Other Discoveries

Not only did I find the toads and the frogs but there were other interesting discoveries during the walk.
Like this dragonfly on a tree trunk and a baby praying mantis in the scrub.

It is also the time of plenty in the forest as many of the ficus trees are fruiting. These are tiny figs.Tapioca plants were also flowering. If you've not seen a tapioca flower, this is what it looks like.Mushrooms were also sprouting from fallen trees and on tree trunks. Some I think may be edible but would anyone dare try.I found this uniquely colored wild flower which looked different from the rest I've seen thus far.

This Evening's Discoveries

I took a different route through the reserve this afternoon and the forest was filled with calls of an unknown creatures. They sounded like birds but I soon discovered that the litter along the path hid little wonders. They took a long time to locate but locate them I did.
At the time of posting, these tiny creatures no more than 2 - 3 cm are unnamed as I could not find them in any identification books.
This tiny frog had a white line running down its back and I only managed to get this shot before it disappeared into the litter.

A closer look after cropping.This tiny frog had an orange or yellow nose, I found two but this one was in a better position to photograph. (Update: this frog is known as the yellow-bellied puddle frog)Close-up (Update: also a yellow-bellied puddle frog) This little toad was also in the litter pool with the frogs. (Update: it is official it's not a toad but the juvenile of the Malayan (Blyth's) Giant Frog) This orange brown toad was discovered in a small drainage pipe. (Update: A four-ridged toad)

Getting Back To Nature II

Giant caterpillars were munching on a lily plant at the ranger's station. This one just was in the right position for a good shot.I love busy bees. They are great subjects but you need lots of patience.Stink bug Another mothA translucent snail

Wild Flowers

I was talking to a retired teacher the other day and he gave me an idea to start a collection of photos of wild flowers. Mind you these are flowers of grass and weeds, they are usually small and not many people will notice them as they step on them while walking on open grasslands. Even weed have pretty flowers.This is how the flower disperses its seeds.

Getting Back To Nature

I throughly enjoyed myself these two days, spending the morning walking around the central nature reserve with my camera looking for interesting subjects to shoot. These are the little creatures I bumped into. A painted moth.This is a tiny butterfly is from the Lycaenidae family. This group is second largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide. This is a little bee that was resting on a leaf when I chanced upon it.Then the busy bee that we all know. This bee was busy combing the mimossa bloom.Jiminy Cricket was everywhere munching up plants.This fly too sat patiently on a grass blade while I photographed it.The insect that I have been looking for the praying mantis. I found this tiny baby at the ranger's station yesterday.

New Plants At Home

I bought several new plants a week before Christmas to add some cheer around the home and I thought it would be nice to introduce these plants. I had to have this hibiscus plant as the bloom was large and showy. This is my Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Byron Metts, the flower is 6 inches in diameter and pure white.Then came two pots of Rex Begonias, that are priced for their colorful leaves. I placed these two pots by a window and they immediately brightened up the living room. Cyclamens caught my eye and I bought this pot as the color of the flowers are just stunning. This is an indoor plant that is showy but oh so fussy. I hope it plant will thrive in the living room. This pot of anthurium was Bangkok inspired. I loved the huge cut blooms at the Inter-Continental and this pot seemed perfect at the corner of my patio.Last but not the least, I added a pot of Amaryllis. I've perfected the art of keeping these plants and making them flower even in the tropics.

Paddy Plants For Decoration

I've been growing paddy since I visited Myanmar some four years ago. I love paddy plants for the vibrant green color that the blades have and I am always happy just sitting by the road watching the paddy sway in the wind in places like Bali, Vietnam and Myanmar.
I have over the years harvested enough seeds to keep growing paddy as ornamental plants in my home. We pulled out an old Chinese themed dish to start out a handful of seeds and look how beautiful they are sitting in the middle of my dining table.
I had to move my dining table and thank goodness that I have a covered patio on the back to allow outside dining.

A Day Before Christmas

I have spent an entire week going back and forth from the hospital. No, I'm not ill but my mom is. We warded her last Monday and it looks like it will be a while longer before things can return to normal.
My plans to bake friends christmas goodies went out the door and thus far I have used all the ingredients that I have in the pantry to bake goodies for the nurses who have been caring for my mom.
I've made marbel cake, scones and brownies yesterday and there is enough to go around the ward and the hematology department.I did manage to go to Daiso and I bought myself a couple more plates to use when I photograph my food.
My marbel cake is plated on a china blue rectangle dish.Gooey brownie with walnuts, its a fantastic treat for anyone who has a sweet tooth. The dish is also new.Lastly, scones loaded with raisins on yet another new dish.The fat paw above is that of my cat, he was asleep under my dining table and I had to have shots of them chubby paws.

Baking Therapy

After a friend who dropped-by left, I jumped into the kitchen to do get some baking therapy as the skies opened up, and it rained elephants and dinosaurs. On my menu are blueberry muffins and molten chocolate cakes.
I bought two punnets of fresh Australian blueberries and they are always lovely in blueberry muffins. See how they burst open and ooze blueberry juices into the muffin. I gave some away to a friend.
I then moved on to make molten chocolate cake. I turned my Valrhona chocolate stock into dreamy yummy molten cakes. I made myself a single serving with vanilla ice cream. Rest of the batter are in the fridge.See how the chocolate oozes out as I cut into the warm cake.Molten Chocolate Cakes Recipe
4 oz unsalted butter

6 oz good quality bittersweet chocolate

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

Method

Preheat the oven to 230C.

Butter and lightly flour four 6-oz. ramekins. Tap out the excess flour and set the ramekins on a baking sheet.
In a double boiler over simmering water, melt the butter with the chocolate. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and egg yolks, sugar and salt at high speed until thickened and pale.
Whisk the chocolate until smooth. Quickly fold it into the egg mixture along with the flour.

Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins and bake for 12 minutes, or until the sides of the cakes are firm but the centers are soft. Let the cakes cool for about one minute and then cover each with a dessert plate. Carefully turn each one over, let stand for 10 seconds, then unmold. Serve immediately.

Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon soda
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
4 ounces butter
1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

Method

Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk and butter that has been melted and browned slightly. Make a well in dry ingredients and pour in liquid ingredients, mixing quickly. Fold in the berries. Spoon batter into greased muffin cups and bake until golden brown. Bake at 200C for 20 -30 minutes. Recipe makes 24 blueberry muffins.

Home Bound Yet Again

I was home bound yet again but for a different reason this time. To keep myself busy, I went into manic mode tending to my plants - fertilizing and spraying insecticide. I have been neglecting the plants so they got their much needed pampering. While doing that I was also on the look out for interesting subject in the garden to photograph. Why waste the day without playing with the camera?
I had some interesting subjects to focus on - a pair of mating four lined tree frogs, gerbera daisy and a plump caterpillar.

Doesn't the tiny male on the back of the female look totally worn out? He seem to be in sort of a trance and non-responsive. The female however was alert and kept moving them around to evade my lens.Fat and juicy grub and it looked like it had Tweety Bird's eyes on its head tooThe caterpillar is just a huge eating machine. It eats molts and eats till it is ready to pupate. This one did and see its nasty weapon.It also made an interesting shot when a drop of water rolled down its back to the head reflecting the images of the leaves it feeds on.There are of course the plants.