The Starry Night - Van Gogh

'For my part, I know nothing with any certainty,

but the sight of the stars makes me dream'

- Vincent Van Gogh

View from his sanitarium window

Star Gazing

There was a talk today on stargazing at the National Library near my home. I have been really interested for a long time and today confirmed why I had.

There is so much beauty and wisdom in the skies.

Today I learnt about Arcturus, Spica and Saturn. They live in some sort of a right angled relationship.

Face east and look up.
Those 3 bright spots - they might be it.

Meantime, check out this amazing freeware - Stellarium

Burger Staurday

Fresh burger

We discussed at length what to cook for lunch.

And finally settled on good ol' burger.

I cycled to Bishan, hop on the Circle Line.

Got off at Botanical Gardens.

Loaded my backpack with 

4 burger buns from Simply bread

300g of fresh minced beef

1 pack of tomatoes

1 pack of spinach

2 bottles of Bundaberg Root Beers

Although Jerome's recipe has his own individual spin, it's close enough to this.

Now, Saturdays are good for experiments too.

La vie en Rose

I bought this and I had wanted to gift it.

But he said, he hardly write anything down these days.

*

'To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you - the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important that all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is for her that I've killed the caterpillars (except the two or three we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasred, or even sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is my rose'

- he quoted

*

Oh hello

Stitchwork on felt

I used mint green strings on greyish blue felt

Hello!

Try

'I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try.'

- Roger Ebert

Tokantsu Sunday

Its's Sunday again.

The beautiful day of food experiments.

Lovely fresh pink porkloin was at the supermarket

That can only mean - Tokantsu!

I used the recipe from here

Sauce recipe was a genius

Juicy goodness.

Tying the knot

A simple design for my dear and simple friend.

Invites for the wedding -  home reception version

Rough draft to bounce off her

What will the final look?

Good, fingers crossed

♥ Danielle Kroll

If I keep quiet

The rocks speak for themselves.

Exquisite.

Current read - War & Peace

Tolstoy

I bought this book from Rockstar a while ago at a steal.

By far the best return on investment, given the number of pages.

Thick books infer boredom

But I haven't been so far and I am halfway through

'I simply want to live;

to cause no evil to anyone

but myself.'

- Leo Tolstoy in War & Peace

Phad Thai with a twist

An orthodox Phad Thai-er will cry blasphemy at mine

For I had substituted vermicelli for the noodles

And added slim asparagus which the recipe did not call for

And did not add the vital chilli flakes into the sauce

But apart from those, I had tried best to keep to the recipe

And the result - was a lot better than I expected

I'll try once more tomorrow morning for my lunch box

Will it turn out even better than today?

Picasso - The Camel

Of the many great artists, Picasso really stands out for me

While there were a lot cubist work that were brilliant

His sketches.

Like this one.

I can't forget.

Pure & White

In the sun

where the flowers are in bloom

It's just happiness

The kind you can find no words for

But feel it deeply in your heart

White Bougainvillea

Now, have you been out to take a walk lately?
In the gardens,
you may meet
the same white bougainvillea
I saw

Garden & Cats

By Johanna Basford

By Julia Kuo

The book selections at Woods in the Books rarely disappoints.

I'm almost certain I've bought all the Jimmy Liaos they had

Having done so

Others now catch my eye

Like these two books

I'm quite sure I will be getting them

On a day where my hands are free

and my bag is light

Wish it be soon for me

G for Cafe

Patisserie G

With a recent coffee tolerance 

(well, only latte actually)

I have taken to well made ones

such as that at G

Something real good must be constantly in the bake

because it certainly smells like it there

Lovely.

Águas de Março (Waters of March)

'It's the moon floating free
it's the curve of the slope
it's an ant,
it's a bee
it's a reason for hope

And the riverbanks sing of the waters of March
it's the promise of spring
it's the joy in your heart"

Basil once more

Go basil grow

*

I am ever hopeful

And it does look optimistic

 this time

*

'Knowing how to be solitary

 is central to the art of loving.

When we can be alone, 

we can be with others,

without using them as an escape'

- Bell Hooks

***

Beautifully said, isn't it?

Good Friday Project - Italy

Viva la Italia

Young men these days are full of creative geniuses.

The one in my family thought of this gift idea

An afternoon of labour

and this is the result

I like it

Hello Sunshine

Print from Rifle Paper Co.

A new nickname I have grown to like.

Bright as -

Sunshine