The Changing Seasons, April 2024

Reflecting on the month past

Dad celebrated his 84th birthday.

Both he and his mom are still very keen to travel but can’t manage on their own. So, Younger Child and I are fortunate to accompany them to Japan next week.

Photo taken by Loving Husband when we celebrated together in our home.

They received an invitation from a Japanese friend to visit his beach home in Ichinomiya, Chiba. The surfing competition of the Summer Olympics 2020 was hosted on a beach in this stretch. And because they are doting grandparents, we will make a stop at Tokyo Disney Resort for Younger Child’s Happy Place.

Research for Younger Child’s heart repair continues. We are hoping for the least invasive procedure for the best outcome.

Meanwhile, Loving Husband and I take time to breathe and have tea; on this occasion, a local dessert shop where he enjoyed Mango Pomelo Sago and I had Almond Milk with glutinous sesame balls.

In our kitchen this month, I continued to try cooking & baking healthier:

From top left, clockwise: 1) baiye tofu sheet noodles with eggplant tomato sauce, 2) steamed chestnuts, bittergourd curry, vegetables served on steelcut oats, 3) chocolate streusel loaf (with streusel on top and bottom) – reduced the sugar, 4) sweet potato with bean stew, 5) almost vegan lemon loaf (will swap out the eggs for flax eggs next time), 6) tofu & leftovers on steel cut oats

The feature photo was taken at an Orchid Show in Tanglin Mall which I chanced upon. This bloom is a Dendrobium Jan Orinstein (a cross of Dendrobium aphyllum x Dendrobium polyanthum)

Now over to you: how was your April?

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently, though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.

For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.

But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.

There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.

Tags and ping-backs

Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

Create a ping-back to Brian at Bushboys World or this post, so that we can update it with links to all of yours.

Roundup

• Brian, my cohost, at Bushboys World
• welcome to Marina at Milepebbles
• Marilyn at Serendipity Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth
• Sarah at Travel with Me