My last blog post was seriously 9 months ago ... that long ago.

​Hello!! ​The past 9 months was eventful, as I carried on with the learning journey of loving myself, discovering more of my self. I took out that old and familiar hand-held mixer from its dusty box and baked an old favourite - banana cake. I started holding something else I never thought I would hold, almost every other day - a Canon DSLR. Meddling with the manual setting on the camera, setting up a tripod to take a first self-portrait. We also had a short holiday trip to wintery Seoul - Kirin, 小雨 and I. Where we saw, and felt, the first snow of our lives.

​Here's sharing with you the fleeting moments I captured as infinite memories on Instagram.
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Some latest art-in-Yang's-yoghurts which include his love - Boston Terrier, a dream pet dog, her love - 老半豆花, and my loves are recorded in here.

Finally, a song to end off this post - ♪ Try Everything, by Shakira ♪.

​~ With love, Yang ~​

The inspiration was planted by an orange poppySeeD muffin on a hot and sticky afternoon at Stickybeaks Playground Cafe in Kings Park. A family vacation in Perth.

I returned and planted black sesame and chia SeeDs in my bowls of art-in-Yang's-yoghurt. Here's my SeeDs collection of some lovely animals, and a guest art piece atop a slice of Toman fish fillet. （ゝ。∂）

Biting his lips and with eyes brimming with tears, he said emotionally, on 9 Aug 1965:

"Everytime we look back on this moment... it will be a moment of anguish. I mean for me it is a moment of anguish because all my life.. you see, the whole of my adult life, I have believed in merger and the unity of these two territories.... Would you mind if we stop for a while?"

I teared in my eyes as I watched this interview again. It was a moment of anguish for me at this point, not because of the separation 50 years ago. But simply because this man who worried, teared and fought relentlessly for our future is now gone.

A art-in-Yang's-yoghurt in memory of our founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew...

And I dedicate a little tribute of Creeping wood sorrel to you, to uphold the meritocratic society you have fought for, and the clean and green environment you have created, for the people of Singapore.  

I hadn't reached the state of anthomania, but a recent fondness for flowers, roses to be specific, got me my first blooming Maria of a gentle pink hue. (I thought I could use the Chinese term 花痴 to describe myself, but I just learnt it doesn't refer to 愛花之人。Oopsy!)

Here's sharing its growth as the supple petals unfold each day, as well as some art-in-Yang's-yoghurts inspired by the simple beauty of roses...

Dedicated to all women, especially those by the name of Rose, Rosie, Rosalind, Rosemary, Mary and of course, Maria..
♪( ´▽｀)
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多簡單 盛就盛開 敗就敗
不用計算 只為自己而精彩
自然而然

花啊~ 學學花腔
花啦~ 借借花香
花啊~ 花有多漂亮
心要不要也這樣

♪花花世界，田馥甄♪
作詞：藍小邪
作曲：張簡君偉
編曲：樊哲忠
製作：王治平

Hello bestie! See ya soon!

It always delights me to bump into her, my primary school bestie, on my way home after dropping 小雨。And Yay! we're having brekkie together this Wednesday!

I "slathered" a part of our washroom basin with a generous layer of my face moisturiser. Clumsy Yang. What a waste. Guess I really need to catch up on sleep tonight.

Your ideas are wanted for the new Science Centre in the expanded Jurong Lake Gardens. Do you have any to share? Fun facts that you hadn't learnt when you visited the old Science Centre as a kid but wished you had known? Things that would have triggered your senses and nurtured a deeper interest in plants, insects, animals or anything scientific of this universe?

For instance, why are flamingoes so startlingly pink? What's the difference between a butterfly and a moth,a tortoise or a turtle? (⌒ー⌒)
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PM Lee mentioned in the National Day Rally last night, about clearing a fishball stick on the walkway 小雨 and Yang walked up to four times a day (when I'm feeling energetic or simply too bored at home). Where the train whizzes by every few minutes, the little waterfall cascades at the lush green slope, the birds flutter for a power drench in the shimmery waters, the toad hops across the park connector and walkway discreetly (when we're lucky, usually after a drizzle at night). Oh it's also where I first heard the song ♪ 泪若雨下 ♪ playing from MeRadio, where I spotted the first Creeping wood sorrel, where I accidentally splattered my Gong cha milk tea (there was little I could do to clear up the mess with 小雨 in my baby carrier, but it was cleared up the next day). 

