breathing space

The picture was taken from my sister's backyard in Minneapolis. I haven't gone to Minneapolis but I think it is one of the loveliest places in the US. And I awfully think their backyard has one such spectacular view. I love the bird bath which looks an ancient Greek sculpture. If I were a bird, I would love diving on it for some water to drink and the much needed bath. I guess, not on winter time though. The old tree is as charming as the colorful fallen leaves on the ground and the lake. I am always drawn to nature because I believe there are spirits among them. Thus, taking care and communicating with the plants and animals around you brings positive energies back to your household.

When it is time for me to trim the trees and plants, I do try to be careful in not hurting them. A friend asked me once, why I did not cut one branch of the tree which she claims to look ridiculous. I said, because it got a nest there and if I cut that ridiculous branch (as she says so) the birds will die. When she was gone, I thought she might think, what I said was even more ridiculous. There are many people who seems to be naturally "mean" to nature and living things and I am sad about it.

Anyway, I am writing this because I want some balance back in my life. Having all these appliances and gadgets inside the house sometimes give me a creep that all those electromagnetic waves (is that how you call it?) coming from them will make me crazy. But having a small garden somehow gives me a "breathing space."

That breathing space happens to be my other venue for some quick cups of my "chocolates de cielo". By the way, it was my sister, Cristina who suggested "chocolates de cielo" (Spanish) or "chocolates from heaven" (in English) to be my chocolate brand name.

raw cacao beans

Tomorrow these raw cacao beans will be treated by the sun's heat. I think I wrote something about my ritual in sun-drying the beans. I slowly spread the beans on a container up on my roof. As I spread it, I chant this..."Let these beans get that energy from the powerful sun to bring out their best aroma and taste. I believe that these beans are given by the Almighty for its worthiness and the heat from the sun help to polish it more. I bless these beans that it will be able to serve its purpose of giving health to my children and my customers. And give pleasure to my children and customers".

I do not produce in bulk. I wanted my "chocolates de cielo" to have the same home-made quality that my grandmothers used to do. Their "tableas" (chocolate molds) were slowly and individually molded to the best of their care. When I was a young child, I use to look at them for many hours and wait for those "tableas" to stiffen.

Since I was a kid, I thought I was always amazed at the transformation of the beans to the liquid chocolate and to the molded one. Maybe because I also see life that way. People can be changed and I always hope that it will be for the better.

National Chocolate Day

It was National Chocolate Day yesterday! I did not know, but I remembered having a some sentiments yesterday about chocolates and one of my favorite movies, "Chocolat".

From link http://www.lookinggood123.com/2009/October/National-Chocolate-Day.htm

National Chocolate day is every October 28th, So be sure you celebrate by eating extra chocolate today. National chocolate day only comes once a year, but we should take a little time every day to remember where chocolate comes from (no, not the chocolate elves, from the cacao tree)

And we can look at the health benefits we get every day we eat healthy dark chocolate. Any chocolate has some health benefits, of course, but if you can try the cold pressed dark chocolates, for the best benefits.

Just like eating healthy raw broccoli is healthy compared to beer batter covered deep fat fried broccoli drizzled with cheese sauce. Chocolate also can have a bad side. Actually chocolate is usually not bad, it's the other additives that can be bad. So, this National Chocolate Day, make yourself the promise to seek out the tasty, healthy cold processed dark chocolate. And eat some.

Have a taste!

fighting one choco myth

I am just surprised why there are lots of myths about chocolates. One is - it is the cause of high blood pressure. I have been a chocolate drinker for such a long time now and I have a low to normal blood pressure to take pride.

I just noticed that people here in Davao are avid soft drinks addict. And I am mightily amazed too that some whom I know personally even drink it with their breakfast. Well of course everyone knows how the acid in these soft drinks works inside our stomach but nevertheless it just gives some people the perk. I won't take that chance.

I have taught myself to be friendly with my stomach for some time now. I am not getting younger so I think I also have to think of my vital organs' wellness. Dark chocolates just happen to have high contents of flavonoids that helps relax our blood pressure and balance certain hormones in our body.

