Over the holidays, we traveled the country roads to be at my parents’ country home. Sounding like that old, familiar song that goes, “Country road…take me home…”?
Just like the song, each time we travel to my parents’ country home, we pass by vast rice lands and mountainous terrains. The destination is close to my heart because it is where my parents reside; and it was where I spent most days of my childhood. It’s my first home after all, and it is beautifully situated near the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Garita, Cabagan, Isabela.
The home is thickly covered with greens because Papa and Mama find joy in planting. As a kid, my Saturday memories would be seeing my parents gardening. It was also a tradition that each family member plants a tree during significant occasions. I remember Papa telling us when we were kids that trees pray for us and God “hears” them because He loves trees, hence the planting.The tradition only stopped when my brother and moved to other places to study.
Ours is a typical country home. There are 2 small fish ponds surrounding the house, and the view to the left side would be rice farms and the majestic frame of the Sierra Madre mountains, my first inspirations to write.
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| My favorite view from my room window: The Sierra Madre mountains. |
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| This nook covered with vines right before the fish pond is where I usually spend my lazy, blissful days. |
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| This pair of white ducks create splashes in the water while one rests in the nook. How I love the calming noise! |
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| When it is harvest time, the family gets to enjoy this view: a carpet of golden rice, ready to be harvested! |
I am just all-heart writing this post because it is very meaningful to me. Since I’ve been blogging here for quite a while already and I since we’ve become friends somehow, then I know I am ready to share this big part of me. I then welcome you to my first home:
Welcome to our porch. This is my mom’s “spot”. It’s her favorite place because it is where she could see a good view of the front garden, and the fishpond. The main door is right before this terrace.
Dressed in Christmas theme. Mama lovingly decorated this porch. She does this yearly.
Then on to our living room. It’s very windy in this area, especially in the afternoon. This room is Asian-inspired. The ceiling and the flooring is all-wood. My bedroom, together with my brother’s, is upstairs, while our parents’ is at the basement.
There is this small corner where my parents put their memorabilia, like the places they visited, and the photos of the people close to their heart.
This is where the kitchen/dining area is.
I wasn’t able to take much pictures of the garden when we were there but I got to capture these wild beauties.
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| How I love these flowers! |
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| We celebrated my son’s 3rd birthday at the garden. And because of the greens, we didn’t have to decorate that much. (Taken in October 2012) |
I just I love this home. I love it’s charm, it’s warmth, it’s entirety! And I would always visit it because I’m always excited to see them:
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| Meet Mama and Papa, the ones who “built” this home where my brother and I were lovingly raised. |
ah, lovely home! i missing it so much, dear cousin….
We miss you too, insan. We once shared this home. You’re part of the family. 🙂
ang ganda ng house nyo. I love the Garden sis
Thanks, sis! =)
Awesome ancestral home! I love this blog!