Aidilfitri Keluarga Anak-anak Mohd Mayah di Subang Jaya

Ema's birthday together with 7 other September famili members..

Enje Suriani, Along Aqilah, Iwan, Leya, Emi, Alang Rohaya..

Salam Bermaaf-maafan..

Minta Ampun dan Maaf, Halalkan makan minum

semoga Allah SWT berkati segala usaha

eratkan ikatan kekeluargaan

Anak Cucu Menadah Bersama Berdoa

Doa dilafazkan oleh Pak Enje Baharuddin Mohd 

Amin, Ya-Rabbal-Allamin

with thanxs to Diana Natasha Mohd Yusof

Something That Inspires Me > Ideas for my Flowers Arrangement

cabbage - "centerpiece"

Cabbage is a good source of vitaminC  and  contains glutamine plus amino acid. The Malay Midwifery (amalan perbidanan Melayu) often advises mothers with engorged breasts problems

to wrap cabbage leaves so  to reduce discomfort.

Torch Ginger - High and Mighty

Torch Ginger

Torch Ginger (Etlingera Elatior) commonly grown in Malaysia mainly for cooking, especially to flavour 'assam' dishes. Now it is also used  in fresh flower arrangements.

Roselle - Sweet and Fresh

Roselle  or Hibiscus sabdariffa , known to have anti-hypertensive effects and used in traditional medicine as a diuretics or as a mild laxative. Roselle flowers are sometimes use to make herbal tea and believed to help reduce cholesterol . In Malaysia, fresh roselle  calyxes (calyx- a certain part of the roselle flowers) are made into health juice because ot its high vitamin C content. This plant is recently introduced by the farmers association in Malaysia but it has been  known extensively in Thailand, China, US  and Africa.

These pictures of common vegetable plants were taken from my previous visits to the flowers exposition. Browsing the images gave me inspiration to do flower arrangements

http://cikjahonlineflowers.blogspot.com/ 

Solanum Mammosum - Terung Susu/Mackaw Bush/Cow's Udder

Terung Susu - ' Solanum Mammosum" 

Found this shrub in the Putrajaya Garden & Landscape Nursery. Its attractive fruit can be poisonous. Was told that there is an ongoing research done by the government to identify its medicinal properties.

(www.flickrs.com/photos)

A tropical shrub that has thorns on its stem, its small pear-shaped and bright yellow fruit looking like cow's udder (because of its nipple-like ends) often used in flower arrangements,  and has violet colored flowers. If one touches the surface of its green leaves , one can feel fine spikes.  

Its local name ' terung tetek kambing' also known as 'mackaw bush' and its scientific name is ' Solanum Mammosum'. Its fruit can be poisonous and said to originate from South America.

Uses :

*  its fruiting brances often used  in tropical design flower arrangements (which I am particularly interested in at the moment...)

** also  known to be used in traditional Malay medicine to cure hypertension/diabetes/breast cancer but no details on this as yet

A few More Interesting Shots during Putrajaya Floria 2009

Just found these shots taken using my faithful samsung during the recent Putrajaya Flowers Expo and would like to share with all blogger friends.

What caught my attention initially was the chicken coops (reban ayam & arnab), thought that we could do something like it for our kampung chickens and ducks. We have a few left by our late mother. She loves to keep herself busy back then. To get back the chicken and rabbit story...is seemed they were having a tete-a-tete..with the cute chick inviting mr.rabbit to share its meal and mr. rabbit responding a with a peck on the cheek.

Would like to built a home for the kampung chickens

...hmmm

2-storey chicken coop/reban ayam complete with

a staircase going upper level and

partitions for all members of the family

I found an inspiring..interesting webpage :-

http://www.backyardchickens.com/

information here if you're interested to know more on chickens

and building chicken coops

"PetalFlies" - ANY INFO ON THIS INTERESTING PLANT?

Purple colored  'butterfly-shaped' leaves with 5-petals white flowers

- "Petal Flies"-

Pelargonium Radula - (Jeremin- Halau Nyamuk)

Bought this pot of  'Pelargonium Radula' for only RM6 at Tampin Farmers Market recently. Would like to test whether this plant can repels mosquitoes.

This : shot taken at Putrajaya Floria 09

(image at: flickrs.com/photos)

General info on Pelargonium Radula :-
-  is said to originates from South Africa
-  gives somewhat a camphor-rose-lemon scent
-  known locally as 'Jeremin/Pokok Halau Nyamuk'
-  Insect repellant : crushed  leaves emits  a fragrance that acts  insect  repellant
- the leaves can be dried for pot-pourrie and bath frangrance

Yang Lama di Cari dan di Tambah

Kami balik kampung baru-baru ni kemas rumah buat persediaan untuk menyambut raya. Jumpa sebiji teko tanpa tutup ni dengan enam biji cawan ....

Pasangan cawan ini macam tak serasi je...

Cawan bunga biru ini masih cantik. Set lama buatan  china, tebal dan telinga dia kecil..macam cawan kopitiam je

Jumpa pula sedozen piring kuih comel beropol ..dulu ingat lagi

rajin isi kuih raya..suka sebab comel loteh...

meh kita minum petang guna tea set nih

...walaupun teko tak de tutup...

acuan kuih lompang..mangkuk kecil

bunga apa ni?

acuan kuih lompang sedozen lagi....

