Short Notice: I'm Sorry

I'm on a bad Internet connection since Friday. I can't post or go visiting blogs right now, but I'll try to catch up as soon as possible. Thank you for all the kind visits and wonderful comments. It means a lot to me. I published this post from another connection. Poor me! LOL

I'm sorry. Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Green Guide For Kids by Deirdre Gill

This flower is another photo taken from our vacation to the Safari Garden Hotel & Restaurant. A place that belongs to Taman Safari Indonesia, Indonesia's center for reproduction of endangered wildlife. I really enjoy the sense of mother nature in this beautiful area. You can see a lot of unique flowers here.

I have been browsing the Web again and came upon this great online environmental resource for kids to find ideas, information, and inspiration to go green called The Green Guide For Kids by Deirdre Gill. This is what she says about herself:

I am an illustrator and writer with a passion for the natural world. I hope to help you feel empowered to speak up and take action to help protect the environment.

As a mother of two children, I really feel that she has done a great job with her sites. I hope that you will spend your time to visit and see them for yourself. You might not only find inspiration for your kids but for you as well. Let's go green, everybody!

Click button to visit the Little Green Blog

Click button to find more Nature Notes
Thank you for hosting this great meme, Michelle!

Click button to see more Think Green Thursday links.
Pagan Sphinx aka Gina the original host is on a blogging hiatus

Thank you for willing to sponsor this great meme, Michelle!

Thank you for coming up with this great idea, Gina!

TWT #19: How To Make A Big Decision

A few days ago my 5 year old son brought home some fish from the pond. But last night my husband asked him to release the fish again, because they wouldn't eat anything given to them.

After the summotion of the fish from our house to the pond around 7am this morning, I told the kids that their father had promised to get a new pet as exchange. The response was some great excitement! The only problem was that they could not agree on what animal it would be. My daughter insisted to have a bunny, while my son was persistent on a hamster. I have been hearing them shouting "Bunny, bunny...!" and "Hamster, hamster...!" until 10am, when it was time for my daughter to go to school.

Arriving back at home, I had this following conversation with my son.

Son: "Mom, I have come to a decision."
Mom (working on the laundry): "What decision?"
Son: "The animal! It will be a BUNNY."
Mom: "A bunny? I thought you wanted a hamster?"
Son: "Yeah, but sister doesn't want to have one."
Mom: "Why do you want a hamster?"
Son: "It can crawl on your hand, because it isn't as big as a bunny."
Mom: "Oh, I see... but could you stand the tickles?"
Son: "Mom, it doesn't tickle when you have cloth on. His feet won't touch your skin. What were you thinking!"
Mom (clears the throat): "Alright then, let's call Dad now and tell him it's gonna be a bunny."
Son (very enthusiastic): "Call him now? Okay, we could tell him it will be a HAMSTER. Sister is still at school and she won't know.
Mom: "??!"

Sometimes I really feel like a phlyarologist, when having these kind of conversations with my son. Don't get me wrong, it's ME not him! LOL

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S GONNA BE?
BOTH CRITTERS ARE PULCHRITUDINOUS TO ME
WE WILL FIND OUT ON SATURDAY!

Source: Photobucket by Briasaur

Source: Photobucket by witchmulan

My friend Quilly hosts a great literature meme called Three Word Thursday. Come and join the fun!

This week's words are:

phlyarologist – one who talks nonsense
pulchritudinous – characterized by or having great physical beauty and appeal
summotion – removal

Click button to see more Three Word Thursday links
Thank you for hosting this great meme, Quilly!

I've Been Tagged: 123 Book Meme

Source: Amazon.co.uk

Well, actually I tagged myself. I guess I'm in a tag mood right now, so I searched the keywords "I've Been Tagged" on Google and this is one of the tags/memes that came up.

Here are the Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

Okay, the nearest book to me was the English-Indonesia bilingual edition of Time Flies for Ms Wiz read by my daughter.

The 5th sentence on page 123 is:

Except the young girl was meant to marry your great-great-grandfather."

The next three sentences are:

"In other words, the whole of history would have been changed and you wouldn't have been born, Mr Bailey," said Nabila.

