Happy Chinese New Year!

It's the Year of the Rooster (Chicken).  My boys indulged me with a 10 minute calendar shoot :)

I read the Telegraph article "Chinese New Year 2017, year of the Rooster! What's your zodiac animal?" (sorry for the video auto-play).  The list of Chinese New Year's Day Taboos was particularly interesting.

I already know not to wash things, but didn't know it was partially because (#3) "People do not wash clothes on the first and second day because these two days are celebrated as the birthday of Shuishen (水神, the Water God)."

Number 8 "Crying Children" ("The cry of a child is believed to bring bad luck to the family so parents do their best to keep children as happy as possible.") is a little too late / unavoidable now (more about that later)...

I kept the tradition of a vegetarian lunch (corresponds to #13).  Well, mostly, I finished off James's lunch and that had some fish...

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This photo seems appropriate (Coconut and House Hippo from last-last Christmas (2015)).

 And, so does this:

And baby makes five...

Me and the boys.  Thanks to Jackie for this updated family photo.

Hey, who's sleeping in the bed?

Early Days at Home (Part 2)

It's been a pretty good weekend.  Paul's a very good buffer for all my Mom's fussing Saturday.  Maybe she's fusses less, or simply there are other things going on so it's easier for me to ignore.

We're on our own today.  I felt myself finally relax... though it's clear, even with the temperature cranked up (22 C!), baby station right in the living room, there was still a lot that needs done.  Our schedules definitely need to change.

Anyway, must focus on the positive.  Highlights for the weekend:

1. Calling the UK - Paul's family were so happy to hear from us.  I love seeing Paul so gentle with and proud of James.

2. Community Nurse Karen was very kind.  She did a quick check of James (was surprised his umbilical cord had already fallen off -- the huge clamp was like a third foot and fell off at the hospital) and then helped me with breastfeeding.  She gave me a breast shield and taught me how to use it.  And then...

3. James was able to latch with the shield!  Not every time, but enough times for me to be encouraged.

4. Neighbours bearing gifts - Andrew and Melissa not only returned the things we forgot in their car, they also passed along clothes and diapers Eli's outgrown, and a chicken pot pie.  Exactly the sort of things we needed.  (I wish I did more for them when Eli was born.)

Erica and Prabhdeep came for a short visit bringing clothes and a special toy.  I immediately said, "Uh-oh, I hope we can keep him white...", such a mom thing to say.  Coconut, however, appreciated the gift immediately.

5. A rare view - James didn't cry when his feet were exposed!  Don't know why, since he screamed as usual when we had to unwrap him for diaper changes... and when they peeked out of the blankets at other times.

I took photos and marvelled at how small they are... but also how big they are compared to his body.  (You'll grow into those won't you, little one?)

It'll be quiet for a little longer until the alarm goes off to start the cycle again.  I'm tired, but the gap isn't long enough for me to go to sleep...

Focus on the positive, focus on the positive... and we'll manage to get through this.

Merry Christmas 2015

New Year - New Project Start

Paul and I rang in 2015 at home, counting down with the BBC Radio 4 pips (granted they were signalling 7 a.m. over there).  A phone call from Jackie from the UK came in the middle of it all. And then we sang Aud Lang Syne with Wikipedia's Frank C. Stanley's 1910 performance (jumping octaves like nothing else).

Before all this excitement, we had a moment of quiet and I asked Paul what I should do for the coming year.  I didn't exactly have any resolutions in mind, but I did want to commit to a "one-a-day" project. A photo a day?  A journal a day?  It's hard enough keeping up with the blog... and in a sense it's already journalling.

With the new camera in tow... a-photo-a-day makes sense!  Then, should I find creative ways of looking at something different each day?  Or photography the same thing (like my toe) every day for a year to observe the differences?  He convinced me the toe thing might not be that interesting.  (Though, heck, my toe has been changing and probably would look different if I start ballroom dancing again :P...)

Anyway, let's start the photo-a-day (set) for 2015 with these (taken right before we went to bed).

Happy New Year!

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P.S. Turns out Jillee had it all figured out for me on her New Year blog post.  Paul did joke though that we're already doing some of those things daily.  But, if we stretched and went beyond that, we could be developing some really good habits.  I looked into Project Life 365, which offered categories / daily prompts for photo-a-day challenges, but seemed exclusive to 2013.  Maybe next year I'll have the confidence try out those prompts.

Paul Turns 2^5

Beccy: "So what have you been up to for your birthday?"
Paul: "Um... work..."

After his largest over-the-phone-group-Happy Birthday-serenade*, Paul had to admit his birthday wasn't full of fun yet. 

(The longer version: He made me breakfast after a minimal lie-in and then retreated to the hobbit hole to work.  I went for groceries. He worked.  I came back and started cleaning.  He worked.  We had lunch.  He cleaned and finally had a chance to call his family -- while baked.) 




















(Above: The beginnings of a rhubarb and mixed berry crumble - showing approximately the poportions I used in the recipe.) 

