Almost lost all of the kefir grains :(
Somehow I left the strained bowl of kefir on the kitchen counter and put the fermenting bowl in the fridge. And fed the pooches from the bowl in the fridge the next day. Imagine my shock when I straine...d the fermented batch on Monday evening and found no grains! Luckily I didn't finish the entire bowl of kefir in the fridge - there was about half a teaspoon of the precious grains left in the mixture. Looks like I will need to stock some up as insurance. In case of another unforeseen accident.

DIY Kefir

A friend introduced kefir to me recently. Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt and is rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It is also known to have a relaxing effect on the nervous system and contributes to a healthy immune system.

The creamy goodness of homemade kefir for humans & pooches.



Kefir can be made from any type of milk: cow, goat, coconut, rice or soy. I use organic cow (full cream) milk.


Use a glass container for the fermentation. Do not fill to the brim or capped the container tightly. Allow sufficient room for gas produced during fermentation to escape.


Add kefir grains to the milk and stir gently to agitate the mixture. Cover loosely with a kitchen paper towel secured with a rubber band.


It is recommended to ferment at temperature between 20–25 °C for about 24 hours.


The fermentation will result in soft curds with a nice aroma. This batch was made in 22 hours.


After 20-24 hours, stir gently before straining the mixture.


Use a wooden or plastic spoon to stir gently to avoid damaging the grains.


Strain the mixture using a plastic sieve.




The end result: yummy, nutritious home-made kefir.


Repeat the process to make a fresh batch.

Morning walk at Gardens by the Bay.

On our way to GBTB for our morning stroll:


Mushrooms mushrooms everywhere:


Posing for some tourists:


So hotzz!


Pose with the Laughing Buddha:


Cave Dog:


Hope for a return visit really soon!

My Westies Bric-a-Brac

My finds over the years:

Morning walk with the pooches along the Tanjong Rhu Promenade. Cool morning air, serene surroundings, birds chirping, and we even saw a huge lizard in the waters.

Heat Attack...Hotzzz!

Uno is prone to overheating. It happened again this morning during the walk at Gardens by the Bay. Observed 3 levels during past episodes:
Level 1_heavy breathing
Level 2_loud pants
Level 3_choking sounds
This morning, he was making choking sounds plus high pitched barks - Level 4. Scared the wits out of Hubby and I :(
Luckily he chilled down after cold drinks, showers and air-con :)

Cold showers:


Strong fan:


Plus air-conditioner:


Chilled out:


Zzzz time:

Uno is 4!

Uno is 4 today!
Happy B'dae sweetheart. Stay healthy n happy always.
Love u lotz... Mommie n Daddy

In memory of Mum: 14 Feb 1938 - 23 May 2012

In her younger days, Mum is known for her rebellious nature and fiery temper. Not one to conform to social norms, she had often spoken her mind, much to the distress and frustrations of her elders. Over the years, she had mellowed down so much that it is so difficult to imagine how she is like when she was younger.

She is a great cook and many of us are going to miss her cooking. The boys used to call her to cook dishes that they craved for, and she would gladly obliged. These dishes can and will never be replicated.

Mum had lived comfortably till the last 1-2 weeks before her death. Other than her cataract operations, she was never in need of surgery. She was able-bodied, fully independent and mobile till the flu bug got her 2 weeks ago. If she had sought medical attention promptly, perhaps she will still be around. Perhaps she will be well just like before, or perhaps she may live to suffer. Whatever it is, she made her decision and moved on. I pray that she is happy.

Mum: 14 Feb 1938 - 23 May 2012 Part 2

The funeral was finally over. The weather was nice and cool, just the way Mum would have liked. There were just the few of us to send her off: Hubby, myself, Bryan, Eric, Qiu Mui, Asmond, Susan, Helen, Margaret, How Mong, 4th Aunt, Danny and Lilian.

The journey to Bright Hill was long and lonely. Images of the past kept playing in my mind like a broken down recorder. Soon, we reached the crematorium. After verification of Mum's details, the prayers started and then her casket was wheeled into the crematorium.

It was then back home to settle bills, have lunch and freshen up before returning to collect her ashes at 130pm. It felt so strange to hold Mum's bones... Co-incidentally, there was an empty space next to Dad's urn at the columbarium - was it reserved for Mum? We decided to book it to place Mum's urn.

While this marks the final full stop for Mum, the rest of us will need to continue with our journey in life. May we be strong to take on whatever challenges life throws at us.

Mum: 14 Feb 1938 - 23 May 2012 Part 1

Mum passed on last evening, alone at home.

When calls to her were unanswered, Hubby decided to check on her with Bryan. The flat was quiet and dark. From the window, Hubby could see her outline on the floor. But she did not answer their calls. Sensing something amiss, they unlocked the gate but the door was latched from inside. After a few tries, Bryan finally kicked the door opened.

Mum was seated on the floor, her body slumped forward. The paramedics came and informed that she had passed on around 5pm. As there were no signs of foul play, the police suggested that we arrange for a GP to certify her passing if we do not wish for an autopsy to be performed on her.

The undertakers came to collect her body around midnight. The wake will take place from 24 - 27 May 2012.

Hot dogz

Shades for a sunny morning!

Uno: Post-op Day 2

Glad that Uno's op site is healing well. He is to abstain from raw diet until wound is fully healed. He has been eating steamed salmon since Friday as it is soft and easy to eat. Fed steamed pork n pumpkin for dinner tonight, seems like he is coping well wif d tougher meat texture ;)

Uno: Post-op Day 1

Hallo everypawdy, I'm feeling much better todae. Ate, pooped, teh-ed... I even chased Abby around the house

Uno: Pre-op 18 May 2012

On my way to the vet to remove the growth on my gumline, wish me luck!