"Er, really?"

Mr Bailey seemed to be trying to work it out in his head.

I'm sorry, but now you have to try to work out the rest of the story in your head or buy the book. Those are the only parts I can reveal according to this tag. I'm sticking to the rules here. Just play along, if you are up to it. Who knows, you might have fun!

One Lovely Blog Award & The 6th Photo Tag

Today I got a lovely surprise from my dear friend
Thom at Thom's Place 4 Well Whatever.
I'm so thankful & delighted that he thought of me for

The One Lovely Blog Award

Click this following link, if you want to know the story behind the one lovely blog award. I think the insight story of an award is very interesting. Did you know that the button above is actually a painting?

Here are the rules that MUST be followed:
1. Add the logo to your blog.
2. Link to the person from whom you received this award
3. Nominate 7 or more blogs
4. Leave a message on their blog,
letting them know they are "One Lovely Blog"!

Like I wrote before, I always think of the person who gave me an award as someone who particularly deserves it. But, they already have received the award and it's too difficult for me to make all other choices. There are SO MANY lovely blogs close to my heart!

If you have found yourself in one of the lovely categories in my post here and I am a visitor of your blog, then this award is dedicated to you from the bottom of my heart. I would love you to accept my deeply appreciation by grabbing this button and place it on your blog. Still there are no strings attached, I know that some of you might not be too fancy about buttons. The most important part is that you know I think you have a lovely blog. Thank you.

Now, let's go to the 6th Photo tag.
I don't know why, but I really do enjoy tags.
So thanks again, Thom!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
1) Go to your photo files…Select the 6th photo folder
2) Select the 6th photo in that folder
3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.
4) Then challenge 6 blog friends to do the same!

Here’s the 6th photo in my 6th folder, Food & Drinks
from my photo files

I took this shot on April 25th, 2009 at 2:51pm with my SE mobile camera when I was enjoying a cup of strawberry tea at my husband's office. The smell and taste of this tea was really lovely and relaxing. You can see a part of the green cup I used at the background. I thought that the tea bag package would be suitable for one of my Ruby Tuesday's entries, but haven't submitted this photo ever since. Looking at it now, I think it would also be suitable for Double Trouble Tuesday. You know what, I'm gonna submit it now. Play along with this tag, if you feel you are up to it. It is a lot of fun!

DOUBLE TROUBLE TUESDAY

Let's all encourage Martha's 11 year old wanna-be photographer and blogger son by playing along. There are no real rules, it's up for your own interpretation. Thank you!

Click button to see more red images or submit your link
Thank you for hosting this great blog carnival, Mary

Kim's Standard Stuff & The Lemonade Stand Award

On June 12, 2009 I got a lovely surprise from my friend
Kim at Stuff Could Always Be Worse.
I'm so thankful & delighted that she thought of me for

The Lemonade Stand Award

I really wish that I could find the story behind this lovely award, but I haven't come upon the original source until now.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you more about Kim today. She is one of those strong personalities that you meet on the Web, who have been through a lot of struggle in life. These are the words from her Blogger profile:

Have battled MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) for 30 years, married 24 years, 2 kids in college. Feel very blessed because I learned a long time ago, things could always be worse.

You can read the reasons behind her blog title in I Was Taught Gratitude. Click the link for her whole story:

[...] It took me 15 years of hating the chair before I realized what an aide I have. Everyone with a disease like MS has the battle of the chair. Rightly so.

When you are feeling down, look around and it will not take long to see someone else, in a worse condition.

Just recently she added a new store called Standard Stuff on Ebay to her previous store on CafePress. A percentage of her profits will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. So if you have time, please visit Kim's blog and links to see her offers. Thank you.

The rules for giving and receiving
the Lemonade Stand Award are as follows:

* Put the logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
* Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
* Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I'm sorry, but I'm gonna break the rules again. If you fit this award category and I am a regular visitor of your blog, then this award is dedicated to you from the bottom of my heart. I would love you to accept my deeply appreciation by grabbing this button and place it on your blog. Still there are no strings attached, I know that some of you might not be too fancy about buttons. The most important part is that you know I think you show great attitude and/or gratitude on your blog. Thank you.