Ini pula piring kuih (side plate) bunga matahari..baru tak lama

10 tahun lamanya ...

Bagaimana nak 'season' lesong batu leper ni?

Akak minat lesong batu leper ni bila ternampak dalam satu program tv masakan. Lepas tu mintak adik yang tinggal di JB belikan. Adik terjumpa lesong ini , cantik dibungkus di sebuah kedai pinggan mangkuk. Bila dibuka bungkusan, lesong batu ini tak serupa batu lesong yang biasa iatu batu granite yang nampak lebih padat. Tak pasti batu jenis apa yang digunakan untuk lesong yang leper ni..maka belumlah digunakan.

Nak tanya la kawan-kawan online , sesiapa yang ada maklumat berkaitan batu lesong, bagaimana nak cuci (season) lesong batu leper sebelum boleh digunakan ..kerana bila digesek anak lesong tu , semacam ada hakisan lesong tu menyerupai habuk halus.

Parsely, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

Parsely

Often used as garnishing as well as to flavour soups, stews and stocks, parsely leaves can be dried for making 'Parsely Tea'. Infuse 1/2 teaspoons of the parsely leaves or even its roots in a cup of near-boiling water and let it stand for about 10 minute in the covered cup. Parsely tea may help to flush out harmful toxins from the body and also in reduce flatulance problem. Can be use as a poultice - apply pounded parsley leaves on insect bites and stings to lessen its poison/pain.

Parsely grows well in most soils, must be well-drained in full sunlight or partly shaded.

Sage

Sage - its texture, colour and fragrane plus its many uses in the kitchen has become popular in "Kitchen Garden" - edible landscape , easy to grow . Sage also has medicinal properties, can be used as antiseptic and antifungal. To use sage as a tea drink or as a gargle, take 2to4 tablespoons of fresh leaves or 2 teaspoons of dried leaves in a cup of hot water. Care must be taken not to take too much for too long period because itc an cause rapid heartbeat, dizziness as it contains ' tactrine' which can cause pososibility of ulcer and liver problems.

Sage can be grown outdoors, in pots as well as hydroponic and need full sunlight.

Thyme
Thyme - Thymus vulgaris, is an aromatic herb that can be easily potted and placed on the kitchen sill/window ledge. It grows well in dry, sunny condition and lean soil because too much water can rot the plants. Can be grown from seed but growing from cuttings is much easier.

Thyme also has antiseptic an preservative properties. Thyme tea often used as a mouthwash to treat a sore throat or infected gum. Can also be used in perfumes making.


Rosemary - its Latin name , Rosemarinus officinalis - means "dew of the sea" is greatly used in the Mediterranean cooking/seasoning such as pastas, pizzas , soups and salads. A beautiful ornamental potted plant emits sweet fragrance , both leaves and the flowers can be eaten. Rosemary flowers come in shades of blue, pink and white. Can be used as an antiseptic and breath freshner. Its fragrance is said to have calming effects on the nerves. Rosemary tea is said to counter poor circulation, fights rheumatism, headaches and fever.

Can be grown from either seedlings and cuttings, which is much easier. It needs enough sun, good drainage and good air circulation.

Rosemary & Thyme

There is an English album in the 1960s titled ' Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme' by Simon & Garfunkel

Kitchen Garden

....dapat juga cari cawan bunga kangkong nih...

This six cups and a small teapot "bunga kangkong" , same design with my late mother's collection that I found in her kampung store. Bought this set with enamelled trays...wish could get another tea set complete with saucers and side plates...

This particular set was put up for sale..but a bit too pricey......

These snippets echoed from conversations when I was chatting/YM with my sister in Johor Bharu. The topic was on the coming 'Kenduri Tahlil' on 16 August, which has been much talked about between us sisters. My sis , already hooked on blogging and browsing blogs on brownies, cupcakes, cake decos that soon led to knowing other bloggers' interest on old china collections such as shown above. I was tempted to buy this particular set but changed my mind because a lit bit pricey. Will scout around the small crockery shops back home in my kampung

Our late mom collection of crockery dated years even before my sis was born and all were kept in the store. Me and hubby had the greatest joy of clearing up the store since last August 2008 in preparation of our eldest son, Azlan's wedding on 20 December 2008. We decided to hold the wedding themed "kampung" in mother's house, Tanjung Rimau Luar, Alor Gajah, Melaka. Food served in old China plates and enamel trays, mom's collection. Not buffet style which is commonly done now at weddings in towns or kampungs. The menu too was almost similar to the one that we had on our wedding more than 30 years ago. Our guests and our friends, especially my former officemates (very close friends of mine) were very happy at the wedding reception. The most happiest were our late mom and stepdad. Could see in their eyes and facial expression when they exchanged greetings with relatives and friends that they have not met long time. Me and hubby went all out to contact and invite those relatives that we could gather for this special occasion. I am grateful that we could do this for our parents............... Allhamdullilah.
.... and ....

Then these were pretty landscaping projects done by the schoolchildren of Putrajaya that caught my attention and I would like to share with all .....

Those shots above were taken at the Floria Putrajaya 2009 , portraying how attractive were the old china plates, teapots , cups and saucers displayed in the 'Kitchen Garden' among the herbs and plants commonly used during cooking. Turmeric plants in an old 2-handle wok and other tiny herbal shrubs plabted in coffee and tea jars as well as in an old tea pot.