happy place, happy space: New Blog

After much contemplation, I’ve decided to start a new blog instead of upgrading this current one which is pushing close to the memory limit. I’ve consulted some of you, dear BlogFriends, who have done one or the other, and I have dug deep as to where I see myself with blogging in the coming years.

So, I present to you, Touring My Backyard: Rediscovering Singapore. My focus will be our virtual Camino explorations around our little island, as well as any other fun things we might discover as tourists in our home.

Church of St Francis of Assisi, 21 Feb 2021

I hope you will come along and join me as I begin that adventure. Please also continue to stay tuned here: I plan to fill this space with less Singapore-specific posts.

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Reading your Joyful Posts brings me to my happy place. I hope having them in one place makes it easier for you to find when you need a bit of happy therapy, too.

If you would like to join in, ping back to this post and I will include you next week.

• Betsy Kerekes‘ Spelling reality check: works with her daughter on spelling & unearths Wheaties
• Dawn Kinster‘s Evening Surprise: delights in sunsets at Gulf Shores Beach
• Deb’s World’s Shoutout Saturday: celebrates grandkiddo Patrick’s 1st birthday
• Denyse Whelan‘s Gratitude & Acts of Kindness:  shares random acts of kindness
• Laurie Graves‘ Friday Favourites: enjoys a French series on Netflix, and another Tiny Desk concert
• Little Pieces of Me‘s Grateful Fridays: enjoys some outdoors in good weather & special photo album
• Meditation in Motion‘s Running On Empty: reconciles “emptiness” against “busyness”
• Nancy Loderick‘s Puzzle Me This: delights in nostalgic puzzles
• Natalie the Explorer‘s The 9 Gifts of February: dlelights in stunning scenery, art, family celebrations, blogging challenges & books
• She Writes’ All Things Great & Extraordinary: encounters a new version of herself each day
• Thistles and Kiwis’ This Week’s Small Pleasures: shares lovely blooms from the Botanic Gardens and a link to a delicious cake she baked
• Sanch Writes‘ Weekly Gratitude: works & writes plenty, and also considers some fun
• Trent’s World‘s The Weekly Smile: runs again after a month! Yay, Trent!

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Notes:

• Feature photo was taken by Loving Husband in Nov 2020 from the Marina Barrage
• This post is my contribution to Friendly Friday Challenge: Something Different hosted by Sandy at TheSandyChronicles & Amanda at SomethingToPonderAbout.

happy place, happy space: Artistic Bake

I love cake. I love pineapple. And because we are still celebrating the Chinese New Year (until 26 February), I was favoured with a delightfully light, fruity Pineapple Chiffon Cake, with handmade pineapple “flowers”. An artistic bake.

serenity

As the season of Lent begins, I pray the Serenity Prayer: to enter a space of calm & contemplation that I may recollect Jesus’ life, death and resurrection with hopeful longing.

happy place, happy space: special treats

I am a sucker for sparkly lights, festive decorations and street bling.

happy place, happy space: night lights

This year’s Light to Night festival is understandably smaller and subdued (no street food or live performances). But the Civic District still has historical buildings excitingly lit.

stacks

It snowed in London this past weekend. Vivacious Aunt sent a video of the falling snowflakes with much glee.

happy place, happy space: comfort of art

Art provokes, questions, mystifies, disturbs, rebels, frees, captivates, challenges, whispers, stirs, stills, comforts.

patterns in nature

In response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Patterns in Nature, I have been pondering patterns. In nature. Through the week, I peered through hedges, looked up towards the treetops, squinted at little critters.

happy place, happy space: Church

We have not stepped into a physical church for almost a year.

I miss it.

Last night, Loving Husband and I stood outside the Church of the Sacred Heart, some distance from another supplicant, to give thanks.

This year, we resolve to run and/or drive/run to all 32 parishes in Singapore.

Reading your Joyful Posts brings me to my happy place. I hope having them in one place makes it easier for you to find when you need a bit of happy therapy, too.

If you would like to join in, ping back to this post and I will include you next week.

• Laurie Graves‘ Friday Favourites: takes comfort in a real-time hero, wintry scenes and a toe-tapping tune from Andrew Bird
• Little Pieces of Me‘s Grateful Fridays: sets a date for a backpacking trip
• Natalie the Explorer‘s Coffee Share: Words & Photos: hosts Coffee Share and invites you to join in
• Thistles and Kiwis’ This Week’s Small Pleasures: takes respite in Dunedin
• Trent’s World‘s The Weekly Smile: finishes the final edit on his book, The Old Mill – hurray!

happy place, happy space: Critter Encounters

We had a couple of days this week when the rain stopped. The critters were as thrilled as we were to take advantage.