yummy food

Every year when we get Meyer lemons, we mix the lemon juice with strawberries and sugar to make a lemon-strawberry topping. Then we pour the strawberries with lemon juice over angel food cake to make a yummy dessert. It's delicious (:

Logan and I went to Chinatown. We found an imported fruit called Starfruit which came from Taiwan. It's best season is in late spring/ early summer. It has a subtle sourness to the taste but it is still quite sweet. Most of all, it looks very pretty when you cut it into slices.

peach and plum

During early March, I looked out of the window every morning from my seat in the kitchen. The peach tree has been blooming nicely with pink blossoms. Hopefully this year the squirrels will leave my peaches alone.

The plum tree is growing quite tall now. When the white blossoms pop up on the branches, they look like popcorn glued on the tree. It is quite funny-looking. We will try to update the peaches and plums for you all.

winter blossom

Winter is usually gloomy, but sometimes you see the tiniest things around you that make you want to smile and cheer for mother nature.

This little bell-like blossom is called "snow drop." It usually blooms from the end of January to the end of March. The height of the plant is about one foot, and the white blossom is very small (1/2" diameter). Does anyone know the real name (the Latin version)? The "snow drop" is like a tulip,: it grows from bulbs in the ground. It always brings me joy during the chilly winter days.

The other blossom with the cute "snow drop" flowers at our front yard is a purple blossom from the Rosemary plant. I occasionally rub or crush the leaves to smell the herbal fragrance, but I enjoy watching my favorite color bloom in the front yard. Since I don't have any luck with Lavender, I pretend that the Rosemary blossom is Lavender. :)

--edited by Brittany :)

Chinese New Year dinner

We finally had our "Year of Tiger" new year dinner with some relatives in the Bay Area. This is my cousin and her family. Their daughter is a senior in high school and waiting for college acceptance. Their son, Edison, is fond of Pokemon cards.

My cousin's daughter (right), Jenny, and Brittany.

Brittany felt awkward for being very tall among the Chinese friends and families, so she tried to sit low.

Back row: My nephew (Zong-Kang), my niece (Ai-Chi)

Front row: Brittany, My cousin's son (Edison, 6 years old), My cousin's daughter (Jenny, 17 1/2 years old)

They are the busy young generation. They see each other about twice a year for Holidays. They probably visit one another more often on facebook.

From Right to Left: My nephew (Zong-Kang, 16 years old), my niece (Ai-chi, 24 years old, and just moved from Taiwan to Bay Area for post-college education), their uncle Michael on their mom's side.

A trip to Getty's Villa

Kristina and I went to Getty's Villa on that beautiful Saturday. We went to Getty's museum last year, so we need to come to the villa this time. It is such big place (mansion) and full of art display. Most of the art is sculptures made of marble. There are 3 pools at the villa. They all are made of top quality of marble.

This is the 1st and smallest one by the entrance.

This is the middle size pool which is in the middle of the mansion. The 5 sculptures are called "The 5 ladies".

This is the largest pool. By the sides of all 3 pools, there are some rooms full of Roman and Greek art (from 100B.C.~ 500 A.D.). Some of the works are amazing, even a panel of marble sarcophagus.

This is almost a pure marble place. The wall, molding, and the floor. Not just plain marble. They are great quality with design.

This is the hallway next to the largest pool. Kristina was taking some pictures of the windows and floor. I see the perspective view of the hallway.

Valentine weekend w/Kristina

The weekend of Valentine's Day was so nice and warm (80 degrees in LA). Kristina and I went to variety of places to do some walking, shopping, and photo taking.

She got this fancy camera for Christmas, and she is still learning how to take award winning photos. :]

She and 3 other girls live on top floor of the dorm building. This little door is so short. It looks like a door for kids, but it actually is for storage room.

Her room is fairly small. She has tons of posters, cloth, Christmas lights hanging on the wall. They do give nice lighting and atmosphere in her room.

This is her new pet hamster: Kubla Khan.

Tahoe trip 2010

The first trip of the new year----Tahoe. The 1st night at Tahoe, the sky was so pretty when it was not snowing or blowing the wind. The lake was so Christmas white when we took Gondola up to the hill.

Kristina and Brittany had 2 full days to ski. They had so much fun skiing that they said they were sweating.