Author Archives: hafong

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About hafong

Hello! My name is (Leung) Hafong alias Lily Leung. You always say the last name first….that is the Chinese way. That is my partner lurking behind me. Since this is my blog, I won’t mention his name. But this is a rather cool picture. You see me and yet you don’t…sort of the way I feel about myself most of my life. So this blog is a self-exploration, an archeology dig of some sort. My tools…..words of a thousand or so at a sitting. I will try for that.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

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It is wordless Wednesday but not snowless. Though I have been looking forward to the snow and skiing, my body and mind had to do some adjusting. After all, the snow and cold were 2 months later than last year. I’ve forgotten what to do when I do get onto the cross country ski trails.

As you can see, I’m not wordless. It is not a bad thing. We have been that and contact-less for the years of the Covid. We need to converse and tell our stories and feelings again. You know, get to know each other again. Be human, vulnerable, let down our guards, laugh, cry and whatever. In the past, I’ve thought that I’ve talked too much, shared too much, left myself opened too much. True, I’ve been hurt many times. I’m none the worse for it. I’m still standing. And I’ve learned a whole bunch. I’m not saying I’m wiser. That is obvious. I’m still talking – maybe a tad too much.

More snow pictures. It’s another way I talk. Killing softly with photos.

PASSIONS – Sourdough & Learning

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I am having an almost perfect day. I started the morning at 7 with kettle on the stove for a cup of tea. Then I got out the sourdough loaf that was chilling in the fridge. I dusted the inside of the cast iron Dutch oven with cornstarch before transferring the dough into it. Next, I scored the loaf, covered the Dutch oven and put it on top of my cast iron pizza pan. It all goes into the oven set at 450℉ for 55 minutes. That’s right. I started everything cold. No preheating anything. Saves energy and it turned out great. By 8 it was done and so was our breakfast.

The pizza pan underneath the Dutch oven somehow prevents the bread from sticking. The loaf came out pretty slick and allowed to chill. It made for a healthy tasty afternoon snack. It is my most successful sourdough. It is my first white flour loaf. Next one I try will be half white/half brown.

Baking bread is a wonderful to start the morning. The chill of the morning is warmed by the oven and aroma of bread baking. It was a perfect setting to receive my first online class titled: From First Among Equals to Elected Dictator: A Political History of. Canada, 1867- Present. Instructor: Dr. Jason Zorbas. Dr. Zorbas is an awesome lecturer. His classes are always filled. It is an in-person one as well as being on-line. On-line is a good option for me. I don’t have to run to catch a bus to the university. Parking on campus is difficult. I am finding, to my surprise, that Canadian history is très interesting.

SOUP AND BOOKS FOR THE SOUL

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‘Twas a foggy cool morning as we headed across the University bridge towards our gym. We could not really see the river for the mist rising from below. It was not inviting. We were out by habit. I was happy that I have the making of turkey soup in the Instant Pot before we left. I can relax read when we get back.

I am also happy that I got my reading mojo back. I’ve been an errant reader for a long while now. My attention span has been reduced to that of a gnat by electronics and other distractions. I’m working on getting it back. I feel that all these things I am doing are helping – the writing, cooking, baking and reading. I am doing and engaging rather than just watching. That is why I dislike and don’t watch reality TV. I might be doing too much useless scrolling. But at least I don’t do reality TV.

I’ve never kept track of how many or what books I’ve read. I have no clue how many in a year. I do think it is a good idea though. I will start keeping a list. In order to read 50 books a year, I will have to read one a week. I’m on track so far having read Atomic Habits by James Clear and half way through The Arsonist by Sue Miller. The Arsonist did not get many good reviews but I love it. The next book on my list is The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict. It’s about Albert Einstein’s first wife. Sounds like a good read, doesn’t it?

THE THINGS I USED TO DO

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I woke up this morning. The jukebox in my head was playing. First, it was Bobby Darin singing Splish, Splash, I was taking a bath. It was a good waker upper. Then he was singing Things, another good one that got me thinking of things I used to do.

It got me started thinking. What happened? Why did I stop? Why don’t I start doing them again? So this morning, I made 2 jars of fermented beets, using this recipe. I flavoured them with coriander seeds, ginger and orange rind. It takes a week. They look pretty, don’t you think?

Another thing I used to enjoy was making sourdough bread. It was quite an adventure for me, starting from scratch, making my own starter. Then somehow, I stopped but kept feeding Oscar, the starter for sourdough pancakes every Sunday. We had the pancakes this morning. Now, I am in the processing of making one loaf of sourdough bread.

I don’t know why I stopped. It is actually quite easy. I used the recipe on this site. It is a slow process. It won’t be ready to bake till Tuesday morning. The photo was after the first pull and fold. I have to do a few more tonight and let it sit covered tonight. Then I have to prep it tomorrow and let it sit in the fridge till Tuesday to bake. Here’s hoping for a fantastic loaf.

WHAT IS THE POINT?

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Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

Snow and winter came yesterday just when I thought it wouldn’t. Goes to show that I am not a reliable predictor. It’s January the 6th, the 6th day of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I hope I have the stamina to go to the end. The excitement and bravado that comes at the beginning of any challenge is waning a little. I’m starting to get a little bored and thinking: What’s the point of this? What drivel I write!

So it is time to do a review. What is the point? The point is I was bored, feeling aimless. I am getting forgetful, my brain chaotic. I am a little worried about getting the big A(lzheimer). I can’t remember some of my relatives Chinese names. I know that it could be because I haven’t seen or talked about them for a long time. Still, I worry. There are other forgetfulness. A writing challenge is an exercise for my brain – finding words, making sentences and thoughts. Writing is a love I had dropped. It is a good time to pick up the letters, words and sentences to problem solve.