Nope I didn't catch anything like a waterfall toad leaping from danger (watch this amazing video!) but engrossed in the marvels of nature, I guess I hadn't had time to notice a fishball stick.

Missing those walks that went missing. Repetitive yet memorable.
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Who would make a better adventure companion than a deAr childhood friend? How about getting my bestie to join me in a find-a-four-leaf-Creeping wood sorrel day? I suddenly had this crazy idea.

So I asked her for an adventure date next week and she said Yes!! Yippee! We're gonna be plant explorers!
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Kirin had forgotten his car keys in office, hence cabbed home with 小雨 this evening. He had just gone back late in the night to fetch his keys and car. The possessions of a nocturnal man behaving nocturnal too.

The night's still young. He went for a back massage, a car wash before returning for a night's sleep.

難得孤寂嗎？

什麼關係 都沒關係
只有空氣 不用爭氣
容許我和這親愛的世界若即若離

熱鬧容易 難得孤寂
只有我不追問自己
從哪裡來又要往哪裡去

甚至懶得知道我在哪裡


♪難得孤寂, A-Lin♪
華劇 鋼鐵之心 片尾曲
作詞：林夕
作曲：游政豪
編曲：趙兆


小雨 suddenly frowned in dismay: "Oh no! Change diaper... What happened?!"

She just peed in her swimwear (which came with a thick, cushioned, high-absorbent cotton nappy) and it somehow felt different from usual. （＾∇＾）

There were more kids at the children's pool today. But 小雨 still managed to "manoeuvre" a bus around with the pinkie basin as a steering wheel, the thing that helped conquer her fear of water. Water play is finally something she would request for "More!". Like the way she demands for more soup and rice.

"Today? Sunny!" 小雨 exclaimed. A sunny Sunday indeed!

I thought a comic look of little Eason Chan with curly hair might look like this? Heehee...

A birthday cake for our deAr nephew.. Happy 2-year old! 
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I wonder who else in Sumikko gurashi have I neglected? I flipped through my notepad and realised Pengin? the Penguin? seemed to enjoy music and books.

Art-in-Yang's-yoghurt tonight: Pengin? with a set of pinkie headphones, finding his confidence in a world of music. He wasn't too sure if he's a kappa (a Japanese legendary creature), or indeed a penguin. Bet he's listening to「找回」... like the way Yang does, whenever she feels a little lost.

Never mind his identity, I'm sure Pengin?'s on the road to self-discovery, as he delves into a world of music, lyrics and inspirational books, in corner living.

A well-rested 小雨 had a good, long stretch in bed, along with papa, when she woke up this morning. Do you love stretching and breathing deeply first thing before getting out of bed too? I do! I'll feel taller, and loosened up like a... Skeleton! All ready to perform the skeleton dance. 

小雨 uttered "好烧" as she watched me stirring my steamy morning coffee at Mos Burger. A familiar melody was playing in the background. I listened hard. It's the song I sang at the first and only singing contest I ever participated! The theme song of the Korean drama - Autumn Tale, in the chinese version.

♪童话，辛曉琪♪

韓劇「藍色生死戀」主題曲
作詞：姚若龍
作曲：Choi/Hee Jim

假如　不曾一起逆著風　破著浪
我還不明瞭倔強　原來是一種力量
假如　不是一度太沮喪　太絕望
現在怎麼懂品嚐　苦澀裏甘甜的香

我們　不再傍徨驚慌　不是夜不冷路不長
而是篤定誰～一不堅強　就會被擁抱
到心裏有太陽　Woo～Wooh～
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I wonder why I had the courage to then, when I didn't even sing it in the right key. Oopsy! 

And I never knew I like warm sunshine hugs (as the lyrics go) since I was a teenage girl!

小雨 fitted on her first pair of heels, at NTUC hypermart. Heehee. Not buying, just killing some time.

Clumsy me kicked the leg of the baby high chair and before I could even let out a cry, 小雨 exclaimed, "Aiyo careful!"

She knocked knocked on the closed bathroom door. When Kirin opened it from inside, she asked innocently, "What you doing?" 

