YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

Hey, did you say, "Year of the ROOSTER?"
That's me.
"I volunteer!!! I am getting tired of hanging out with the hens."

Can you see those numbers at the top? If the year is listed that you were born in, then, great, you are also a ROOSTER.  You are in good company with men! Come along with me.   

If you ever get to China, be prepared. Lanterns are everywhere...I mean everywhere.  You would think it was Mardi Gras or something. Sadly, I have yet to find a perfect ROOSTER lantern....I guess I will have to design  one.  But I do LOVE the Moon Cakes and tea.

This year, Sharon got rather carried away sketching bits and bobs of Chinese culture. Sadly much of the old, traditional culture is being replaced by gigantic sky walk buildings, cities within cities.

 The colorful cards poking out of the sketchbook, are painted by Chinese folk artists. In an unique way, they visually portray stories of old Chinese traditions and ways of living, especially rural life. 

Chinese children are BEAUTIFUL...I wish we ROOSTER'S  had round faces, deep brown/black eyes, inky-black hair, and rosy cheeks.  Heck, why am I complaining, I got feathers to CROW about.  I am okay. I am glad to be ME.

I think that Sharon is infatuated with China and Asia in general. I was scrolling through her older posts. She seems to write about Chinese New Year, every year.  I think she is waiting for her year, 19___, to pop up, then brag about it. No she won't fill in the missing numbers. 

I found this blog (below) and I loved it.  Imagine eating fish eyeballs.  Yup, that is what her family did.

If you want to keep reading, be my guest.  At least it isn't 

Rooster Soup!  

EVERY YEAR WE TAKE AN IMAGINARY TRIP TO ASIA 

TO CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR--A TRADITION THAT GIVES MUCH HAPPINESS AND JOY TO THE CHINESE CULTURE AND OTHERS. 

THEY INSPIRE US WITH OUR AMERICAN VERSION OF CNY !

CHEF DANIEL PREPARING FRESH FISH FOR OUR FEAST

FISH TASTED AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK....NOTE THE BEAUTIFUL EYEBALLS !

NOW THE CHALLENGE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN GRAND KIDDIES WAS......

TO EAT THE FISH EYEBALL IS A CHINESE TRADITION, ONLY BESTOWED UPON GUESTS OF HONOR.
TWO GK'S DECIDED TO EACH EAT AN EYEBALL, BEING TOLD THAT THEY ARE INDEED, VERY SPECIAL. 

"DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. JUST PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH AND SWALLOW."

THEY DID IT!!! YOU CAN SEE BY THEIR FACES THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY A DELICIOUS EYEBALL WHEN YOU ARE A GUEST OF HONOR. 

TIME TO STRING LUCKY ORANGES AND LUCKY DOLLARS ON TO STURDY STRING.
A WISH FOR THE YEAR IS WRITTEN ON THE BEAUTIFUL RED AND GOLD JOSS PAPER. 

OUTSIDE WE WENT TO MAKE WISHES AND THROW OUR ORANGES HIGH INTO THE TREES.
AND THERE THEY STILL HANG TODAY.  

WE ALREADY ARE A VERY LUCKY FAMILY !  

THANKS SHARON FOR LETTING ME WRITE THIS YEAR'S CNY POST.  I WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR, SAME TIME.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.  

ROOSTER AND SHARON

Sugar and Vitamin C

What did you do in December when family and friends gathered around?

Some go to movies, some go out to eat, others it is shopping, and I imagine that there are those who go for manicures and such delights.

What did we do?  

WE CREATED BIG MESSES !!!

For example, four kiddos and one Grandpa, making MARSHMALLOWS.

Have you ever prepared "homemade" marshmallows? Let's say that the fun part is licking the spoons, as opposed to washing the pan.

Then there is...

Finding an area conducive to FORMING and EMBELLISHING the set marshmallow (it takes at least 6 hours!) was next. Plastic table cloth, move chairs with cushions AWAY, set out plates of powdered cocoa, sprinkles, mint chips, powdered sugar, cookie cutters...nothing MESSY, mind you. 

We started out nice and tidy...??  No dustings of powder sugar on noses and such.

 The marshmallow, after resting in a pan, forms a soft, yummy sheet of mallow heaven.

Squeeeeeez the cookie cutters to maximize number of marshmallows...yes, they got to keep what they made. This became a serious, almost mathematical, equation. 

Okay things are getting interesting...flip flop one's marshmallow into "topping" of choice. Of course one little boy who will remain nameless, THREW, with his baseball arm, his marshmallows into the powdered cocoa...coating everyone and everything with brown freckles.

Creations go into plastic sacks...

No that isn't MUD on her hands,  just a creative mix of cocoa and powder sugar with sprinkles stuck into the mix. 

And on one's face.  

She promises she didn't lick anything !!!

Messy it is, but so much fun licking fingers coated with sprinkles, mint chips and powder sugar.

YUM.

And that is where VITAMIN C comes into the story.

A few days later we visited our local Asian Market...

Upon entering, there was a huge wooden bin of oranges. A sign made note that these oranges were sold with attached leaves!!!

Brilliant orange with glossy green leaves, bumpy skin, and a name I can't spell.

We filled a bag with the oranges with the prettiest leaves.

Chinese New Year is approaching very soon. This year it is the Rooster's turn.  

We were redeemed, after all that sugary fun, we could indulge in VITAMIN C.

And yes the oranges were delicious, in fact SUPER SWEET !!!

WELCOME TO 2017, or YEAR OF THE ROOSTER.

May this particular year bring you inner happiness, connectedness with others and those experiences that bring you contentment and joy. 

And may we in America be aware of those with less,  being supportive of their needs. 

And seek freedom from tyranny about the World. 

smiles: sharon