2020/02/12

Cocoa Studio Update

I have to write this post for three reasons:  

First of all, I must say thank you  to a blogger Ms. Emma, without her tutorial in liliflorapretty.blogspot.com 
I am still wasting time to find out a workable solution of building a photo gallery here.

Well, you may say why not using the "converting apps" from the market? After spending two whole days to test those apps and discovered, either they are not working smoothly inside Blogger, or with additional tons of codes that we really don't need, but the only reason to insert them is for their promotion banner. 

In fact, Emma share the simplest code and effective way to complete this job, the result is nice and sustainable without third parties control. Thanks again!

Secondly is the discontinue of Your Shot of National Geographic, a platform that we used to share our photos and learn from others. It's sad because it was a really good platform gathering professional & amateur photographers. So many good quality and amazing photos there to enjoy, comment from the supporting team are valuable; we were always longing for the "Photo of the Month". Although you can still find them in Instagram, most of us miss the Good old days.

Finally, as an amateur, to share what we captured in our own blog is the perfect place that we always wanted, but time...time...time...and now, this moment in Hong Kong, we are "trapped" at home, what a perfect time :P and so we did it.

If you do have a minute, why not visit our updated Cocoa Studio page, hope you'll like it.



2020/02/11

A little prayer

White daisy under the sun


God our Father in Heaven
please be with us
whatever the situation is

Forgive our pride
as 
human beings
the wish 
to control everything
which far beyond our knowledge & ability

Let us be humble
to learn
we were made
not create

to listen
the one who is still
waiting for us to return 
to His love and kindness

Don't wait 
before it's too late!

Pray in the name of
Jesus Christ

Amen











2020/02/10

小休三分鐘

小休三分鐘隨筆繪畫

短缺、維生、危險、生死猶關...
快人一歩、搶購、囤積、備用... 
三天?一週?一月?一年?

邀請你小休三分鐘...

分享、守望、互補不足...

世界變得大了一些,
支援多了一些,
關愛多了一些...

此刻不再撕裂 
一心一意

畢竟

我們也是共同生存在地球的過客
願大家平安!






2020/01/02

Bonhoeffer Dietrich 潘霍華

Book cover of Bonhoeffer by Metaxas
BONHOEFFER by Metaxas

 2020年1月1日, 我終於把這本書看完, 斷斷續續地, 歷時四個月. 自從看完昂山素姫( The Lady and The Peacock) 之後, 便開始對一些能持守特定信念的人物事蹟有興趣; 接着看馬拉拉 (I am Malala) , 德蘭修女 (Come Be My Light), 現在是潘霍華 (BONHOEFFER Paster, Martyr, Prophet, Spy).

四本書的四個人物背景, 文化, 經歷各有不同, 但書本完結時, 同樣地令我心情迴蕩, 再次反思人生特別是作為基督徒的意義, 尤其處身在今天的世代.

潘霍華: 德國人, "不幸"地生存於納粹時期, 本身有着優秀的生活及學養條件, 卻選擇成為牧者, 懷着對神一份單純的信念及對公義的追求, 成為暗殺希特拉組織内的一員; 他們的行動, 並沒有成功阻止猶太人被淸洗的慘劇, 甚至為自己帶來被囚和死亡.

"...He was one of the very few men that I have ever met to whom his God was real and ever close to him...his soul really shone in the dark desperation of our prison " - 這是在最後囚禁時期認識他的 Mr. Payne Best 對潘霍華牧師的憶述.

或許有不少人也會對他的選擇有不同意見,  甚至他也會為自己的一些軟弱行為而内疚...當你發現人的限制, 對現况的無力感, 我們可以選擇玉石倶焚, 以死控訴; 又或者選擇持守神是終極掌權者, 讓他使用來成為不可能的可能, 而無悔.

