Biking & Picnic

It was one of the rare sunny days in this early spring. We, three families got together, brought our kids and bikes to a lotus garden.  It was not lotus season yet, but the landscape itself in the garden was already beautiful.   We did not intend to have one, but some of us brought food and drinks, so, we had a small picnic, too. Richy joined the kids to bike around and the rest of us chatted under a wooden pavilion. The air and temperature felt great.  I felt it was like going back to the old days when friends and I chatted at places around our campus. The difference was that we all got older and got kids.
For some friends whom we have not seen for a long time, when we met, we may not find back the old feelings between each other.  For some friends, no matter how long we haven't seen each other, we can always pick up our conservation and laugh.  Whatever feelings I have, I like to treasure the moments when we were together and move on.

Kite 風箏

 

有人說: 夫妻關係就要像風箏，要懂得放手才能飛得高。再讀一次，這句話我有不同的體會，放風箏的人终究還是拿著線。我想，没有人能藉由一條線（或任何方式）去控管另一個人，每個人都有權利安排自己的生命、生活。

Some said the relationship between husband and wife is like flying the kite.  We need to give the other the freedom to fly, so it will fly high.  I can not agree. Because one still holds the string and decide for the other.  I think the bond between the two should be invisible and no one have the right to use the string to control the other. 

The past few days, Suzhou was covered in the Sand-dust-storm.  I suffered from respiratory problems especially during my sleep. For 3 nights, I had to struggle to breathe and wake myself up, otherwise I might had been dead in sleep.  I spent lots of time cleaning the house and doing the laundry during daytime.  Yesterday the weather was a bit better. The sand dust level was reduced a lot.  We went out to a Farm restaurant.  In the evening, we flew the kite. We had been swimming on the Sundays the whole winter.  It was the first time we went outing this spring.  This is my second Spring in China.  I am not as surprised by the spring flowers as I was last year.  But I still appreciate the spring blossoms very much.

The green house in the farm. (and the two funny statues?!)

East meets West 豬腳麵線加蘋果派

我和Richy的结合，就像這次他的生日，我所準備的“豬腳麵線加蘋果派”，一個傳統，一個急於擺脫傳統；要说一個有涵养，一個有不耐煩，也行。 不過，因時、因地的轉換，這時候的豬腳麵線加蘋果派，也跟上了混搭的風潮，吃得出幸福的味道。

Yesterday was Richy's birthday. Since he is quite a traditional man (what a pain), I planned to cook traditional birthday food for him. The traditional Chinese food set to celebrate birthday  is: egg, noodles, and pork knuckles, where egg stands for birth and new life, noodle for longevity, and pig knuckle (I guess) for strength and health.

What is for dessert? Winston had asked me to make pies this month, so I decided to make an apple pie for dessert.

This funny combination of two extreme food style leads me to think of "marriages".

Isn't every marriage more or less like the combination of  East and West. People tend to be attracted to someone different.  Every fight or argument may move two sides a bit closer or farther. No matter how close or how far, East is still East, and West is still West. Every story ends differently. Whatever the end is, as long as we are happy.

After all, my cooking of pork knuckles was quite a success yesterday.  My first try on making American apple pie was a big hit last night.  And the combination of them for dinner was unbelievably great. 

Recipe for Pork Knuckle:Trio Life 有萬巒豬腳的味道喔!

Recipe for Apple Pie: All Recipes . I made some adjustment on the crust and fillings. I think mine is better. 

Adjustments: add half egg for the crust to avoid crumbles on patting process.  This also makes the crust taste like cookies. I replace 1/2 cup white sugar with 3 tb sp of black sugar.  I also add ground nuts and raisins in the fillings.黑糖、肉桂、蘋果一起，真是绝配。