If you are given lemons make lemonade
Always try and make the best out of a bad situation. With some ingenuity you can make a bad situation useful.

Our Unique Gifts

“Our inner strengths, experiences, and truths cannot be lost, destroyed, or taken away. Every person has an inborn worth and can contribute to the human community. We all can treat one another with dignity and respect, provide opportunities to grow toward our fullest lives and help one another discover and develop our unique gifts. We each deserve this and we all can extend it to others.” (Source: Thinkexist.com)

MY APPRECIATION TO THE TODAY'S FLOWERS TEAM

LUIZ SANTILLI JR. - DENISE GULLICKSON
LAERTE PUPO - VALKYRIEN

Click button to view more flowers or submit your link

Click the button to see more macro images or submit your link

Thank you for hosting this great blog carnival, Lisa

Click the button to see more red images or submit your link
Thank you for hosting this great blog carnival, Mary

Click button to read more inspiring quotes

Thank you for hosting this great meme, Pamposh!

Friday Shoot Out: The Letter M

Thanks to Sarah Lulu at Normal Is A Cycle On A Washing Machine for this week's assignment. This is what she said:

Well since I'm thinking constantly of my new granddaughter Matilda ....Next week's topic (thank you for choosing me!!) ... is... Anything beginning with M.

First of all congrats to Sarah Lulu and her family for the sweet new member in the family. May Matilda Margaret bring a lot of joy and blessings into your life.

Now, back to the assignment. I was amazed when I realized many important parts of a town start with the letter M. In this post, I have added several new shots to photos from my blog archive. Let's see! The letter M stands for:

Map of West Java

Local markets selling various items, like fruit and vegetables

Various Food Menu, for example:
Black Pepper Broccoli Rice & Pangsit


Unique Merchandise, for example:
Handmade Bag, Wayang Golek & Wooden Craft Clock



Memorial or Monument

Local Mall

Traditional Music

Click this link to see more Friday "My Town" Shoot Out participants
Thank you for hosting this meme, Patty and Reggy Girl

Relax and Enjoy | Friday Fill-Ins #128

Click the button to find more Friday Fill-Ins links

Thank you for hosting this great meme, Janet!

And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking that we could reach for the stars and go for it (I still do).

2. A friend's blog was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you sit back, relax, take a deep breath, and believe that everything will be okay?

4. A positive thought helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the joy and blessings in life.

6. Discrimination, hatred, prejudice, and war are very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting a few posts done and have pleasant family time, tomorrow my plans include doing the laundry and Sunday, I want to totally relax!

When The Ducks Come Marching By

I love being around mother nature, because I find it so relaxing. Taking photos of plants and animals is a real pleasure to the soul. Although with the last one I'm still having a hard time. Even if I seem ready to obarmate the critters, they keep on escaping my lens. LOL

If you read my post We Have Company, you know that there are a lot of critters coming to our area. Yesterday morning, I decided to approach some ducks who were spending their time at the field near our backyard. Some were searching for food, swimming in a mud pond or just taking a walk around. I assumed that they were having a great time all over the place.

Then, an old man came along with a bucket in his hand. All of the ducks were suddenly lining up and marching passed me on a path, following him. It made me quite excited! There must be food in the bucket, and I was about to watch the man feed the ducks.

I mean, why else would all the ducks gather around the man? Waiting in full anticipation, like this. I really could see their assiduity, don't you agree.

That's why I got so perplexed, when I saw the man lifting up his body again without doing anything? I must have missed out something! He was just standing there, staring at the mud pond, staring at me and then finally asking if I was taking some shots of the ducks. A nod was my only answer. My brain stood still.

One thing is for sure. You should never hire me as a journalist. Not only have I forgotten to ask the man about what he had done. That definitely would have been the simplest and easiest way to answer my curiosity! But, I also forgot to take a final shot for this story. The one were the man was standing there, staring at me... or the one were the whole duck gang was dismissing itself. You have to forgive me, because I am still an opsimath at photography. I'm gonna duck out now. LOL

Please, take your time to check out this following Green Story link. Thank you!