"......anyone who lays violent hands on man here is infringing eternal laws and taking upon himself superhuman authority which will eventually crush him."- 潘霍華牧師在一篇演辭中講述當領導者漸漸扮演上帝的角色時同時也在摧毀自己. 我想, 這也同樣地對我們一群要反抗不公義政權的人民, 有着重要的提醒.


潘霍華: 德國人牧者, "有幸"地生存於納粹時期, 在黑暗世代中的任何時刻, 將安慰和希望帶給身邊的人, 作鹽作光, 成為持守主道的美好見證. 但願今天的我們, 不忘初心!


2019/12/16

四人行...必有我師焉!

四隻貓影
原定今天在上課前預備繪畫, 但突然心血來潮, 在舊檔案中找到這幅相片, 抱歉已經忘記是從那裏得來, 只知道很喜歡.

在我的生活中, 毎當完成某階段學習或工作, 總會為我帶來幾位可以長久交往的好朋友, 大多數是三位, 把我計算在内便形成一個四人小組, 讓我算算......也不知不覺有六個群組了.

在這數十個寒暑的成長路程中, 總難免遇到各種決擇, 又或許大大小小的衝擊; 毎當我在茫然中徘徊思索之際...(時常發生:P), 他們總是讓我可以求救的對象.

由於大家生活背景, 際遇及人生歷煉各有不同, 他們的意見, 便包涵着不同的角度; 或贊同, 或反對; 或鼓勵, 或冷水ー盤 :D 只要是建基於真誠當中, 這ー切的回應就變得甘甜和珍貴了!

要成長, 必需不斷學習面對真實的自我, 聆聽, 反思, 改進(或持守)...這是你我經驗中的不二法門, 知易行難, 尤其第一部份. 過程中總會跌跌蘯蘯, 患得患失; 甚至要重新評估, 再次肯定甚或否定部份老我, 但這一切是値得的, 因為没有人可以在温室内成長...! 重要的是總有摯友在旁, 同行, 安慰和勸勉......不知不覺, 又一年了.

讓我在歳終再次感謝大家的不離不棄, 我的四人行ssssss.!





2019/12/14

Our new move

New Cocoa Design Life LogoHi, you may have already received the warm greeting from  our new author Ms. Oiseau Distrait; a new friend of mine while traveling to Paris in October earlier this year.

If you are not new to this blog, you should remember we were borned 10 years ago, started by using the name of "Coffeebreak" - a very leisure blog,  photo & drawing being arranged in a "polaroid" format, talking about miscellaneous issues, "light" as feather :D

Then we've moved on to a more design oriented blog as "Cocoa Design Life", the one with a stool logo on an orange ground, still remember? More contents were added related to different era of design; as well as those experimental online Cocoa shops of fabric & grocery store, different departments such as library and pin board,...etc.

The coming year of 2020, we would like to spend more time on writing/drawing picture book. Originally we did consider to create another new blog but we do think a blog should has the ability to grow up with the author as well as their readers, like the transformation from Coffeebreak to Cocoa Design Life; so finally we've decided to make this move by introduce Oiseay Distrait to share of what she has discovered while "flying around" on earth, recording by write/draw or take a snap shot before she forget. 

We've fine tuned the color scheme and logo into a softer and calm tone, you are always welcome to grab a cup of coffee or cocoa, of course; while enjoying your moment here.
Hopefully you will love this changes and grow with us for another 10.....20....years.



Salut

Oiseau Distrait
Salut, every body, my name is Oiseau Distrait, you can also call me "Forgetful Bird" or "忘記鳥" in Chinese.

I love photography, painting and writing in my own "birdy" style. Ms.Antleeli invited me to join this blog early in October of this year,hmm...after my "deep" thought, I forget how long, finally, and is my pleasure too, to accept this invitation, so I am here!

I am not sure, but may be it's because of me, the logo and the color scheme have been changed; well, I will say not so design oriented but a bit softer, what do you think,love it or not?

It may take a little more time for me to familiar with the environment, hopefully I can start my contribution to this blog soon, Au Revoir :>