Eating Curry Noodle On A Rainy Morning

We woke up in the morning with a very dark, gloomy sky. We then cancelled our early morning walk and instead, went for our breakfast. It was a nice cool day to eat curry noodle and hubby drove to Kampar road. Its been a long time since we last came to Kedai Kopi Yee Fatt. Upon entering the shop, the rain came down.

I remembered the first time I ate curry noodle at this shop. It was about 45 over years ago. We were helping my sister to shift into their new house and I was brought here to have the first taste of this popular curry noodle. I can still recalled it was too hot for me and I was gulping down plenty of plain water. Now I am a lover of curry noodle.

Looking at the menu on the wall increases my appetite.

We both ordered a plate of dry curry noodle (yellow noodle) with curry chicken and BBQ pork. There was a generous serving of creamy curry paste over our noodle. This was hubby's plate without the mint leaves. The mint leaves have gone to my plate. Some of my friends do not like too much curry paste but I do no mind the generous curry paste.

2 cups of herbal tea without the egg. This is too sweet for hubby and I. We must remember not to order this again.

Side order - I see yam puff, I must order! This time it was not as good as the first time we had tasted. I can't remember the new pricing of food with the GST.

Location of shop - at the Kampar Road roundabout, Ipoh. Opposite the Methodist Girls Secondary School.
After our breakfast, we dropped by at the wet market to pick up some things for dinner. By the time we made our way home, the gloomy sky has cleared.

Linking to Skywatch Friday.

God stretches the northern sky over empty space

and hangs the earth on nothing.

He wraps the rain in His thick clouds,

and the clouds don't burst with the weight.

(Job 26:7-8, New Living Translation-NLT)

Feathered Birds And Furry Dogs

For the past weeks, there was this little bird chirping away in my garden. It was very busy flying in and out of my garden. Even my presence in the garden did not frighten it away. There were times when I was sitting on a low stool in the garden weeding, this little bird flew quite near to me. I quickly went in to get my camera hoping to take a snapshot of it.

There was 3 pots of hydrangea plants placed near the wall. I noticed the little bird had been going in and out behind one of my hydrangea plants. I waited until the bird flew away and I took a peek behind the hydrangea plant but I could not see anything.

After I have taken my camera, I went back and sat on the low stool again. I waited for the bird and it came back. I managed to get a snapshot of it on the chain link fencing.

A few days later, I heard soft muffled sound coming from behind the hydrangea plants. Again I took another peek but I still couldn't see anything.

The first time, I saw the bird came back with a small baby lizard between its beak. It was too fast for me, and I missed taking a photo. In a short while, it came back again with a green worm and I managed to take a snapshot of it.

Two or three days later, I gently parted the leaves again. The chicks seemed to sense my presence and immediately they were silent. This time I saw the little nest with two tiny chicks. I quickly took a few shots and moved away from the plant.

I couldn't help marveling. With just 2 to 3 hydrangea leaves, the bird is able to build a nest to support the chicks.

The next day, I took a peek at the chicks again and snapped a few shots. The chicks were so cute.

From there on, I dare not go near the plants except to water them. Most of the time, the mother bird was busy bringing food for the chicks.

There was one incident when I accidentally rustled the leaves of the plant next to the nest and out flew the two chicks. I must have frightened them and I felt so bad and worried for their safety. They flew a short distance and they dropped to the ground. I was worried they may not be strong enough to fly or take care of themselves.

A short while later I saw one of the chicks on the bonnet of my car. It later flew back to the garden and I could see and hear the mother bird calling and watching over the chicks. I prayed and hop that they will be strong enough to fly to safety.

My friend, Shirley sent me this photo of her pet dogs. They are from the same parents, yet they look so different. Aren't they adorable?

Linking to Good Fences and Saturday's Critters.

Young people who obey the law are wise;

those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.

(Proverbs 28:7, New Living Translation-NLT)

Growing Wild Bitter Gourd & Its Medicinal Uses

When I was younger, I do not know how to appreciate bitter melon or bitter gourd. It was later in my adult years that I learned to eat and appreciate bitter gourd. The common ones are the longer and bigger bitter gourd that we normally buy from the local market and they are used in our Asian cuisines.

Today I am sharing about the wild bitter gourd or the Indian variety which is also edible. It is smaller in size and harder in texture than the normal, longer and bigger ones. And also more bitter than the normal ones. At one time, these can only be found at the Indian stalls in the market but now these can also be easily found at other stalls.

I bought some wild bitter gourds and kept them in the refrigerator. By the time I remembered and wanted to juice them, some have ripen and turned yellow. I cut them open and took the seeds out to plant.

When the gourd is ripe, the seeds covering called arils are red and fleshy. From the internet, I have read that the arils can be eaten. But the ripe orange gourds and the seeds are toxic and not to be eaten. So far, we have eaten the green ones but not the fully ripen fruits.

The seeds germinated very easily and very soon, baby plants were growing well and healthy in the moist garden soil. I watered them daily and fertilized them every two weeks.

Very soon, tendrils started growing from the plants, I put up some supports for them to climb and twine. I placed the pot in full sun.

The vines are not very big and the fruits are small and not heavy. The leaves or vines when touched, have a kind of smell.

These are the small yellow flowers. Once the female flowers are pollinated, the small bulge below the flowers will turn into gourds.

After pollination, the gourd started to grow. Notice there are fine hairs along the vines.

Here is another baby gourd. There are also fine hairs under the leaves.

Wild bitter gourds are plucked, cooked and eaten when they are still green. The gourds can also be juiced and drank for their health benefits and to lower blood sugar. Bitter gourds are rich in potasium, vitamin A & C. Some claimed that the leaves and flowers are edible but I have not tried.

These are some of the ways I used the wild bitter gourds.

• Fry egg omelette with thinly sliced gourds, etc.
• Raw fruits to juice and drink (very bitter, dilute with water before drinking).
• In soups together with minced or sliced meat or dried shrimps or anchovies and vegetables.

This was the first fruit. Before I could pluck it, it has ripen to this colour. Keeping the seeds for future germination.

There are many claims that wild bitter gourds have many medicinal uses. Some of them are:

• One of the most popular claim is to lower blood sugar effectively. Diabetic patients on medications are advised to be cautious when consuming wild bitter gourds to avoid the blood sugar dropping too low.
• Traditional treatment to relieve stomach disorder, induce menstruation, etc.
• Intestinal worms - boil vines and leaves, drink as tea.
• Also for cooling down body heat.

Side-effects/Caution of over dosage.

• Not advisable for pregnant and breast feeding women and also for those going for surgery or after surgery because bitter gourds may induce bleeding for some.
• Some may experience mild diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, etc.
• Pregnant women - bleeding, contraction, abortion, etc.
• Reduce fertility in both men and women.

He will love you and bless you,

and He will give you many children.

He will give fertility to your land and your animals.

When you arrive in the land He swore to give your ancestors,

you will have large harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil,

and great herds of cattle, sheep, and goats.

(Deuteronomy 7:13, New Living Translation-NLT)