Sub Divo

sunset in Paphos, Cyprus

Under the vast sky

Looking at the wide open sea

All means nothing…

All means everything

Autumn Before the Festivities

fallen leaves in our backyard


Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
- Albert Camus (1913 - 1960)

Before the festivities for Christmas and New Year begin, here are a few more photos of autumn - the beautiful transition period between the euphoric spirit of summer and the excitement of the yuletide season.


Autumn sings a lullaby to the beat of crunching leaves under your feet and the soft pitter-patter of rain as it prepares plants and trees for their winter sleep.


It seems so tranquil – with leaves turning from green to yellow then red, then slowly falling to the ground with a passing soft breeze traced with the lingering warmth of summer. But beneath its serene surface is the frenzy of birds, squirrels, hedgehogs and other creatures getting ready to head south or build nests, finding (and storing) enough food to last for the duration of the cold season.


Autumn is a beauty in contrast – as leaves’ color become more intense, the colder the temperature becomes. And when trees are down to their last leaf, they would then be shrouded in winter mist or covered in soft snow.

felix with ears pricked for falling leaves

But not yet… winter is officially 3 weeks away. So while waiting for the next “scene”, let’s enjoy autumn’s charm while it lasts.

Wordless Wednesday : Dewdrops on a Spider Web

dewdrops on a spider web


In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.

- Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC), Parts of Animals

We think in generalities, but we live in detail.

- Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947)

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), "Of Beauty"

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.

- Aaron Rose (1969 - )

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Wordless Wednesday

waves after a strong rain in Grande Anse (between St. Pierre and St. Joseph), La Réunion

And then, the unspeakable purity and freshness of the air!
There was just enough heat to enhance the value of the breeze,
and just enough wind to keep the whole sea in motion,
to make the waves come bounding to the shore,
foaming and sparkling, as if wild with glee.

- from Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë (1820-1849)

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Almost Wordless Wednesday

hyacinth that I planted in bloom

Every winter, When the great sun has turned his face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay--
Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.

-Charles Kingsley (1819 - 1875), Saint's Tragedy (act III, sc. 1)

It's Spring!!!

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Not-so-Wordless Wednesday

a stained glass window in one of the churches in Ghent, Belgium

A beautiful stained glass window in one of the several churches in Ghent, Belgium. I'm not so sure what from church I saw this vividly colored artwork but I think this can be seen in St. Michael's Church, near the picturesque quay of the river Lys. I though it would be a good entry for today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten Season.

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food
until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken;
for dust you are and to dust you will return.

- Genesis 3:19

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Amor Est Vitae Essentia

I think you have found love
when you find not only happiness in his arms but also peace and solace;
when you are willing to go an extra mile or two just to see her smile;
when you let your guard down yet feel safe and protected;
when you give a part of your self and still remain whole.

As Robert B. Mackay said, Amor est vitae essentia ... love is the essence of life.
So I hope we all find love one way or another, in one form or another.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Not-so-Wordless Wednesday

Lac inferieure de Bastan, Hautes-Pyrénées

You have your piece of heaven on earth when your dreams are entwined,
when your hearts and minds are one,
when you look into his eyes and find your home and soul.

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Not-so-Wordless Wednesday

a butterfly and a bee “sharing” a flower

If you knew what I know about the power of giving,
you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.

Buddha (563 BC – 483 BC)

I was actually trying to get a photo of the flower with the butterfly on it, but I got more than what I hoped for. Another winged creature flew and joined the limelight with Mr. Brown-spotted Yellow Butterfly. And it appears that Mr. Busy Bee is not only intent on having his share of camera exposure but even more on having his portion of the “feast”. The flower must be nectar-filled as these two insects seem to be oblivious to my presence. Or maybe it was just my lucky day *grins*


I’m not an entomologist, but I thought butterflies are territorial. So I’m expecting that it would chase the bee away. However it seems not to mind the other insect’s partaking of the food. Perhaps the amount of nectar in this flower is more than enough so it doesn’t mind sharing *smiles.* Or the butterfly might be thinking since it is a lot bigger than the bee, its size would scare the other away. But the bee seems to be undeterred to have his piece of the banquet.


