Saturday, June 16, 2012

Zimar's guests in the gardenhouse


My caretaker asked me why I always have visitors in my gardenhouse.  These visitors I called friends.  My garden house is open to all our friends, relatives, neighbors, officemates, former classmates, our religious group, my taebo group as well as my husband’s basketball group and favorite clients.  I just keep inviting which becomes a surprise to them.  Some feel elated while others think otherwise.  No matter what they think, my invitation comes from the heart.  The feeling of being surrounded with real people is the treasure of hope God has given me.  I would like to share this treasure with them.

The primary offering of my weekend gardenhouse is its garden--designed and planted by my caring hands, the warm hospitality of my house and the willingness to allow my guest to participate with me in the joy of planting.

Please come and be my guest.
A friend defines the real meaning of friendship:

            It  isn’t  based on how many secrets you share, isn’t how well you get along nor how much you like each other, isn’t how people see you together.

            But, it appreciates the differences, the gaps, the hindrances, the trials and still… a friend looks at you, straight from the heart …
                                    Without hatred
                                    Without judgment
                                    Without envy
                                    Without criticisms
                                    Only pure acceptance and respect.”

God gave us the most down to Earth person on planet Earth. This is Jessie Soriano an old family friend and an ever loyal vip client of my husband.  My husband is super spoiled with her generosity.  She makes us believe that there is really good in the world aside from the love of a family ... and that is the gift of friendhip. We know how busy she is but when she is in the Philippines, she takes time to hang out with us.    Her presence in our Tagaytay is the most rewarding day for us, especially to me.   To quote her "Zimar you know me, I do not make bullshit, but i want to let you know that I was in my friend's PhP39MM house in Tagaytay but I wont exchange your house for that."  Then I replied, can you say that infront of my husband?  Thanks Jessie for the most encouraging words.

My elementary/highschool friends.  Tessie Cereno, Glenda Mandalpaz, Alice Ang, Ludy Capuli and Saturn Perez.  We belong to CNHS Batch72 group being Glenda plays a major and important roll as a drummer of the group.  Without her, no CNHS Batch72 the way it is  now.
Tessie Cereno is now in the U.S. with her nurse daughter.
Ludy Abular Capuli, my highschool classmate.  During highschool days, we were dancers in the school. One day we were astonished to see each other in the building where she and I work in different office.  What a coincidence.
My husband's elementary/highschool classmates.  They are super great.  If Amor and Fe are on the move, there is always a party, but of course with the support of the prime mover, Ray (wife Trina).   Beautiful Trina doesn't belong to the group, like me, but her presence makes the world go round.  Above picture is with balikbayan guest Alice (in yellow) while below is a balikbayan from San Francisco, Lino, first from the right.






This is Tess Anderson married to a handsome and kind military man. She speaks several languages and a good chef.  I met her 3 years ago when she worked in the U.S. Embassy.  We started for just a single phone call. Now she calls me every now and then from San Diego, U.S.A, and when she is in the Philippines, she makes sure that we see each other.   Someday, she'll be my neighbor in Tagaytay. She has a property in Canyon Woods. 

My daughter Dana and friends.




Dan's friends.


This is the happy family of Liza Mendoza, my aero-taebo buddy.  She has great family.  When I was with them, I never had a single moment that I was not laughing.  Truly nice people.
Yolly Ferido and son Cholo.  Our neighbor in Christina.  Thanks for dropping by.  Cheers!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Zimar's Weekend Gardenhouse



Having a small house in the area where all the houses are big and made of concrete make my small garden house very unusual to passers-by.  During the construction of the house and even up to now, passers-by normally stop, sneak and try to satisfy their curiosities.  I even received visits from brokers asking permission to show my place to prospective buyers.  While others asked where I bought my stuff.  My favorite visitor is our Tagaytay neighbor, Doc. Jojo Maximiano,PHD who gave me a lot of encouragements.  He has an eye for beauty as evidence by his lovely house and intelligence as he injected tips. He is my regular visitor, whether I am in or not.  He will just go around and see what is new in my garden house.    He does bring his friends too to show the uniqueness of the house that offers the most privacy and natural site with the silence and the relaxing atmosphere from the beauty of the nature landscape.  


Having out on a weekend means, wake up early, pick up my garden tools, pack my picnic basket, invite my family/friends and off to go to my weekend garden house to relax and be free from the many entrapments of urban living.

Please come and have a tour with me.   Here are few pictures I piled up taken by different people who visited my place. I am thoroughly enjoying the excitement my garden house is bringing me.  Hope you too. 

Count your blessings.  Look around, appreciate what you have--your love ones, real friends, your home, the knowledge you have gained, good health and all the beautiful things of life.  Enjoy life while you can.
Welcome to my simple gardenhouse.  Above picture was taken by my good friend/classmate in elementary/High School, Ms. Glenda Manlapaz.  She loves taking pictures.





 



My gardenhouse at night.




This picture was taken by my brother in law, Egay Attendo, my sister Abna's husband.  His hobby is photography.  The birds bath was given to me by my daughter, Atty. Dana.  Showing off my boots, this was given to me by my nieces from Londoon, Jackie & Ness.  I love to wear this boots while gardening.

The jars shown here are 92 years old.  I bought this for a gave away price from Jun, the son of my good friend/classmate since elementary, Tessie Cereno, who is now in New Jersey with her nurse daughter.








This was taken early morning.  Can you see the fog?














Kudos to Goergianne Liad, my son-n-law's office mate, who photographed the beautiful photo below.  When I saw this picture, i couldn't resist not to pass on to my friends.