention.

About those accolades, it's expected that they should come from women friends and relatives. Here are their comments about my past "interesting" and "delightful" two blog posts. So thank you, Lorna, Gou, Lissa and Ida in that order for using the art of looking.

If this were a movie, well, honey, I'm getting rave reviews!

"You have a fantastic eye -- for both the common and the uncommon. The kiddie chair with the fish is sooo cute. Thanks, Babeth."

"Lovely! Reminds me of a quaint book I read a while ago about traveling in/revisiting your own room."

"Love your collection of 'random' objects! so whimsical and meaningful at the same time."

"Thank you for taking pictures of my bears. And I like the pic of myself in a frame with a stiletto beside it."