Whatever the reason, I’m glad I was able to capture this moment, even for posterity’s sake. And maybe, I should try to grow this flower to attract more bees and butterfly. And speaking of the flower, can someone please tell me what kind it is. It looks like some sort of thistle, but I’m not sure. And for butterfly lovers, any idea about the name of the one in the picture? I would greatly appreciate your help *thankful grin.*

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Wordless Wednesday

a caterpillar and an unknown insect in our garden

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear

-Mark Twain (1835-1910)

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By Twilight

I come home to you
for the soft glow that surrounds me
after the harsh light of the city

I come home to you
for you bathe me in serenity
after the chaos of the melee

I come home to you
for your heart listens to me
after battling the crowd’s cacophony

I come home to you
for you give me back my sanity
after going through the day’s folly

I come home to you
for your heart’s sincerity
after contending with the world’s hypocrisy

I come home to you
for with thee
I can just be me

Blooming Friday

a red rose in our garden

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into.

-Henry Ward Beecher

This is my first entry for Blooming Friday created by Katarina of Roses and stuff. I think it's only fitting to start the meme with a rose for she loves this flower. Thank you Katarina for inviting me to participate in this wonderful weekly post. This is a great way to end a hectic week and a plant a seed of hope for a pleasant weekend. Flowers never fail to brighten someone's day.

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In Finding Happiness

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved

--- for ourselves, or rather, in spite of ourselves.

- Victor Hugo

Nothing and no one can ever replace the joy of being held in your arms as you whisper how much you care and sealing it with a tender kiss. Thank you for loving me, just as I am.

One of My Favorite Things

No more classes, no more books, no more teachers, dirty looks!
Summertime… Summertime…

- Bugs Bunny in Bugs Bunny’s Bustin’ Out All Over (1980)(TV)

During my younger years (and even up to now) whenever I think of summer, I cannot help but remember the above lines of Bugs Bunny. As a kid, I was even tempted to do a cartwheel while reciting it. For most of us, especially for young people, summertime means vacation. Maybe not vacation as in going to far-away places with white sand beach and inviting blue sea, but at least a break from the usual routine. You can stay-up late because you can wake up late *giggles*, no need to rush from one task to another (or one place to another), and have the time to do things you don’t usually have time for during a normal working (or school) day --- like reading *grins*.

Well, July did not start well here. It was rainy half of the time, gray and windy for the rest. We did have some burst of sunshine only to be easily dissipated by the fast moving ominous dark clouds which usually brings rain. But it wasn’t that bad, because first, I had a respite from my pollen allergy (its very uncomfortable sneezing every few seconds and a runny nose to boot). And second, I was able to do one of my favorite activities --- reading *wide grin*. So far, I’m into Robert Ludlum novels these days. I believe one of the best ways to spend a rainy afternoon is to be snug in your easy chair or bed (or in whatever comfortable and cozy place/position, for that matter) with a book in hand while listening to the pitter-patter of the rain *sigh*. And maybe, with some cookies within reach as it sometimes difficult to stop reading, especially when the plot becomes thicker and more and more complex.



Reading is a pleasure for me, but since I find it hard not to finish the story in one sitting, it can “interfere” with my daily chores… or rather my household tasks hampers my reading *giggles*. Good thing we have summer. Everybody and everything seems to relax a bit, and there’s a silent agreement about having a lull from the mad rush of everyday life. In other words, we are given a moment to laze around, even for just a little while. And I can spend some time reading novels. For those who are wondering what Ludlum book I’ve burrowed my nose into, they are The Scarletti Inheritance, The Road to Gandolfo, The Aquitaine Progression, The Bourne Trilogy (and if asked which I like more, the movies or the books, I’d say both are quite engrossing in their own ways and deserve to be viewed/read based on their own merits) and three Covert-One series written by other authors but are said to be based on Ludlum’s unpublished notes --- The Hades Factor, The Cassandra Compact and The Paris Option.



