A Pocket of Quiet.
Taken at Sonya’s Garden. September 2005.
If you were to spend the whole day in this little garden cove, what would you do?
My ideal home would include a sprawling garden with different kinds of flowers and bright green plants. Sadly, I do not have space for a garden in our tiny little condo. Double sadly, I do not have a green thumb.
I was traumatized by tomatoes I planted in high school. It was a class project and my little tomato area was right beside the rest of my groupmates’. While their plants were tall and green and their tomatoes plump and red, my own little patch screamed for 911. My plants were dry and didn’t even bear fruit. Frustrating. I gave up on planting from that day on.
Daddy has a green thumb. He doesn’t have any formal training and never really studied gardening but my my, the gardens in my parents’ home are so beautiful. The plants are tall and come to life when the breeze moves them. The flowers are all colored so brightly and look so healthy. I love sitting in their veranda and just listen to the rustling of the leaves as the wind goes by. It brings me peace.
If I had a garden and a little cove just like the one in the photograph, I’d probably do a lot of my writing and reading there. I’d also try to learn how to turn my thumb green so I can nurture flora. It’d be a great place to have morning breakfast, afternoon tea or a romantic dinner. Ah someday, dreams of my fantasy garden will come true.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
meeyagirl
September 12, 2005 at 11:02 am (19 years ago)as simple as it may sound, if i were in a little garden cove, i would just sit there, take a deep, relaxed breath, and savor the silence. my reality involves a screaming baby, a leaky faucet, a constantly grunting washing machine, and an upstairs neighbor with three active wannabe track stars.
o, blissful silence amidst God’s greenery, and i will be content.
jojo
September 12, 2005 at 11:07 am (19 years ago)speaking of Sonya’s…the food gets to be nakakasawa na rin after a while, but the ambience is something else.
ang ganda ng garden ng dad mo!
jey
September 12, 2005 at 1:01 pm (19 years ago)haven’t been there but have heard a lot of good things about the place.:)
Toni
September 12, 2005 at 1:15 pm (19 years ago)meeyagirl: Those are beautiful sentiments. Yes, I too would spend quiet time with myself there, a welcome break from a day’s reality.
jojo: Yeah, the food’s nakakasawa, that’s why I didn’t blog about it hehehe. Pero I love the gardens talaga… and yup, my Dad has an amazing garden back home!
jey: Try to go sometimes. It’s a great experience!
Sidney
September 12, 2005 at 2:11 pm (19 years ago)Have a nap !
denden
September 12, 2005 at 2:35 pm (19 years ago)hi toni! i’d love to have a garden with loads of beautiful flowers but like you i don’t have a green thumb. but if i could afford a gardener and have one of those lovely cove, i’d spend my days there reading and SLEEPING!
jeanny
September 12, 2005 at 3:10 pm (19 years ago)HI Toni.
What a beautiful place that is, if I were in that little garden, I would simply relax and feel the wind that will sway my hair. Savor the smell of the nice greenery. 😀
Hay ang sarap 😀
bea
September 12, 2005 at 3:17 pm (19 years ago)I’d read, read, read!
And also it looks like a really nice place to talk to God.
Not necessarily pray, but just talk to Him…
Toni
September 12, 2005 at 6:15 pm (19 years ago)sidney: Ah yes! And I’ll take your picture this time!
dexie: What a life!!!
jeanny: Relaxing diba? Sigh.
bea: Or just sit still and listen.
mare
September 13, 2005 at 7:44 am (19 years ago)Wow, beautiful. I’d probably do the same as meeyagirl, just sit and relax. Sooner or later, I’d probably get as many of my loved ones to enjoy such calm and serenity – that always improves everyone’s moods!
tin
September 13, 2005 at 7:52 am (19 years ago)someday, when R and I eventually moves to a more permanent home, there will be flowers, lots of it!
Toni
September 13, 2005 at 9:54 am (19 years ago)mare: Definitely a mood booster! And it is a perfect place to relax with loved ones.
tin: I wish for that to come true!
watson
September 13, 2005 at 12:57 pm (19 years ago)Ooooh. I’d be sleeping. And when I’m awake, I’d be reading a good book. And then sleep again.
Toni
September 13, 2005 at 1:30 pm (19 years ago)watson: Now that’s the good life 😀
justice
September 13, 2005 at 10:57 pm (19 years ago)ang ganda naman niyan…relaxing!
