Upo

One of the vegetable varieties that is planted at my vegetable garden is upo. Everyday for the past few weeks seeing my upo plants bearing fruits amused me.Early this week, I harvested 6 pieces of medium to large size upo and I gave them away to my office staff. I do love to share my vegetable harvest to them.

The picture was taken after I harvested 6 pieces and tomorrow, about another 6 pieces are ready for harvest and more are still growing.

How do I care for them? Actually, nothing much has been done. After planting the seedling and watched it grow and tie the vines to the trellis and water the plant everyday.For me, it is a stress-reliever checking on my vegetable garden and watch my plants grow and bear fruits. Sharing the harvest to others is another joy.

Maynah Bird

I don't keep a maynah bird in my house but my parents have two in their porch.They have that for some years already and these 'talking' birds are just really funny.
My father recently has one in his law office too. Its bird cage is placed at the door entrance. It won't be long that this bear will be the one to greet anyone who enters the door "good morning", "good afternoon", or "go away!".

One time, my father (who is fond of this bird)was so worried about one of this first mynah bird that he owned, that he brought the bird inside his bedroom and placed it beside the airconditioner. The next morning, he found the bird stiff. His suceeding mynah birds are now kept in cages placed at the terrace.

Here are some of the words and phrases these birds can say and do:
- "maut kag nawng" (you're ugly)
- "ayo!" (tao po)
- "naay taw" (may tao)
- "naa na si papa" (nandito na si papa)
- wistle
- "dayon" (come in)
- can make sound like that of a telephone ring
- calls the names of our drivers
- makes the sound of my father's 'clearing of his throat'
and many more......

Everytime I am at my parent's house or at his law office, I always tell the mayna "Leah guapa, Leah guapa" hoping that everytime they see me, they will shout those words to me.