In such a dry city like Davao, I get tempted to drink cold soft drinks most often too, but I welcome the sweat that brings out the toxins in me when I drink my hot chocolate drink. Have to delay some gratifications! No pain and sweat equals no glory!

I'd rather have that for my stomach than a glass of softdrinks!

one taste is all it takes

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I am inspired to take my chocolate business seriously because of my wanting "chocolates" to be a permanent fixture in my life. That is aside from my family, of course.

an angel of a son

Today, my son Angelo and I had some very hard moments. I think he will not be able to enroll in this big school he is attending. I felt so bad while ranting my frustrations, that I did not think - the hurt I felt must be twice or thrice for him.

I have been so lenient to my children and I think they all have this feeling that the world out there will understand them the way that I do. Now, I just pray that this world would not be that harsh for them.

I cried my deepest cry today. But now I am thinking, my son and I should not hurt our relationship. After all the hurt, I only want to embrace my son and cover him from frustrations. Frustrations are but fleeting. If we both dwell on it, we won't be able to move on.

Oh my Angelo, this is for you my angel:

"Nothing in this world is ever completely wrong, even a stopped clock is right twice a day."
by Paulo Coelho

Today, I was afraid that I would leave this world early because I thought I still have many things to teach you to survive this life. But on second thought, life is a better teacher than I am. Just go on living, my angel.

choco man and Sappho poem

Like a god he seems to me,
that man who sitting across from you
listens attentively to your sweet voice
and lovely laughter - a thing
that sets my heart aflutter ,
for suddenly as I look at you,
my voice is stuck in my throat,
my tongue is tied and a subtle flame
courses beneath my flesh,
my eyes not seeing,
my ears whirring,
sweat pouring down,
my whole body trembling
my skin greener than grass
and I just short of dying
yet all this must be borne since.

by: Sappho

I fell in love with this poetry when I read this from the book "Erotic Love Poems of Greece and Rome" by Stephen Bertman. I find some harmony in reading poetry because it gets me through inside. It gives me an opportunity to look at myself in another perspective and understand that my complexities are but normal. Make those complexities the reason to polish my life and create an awareness that we have to live this life to the fullest always. And appreciate beauty in every aspect of life.

fond of strawberry

My husband used to bring home chocolates from Japan which I really loved. It got strawberries as fillings. I am not so discriminating with chocolates but the strawberry and chocolate blend was just perfect. I do not exactly like the taste of fresh strawberries. But it is the shape and color that I love.

When I was in high school I remembered using Strawberry as a pen name to some stuff I do. Not big thing writing stuff but I remember doodling with the right strawberry strokes as signature. I also dreamed of having a small ice cream and do-nut parlor which has Strawberry as its name. It never happened. But I like dreaming, it gives me a free hand to do what I create in my mind. I get very detailed in my dreams, too.

Nowadays, I am dreaming of a chocolate shop and how I am going to make this big. I only need some funds to start my facility. I will get there.

By the way, both the strawberry and chocolates have high contents of antioxidants. Antioxidants protects our body from aging and who wouldn't like the chocolate-strawberry team inside our system? Not me.

simple and special choco moment

I have always loved talking to friends. When they come and visit me at home it automatically stops me from doing what I have to do. Just like the art of making "hand written"letters, receiving a guest for some talk is something I miss.

I got a small garden where I often receive my guests. This gives me and friends opportunity to stop and commune with my flowers, greens and trees. With the plants around me I feel some sense of security. Security because they have been a part of my life and nurturing. The flowers for example has some ways of telling me that " life is wonderful and colorful" when there are times that I felt everything else is collapsing.

I sometimes sit alone in the darkness of the night and look up to the moon and talk to it from afar. I sometimes have a crazy feeling that when I look up to the moon - it could read my mind and communicate it to the universe.

Anyway, it also feels great to be far away from the computer to finally face a person. A living thing whom you could see expressions, hear the words from the mouth and touch the skin. Sometimes relationships in the computer is so limited. But when you have the person in front of you, one just get everything.