Andrew, Beccy, and Matthew were up north visiting Uncle Paul, Catherine, Tom, and Alice.  The seven* were eating, using a snooker / pool table as a dinner table. Catherine updated with her exciting news: She's back at editing, this time for a hobby shooting / hunting magazine!  Paul took them on another online tour of the house -- this time sans fridge and my "office".

"And on the left is Lana's office.  Notice the name plate."
"No!  Don't go in there!" I shouted from the kitchen.  I missed the next bit but think I caught the phrase "dead bodies"... 

They lingered in our utility room, spellbound by the strange way we heat our home (forced air) and the large, separate hot water tanks... well, the adults were. 

Uncle Paul: "I can see you have a Porsche."
Paul: "Actually, it's a Toyota." 
Lana: "I think he meant our porch."

Oh, technology.  So close, but so far away.

I used the call and practising time, to put the finishing touches on Paul's birthday gift.  Coconut and House Hippo helped me deliver it. 

The birthday evening was to be like last year with a bunch of friends meeting up at Haweli's for dinner.  I still wanted it to be a surprise for Paul, so I didn't tell him the details.  All the downtown construction detours I helped me to put him off the trail (as well as me getting a bit lost). 

"This is authentic."  ~ Scott, regarding the nineties pop music playing on the sound system. 

The thirteen of us (including one Catherine and two Kathys) were seated right in the middle of the restaurant.  Rem took charge and took notes on what to order. 

Kathy: "Oh, you didn't even chortle, chuckle, or even twitter. 
Scott: "You've made him guffaw."

Our final choices: Tandoori chicken, lamb rogan josh, saag paneer, channa masala, rainbow korma, red chili chicken, bharta, aloo gobhi, mughlai beef korma, paneer makhani, butter chicken, and veggie samosas.

This proved to be a really good mix for a group with people who couldn't handle spices, had food allergies, were vegetarian, and those who just wanted deliciousness. 

Scott: "You didn't have to order us a band.

Me: "Oh, I wanted to make it extra special."

 

 

Live musicians set up on the stage next to us with sitar and tabla. Now this seemed truly authentic. The tabla made a "boing" sound I didn't associate with drums and it was all just beautiful. (Not my plan though, we were just lucky.)

 

(Above left: Rem's photo bomb./ Below: Chris, Kathy, Neil, Stephen, Na, Steph, and Cynthia)

 

We feasted on the food and managed to talk - but mostly just between close seat neighbours (the problem with long tables).  Cynthia (on my right) told us about her new Magic hobby.  Kathy (to Paul's right) mentioned Evelyn Berg as an interesting local photographer, after bringing up how having a phone camera has changed her photo taking habits.  Scott (to my left) made fun of other people in the restaurant as well as my magazine choices.

Scott: "VANITY FAIR?!"

Me: "What?  What's wrong?"

Scott, in a whisper: "Vanity Fair... isn't that like Cosmo?" 

Me: "No, Vanity Fair is respectable.  Um... sort of." 

We finished our meal, the live musicians accepted our clapping, the nineties pop music returned.  Paul and I invited people over for cake and dessert.  (Left: Heading for home instead.)

I brought out the cupcakes (not muffins!) from the afternoon, and Paul was serenaded in person (this time by nine: Kathy, Neil, Kathy, Scott, Catherine, Ken, Sophie, Cynthia and me).

After blowing-out-the-candles-before-I-could-catch-a-photo, and posing-as-if-he-was-just-blowing-them-out, Paul went through how we could have represented his age by using just one candle.  (Binary!) 

He also revealed another talent (which I'd forgotten / never known?) of echolocation.  But it wasn't quite up to the task of measuring the entry way for Scott and Kathy.  (Below: Scott makes an entrance, with the entry way making it "wow"!) 

And, there was another tour.  (So glad I cleaned!)

(Right: Scott and Kathy's card complete with mathematical joke.)

Though it was a slow start, I think (I hope), it was a happy birthday. 

Another First Day of Spring

Snowy, just like last year. 

Me (still not dressed): I looked out the window. 
Paul: No, you don't look out the window until you're dressed, with your boots on and ready to go outside.
Me: Bleh.

Happy Lunar New Year!

House Hippo and Coconut gallop into the Year of the Horse with greetings of luck. 

馬年行好運!

Where's Wenda?

"Um... are you are elf?"

Guess my look wasn't quite as iconic as I thought.  Though... being mistaken for an elf has its advantages: Scary factor -- It should not be Christmas season already!



I ended up sending people to the site and learned something too!  Namely, there's "Fem-Waldo/Wally"!  Or, "Wenda". 

I'd called myself "Hipster Waldo", but Wenda "the one who takes pictures" certainly fits the bill... 

After work, Wendy/Waldo/Wally set off to explore - and was promptly and frequently recognised. 

"Now You See It" by Megan Morman (below)

Below: "Cabinets of Curiosity"

Below: The Intellection of Lady Spider House

The Art Gallery of Alberta was certainly an interesting place on Hallowe'en.  The usual fashion show was stepped up even more with costumes.  But, home is still best. 

 (Left: Almost Zen Where's Waldo)

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(Right: Hipster Woof?)