My day this sunday has been great since it started with a sunrise at the east again, indicating that the weather for the day would be good and I can say that it really happened. We had plan to collect some organic soil (loam soil) for my garden this day together with my grandmother but she said that she can't because her waist is hurting, you know oldies tend to feel a lot of things on their body.
So instead of her, my parents and together with my cousins, we're the one who went to the field to continue the mission.
So I woke up early this morning and when I tried to get up I felt like there's something on my chest. I touched it and it's smooth. I'm not sure what it was because I'm still sleepy so I opened my phone to have a little light and saw my little Amanda, sleeping soundly. She's so cute and that's the reason I captured a photo of her before waking her up because it's already 6 am.
I get out of my bed, do some things then I cooked our rice. I was sitting in front of the fire because it's a little bit cold since month of December is already around the corner. I was captivated by the fire and while I was staring at it, my hands can't resist not to get my phone and take a photo of it. Check the photo below. While I'm at it, the fire was laughing as if it's very happy. Well for us, as what my late grandpa told me before that if the fire is like laughing, there's a blessing on the way. I'm hoping for that one hihi.
Together with my cousin, we went first to the location where we will get the soil. After we arrived there, I removed first the hay that covered the area when we did the harvest last week. I'm lucky that it's not that thick because if it is then I'm gonna have a headache for sure because to be honest it's really hard to move those rice straws especially if it's already wet. It's itchy also but I don't mind it at all as long as we can get the soil for our garden.
We went there around 7 am and as you can see I'm already wearing a wooven hat (silag in Ilokano) because the sun was already burning up. Even if the hay is not that thick, still I had a hard time moving those. And atlast I removed it and I saw already the pile of loam soil. I continued to free the area until it's clean. As you can see from the photo below.
When we get loam soil, I thoroughly check it first before putting them into the sack because there might be living things present in there. I used a shovel to do it since I can't with just my hands.
After a few minutes of checking, I found two larvae and for the information of everybody, these larvae will transform into beetles. If I will not remove these they might die in those sacks. So I just relocated them at the other area under the stock of hay.
I can say that the food chain in that area is very rich since they are very healthy. They're chubby and I said to my cousin that we will gather it to fry it when we go home but she just said, Is it even edible haha. I watched in youtube before that they cook it other countries and it is considered as an exotic food. We never dare to eat this one here especially that we don't know how to prepare it. We don't want to die just because of those cute little beings.
My parents already arrived so we started putting those inside the sacks. My mother was the one who streched those sacks for me to easily put the soil inside. This process continued until we filled the six sacks in halves because it's a little bit wet so it's heavy.
As we go on with this process, I found 3 larvae again and they're healthy also. I got tired already so my mother took over the shovel and my cousin was the one who's holding the sack. We finished it and we rested few minutes before we carried it to our tricycle that's been parked at entrance of the NIA road. The road is not good that's why my father parked it there.
When we have enough rest already, together with my cousin we carried it to our vehicle. The distance is about 50 meters so it's hard also to transport those.
My exploration.
After we arrange all the sacks in our tricycle, I look around the area to explore things that I can capture. And I didn't fail to find some. First is this fruit bearing vine that I found near our vehicle. I don't know it's name so I can just show you it's fruits that captured my interest.
Second is this one, another type of Makahiya plant or touch me not or the shringking plant. Call it however you like but it's characteristic that stands out is that when you touch it, it's leaves will fold as if they are shy.
Another one is this, it's a type vine plant also and it's flower is full of nectar. We sip the nectar that's been in those beautiful flower.
I went back to the area where we got the soil to covered it with hay again for it to turn into an organic soil once again. While I was busy grabbing those , I noticed something that moves within my feet so I stopped for a moment then checked it. And look what I found, a snail crawling out from it's shell. What a traveler this one is.
In addition, I also found a dragonfly that was busy enjoying it's meal. I don't want to disturb it so I just zoomed in the camera when I took it. Oh what a delicious meal is that.
And that's how my half day went. Thank you for reading and I hope you had a great day.
Love yourself the most, because in the end it's your only ally when everyone turns their back on you.
-Jhero