March 2024

Our relocated breakfast area. A second mahjong table functions as a breakfast table.

Our one-meter tall, porcelain Kwan Yin that traveled all the way from China to an antique shop in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, to yet another antique shop in Ermita  Manila, and then to our house awaits a pedestal. Behind her are a few, wrapped paintings awaiting delivery.

The far wall is painted Van Dyke brown. High on the wall, lighted by spots, is a framed, cross-stitched "M" (for Miranda) that my sister Alice executed for us years ago. The celadon plate on thwe right features an embossed, Chinese dragon. On the left is a pair of New Orleans theater masks, a gift from actress Naty Crame-Rogers. The cupboard with crystal ware on the extreme left, like the spice hutch in the prep and cooking area, is another Papemelroti export over-run; we trimmed it also with metallic, yellow-gold paint.

As you can see, our shelves of mugs on a wall in the kitchen area are reflected in the huge mirror, and the prep and cooking area behind that wall. The breakfast area, kitchen, and prep and cooking area thus span the entire length of three apartments standing side-by-side.