family news: Red and black rice

I went to the bank today, and since the bank is open for a full day, didn't have to wait in line (less crowded). The other good news: Three checks I tried to deposit since mid March have been deposited finally. They will take 20 business days to clear, but at least the wheels of commercial banking are again moving in our town.

and the regular shops and even the hair dresser/barber/manicure shops are open, with limited people allowed inside with a mask.

This is good, since our iron just short circuited, and needed replacement, along with brooms and mops. Joy is a business woman, and so her clothes need to be neat and ironed (I wear knits and stay home, so no problem). In the rainy, humid weather you also need to iron to get things dry.

Another "low pressure area" with rain so it's not too hot right now,  I use the aircon for a filter for allergies, and to keep the humidity/mold growth down in the bedroom.

Most supplies from Manila are now arriving,...Now if they would only stock my aircon hepa filter...

Since Joy's secretary is using my computer I am still using my half dead old computer. My new computer that she is using is 3 years old and needs a new battery but that computer store is closed, so we asked the driver to buy one for me in Manila after he delivers the rice.

If I get enough extra money, I'll buy myself a new computer, but the money I had budgeted for that will have to go to pay Ruby's rent in the USA.

The school has arranged a job for a month so she has some income (on a student visa she can only do school related job, not a regular one). Presumably she will stay with her aunt for the remainder of the school break.

Kuya is arranging seeds and seedling for planting at the farm, and arranging fertilizer, fixing the equipment e.g. handplows etc. for the farmers who plant our fields and for the farmers who subcontract for our rice brand. This is hands on and keeps him busy.

Joy however is spending most of her time with the organic food coop in Bulacan, that she was asked by the gov't to set up in the next province. She is busy arranging delivery for her coop farmer's organic brown rice to Manila, but is storing her specialty (black and red) rice she has bought from other organic  farmers. But the regular farmers in the coop need help to buy seeds to plant. Hopefully she will be able to buy their last crop, package and then get it to Manila since the malls and high end supermarkets are now opening up.

The shelf life of Brown rice is limited: once you mill it, you have to eat it within a few months or it goes bad.

and the good news for all of you brown rice eaters: Philippine rice does not contain arsenic.

Red rice is big during Chinese new year and is high in fiber, but a bit heavy to eat: I like it when we mix it half and half with brown rice, because it gives a nutty flavor.

and black rice is gluey and mainly used for sweets. Personally I won't eat it as rice.

With the increase in Diabetes among the middle class here in the Philippines, there is increased interest in using brown rice and these specialty rices because white rice, like white bread, causes a fast spike in glucose which is bad for diabetics.

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