My 小雨 talks like a grown-up kid now! (*^^*)
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♪Yellow! I see something yellow. 
Yellow! I see something yellow.
Yellow, yellow. I see something yellow.
Find something yellow!♪

Had a yellow lemon tart at Tiong Bahru Bakery. Sourly good.

She knew they meant two different things, but 眼镜 (glasses) and 眼睛 (eyes) sounded the same from 小雨。 Whether it's my glasses or the eyes of the duckie soft toy at Kiddy Palace. 
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Yellow! I see something yellow.
Yellow! I see something yellow.
Yellow, yellow. I see something yellow.
Find something yellow!

Wanton mee from Asian Kitchen for dinner.
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Yellow! I see something yellow.
Yellow! I see something yellow.
Yellow, yellow. I see something yellow.
Find something yellow!

And I got a sunflower-look-alike top! Remember my sudden urge to get a sunshine top the other night? I thought this could fit the bill.

Art-in-Yang's-yoghurt tonight: A sunflower, for Neko the shy cat seeking security in her corner. 

Spread your wings oh baby you can touch the sky
Spread your wings you never know until you try
Spread your wings oh baby you can fly up high
Spread your wings oh
us under the sunshine now
us under the sunshine now
做最真的 最美的
最正的 最棒的
阳光下的 我们

♪阳光下的我们, 曲婉婷♪

作词：曲婉婷
作曲：曲婉婷
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My dear sister got me to listen to this song the other day. And I'm hovering high up with the clouds each time I re-play it!

Neko, time to turn away from the corner and embrace the sunflower under the sunshine! (^_^*)

The tray of freshly baked crispy mini choco pies just settled on the bread counter before my eyes. I irresistibly picked up one, on top of my other two breakfast buns - chicken sausage and yam bun. Greedy Yang. 

Today marks a year as Stay-At-Home-Mom (SAHM). I'll be returning to the workforce very soon.

I started thinking through and planning my schedule for the things that have kept me feeling exhilarated all these while. I wonder why time passes so umizoomi-fast? 

Any 感言 as a SAHM for the past year? I probed myself.

I probably need 3 Leibniz biscuits, a square of 78% Frey extra dark bittersweet chocolate, a 消魂 pan, a cup of Nescafe 3-in-1 intense premix coffee, a bowl of art-in-Yang's-yoghurt, a playlist of Tanya Chua's songs, some Xiaohan lyrics... (the list goes on) before I could collect my thoughts. Just back from a workout, I don't think I wanna gain back the burnt calories from overfeeding with my favourite things.

I closed my eyes and focused on breathing. Hm... guess Lefty Yang's Home page sums it all up.
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I casually asked the stall holder of the operating days/hours as she packed two puffs for me - sardine for Yang, curry for Kirin, some crust from each for 小雨 (Haa poor little Cinderella). It's Killiney Curry Puff, closed on Mondays (and most likely Public holidays). Kirin bought me the curry one the other day and I liked it. So I thought I'll give the sardine one a try today. It was a tad spicy but yumz!

Things seem to be falling or crashing down much these days, and making the news. I wonder if there's anything to do with a stronger gravitational pull on certain parts of Earth?

So Yang did some googling and learnt that Earth bulges at the Equator where gravity is weaker than at the poles. But from the Earth's gravity measured by NASA's GRACE mission, it does seem to be strong in areas around Singapore and Indonesia. 

Perhaps that could be a scientific reason why people staying in areas of stronger gravity are generally more... down-to-earth, literally? (⌒▽⌒)

"Today?" 小雨 asked, with her pair of hush puppy eyes, then went on to exclaim: "Friday!"
( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ These days, my little girl got more curious with the weighing scale. She has learnt to detach her hands from the wall for an accurate reading. 

With a little bulging tummy along half her "Equator", she's at a healthy weight of 11.6kg now. Heavier after dinner. ( ´ ▽ ` ) 

Somehow I didn't feel like doing art-in-Yang's-yoghurt tonight but still greedy to enjoy a bowl of it. I fished out a biscuit from 小雨's Leibniz Zoo pack as a final "touch-up".

It was a cat, which reminded me of Neko. The always shy cat which faces the corner and sharpens her claw. Haha alright, I know you know what the next art-in-Yang's-yoghurt gonna be.