2012 CHRISTMAS VACATION ON THE FARM

I left Manila on December 20, 2012 for my annual Christmas vacation and arrived on the farm at around 6:00 pm on the following day, tired and hungry from a long trip to Samar. It took about 24 hours to travel from Manila to my final destination. It was already dark when I reached the place. My hubby and my son were already waiting for me with a nephew's old car. Thanks GOD, I thought I would be back-riding on his motorbike with my two big boxes and a suitcase...what a sigh of relief  :)

 Just savoring the cool sea breeze...

 An early morning walk on the beach and my
 "Footprints in the Sand"

 My son and his cousins while enjoying the sand...

...and the sea.

Rainy December

It rained almost everyday and it would be impossible for us to leave the house without getting wet and catch cold considering the fact that our place is along the beachfront where the sea breeze is always strong and chilly  especially during the months of December and January. 

How did we let the day pass without getting bored? My nephew and niece who were also on vacation had brought to the farm their gadgets and some educational stuff in anticipation for long rainy days and sometimes day-long brownouts. 

One rainy afternoon, the group gathered at the living room upstairs with gadgets and playing cards for everybody. Laptop, netbook, tablet, banana gram, linkity, phase 10...I did not bring my laptop so I opted to play Block'd on my mobile phone :)

New Year 2013

New year's eve is the busiest time of the year. Just like any other families with Filipino spirit and traditions, we prepared and cooked our media noche consisting of humba, shrimps, pinoy style spaghetti, crema de fruta, gelatin,  buco salad and the all time Nortehanon favorite "bagong". Twelve kinds of fresh fruits were also served on the table. The day before, my hubby went to his garden to gather ripe papayas and bananas. A coconut seedling was also put on the table as our center piece.

TC, CS, KJ, JC, JR, and Klaus partaking our noche
buena..taking the photo is LL.

A coconut seedling was used as center piece as a symbol
for prosperity and abundance for the year to come.

We spent the New Year's Eve without funfair, firecrackers, or fireworks but I could see everyone enjoying and eating happily especially the teenage boys (my son and his cousins) who have large appetites. I was happier, they liked my simple dish. New Year's Day was merrier. Relatives paid us visit. We entertained and served them our media noche left-overs which they had gladly partaken.

Five days later, I went back to Manila...back to reality..to the hustle and bustle in the city, the heavy traffic and the pollution. In spite of these, I went home happier... to my home sweet home in Q.C. Gosh, how I missed my bed, my laptop, and my pet dog, Yipee!

WISHING EVERYONE A PEACEFUL, HAPPY, AND PROSPEROUS 2013!