I love serving my hot chocolate drinks during these special moments. There is so much grief in this world so a couple of pep talking and a dose of serotonin (anti-depressant) from the chocolate, will make us all feel like kings and queens in a far enchanted land!

to the wounds that never heal

Many people turn to something whenever they feel kind of heartbroken. When I was a child I always turn into eating when I do not get what I want. Because we are chocolate monsters in the family and I did not care less about getting fat, I did got "that" weight. Only because I "devoured" on everything har har har.

I also did not even care about the health benefits of chocolates then because what I cared about is that "it taste good" in my mouth and it fills me up in the stomach. I also did not care if it is prepared like a hot rice porridge (champorado) or the chocolate drink that I have always loved. As long as I got chocolates!

Now that I am producing the chocolates, I still have it everyday.

"To the wounds that never heal" is kind of romantic, pathetic yet funny phrase that I say during "toasts". Because it is always true uniquely to different people. Everyone faces different battles everyday and I would want myself to get some kind of a "treat". Chocolates - the food for the gods, a day should make myself sane.

Chocolates stimulates our body's endorphin production which gives us that "pleasure". Some says it is similar to the orgasm (http://tr.im/bettersex). This is debatable of course. But surely because our minds read "pleasure" then we become happy for the day.

There is no way that I sulk in one corner if I lose something , anything or everything. My family is here. I got family out there. And I grab a chocolate!

irish cheers

I got an American-Irish friend Ric, who is married to one of my best friends ever, Norma. We used to toast over coffee and rhum the phrase I am going to share in this blog. Even if I am a coffee addict my taste buds also is as addict for the chocolate drink I love.

I love the pure "chocolates de cielo" molds that I do make myself. The hot chocolate drink is easy to prepare. One just needs 2 pure chocolate molds to 3 cups of boiling water. It is so healthy and heavenly!

"Here's to you and here's to me,

in all hopes that we agree.

But if by chance we disagree

then the hell with you

and here's to me!"

CHEERS!

some choco feeling

My mind lately has been preoccupied with thoughts of doing something "great". And all I could think of is "chocolates". So I kept myself busy reading about it...."yessss, yummmy chocolates" for a business venture. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved that "creation". I think the cacao tree is the first one I recognized (just kidding!)when I was young. It should be. Or maybe its fruit or the beans came early into my recognition because my family (grandparents, aunts, uncles etc.) produces the best chocolate products in our native hometown in Samar. Of course, we did not own a hacienda of cacao trees, but I remember the pleasure of tasting the best chocolate delicacies and food back home. Well, that is too personal of a reflection, but history also shows the fascinating evolution of chocolates as "food for the gods" during the 17th century or even earlier into today's commercialized chocolates available for every "chocolate lover" anywhere else in this planet. Stay with me for this venture...This could make me rich. Then will lead me to another blissful journey ha ha ha ha.

comforting chocolate

I woke up feeling cold. The clouds are gray and drizzling outside. But foremost, I dont really want to be as gloomy as the weather! If I was not in a hurry to bring the children to school, I would love to sit in my rocking chair, face the garden, listen to the birds and have my cup of chocolate. But there was no time really. Have to drive to school, finish some errands, some telephone calls and alas....the most comforting cup of hot chocolate for today! I have "tableas" which I have formed into tiny flowers. Does not exactly look like flowers but pure chocolates in that form look charming. That is my first product to be sold. I am in the process of studying its process and consistency. Do this and we will have the comforting chocolate drink as easy as: a) Let boil 3 cups ( 1 cup measures 150ml) b) Add 2 pure chocolates c) Stir and add the right amount of sugar.

Now, for a more discriminating taste har har har. You can put some cream (but surely this will also add some calories, I won't tell but will make you look heavy), cinnamon (have you heard that when men smells this, they get kinda turned-on, if not romantic? har har har try it and tell me if it works) or vanilla.

That's it for this morning. I have to face more challenging chores such as my laundry, cleaning the rooms and a lot more. Have fun today! Be blissful!