A New Adventure

On 9 February this year, with just some information gleaned from her searches on the Internet, and no formal learning on the subject, the Swallow dived into a new adventure.  This adventure involved some on-the-job training, a heart prepared to 'let go' if the need arises, and a will to 'press on' when the going gets tough.  It is called Hydroponics.

Collins Dictionary describes Hydroponics (noun) as a science of cultivating plants in water without using soil.  Some people have also called it hydroculture.  Basically, plants, water and a container are needed in this experiment.  As the Swallow used clear glasses, she also used a coloured substitute soil in a gel form to fill in the glass.  The gel not only made the glass container look more attractive, it also prevents mosquito breeding.

In her quest, these were some questions she had asked:

• Which plants were suitable?
• Which plants thrived in such an environment?
• How much attention would be required?
• What are the benefits?
• Would it be a difficult process?

The Swallow experimented with the Peperomia Scandens, the English Ivy and the Pothos plant (see picture).  She also experimented with the Mosquito Plant but that couldn't last a week.  The stem turned black and the whole cutting was thrown away.

Not much attention was required.  Hydroponics was definitely easier than soil-base planting.  The benefits were:

• Care for the plant is easier.  The Swallow just needs to see a reduction to the size of the gel to know that the plant needs water.
• Cleaning up is easier.  Recently, the glass was accidentally knocked over.  There were no water spills as the gel had absorbed all the water.  All the Swallow had to do was pick up the gel, rinse them and pop them back into the glass container.
• Cheaper on the pocket.  A packet of the gel costs less than S$2 when compared to a packet of soil which can be priced from S$3 - S$5.

L-R: Peperomia Scandens,
English Ivy & Pothos

As of 28 February, the Peperomia Scandens and the Pothos plant seem to be thriving, with new shoots forming.  Roots, for both plants, also formed quickly.  These plants would seem to be suitable for Hydroponics.  They are also known to be fast-growing soil-planted plants.

Alas, the English Ivy was wilting, and had to be 'let go'.  Whether it is not suitable for Hydroponics, that remains to be seen as the English Ivy is also known to enjoy high humidity and it has been really hot and dry this past few weeks.  The Swallow will 'press on' with the English Ivy again when the weather changes to one that is more condusive, or she can try again with a container placed in a more humid spot like the bathroom.  However, she must wait for her existing soil-planted ivies to produce more shoots first!

All in all, this has been a pleasant experience so far.  When the remaining plants are well established, the Swallow can consider propagating them, and also experiment with other plants.

Hydroponics, Anyone?

(L-R) Peperomia Scandens, English Ivy, Pothos

Click here to read of the Swallow's dabbling in Hydroponics.

An Introduction to Plants

The Swallow's first introduction to plants was while she was still a little Swallow. She was given a stem cutting of a Mother-in-Law's Tongue. She brought it home to her mother, who planted it. This plant is still thriving today under her hand.

A few years later, the Swallow tried planting some green bean seeds. She harvested the plant several times, then joyful with the fruit of her labour, moved on to planting a longan seed. The longan seed sprouted and grew about a foot tall. However, the plant couldn't survive the hot months when the Swallow was busy dealing with growing-up issues and left it uncared for.

A year back, the Swallow's young one brought a small potted plant home after a field trip to a nearby farm. Without a clue to its name or origin, and after many searches at the local library, in the Internet and even a bookshop, the Swallow finally found out that the plant was a Portulaca, also known as Japanese Rose in Singapore. By then, the Portulaca was in its last phase of life as it was actually infested with some insects, and too much TLC from the over-zealous Swallow and her young one.

That was all it took to start the Swallow on another journey to discover more about plants, and the place they have in the Lord God's creation.

Garlic Chilli Sauce

The Swallow loves to eat chicken rice.  However, what is more important to her is the chilli sauce that accompanies the dish.  Having tasted so many kinds of chilli sauce, she finds that she prefers one that has some texture, not too sour, with a tinge of sweetness, and last but not the least, it must be spicy!

To satisfy her frequent cravings for spicy food, the Swallow had gone in a search for the right kind of chilli sauce.  With the help of a blender and some easy-to-find ingredients, the Swallow now makes her own.  If you like the kind of chilli sauce described above...

GARLIC CHILLI SAUCE

(Makes about 1/2 cup)

Garlic Chilli Sauce

Ingredients

• 8 red chillies
• 9 chilli padi
• 3 pcs thumb-sized ginger
• 9 cloves garlic
• 12 average-sized green limes
• 6 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt

Method

1. Blend the red chillies and chilli padi together.
2. Add the ginger and blend them with the chillies.
3. Add the garlic and blend again.
4. Juice the limes and remove the seeds.
5. Add the lime juice to the blended mixture.
6. Season with the salt and sugar.
7. Mix well and enjoy!

Notes

• Avoid touching your eyes or face after handling the chillies.
• Keep the chillies away from children.
• Use fresh ingredients.
• Ratio of red chillies to chilli padi is 1:3.  Use less chilli padi for a milder taste.  Alternatively, remove the seeds from the chillies before blending them together.
• Adjust seasoning to your requirements.
• Consume the chilli sauce as soon as possible.
• This chilli sauce can also be used as a dipping sauce for Steamboat.

Home-Made Garlic Chilli Sauce

Make your own Garlic Chilli Sauce!

Click here for the recipe.