Well, it seems that our spell of wet, gloomy weather has passed. The sun has resumed its place in the sky since this morning --- which is good, for tomorrow is the National Day here and it would be very disappointing to see the fireworks display and other sky exhibitions with rain pouring down. And I guess, it’s also time to set aside my reading now and resume my usual routine. Oh, it doesn’t mean I would totally stop reading… it’s just that I will refrain now from spending most of my time in the worlds created by novelists. With a forecast of sunny days ahead, it would be nice to spend some time outdoors. Better take advantage of dry, warm weather because soon, it’s going to be cold again and I’ll be cooped up, wrapped in layers cloth *grins*.

In Reaching for the Stars

Stretching his hand out to catch the stars, he forgets the flowers at his feet.

- Jeremy Bentham (1748 - 1832)

Sometimes, we become too focused on acquiring things we don’t have, on attaining a certain status in life, on achieving goals beyond our reach that we forget the simple yet beautiful things we have --- material and non-material, the “mundane” events happening around us, the “usual” people helping and accompanying us along the way. We tend to take them for granted, thinking that the only one worth valuing is those which are difficult to accomplish or gain. But more often than not, these seemingly ordinary things are also worth being given a second glance, the “average” persons we have in our life--- husband, friend, neighbor, even our self has that something special. May we not be blinded by the glitter and the glamour the stars in the sky for happiness can also be found in the grass under our feet, in the fragrance of flowers in the air, in the arms of someone who sees the real us and still love us all the same.

Pater Familias

You stand like a sentinel
Protective without being dominating
Authoritative without being autocratic
Commanding without being imposing

You nourished us not only with physical sustenance
But also provided food for the soul;
Clothed us not only with decent garments
But also with proper values;
Sheltered us not only from the harsh elements
But also from the storms of life;
Raised us not only with respect for oneself
But also for others and everything around us

You continue to stand like a sentinel
Watching over us with loving and understanding eyes
Guiding, ready to lend a hand
As we fight our own battles

Thank you father, for supporting us in every way possible
And for providing us with a shoulder to lean on
When we are weary and in need of a rest
From our respective journeys called life

Happy Father’s Day to my father and brothers, father and brothers-in-law, to our relatives and friends who continue to extend their love and assistance to their families. This is for all of you. And to our Father up there, thank you for your bottomless love and forgiveness of our trespasses.

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday

a river in the Pyrénées

You could not step twice into the same river;
for other waters are ever flowing on to you.

- Heraclitus, On the Universe

I believe this to be literally and figuratively true. Literally, the flowing water changes --- its contents, its velocity, its depth as it goes to join other bodies of water or meanders its way through valleys and gorges. Figuratively, people do not remain static. Our experiences, whether trivial or not, modifies our perspective on life. No matter how infinitesimal the changes are, they are still changes. And when we are in a situation similar to a previous one, we couldn’t and wouldn’t react precisely in the same way --- for we are not exactly the same person as before.

To quote again from Heraclitus: All is flux, nothing stays still (from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers)

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Mater: Fons et Origo

Since that tiny pulse of life began,
I felt your smile, heard your love
You womb has been my haven, my source of strength
My fortress and my cocoon
The cord that connects us is more than my lifeline
It is the bond that forever entwines my life with yours

When you held me in your arms
I knew in that instinctive way of an infant
That there’s no need to be afraid
I will always be protected, loved, cared for
I will never be alone
I will never be abandoned
As I find my way in this maze called Life

You never cease to guide and enlighten me with your wisdom
We shared my tears and laughter,
my struggles and my surrenders, my winnings and my loses
You are my mentor and my friend
The one who keeps holding up a mirror to me so I can see who I am

I don’t know if I can ever repay you
Maybe I will never be able to
But I’ll try to be the best person I can be
For to do so is to respect and honor you
Thank you for who I am and who I will become
I love you with all my heart, my dearest mother

Fons et Origo: Mother, you are my source and origin

Happy Mother’s Day to all who unselfishly gave and continues to give their life and love to their families especially to my beloved mother, my dear sister and sisters-in-law, my mother-in-law, my relatives and my friends. You all deserve the best in the world, not only today but for the rest of your life. This might seem late, but on our side of the world, we celebrate "Mothers Day" today.