the fine things

Went out shopping at City Mall nearly noon time.  Didn’t manage to grab anything for myself.  Visited Popular bookstore as I did plan on buying books.  Ian was well-informed of this intention and found his way much faster than me! 

“Machines At Work-on the building site” by Ian Graham.  Cost: RM9.90        

Also grabbed Ian’s first ever picture dictionary book!  Someone advised me to buy him this exact dictionary about a year ago.  I was however quite hesistant at that time as i thought Ian was still a bit too young - his attention was still very much diverted.  I was more comfortable using flash cards then.   Well, now I think he’s almost ready:)

“My First Picture Dictionary” by Colin Clark/Viviene Bray  Cost: RM21.90

 Taking this opportunity to blog about the food we had for lunch at Sate Mesra.  Not a regular visitor at this food outlet, we ordered Satay Ikan.   I’d like to think that everyone knows Satay as it is one popular dish or snack. 

Originally using beef and chicken, nowadays anything including beef, pork, chicken, giant prawns and even fish fillets (like what we had today) can be used to make satay. 

Based on readings, satay is said to have originated from Indonesia. However, this dish can be found throughout Asia, and in western countries too although there may be some variations in the way they are prepared and served.  Aside being sold in portable hawker stalls, it is also served in restaurants as a starter or snack.  Depending on individual preference of course, it can be served as a main meal too!        

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The satay ikan  we had was okaylah’. Haven’t had satay for a long time!  Had to spend some time scooping ”all the oil” out of the peanut dipping sauce tho’!  Just way too oily, Sate Mesra!

Ian saw these magazines on the top book shelves and asked to see them:)  These are some of my favorite magazine collections – feature home decor, creative ideas, crafting etc.  Kept them for many years, but never really used the patterns and templates as I didnt see the need to. Ian asked for them but it wasnt that difficult letting them go!    

You know, if we toss up papers, pencils, markers, crayons, scissors, glue and any crafting papers to kids, I bet they would all get real excited!  Ian is of no exception.  He has shown good interest in drawing, tracing and coloring.  When his mood is right, aside playing his toys, he would also often asks for papers to scribble or draw something on. 

Steady hands and fine lines! 

“Mom, I’m tracing ok?”  

    

We bought him drawing books, and he has completed most of them.  I sometimes search for specific kids coloring option from the internet, and I find this good as we or Ian gets to choose which picture he wants printed. 

Short Notes

*Happy Birthday to Tony! 

I have been told that I am quite sentimental and detailed-oriented   I think it’s true.  I carry my camera everywhere I go.  Lucky thing, these days we have digicam or builtin phone digicam – all these make life easier! I used to tell myself – one of my must-haves for baby is first year baby book.  Well, I got exactly that; bought one Hallmarks’ which costed RM199.00 – it was rather pricey but the thing with me is if I want it so bad, this basically means nothing else = I must have it! 

I havent updated this baby book for quite sometime, so this morning seemed the best time to do it! As a matter of fact, I did much more – I even updated this blog’s ”wonder years”! I was so engrossed that I spent several hours just working on it!  Can imagine this blog to be real useful in the future.  Ian was excited flipping his baby book pages - admiring his baby pictures.   

Having a baby book is fun, especially if you start filling them out while you’re pregnant.  Most baby books contain pages about life before and after baby is born.  There are just a couple of pages I haven’t filled out – but done witlh most tho. I love the lots of spaces for pictures.  Like most baby books too, there are also pages that help keep important famous firsts, doctor visits, immunization schedules, etc.    

If you have one, have fun! If you dont, can always start blogging them:)  Either way, enjoy!

Happy World Book day! 

I think most of us read  books in several different genres and it would be hard to even select one book in each genre that we read. How do we compare a favorite mystery to, let’s say, a favorite travel book or a favorite biography?  We don’t normally compare, perhaps because we can’t!   

I’d say my favorite book depends on how I’m feeling. If depressed and feeling low I might find motivational-related books a favorite!

