Welcoming in the Year of the Ox

Today is the eve of Chinese New Year. The biggest event of any Chinese New Year's Eve is the reunion dinner every family will have. So not forgetting this tradition, we had a little feast and invited the family over. We were also fortunate to have our friends, Selena and Phillip, over for the weekend.

It is also believed that the color red is commonly worn during Chinese New Year because red will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. So here we are in red...


Here are other beliefs :

For Good luck

• Opening windows and/or doors is considered to bring in the good luck of the new year. (It's going to be really cold tonight)
  
• Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to 'scare away' ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the new year. (maybe the night light counts)
  
• Sweets are eaten to ensure the consumer a "sweet" year. (chocolates are sweet. So that counts)
  
• It is important to have the house completely clean from top to bottom before New Year's Day for good luck in the coming year. (however, cleaning the house on or after New Year's Day is frowned upon)(Hmm... I tried. But the house is never completely clean, but I can be sure I won't be cleaning tomorrow :))
  
• Some believe that what happens on the first day of the new year reflects the rest of the year to come. Chinese people will often gamble at the beginning of the year, hoping to get luck and prosperity. (so I should play poker on Facebook?)
  
• Wearing a new pair of slippers that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people who gossip about you. (Check. Yes, I am wearing one. So stop gossiping about me you people)
  
• The night before the new year, bathe yourself in pomelo leaves and some say that you will be healthy for the rest of the new year. (Would showering in handmade soap that smells like pomelo work?)
  

Kong Hee Fatt Choy!!!

Father's Day afternoon...

Some good news

- My Father-in-law's surgery went well. The doctor said the surgery went as he planned and he might also have fixed the problem on his left arm.

- My long-awaited Green card arrived from Vermont !!! The husband is stuck with me for another 10 years (and vice versa)

Phew.. and Yayyy!!!

Mother's Day 2008 & Cheese "boogers"

The weekend

Saturday was spent over at Jason's parents'. The guys installed and put up a utility shed in the backyard. Pretty neat. We brought two dozen donuts over. Donuts are always a good source of energy and packed with nutrition :) After a couple of donuts, the nephews were running wild. Such fun watching them.

Sunday, James called up and we met up for lunch. He was in town for a race. We met at Tin Tin Buffet and stuffed ourselves. That place is always so good.
Skipped dinner, but had room for ice cream.

Weekends are always too short!

Meeting some family for the first time

On Saturday, the family drove to Bailey, NC for the Boykin family get-together. The Boykins are Jason's paternal grandma's side of the family. It was nice to be able to meet them but it was difficult to remember more than 40 names all in one night! I think there were four generations there.
Bailey is a town in Nash county with a population of about 670 only. You'll see houses on a big piece of land and another house about a mile away. Seems that the older rich folks buy land and build their mansion and spend the rest of their retirement there.

We stayed the night in Raleigh (about an hour's drive from Bailey. No hotels in Bailey) and came home to Charlotte the next morning, stopping at Concord Mills on the way home for a quick unplanned shopping trip and lunch.

Cousin weds

Here are some pictures of the beautiful bride and grinning groom. The wedding was last Saturday in church and a reception was held the same evening by a lake amidst the beautiful sunset at the Palace Beach and Spa Resort. Aunt Patsy performed the hula, a few crazy people (including yours truly) did the chicken dance on stage and then the highlight of the evening was a fireworks display! That was totally awesome!

Ho Ho Ho

We were doing some window shopping on Saturday at a furniture store and suddenly we hear a voice say " Hey !!! We know you people!!! Come on over here!"
We saw Santa taking photos with the kids. Turns out that Santa and his lady helper are our neighbors who live in the cul-de-sac up the street. They coaxed us into taking a picture and we did.

A Happy Full House

Godma and Uncle Andrew just arrived late tonight after a flight delay from L.A and Chicago. They were welcomed by our NC cold (33F / 1C). We will have to wrap everyone up properly when we go to the Metrolina Expo tomorrow morning for the big monthly flea market exhibit.

Trouble is confused seeing so many people in the house for once.

Bonding with the kids

The family pic

Brunswick Stew Weekend

We spent the Saturday over at my in-law's place for Brunswick Stew. Family members came from as far as Ohio (and Malaysia, if you count my parents) for the weekend. It was nice to meet almost the entire family for this annual tradition.

The original Brunswick Stew, according to Brunswick County historians, was created in 1828 by black chef, "Uncle" Jimmy Matthews. As the story goes, Dr. Creed Haskins, of Mount Donum on the Nottoway River and a member of the Virginia State Legislature for a number of years, took several friends on a hunting expedition. While the group hunted, Jimmy Matthews, Dr. Haskin's camp cook, hunted squirrel for the evening meal. Matthews slowly stewed the squirrels with butter, onions, stale bread and seasoning in a large iron pot for many hours. While the hunting party returned they were reluctant to try the new, thick concoction but, one taste convinced them to ask for more.

Since that time, Brunswick Stew has been prepared by many different stew masters and they continue to produce large batches of the "Virginia ambrosia" for church functions, local fund raisers, family reunions, and political rallies.

Brunswick stew is now most commonly made with chicken, or a combination of several meats, which might include rabbit, beef, and pork. Onions, corn, and tomatoes are usually included, and many recipes call for lima beans, peas, and/or okra.