I have decided that I would like to have a SQUARE cake, like this one :) ...and hope that I win at least one of the numerous lucky draws I signed up for...hehe

Malaysian Doctor moves to Texas, gets married and embarks on a journey of exploring the world around her.


But in the heart of Texas, there is a beautiful 14,0000 square mile area with rolling hills, crystal clear streams and towering oak & cedar trees known as the Hill Country, and this was where we travelled through to get to Kerville, 200 miles away, for David's aunt's memorial service.
A lot of the land belongs still to farmers and often, there would be highways that have to criss-cross through the land and we were on one such highway yesterday.
That was the first time I ever had to go on a road where livestock was allowed to roam about without fences, aided only by cattle guards on the road itself! Cattle guards are grills, usually at the gate entrances of farms to keep the livestock in without a fence because the cattle would never walk across the grills for fear of getting a hoof caught between the grills, apparently.


( We even have one at OUR gate! )
In Malaysia, as pedestrians, we always had to be at the mercy of vehicles in parking lots ( or on the roads ) that would never ever slow down for someone to pass in front of them..not even at a zebra's crossing. There was always a "pass in front of me and you risk being flattened" understanding.


The filling inside the dumplings are usually sweet, and made up of sugar, walnuts, sesame seeds, osmanthus flowers, rose petals, sweetened tangerine peel, bean paste, or jujube paste. There is also a savoury variety is filled with minced meat or vegetables.
When my grandmother was still alive and able, she would make sure we observed this and would give each person the number of dumplings which corresponded to their age, to signify everyone becoming a year older with the new year. I remember she would also colour some of the dumplings pink with food dye.
Other than this, the displaying of lanterns is still a big event throughout China. Qinshihuang, the first emperor to unite China started the tradition of splendid ceremonies like lantern fairs and drum beating extravaganzas on this day.
While some places may not observe the lighting of lanterns, the custom of eating Yuanxiao dumplings remains. Although I didn't make any dumplings this year, I found a recipe for it online.

Making Your Own Yuanxiao

About 3 weeks ago, we were at David's niece's house and there was an Australian Blue Heeler hanging about outside their door, which made her husband quite irate. Since the dog had a collar on it, David guessed that she had to belong to someone and was most probably lost because Stephanie didn't recognize it as any of the dogs in the neighbourhood. So we took her home and put an ad in the paper, hoping that someone would call and say that she was theirs.
No such luck.
Several people called though, to say that if no one had claimed her, that they would want her. And she really is quite a sweet dog.







"Ecko, originally from Taiwan, and her husband, Gary Barbian met while he was stationed at a Taipei airbase. He was a flight engineer, while she was a mess hall supervisor. The pair bounced from base to base until they ended up at Dyess Airforce base.
Barbian was encouraged by a group of other Dyess airmen's wives after they tasted her cooking at a potluck luncheon. She started small and opened a catering business in 1975. Within a year, business grew so much that she was able to open Ecko's Restaurant, once located in the Wooten Hotel. The restaurant, now at 2701 S. 1st St., is one of the longest surviving Chinese restaurants in Abilene. "
Henry update coming up tomorrow..

has been seen as the most important day to the Hokkien ( a.k.a Fujian - a province in China; also a chinese dialect ) people as it was on this day that the entire clan of Hokkiens were spared from being massacred.
The story goes that a long time ago, another ethnic group attempted to kill all the Fujian Chinese causing them to flee into a forest of sugarcanes, hiding there until the 8th day of Chinese New Year when their enemies had gone.

On the 9th day of the Chinese New year, they went home and re-celebrated their Chinese New year. Preparations begin on the morning of the 8th day, by buying all the essential items needed for the celebration – sugar cane stalks, roasted pigs, cooked meats and fruits which will be laid out in front of the houses as offering. At the stroke of midnight, they give thanks to the Jade Emperor, also known as the God of Heaven.
Firecrackers are let off and the night sky is ablaze with fireworks. Businessmen of the Hokkien community take the festival quite seriously – their bountiful offerings are both for thanksgiving and in anticipation of a prosperous year ahead.
Although I'm hokkien, I don't celebrate this anymore, but I just thought I'd share some of my heritage








1. Total amount of music files on your computer : 120
2. The last CD you bought : Christmas music - el cheapo deluxo at Ross'
3. The last song you listened to before reading this message: Leaving on a JetPlane - Eva Cassidy
4. Name 5 songs you listen to often or that mean a lot to you: Eek..right now it's wedding on the brain so any wedding song!
5. Who will you pass this stick to and why? My sister, cos she won't kill me..blood is thicker than water..*laugh*



in Malaysia before except the occasional dog or cat,
but because we live about 7 miles out of the city, each time we go into town or to David's dad's, I can't help but notice all the ROADKILL that is out there!
It is even a game with some to keep count on family trips etc..Maybe it's the large amount of semi trucks/18 wheelers that travel the highways of America as well as deer and skunks that have not ever been schooled in road traffic rules..but I really hope this picture is a joke.