BabyPink
September 14, 2005 at 1:54 am (19 years ago)the moment i saw the picture, una kong naisip “ay, ang sarp namang magbasa sa spot na ito!” hehehe:) i guess that answered the question, yeah?:)
pinayhekmi
September 14, 2005 at 1:56 am (19 years ago)We’re planning to put together a zen garden in our backyard. Honestly though, I think my husband will do all the plant work since, I, like you, do not have a green thumb.
annabanana
September 14, 2005 at 2:50 pm (19 years ago)haven’t been to sonya’s garden. would love to try it one of these days. what kind of food do they serve? they also have bed and breakfast, uh? nice place…would love to have a graden too…kelan kaya yun?
Toni
September 14, 2005 at 6:44 pm (19 years ago)annabanana: Sonya’s Garden is a beautiful place. I placed a link to Sonya’s Garden in that entry — click on it to learn more about the place! Hindi nga lang complete ang site nila. Sonya’s Garden serves fresh salad, pasta, bread with different spreads and dessert. Iisa lang ang menu na, very standard. Ganito ang typical meal nila: You’re served a bowl of greens, and then bowls with the different salad ingredients like a bowl of pineapples, a bowl of shredded carrots, beans, mashed hard-boiled eggs, at marami pang iba. And then she has her yummy dressing. Sarap talaga promise. I have a pending post on the salad I ate, I’ll post it up one of these days. And then after the salad, you’re served bread with different spreads — anchovy spread, pesto, sundried tomato spread, kesong puti (not sure) and then may isa pang hindi ko maalala. And then you’re served pasta naman, the noodles vary. At the time we went there they were serving linguini. Then you’re given two bowls with different sauces, one red sauce (crushed tomatoes with herbs) and then white sauce. Tapos ganun ulit, bowls with different food you can put in your pasta — shrimp, capers, olives, mushrooms, etc. For dessert, you get turon (with langka or banana inside) and fried kamote with sugar syrup.Along with dessert, you’re served fresh mint tea. Yum. During the whole meal, you have bottomless fresh dalandan juice.Ang sarap, promise.
Sometimes we take walks in between courses so we don’t stuff ourselves too quickly. Hehe. Other times we just finish the whole meal and then take long walks in her sprawling garden. Sana pagnakarating ka sa Philippines ulit, daan kayo ng husband mo doon. It’s a very quiet and private place.
And I hope your dreams of a garden come true too!
Toni
September 14, 2005 at 6:45 pm (19 years ago)justice: super relaxing!
tintin: Wow, that’s a great idea! I’m guessing your husband has the green thumb?
You can be his cheerleader while he does the planting. You know, make him iced tea, prepare sandwiches for his break, that thing. *L* You have a lovely home, I am certain your garden will make your whole home even lovelier!
diane: Sana makapunta tayong ROYGBV together sometime. I’m certain YOU’re gonna love it there!
rolly
September 15, 2005 at 9:00 am (19 years ago)I would be either reading a book, try writing a poem, sketching in my mind several ideas (I couldn’t draw because I will be lying down for sure) I can do for a painting or just simply bum around. Most likely, it would be the last. What can I do? I am lazy, hahaha
eye
September 15, 2005 at 9:43 am (19 years ago)i’ve been there, yes it’s really so relaxing. ang sarap mangarap na may ganyan din akong garden sa bahay namin. but i’ve never tasted their food, i have to admit it’s somewhat pricey. worth it ba?
Toni
September 16, 2005 at 2:12 pm (19 years ago)tito r: Not lazy, just a laid-back creative thinker!
eye: The food’s not fantastic but it’s delicious nonetheless. Definitely an experience!
Zita
September 20, 2005 at 2:27 pm (19 years ago)I would like to come and visit sonya’s garden again when I’m in mla. One of my fave spot. Tranquilty!
Yupki
September 20, 2005 at 4:19 pm (19 years ago)I’ll read and listen to my iPod, but it has to be relaxing music. But I also like just staring into space, it’s therapeutic for me.
an actual adult
September 18, 2007 at 2:34 am (17 years ago)“Daddy”? “Wifely steps”? Are you twelve? Are you a fundie? I love my husband, but being a wife is just one small part of who I am. How many male bloggers do you know who use “husband” as the title of anything they do?
Have you ever considered having a life of your own that is not a shadow of somebody else’s?