new kid in town 6/30/09 新來的, 請多指教

I rescued/ adopted a small tortoise Monday night from my friend's church. This poor little guy was injured in a pond by vicious snapping turtle ( turtle with alligator sharp teeth ) and lost his right hind leg. Also his left eye is not able to see either. He was confined in a small metal cage. So I volunteer to take him home to live in my back yard. I feel like Urashima Taro (浦島太郎).

在朋友的教堂看到一個鏽跡斑駁的小鐵籠, 一碟水、兩顆草苺, 半塊空心樹幹. 不禁好奇地看看躲起來的是誰? 大概是小兔子吧? 想不到是隻小烏龜!

不忍看它被關著, 多事地建議讓小傢伙出來走走. 朋友才告訴我, 它的右後腳和左眼都被鱷龜咬傷了, 它不太能保護自己. 一把它放在草地上, 小傢伙驚慌失措, 偏著頭奮力以三隻腳往前爬 (右眼要觀察兩邊動靜), 只得拉長了脖子… 好可愛的小勇士. 朋友徵求牧師同意後讓我帶它回家.

Kalven也好高興我們能給它一自由安全的家. 願眾生” 無有眾苦, 但受諸樂” (緣起: 佛說阿彌陀經). 爸爸幫它取了名字, 大哥叫Timmy, 在2000到我們家, 已往生的小烏龜是Tomi (日本名字, 阿嬤賜名: 男孩兒是” 富”, 女孩兒是” 富子” à 夏目漱石的” 我是貓” 中也有個嬌生慣養的金田富子), 他將是 Max!

Blackie's eye 6/4/09

I am worried about Blackie. One of his eyes bothers him base on what I can see. Not sure did he get into a fight? Or just some sort of infection?

He stood by the kitchen door today looking at me. Maybe he is sending his condolence for TienTien too.

We rush out and put the food at the usual spot. He came by and ate it quickly.

Kefir and homemade yogurt 6/2/09

Norma, a friend, gave a batch of kefir grain back in April. It is live culture makes milk turning into kefir ( close relative of yogurt ). Because it contains different pro biotic bacteria, it gives a slight ferment aroma different from yogurt. I like the fact it is freshly cultivate in my kitchen and a LOT cheaper than buying it from Trader Joe.

Then I found out from another friend, Divya, who makes her yogurt with lukewarm milk and plain yogurt. I don't know why people buy "yogurt machine"? This is easy enough even for someone as lazy as me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6046862.stm

This kefir goes really well with Granola. Yummy and Gluten-Free!

Is that you? 6/7/09

Kalven went to work for the modified schedule on Sunday afternoon to support Singapore schedule. I looked at TienTien's pictures on my album and missed her terribly.

If physical body is just a container for the soul, will TienTien comes back with a different "box" to check on us? We used to enjoy look at squirrels in our backyard. Will she comes back as a furry little guy holding a nut in her hands?

Went out to walk in the afternoon breeze, hoping it will blow away my sorrow. Before I know it, a squirrel runs across the cement sidewalk to get up to the tree. Stare at me as if it knows me forever. Is that you, TienTien?