Year of the Tiger.

While most people might have spent some portion of the day doing Valentine's stuff, we spent the evening at my parents' having a Chinese New Year dinner. It's the year of the tiger, which is supposed to be the zodiac sign emphasizing strength and courage. Ironically, my sister Sable is a tiger and she's one of the most demure and passive people I know. Maybe that's just our dynamic, though, and that's what happens when you stick and tiger and a monkey together?

Of course the thing we all remember about Chinese new year is how awesome it is to get lucky money (lai-see) from our parents and older family members! My dad has the best stories about NY back in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong. When he was really young he and his family (immediate and extended) lived in a village called Sam Tung Uk. The Chans were asked to relocate so the village could be restored and preserved as a museum, so it's actually a place you can visit! Back in those days things were very traditional, and Chinese new year was always a time when people wore new clothes, got lucky envelopes, participated in ancestral worship, and ate tasty food.

I'm sure that new years at my parents' is much smaller in scale than that of new years at the village. However, all the important elements are still there. Family. Food. Traditions. It was particularly memorable this year to see Dexter with his first lai-see! Please ignore his face. It was fully healed for about two weeks. Then he had a laceration session on Friday night. Three minutes alone with his face and we were back to square one. SIGH.

My parents have a lot of buddha statues at their place. Well, there are three, which I presume is more than the average person. I love this one and my dad said I could have it! Now if only I could find an appropriate place to display it at the bungalow.




Some pictures from tonight's family dinner. Here I am with Sable.




This is my mom.




My niece, Keira.




I was getting really warm so I had to take the Chinese-y jacket off.




Mom again.




BBQ duck and sweet soy chicken. There was also BBQ fatty pork and a variety of vegetarian things. And rice. Lots of rice. My dad has this thing where he doesn't feel full if he hasn't eaten rice. He could have a hamburger, fries, onion rings, and mashed potatoes... and still need to eat some rice.




After dinner my mom was all eager to make dessert dumplings. I was really surprised because my mom isn't really the make-it-from-scratch type of lady. My sister and dad got right on board and started doing it up. I documented and made my mommy feel important by listening intently to the descriptions of what she was doing. You make the dough like you would with most things, and the inside was a mixture of sugary treats and diced peanuts.




Busy hands at work.




Dad and his mad skills with a cleaver.




Some stove action.




Dad made an intensely ginger-infused simple syrup for the dumplings to swim in.




Hope your Sunday was likewise filled with smiles and good food. I'm sending you wishes for a year of health and happiness!