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Hello friends and fellow vters.

Been quite a while since last I frollicked in vtland. A bit of an update. I was noticeably absent for some years now because I went back to college to take up nursing. Just graduated this year and passed the local board exam so now I am a nurse. Nothing much has changed. I now have two degrees on my belt but I'm still a bum at home. hehehe. Kidding! I'm still busy reviewing for the next set of exams which will allow me to work abroad. A good reason for not working yet and staying at home (to review.. to review). I am still painting and still obsessed with taking pictures of death march markers and monuments. Like I said, nothing much has changed.

I hope this year, I'll be able to log in as frequently as I would like on vt... be able to do more travel write-ups. To all my friends who greeted me on my birthday, thank you very much.

that's it for now, Have fun on vt everyone!

This flower is called hibiscus in english. Locally, we call these gumamela.

Those born during my generation or earlier have probably experienced harvesting the blooms of this plant for making bubble formula. Commercial bubbles for blowing were unheard of in those days and children were more creative with their toys.

To make your own bubble formula (with long lasting bubbles - or at least until the bubble hits the ground or hits a sharp object on its flight) gather a few blooms from this plant. Use a mortar and pestle to crush the flowers. (Poor flowers!) Crushing will bring out the slime....... yep.... slime.... every child's favorite yucky substance. Get a container and put in it a small amount of water (less than a cup of water). Get the crushed flower and make sure to gather the slime too. Use some of the water from the container to wash the mortar bowl to really get all the juice. In the container, squeeze and swirl the crushed gumamela in the water to get all the slime before discarding the now pulped, battered and drowned flower where your mom or grandma wont see it. Add dishwashing liquid to the slime water or you may even use powdered detergent (if you want to go authentic), mix well. Your bubble formula is finished.

Make a wire loop for making the bubbles. Enjoy.

Err... it might be a good idea to do the bubbles in the garden unless you want your mom to run after you for the bubble stains on the walls, floors, and ceiling of the house.

2 Cattleyas

bougainvillea

Intro Updated Oct 24, 2007
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Comments (83)

olja1234 Oct 16, 2011 at 8:01 AM Report Abuse

Happy birthday, Karen. Greetings from Slovenia.
Geoff_Wright Oct 16, 2011 at 2:05 AM Report Abuse

Hi Karen, Wishing you a very Happy Birthday today. Best wishes and good luck to you from England.
sim1 Oct 15, 2011 at 9:17 AM Report Abuse

Happy Happy Birthday Karen!!! Hope you are doing well! Åke & Simone :-)
caguasti Sep 29, 2011 at 7:26 PM Report Abuse

Hey long time no see, well here I am again but lot's has change since we last spoke, hope everything is ok.
Take Care !!
jumpingnorman Dec 18, 2010 at 5:37 PM Report Abuse

Karen, Maligayang Pasko sa iyo! JN :)
mlt_t Oct 26, 2010 at 6:28 PM Report Abuse

hay naku! hanggang tingin na lang ako sa painting mo hehehe... love it!
ATLC Oct 15, 2010 at 10:45 PM Report Abuse

Happy birthday! Enjoy your day :-)
hayward68 Oct 16, 2009 at 10:51 AM Report Abuse

Happy Birthday!! Wishing you all the best!
kopwint Oct 16, 2009 at 7:28 AM Report Abuse

Happy and free in your days there, Happy birthday to you .. and wishing you from Burma, get free and happy , and get success and smart, and get strong and harmony, and get wealthy and healthy, Know where Burma is..???
Donna_in_India Oct 16, 2009 at 6:52 AM Report Abuse

Hi Karen - wishing you a very happy birthday and many happy returns of the day!