Chinese cooking

This year I have a lot less interaction with students and friends at our school... but one thing I treasure is "growing time" on Tuesdays and then cooking on Saturdays with some girls I mentored last year. On Saturday afternoons, we go shopping for vegetables, meat and tofu and then head back to my house for cooking lessons (I am the student... trying to learn the art of Chinese cooking) We always have fun chopping and stir-frying. I always take notes in hope to recreate it in the future :)
Here we are after all dished have been cooked.

Girls Cook for Boys Team Thanksgiving

Every Thursday the girls on the team have "Girl Time" :) We alternate between studying the Word together and a fun activity. Thanksgiving Thursday fell on a fun activity ... so... I recommended the girls cook dinner for the boys :)

We each signed up for a couple things to make but decided to do the cooking together. They came over about 4:00 and we got busy. Here is Sarah rolling out the pie crust (she had all the ingredients from America for a Pecan Pie) AND not pictured- but she got a little Thanksgiving package and contributed cranberry sauce :)

And with finished delicious product!!
Caroline and Ani busy in the (outdoor) kitchen

The birds of the day-- chicken (pre-head and leg chopping)

Post decapitation and stuffed with apples and onions

Chris and Allie with our almost finished table of food

And last but not least... all of us patiently taking a photo before we dig in! It was a ton of fun!!

Best part about the meal-- since girls cooked boys cleaned.

Fun at the French Restaurant

Last night was our big night out with our team and PA, Cathy. We had a wonderful time at one of the nicest restaurants in town.
Last night for some reason the food wasn't nearly as amazing as it was last time... but the environment makes up for everything else that is lacking.
Wes and I both order the "Filet of Beef" Wes enjoyed a beef steak... while mine was not beef- we are thinking it was pork.
I didn't eat much of mine, but I am so happy that Wes had steak.
I truly had a great time just hanging out and talking with our friends.

Thank you Cathy and ELI for treating us to dinner.

P man pictures

Happy Boy

I'm going to think about smiling.

Okay- BIG smile :)

Foodie Friday

Yesterday was a busy cooking day here at the Peak of Mount Thomas (if you remember affectionately named due to the 5 flight hike)
My morning started with a bowl of Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal topped with Crasins and a cup of Good Earth Tea. The flavors were wonderful... but the company better!! I enjoyed this meal with my friend Kate :-) She drank a glass of Eggnog on one side of the computer ... and me with my oatmeal on the other. Loved our skype date.


I have enjoyed many cooking blogs recently (Crockpot 365, Whisk and Prayer, Market 2 Meal etc...) I found a Cinnamon Sugar bread recipe. Since Wes happens to love bread and cinnamon and sugar... I made it :-) It turned out DELICIOUS!! A definite keeper in the recipe book.


Cathy came over for dinner so I prepared an Ameican meal for our enjoyment. I didn't get any pictures... but we had Baked Potato soup in Bread Bowls and Brownies for dessert. Delish!
Today I plan to eat PP&J on a paper towel because my drying rack is full and my hands are pruned from all the dishes.

Parenting in China

So... being a white face in Hengyang draws a LOT of attention... but a white face with a white baby... oh my!! Things haven't been too crazy but crazy all at the same -- for instance- we go to our favorite Japanese noodle place for a nice relaxing meal (it is a treat to go here) and suddenly the waitress thinks it is ok to break out her cell phone and start taking pictures ... then send it to all her friends. This is rabbit trail.
Recently the weather in Hengyang has been simply beautiful- I would say an average of 75 over 60s... no rain... pollution only if you look in the distance (well... still highly polluted... but that's ok) You may be wondering- what does the weather have to do with the title of this post "Parenting in China" ... it will take some rabbit trails but eventually we will get around to it.
Back to the parenting part... many people like to give you advice -- rather tell you what you should and shouldn't be doing. This unsolicited advice is not limited to people with children but even my student friends feel the need to tell me how I should care for Parker.

For example, Parker has on one layer of clothing- sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt... we are inside where it is relatively warm here is a conversation

My friend says "I think Parker must be cold. You should put some more clothes on him"
(Not thinking I touch his hands... they are warm...)
so I say "Ok... I think he is alright"
Later (about 5 minutes)
Friend- "Avery, do you think Parker is cold?"

Another time with a different friend, I had Parker sitting on the couch right next to me and another
friend says "Can Parker move yet?"
Me: "nope, not yet"
friend: "do you think he is ok to sit there like that"
Me: "Yep, I am sitting right next to him... I think he is fine"
friend: "Are you sure... he might get hurt"

These are friends... but the advice also comes from anybody on the street. For example, you should put more layers on your child, why doesn't he have a hat on? I think he must need more sun. etc...

My teammate, Allie, and I went to the grocery store together. It was another warm 75 degree day and I saw this lady with her baby... I told Allie- I have to get a picture of this (she is great and said sure :)
This poor little one is about the same age as Parker... can't move his arms or legs and is sweating bullets.

Poor baby!!
As we leave, I am certain all the people said "the foreigner should put more clothes on that poor baby"

:)

So I know that this is the Hengyang way of showing care and love for other. The proper response is a smile and "thank you" then move along. Grace extended :)

Do Happy

There is a store in Hengyang called "Do Happy" and it does make you happy. They have random things like 15 RMB ($2 USD) Starbucks coffee mugs, home decor and tons of things with Chinglish (for example the sign at the entrance- Hello, my name is Christmas, will you merry me?")

This year the part that particularly makes me happy is all the stuffed animals They have every thing from "scary-looking-what-kind-of-animal-is-that" to Mickey, Minnie and Tiger too :) I know what Parker is getting for Christmas :)


Just thought I would share a fun store in Hengyang with you.