A Homemaker’s Diary

Unexpectedly, SIL #2 decided to pay us a visit last weekend. Actually it was SIL #1 who brought them to our house as they came to KL earlier for nephew #2 degree registration in KLMU.

Well known to the family that she likes gardening and has the eye of landscaper..(ceh!), after the late lunch I purposely went out to check out my garden. Actually I wanted to put aside those keladi and lily plants that I promised to give to SIL#1 (we always have this arrangement whereby I will semai new plants, once gemuk and sihat, SIL will take it to her home)…I asked SIL#1 whether she wants to take the old orchid pots I have since I don’t have time to take care of orchids now and then SIL #2 came out and voiced out her opinion about my garden. One thing led to another, it turned out to be total garden makeover.

I will update this entry with picture later once I managed to snap one or two. We were rushing to go to Bagan Lalang after the garden makeover that I didn’t have the chance to take picture of my new garden arrangement.

I was so happy with my new garden since Hubby said the front yard looks more spacious now compared to the previously scattered, tak berseni arrangement I had..hehe! (That was not garden, that was more like tapak semaian..haha!) And SIL #2 said I should buy more plants to fill up some lopong space..(and all this while I thought I have no more space to add in new plants..heh!)

For those who ask about Montessori books that I am currently reading, here are the titles:

Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years: The Pre-School Years by [Teaching Montessori in the Home] by Elizabeth G. Hainstock

How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin

I chose these 2 books to buy after reading the reviews from amazon.com..plus I am planning to incorporate some of the Montessori methods in my daily learn and play session with the little one. I recently discovered Google Books whereby you can read some of the page previews although not all books provide the limited preview.

As of now, I am previewing Your Child at Play – One to Two Years By Marilyn Segal, Raising A Son by Jeanne Elium and even reading Raising A Daughter by Don Elium (just to pick up some point of differences between boys and girls..haha!)

Oh, the other day I was previewing Raising Boys: Why Boys Are Different – And How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men by Steve Biddulph and one part I find alarming is the fact that boys shouldn’t be sent to day care before the age of 3 as they suffer the separation anxiety more or what is called the sad/angry boy syndrome..huhu! I’m sure many working moms will disagree with the author on that issue but then again it’s your decision to make after all..(and I am glad that I am a SAHM..heh!)

Well, that’s it for now. I want to continue reading the preview pages before deciding which books I will buy next.

These days whenever I have the chance while taking care of the little one playing on his play mat in front of the TV, I will watch National Geographic channel. Today I managed to watch about the legendary Sinbad voyage from Middle East to China. It took the captain and his crews 12 months to reach the harbour of China, did their trade with people of Tang dynasty and on the way back they vanished in Belitung area in Indonesia due to bad weather. Only recently the whole treasures were founded and sold to the government of Singapore for USD22 mil.

I was never into history but this kind of new knowledge makes me think that as a mother who will one day be asked by my son of many trivial things in life, it’s surely be beneficial..heh! Oh, the Montessori books I ordered have arrived last week. I’ve started reading a few chapters every night when the little one falls asleep (read: after 1-2am) I also found another good book about raising boys that I want to buy and read next.

On personal interest, I found a blog about clay flowers. Actually I was browsing about making dip flower using Fantasy Film (yes, people in the US have been making bunga dip since the 70’s before the liquid was banned due to toxicity..heh!) when I stumbled upon another craft blog that sells paper and clay flowers. I guess it’s about time that I venture into new realm in handmade flower making..well you know, as the book says look for New Cheese before the Old Cheese run out..hehe!

Hopefully as things are progressing, I really wish that I have more time to spend on my crafts but as of now, my son is the main priority..it won’t be long I know, the time will come when he will spread his wings and fly, gaining his independence into the wide world, leaving his Mama behind with her flowers..haha!

Available for order before 17th August 2009. Priced at RM20 per box, consists of 30++ pieces of kurma madu. The ribbon and flower decoration is subject to change according to stock availability.

If you are interested for a lower budget pack i.e RM15, RM10, I can customize the order with lesser amount of kurma and smaller plastic container. 🙂

Please leave comment with a valid email address or contact number for me to get back to you.

I am currently reading this book by Naomi Stadlen’s titled What Mothers Do: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing.

Check out this product description taken from Amazon.com:

Have you ever spent all day looking after your baby or young child – and ended up feeling that you have ‘done nothing all day’?

Do you sometimes find it hard to feel pleased with what you are doing, and tell yourself you should achieve more with your time? Maybe it’s because you can’t see how much you are doing already.

In this unique and perceptive look at mothering, Naomi Stadlen draws on many years’ work with hundreds of other mothers of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds. She explores mothers’ experiences to reveal what they – and you – are doing when it may look, to everyone else, like nothing.

If you are a mother, and have ever felt: that nobody understands what you do all day; overwhelmed by your feelings for your baby; tired all the time; that nothing prepared you for motherhood; uncertain what your baby seems to want; short-tempered with your partner – you will find this the most reassuring book you have ever picked up.