However, if a question is asked: What kind of books got you into reading? This I can answer.  Books that got me started reading or got me into reading are Fairy Tales books.  I also read other books like Nancy Drew or books of Enid Blyton and so forth.  BUT I remember reading Fairy tales over and over!! Then, when I was 13 or so, my interest shifted to novels – you know Harlequin, Mills & Boone, Danielle Steele etc kinds of books. Then, I became more interested in Sidney Sheldon’s and Jeffrey Acher’s kind. ”My favorites” change – depending on various situations.  Now, I like reading books that are based on real experience (true story) and biographies;  non-fiction types…..

I love reading but I have to admit that it’s been so long since I last read regularly.  I haven’t bothered to buy good books  to read because they’d only get added to the pile of books I intend to read.  I would like to put an end to this ‘literacy drought”…You know….everytime I opened a page, not-so-little-anymore-Ian would cuddle up next to me and asked, “Mommy, what’s this? Tell me about this one…”  If I dont talk much, there you are …he would just grab the book from me or do something distracting. 

Even before Ian was born, one of the most important things I hoped for was that he would learn to appreciate books. I never read enough as a young child. My mother always had her hands full and was unable to read to each of us.  There was always someting to be done! 

I try to read or simply go over books with Ian whenever I have the time. Sometimes, when he asked me to tell a story, he would listen intently, sometimes he can’t wait till I finishes the sentence and interrupts impatiently.  There are times too, that he chooses a particular book or story over and over.  I wonder how he can have them go over with him so often. 

Normally, when we get a new book, he’s always excited to flip the pages and have it read it to him instead of wanting the old ones again. I think he has moved on – doesn’t really want the cloth books, books with all those fuzzy inserts or the scratch-n-snif kind.  So, I started buying books that are bigger  and with lots of pictures.  I would like to take a trip to the bookstore again. Visiting the bookstore is wonderfully exciting to Ian, just as it is to me! 

Ian likes to be sung to before he could finally dozed too but I dont think I want sing ‘Red River Valley” or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” when he’s older!  I doubt he wants to be sung to, too!  So, hopefully, “books” would become Ian’s ritual mantra before going to sleep most of the night!! !!!

 My Dad had shelves of books in the house we used to live in.  He had specific book collections – I remembered it to be mostly motivational and values (religion) based. He also had maps, atlas and encyclopedia. I tried to, as much as possible, spend time looking thru collections he had. Thinking back, I think this small corner that Dad created somehow was the huge driving force for me in trying to pursue things that are meaningful in life.  

Books – whatever books including magazines, give a house a sense of sophistication and intelligence. It shows that the owners value knowledge and that they treasure wisdom enough to stockpile and organize it in a space within their home.  However, it does take some effort and time to add such a space to an existing home. 

Though I envisage one day having a library unto itself, right now our current ‘book space’is just too small and is actually embedded into the household with some storage cabinets and my workstation right in its midst!  Since my workstation is in this place too, you can also  see a desktop, printer and stacks of papers and other stuffs in it! Need to reorganize before it loses its simplicity and becomes complicated!  Yes, we can practically turn any part of a room or area into a repository for knowledge and wisdom, I however want it to be somewhat special and comfy!  hhmm.…an idea just struck me, turning the family room area into some pleasant way to life among books!  I’ll definitely toy around this idea!

You know what I’ve been eyeing to get since last year? A globe, am just waiting for it to go on sale; the current price is RM250 – a bit too expensive for me to spend on right now. The most notable feature of this globe is the control of lighted areas.  For example, if you want your part of the world lighted up, then you just activate the lights for only that part.  I like it!

Sunday 

MV Doulos has been in town since Oct 15, it leaves Oct 25.

MV Doulos is the floating bookship that comes this way once in about 5-7 years? Though never missed the book fair, I can’t somehow remember how frequently it stops by.  Well, never mind that now, it’s not gonna pass this way anymore – this seems to its last tripto this part of the world!

Should have expected, the queue was like 2-3 miles long!!  When we finally got on board, the ship was just too packed; I selected 3 books  and quickly headed for fresh air!  All three books costed just Rm56.oo!  For 2 hard cover books, definietely cheap.  Sometime ago, I bought one book “Dora & Friends” – same type & size, it costed more than RM7o.oo!