The Art of Listening

One day, the Swallow asked her young ones to play a game with her.  The young ones were told to share a minute of silence, and they had to listen to the world around.  After that, they would share with each other what they had heard.

They played the game twice.

1st game

• they found it hard to keep still and not fidget (even for a minute!)
• they were distracted by each other (what was the other one doing?)
• they distracted each other (retaliate, etc, etc)

2nd game

• they found it easier to keep still this time
• they learned to focus
• they heard more sounds when they were focused
• they wanted more time (more time, more sounds)

It is hard to keep still, isn't it?  The world is always on the move.  It is so easy to get caught in the flow.  To chase after the rainbow.  After the wind.  After things that are temporal, that do not last.  Like the rainbow, they fade away.  Like the wind, they come and they go.

Psalm 37 : 7a (NIV)
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.

Psalm 46 : 10 (NKJV)
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

Isaiah 40 : 31 (NKJV)
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Have we stopped to listen to Him today?

Evening Sky in Singapore

Can you see the lone star?

Click here to read about a different kind of star.

A Different Kind of Star

The Swallow loves to look at the stars.  So sad that with the bright city lights, it is somewhat difficult to see myriad of stars in the night sky.

Evening Sky in Singapore

Once, when the Swallow was younger, she was still awake way past midnight, and out in the country, at a place where she could look up into the vast night sky.  She had her first sight of the Big Dipper.  It was so amazing to her, she kept looking and looking and looking at it again.  She has yet to see the Big Dipper again.

However, there is a different kind of Star which the Swallow can look at daily..the Bright and Morning Star.  It can be 'seen' at any time of the day, but she has to use special eyes to see this Star...

Revelation 22 : 16 (NKJV)
I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.

This Star keeps her hopes up, that no matter how tough times get, how weary she is from her flying, there is One who is beside her, holding up her wings, gently holding her in His hands.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS by Helen H. Lemmel

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Our Heart, Our Garden

Our heart is like a garden.  What do we sow in it?

Seeds of love, or seeds of discord?
Seeds of joy, or seeds of bitterness?
Seeds of peace, or seeds of strive?
Seeds of patience, or seeds of selfishness?
Seeds of kindness, or seeds of self-importance?
Seeds of goodness, or seeds of wickedness?
Seeds of faithfulness, or seeds of deceit?
Seeds of gentleness, or seeds of rudeness?
Seeds of self-control, or seeds of ''I want it NOW!''?

Proverbs 4 : 23 (NKJV)
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the the issues of life.

Be careful!  What we sow, we will reap.  Let our harvest be one of rejoicing and thanksgiving to our Lord God.  Let our lives end with our Lord's approval - "Well done, good and faithful servant".

Growing Chillies

A Fruit!

 Click here to read about the Swallow's adventure in growing chillies.

Chilli Plant Experiment

The first attempt at planting chilli plants, from seeds, mid last year was a disaster. Just threw the seeds in, forgot to water at times so the soil dried up, etc..

However, since the Swallow's one of many mottos is "Don't quit", well, she tried again late October last year.  This time, she was careful in the sowing of the seed, in rows of 3x3.  She was also diligent in watering the seedlings when they sprouted not long after.

When all the seedlings showed about 2 pairs of leaves each, 8 of them were carefully removed (leaving the centre one in the existing container) and potted up in their own pots (used plastic disposable bowls for this, with some holes pricked for better drainage).

Chilli Seedlings

The plants grew fast with regular fertilizing and watering.  2 of them were potted into clay pots on 21 January 2010 while the other 7 plants were potted into plastic pots on 11 February 2010.  As those in the clay pots grew quite leggy, the top 2 pairs of leaves were removed tonight.  There were a few buds showing actually, but the Swallow wanted more leaves before flowers...if this was the wrong thing to do, well, there are still 7 plants left.

Transplanted Seedlings

Update on 23 February 2010 : This is what some of them look like (pictured below).  The ones in the clay pots are showing new shoots within days of the pruning. Yea!

Update on 23 February 2011 : A year on...see the Swallow's post on "Bearing Fruit" for an update...

Pleiades & Orion

The Pleiades
An open cluster in the constellation of Taurus, dominated by young, hot blue stars, and surrounded by a blue reflection nebula. It lies 375 light-years away and contains several hundred stars.

Orion
Part of a giant cloud of gas and dust (nebula).  The Orion nebula is a 'star factory' and is an example of an emission nebula (nebulas are usually cold and do not shine, but an emission nebula lies near a hot star and absorbs energy from the star and its gases glow like a vivid red fluorescent light).

Amos 5 : 8 (NKJV)
He made the Pleiades and Orion;
He turns the shadow of death into morning
And makes the day dark as night;
He calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the face of the earth;
The LORD is His name.

Psalm 8 : 1 (NKJV)
O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is your name in all the earth,
Who have set your glory above the heavens!

Psalm 8 : 3, 4 (NKJV)
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which you have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?

Sky's the Limit

All it takes is a nudge, a step, and the Swallow flies...

It took a few fishes from a fun fair to get a fish tank started...a pot of Portulaca (Japanese Rose) from a field trip to get the planting started...and several disasters in the kitchen to motivate an improvement in the gastronomic dimension...

Well, now the Swallow is flying in the blog dimension...all thanks to a few nudges here and there...where to put the 'tried-and-tested' recipes...where to put all the tips discovered along the flight of the Swallow...

So, here goes...up, up, and away!