Signs @ Intramuros

"The Crazy Nun"

Old and new store signs I spotted along Plaza San Luis across the San Agustin Church in Intramuros.  

La Monja Loca (The Crazy Nun) is a few years old,  a store "dedicated to the promotion of all things good and all things Filipino, from vintage postcards and traditional handicrafts", according to its website.  They also sell rare books, traditionally-woven fabrics, paintings of local artists and a bunch of quirky things.

Next door is The Papier Tole Shop---one of the oldest shops in Intramuros selling recycled paper products from dolls to 3-D paintings.

Linking to Lesley's Signs, Signs

B/ABC Wednesday

B is for Birdhouse

This is my friend Alex' birdhouse, home for his pigeons---his masterpiece, he said.  Crafted from twigs, wood and tin, this birdhouse stands tall at the corner of his bird-friendly yard, under the trees to protect it from direct sunlight.  It offers a haven for his pigeons and other winged creatures after a day of exploration.

You'd be surprised that this place is in the city, just a a few meters from a busy thoroughfare.  The birds, trees, vines and this birdhouse made me feel I was away from the hassle and bustle of the city.  We were having coffee at his patio on Saturday afternoon admiring his birdhouse and listening to birds chirping and wind rustling through the leaves.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

It's Christmas time [MYM]

Christmas decor designed by Weenie Lagdameo of Accent Pieces

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time.  Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?  ~ G.K. Chesterton

Linked to Mellow Yellow Monday

Water Hyacinth

@ mirandablue
Eichhornia crassipes, Water hyacinth

Water Hyacinth is an aquatic plant and is often considered a highly problematic invasive species.  Flooding in parts of Mindanao has been attributed to the piling up of huge volumes of water hyacinths at a portion of the Rio Grande de Mindanao, blocking the flow of the river.  Water hyacinth threatens the survival of other aquatic species because it blocks the sunlight's penetration into the water.  They clog water-ways, making boating, fishing and almost all other water activities impossible. 

But innovators have discovered the economic possibilities of this free-floating perennial.  Small-scale cottage industries are utilizing water hyacinth in paper-making, the fiber from the stem can be made into rope, dried stalks are also woven into baskets, placemats, area rugs, furniture, even shoes and handbags.  It can be used to aid the process of water purification because the roots naturally absorb pollutants; can also be used as an animal fodder and feed for fish, and it is ideal for composting.  The stalks, according to DOST's Textile Research Institute, are a viable natural source of alternative textile material.  I have seen cushions and home textiles made from water hyacinth fiber.  It is also an excellent source of biomass.

It looks like this serious pest turns out to be a profitable crop after all.

@ mirandablue

My contribution to Macro Flowers Saturday and Today's Flowers

Mellow Yellow Monday # 30: Yellow Flowers

@ mirandablue

Bunches of yellow flowers grace these vases made from carabao (water buffalo) horn.  The mirror frames are also crafted from carabao horn.  The Philippine Carabao Center promotes the carabao as a multi-purpose animal and a source of milk, meat, hide and draft. Taken from TN Philippines' booth at the Manila FAME.

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Mellow Yellow Monday # 29: Decorative plates

@ mirandablue

These are decorative plates from a showroom in Cebu.  Not sure if this is a grape leaf but the leaf design was debossed and hand-painted on crushed capiz shell.  The black leaf on the right has cracked egg shells background.  

Posted for Mellow Yellow Monday

Mellow Yellow Monday #2

A trio of angels in golden robes created by Weenee Lagdameo of Accent Pieces.

My contribution to Mellow Yellow Monday