To which I bid adieu

As I look at this humble space the past few months, the silence is palpable.  A few words here and there, barely an excuse for a blog.  

And as one who have written for you and you have read for me, I owe you more than a few alliterations and poetic lines.  You deserve better.  And better is not achieved without growth.  Growth is not achieved without struggle, learning, and finally letting go.

It's not so much that I had ran out of words or not know what to say.  In fact, it's been the opposite.  Stories, ideas, inspiration - all the things that can be beautifully strung together.  But somehow, those words felt more at home unwritten and untold. And like everything that is important and alive, this space grows too.  This blog, the wonderful escapes and inspirations it has allowed me to express, the images I openly share, has finally reached its own crossroads.  

But not all is gone.  I will still be around because your stories still need to be read, your world to be seen.  So know that I remain your audience.  And maybe, once I've passed a corner or two, I will be back a better version of me.

So in my honest diligence to growth, I say my thanks.  For all the laughs and stories you have shared.  For your wonderful recipes and beautiful pictures.  For bringing inspiration to me when needed the most.  For allowing me to meet amazing people across the world.  

Thank you.  Salamat.  You have been good to me.

Bringing green to me

I haven't been writing much lately.  I found that after coming back from training, I haven't had the interest to dissect the yoga or my practice the same way.  Nor do I notice much around me in and around the hot room to write about.  Sure there's the occasional class that makes me want to crawl home, but it doesn't feel natural to write about them these days.  And as for my adventures in teaching, I tend to save that for fellow teachers.  Mostly because it's stuff that'll bore everyone else to tears.

As for cooking, it's been happening.  And lots of baking too.  The camera, however, has not been part of my kitchen.  A lot of times, taking photos distracts me from enjoying my food because it gets cold by the time I get to it.  And I have a serious issue with not piping hot meals.

I just wanted simple for awhile.  Words and material things.  And so I simple I did.  No writing, no cameras, no overanalyzing.

So what brought me back to here so soon?  Well I've found a new hobby - gardening!  

I've always been around gardens and plants growing up.  In fact, the only time I wasn't was when I moved into the city years ago.  Surrounded by concrete with pockets of green every other neighbourhood, it had finally becoming depressing.  I needed to bring the green to me.

Last two years, I planted some basil indoors to keep my tropical plants company, but that was the extent of my green thumb despite my dreams of a great balcony garden.  Secretly, I was afraid I was going to kill things which is not good for my self-esteem.  Yes, dying plants can take a toll on the ego.

Well, it turns out, it's kinda hard to kill basil.  With my green thumb confidence on an all time high as the new spring came around, I've decided that I was not going to hold myself back.

I went to my stash of seeds sweetly sent by the lovely Ninang Annapet at The Daily Palette, got some soil, and carried home as many pots as I could from the dollar store (gardening need not be expensive!).  I contemplated buying starter plants but I resisted.  I was going to do this all from seed!

A few weeks later, I've got myself sproutings of arugula (a funny story to come), tomatoes, lettuces, spinach, marigolds, basil, and lavender.  All in my humble balcony (well, indoors for now until the weather warms up more).  I've also discovered that the best place for plants in my drafty apt is in the bedroom.  Yes, the bedroom.

So naturally, I've been sleeping with my tomatoes and cilantro next to the orchids.  And every morning, I peek at them to see how much they've grown.  I know, it's like watching paint dry - you can't see a plant grow millimetre by millimetre, but that doesn't stop me from looking anyways.  Oh except cilantro, that stuff is like on steroids!!  I swear, I just took a nap and it's grown 3 inches by the time I wake up. 

Anyways, here's to a bountiful summer and hoping that I don't murder my garden.  If you see a frantic yogi in and out of her balcony, that's probably me moving my plants back safely indoors from the wind or moving them out as we chase the afternoon sun. And if anyone is around downtown Toronto and would like to do a seed swap (organic/heirlooms preferred), drop me a line.  I don't have much but I'm always willing to share what I got :)