The first few days have been easy. Now starts the more difficult part. To make it easy, I have to come to the keyboard every day and tap away like a woodpecker. A woodpecker taps for food. I am, too, in a sense. I’m tapping for words to sustain my mind and soul. I don’t have to be brilliant but I do like to shine. For now it is satisfying just to be here talking. To succeed, I have to endure and learn to love boredom and monotony of staying to the end.

WHEN I CHANGED

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When I changed, the whole world changed with me. Or so it seems. Now, what the heck do I do? I have to sit and look at the landscape before and in me. What is it I see within and without? How do I feel? What do I want? And how to get? I am not in a hurry. I do not have to figure it all out today.

I would love to use the 4 laws of how to create good habits from James Clear’s Atomic Habits for solving everything. I like #3. Make it easy. It makes me want to start right away.

  • The 1st law (Cue): Make it obvious.
  • The 2nd law (Craving): Make it attractive.
  • The 3rd law (Response): Make it easy.
  • The 4th law (Reward): Make it satisfying.

Then there’s Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements. The agreements are the ways I want to live.

  1. Be Impeccable With Your Word.
  2. Don’t Take Anything Personally.
  3. Don’t Make Assumptions.
  4. Always Do Your Best.

Now it’s become more obvious some of my wants and desires and the way forward. It will be worthwhile to take my time, ponder and tap out my paths. I have 26 days left in this Ultimate Blog Challenge. 26 exciting days to explore possibilities. I love that word, don’t you? It holds promises.

MAKE IT OBVIOUS

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I’m using the first law outlined in James Clear’s Atomic Habits to help me lose 10 pounds. And that is make it obvious. These pictures are not pretty but it is obvious I could afford to lose a few pounds. Seeing them motivates me into action.

I had said that I was not willing to give up the evaporated milk and honey in my tea and coffee. And I really love my muffin with cheese. That was before I stepped on the scale and really looked at myself in the mirror. Now that I have, I’m changing my tune.

It’s hard to feel good about myself seeing my big belly, double chins and chubby cheeks. It was easy letting myself go to pots. 10 pounds may not seem alot but on a short person like me, it is almost a ton. Truthfully I can spare 20. I want to make it easy and not hard for myself. I’m aiming for 5 pounds by the end of this Ultimate Blog Challenge.

It’s obvious the first things to do is cut out the evaporated milk. I went back to the 2% milk. It was fine before but now not very delicious. I will try 2% evaporated milk next. I want to make it satisfying. I’m good with less honey. No more muffins for awhile. I’ve stopped baking them. Will try non sweet snacks like crackers and cheese. It is a start in the right direction.

MAKE IT EASY

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Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels.com

I’ve been reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s a very good read. I’m finding it very helpful in my mission of writing a post/day for the Ultimate Blog Challenge. If you don’t want to read the whole book, here’s a quick summary.

How to create a good habit:

  • The 1st law (Cue): Make it obvious.
  • The 2nd law (Craving): Make it attractive.
  • The 3rd law (Response): Make it easy.
  • The 4th law (Reward): Make it satisfying.

The 3rd law works for me. In the past, I haven’t always chose the easy route for anything. I always have to make everything complicated and hard. I’m exhausted by all that. It wasn’t very satisfying at all. Now I’m willing to try easy. Easy is attractive. In order to write a post, any post, I have to sit in front of my keyboard. That is quite obvious. It works! I sit and I tap. The letters, words and sentences come of their own accord. So far there’s no hard struggle. I should not talk too soon. I might jinx myself.

Making it easy works for other goals as well. I’ve tried it out. When I know what the goal is, I map out the simplest steps to do it. Then I follow through. It feels so easy and rewarding. Now that I’ve finished this post, I am making myself a cuppa.

AWESTRUCK

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Day 2 of January and the Ultimate Blog Challenge is a cloudy one. There is no sun to spark me but I am remembering the sun of yesterday. I walked into the living room to find it lit in gold. I snapped a couple of pictures for I knew it would be gone in minutes. It’s hard to describe and photographs do not do it justice. But I was awestruck. There’s something magical about the winter sun on the wooden floor in late afternoon. I never get tired of seeing it. The magic never wanes.

I store these awestruck moments to sustain me and keep me on track. I find washing dishes magical, too, not in an awe striking way. Rather the magic is flowing, being carried away on a cloud. It’s a delightful physical sensation. I suppose you’re thinking I’m a bit nutty. I am. It is a wonderful feeling.

NEW BEGINNINGS

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Photo by Antoni Shkraba on Pexels.com

Happy New Year. It’s January 1, 2024. It’s the first day of the year. It’s the first day of the rest of my life. It’s also the first day of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. So many firsts. So many new beginnings, opportunities and adventures. These are the things I will be writing about this month. Why am I doing the challenge?

I love the physical act of writing. I love tapping on the keyboard and see the letters march across the screen. It soothes and smooths me. Writing is how I restore the order in my brain. Otherwise it’s a frigging mess of mumble jumble. It helps me find my way out of a wet paper bag. So now you know. I write for my mental health.

There are rules in this challenge. I have to write a post a day. Then if I want to be in the daily thread/queue, I have to read the 2 posts above mine and make comments on each. I like rules. They make for good discipline. Being in a challenge makes it accountable. There are perks also. It gives me community. I meet and get to know other bloggers. I learn from their knowledge.

I like to succeed in showing up each day in January. I’m making attainable goals. It helps that I have chosen words for the new year. 1. Be brilliant. 2. Resilience. It’s a brilliant way of starting a new year and challenge. They give me something to strive for.