A 'Ducks' Worth of Advice by Erich Leech
Duck Story Offers Hope that Even the Most Stubborn Folks Can become Green

I have finally gathered my courage to join the literature meme of my friend Quilly called Three Word Thursday. I decided to become an opsimath on this, too. Please, bare with me.

This week's words are:

opsimath – a person who becomes a student or learner late in life
obarmate – to arm against
assiduity – constant or close application or attention, particularly to some business or enterprise; diligence

Click button to see more Three Word Thursday links
Thank you for hosting this great meme, Quilly!

Click button to find more Nature Notes
Thank you for hosting this great meme, Michelle!

Click button to see more Think Green Thursday links.
Pagan Sphinx aka Gina the original host is on a blogging hiatus

Thank you for willing to sponsor this great meme, Michelle!

Thank you for coming up with this great idea, Gina!

Click button to see more photos or join this meme
of roads & its signs, signages, paths, passages,
street scenes & the likes.

Thank you for hosting this great meme Jan and Pacey!

Thank you for hosting this great blog carnival, Misty!

How Many Of Me?

I have been visiting my dear friend Carleen this morning and found out that she had come across this interesting site called How Many of Me, which let's you know about the number of your name in the USA.

There are 306,591,204 people in the U.S.

How many have your name?

I am not living in the USA, but I was curious to see my results. After all memes, tags and games are some things I really enjoy through out the Blogosphere. Like her, I was convinced that my name would turn out as a very rare one in the USA and it was confirmed here:

Result of My First Name:
# There are fewer than 1,533 people in the U.S. with the first name Rosidah.

Result of My Last Name:
# There are fewer than 337 people in the U.S. with the last name Abidin.

My Full Name:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 1 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

A Thousand Words In Idioms: M and N

It is time again for A Thousand Words In Idioms. These are the words of Jientje, our lovely host at Heaven is in Belgium:

As long as people have been around, they have tried to communicate with each other. As a means of getting the message across as clearly as possible, idioms and sayings have found their way into our language. Now, because "a picture paints a thousand words", I thought it would be nice to make this a new photo challenge. The idea is to choose an idiom, or a saying, (even slang is allowed) and illustrate it with a picture. Each week we'll cover two letters of the alphabet, okay? The very first edition is here if you need some inspiration. If "language is the dress of thoughts" (Johnson), then idioms must be the wardrobe ...

This time I got my idioms from UsingEnglish.com. If you know another site, please let me know. Thank you.

M is for "Mickey Mouse"

If something is Mickey Mouse it is intellectually trivial or not of a very high standard. I would love to know why Mickey Mouse was chosen for this idiom definition? As far as I remember he belongs to the smart cartoons out there and is a leading character. LOL. The photo above is a part of my daughter's room wallpaper.

N is for "Night Owl"

A night owl is someone who goes to bed very late. This photo is taken from one of my Camera Critters entries. It is an owl at Taman Safari Indonesia.

Click the button to see more idiom images
Thank you for hosting this great meme, Jientje

Looks Can Be Deceiving

If you think these are Double Trouble lighthouses...

...you are actually wrong!

Sometimes it takes another look or a different angle to see the real truth behind,
so let's try to be wiser.

DOUBLE TROUBLE TUESDAY

Let's all encourage Martha's 11-year-old wanna-be photographer and blogger son by playing along. There are no real rules, it's up for your own interpretation. Thank you.

Thanks for hosting, Martha

Thanks for hosting, T. Bruce.

Music & Musical Monday: Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)

When my dear friend Betsy from Joyful Reflections asked me this following question here, I instantly knew what song I was going to post for this week.

Speaking of lyrics, do you like any of our USA country music??? There are some great musicians --who tell good stories--in their music.

I agree to her. There are a lot of talented country singers with wonderful lyrics. Kenny Rogers is one of my favorite country music artist among them. It was actually my husband who came upon him first, but since then we have been listening to his music together. Through The Years is both our favorite song. Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Uploaded by cathyhkt

Thank you for hosting this great meme, LJ

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

~Musical Monday is brought to you by Jori and Diane ~

Thanks to both of you for hosting this great meme!