Spring heat wave!

It's spring, and with three bank holidays within a span of 8 days - It is great to have the sun! Feels like summer....

Look what I found growing amongst my flowers!

It's too hot to weed and plant during the day - so it's either early morning or early evening! Just planted out some sunflowers!

Breakfast in NYC

If you ever get the opportunity visit New York City, it has so much art to see. New Yorkers are friendly and helpful - and transport is more efficient and not as old as London.

The art scene is accessible and in every direction - from West Village, to Brooklyn & Queens, even the Bronx, Upper Manhattan and Downtown. Their China Town is big, and the smells remind me of where I grew up. The modernist architecture is monument-is. It's still light at 6pm in the winter. I feel like I've lived a lifetime there....perhaps it's the jet lag talking.

Time square is slightly scary. Grand Central station takes you back in time, art deco? nearly every train station has mosaic to admire. fluffy pancakes for breakfast, and a foot long hotdog with relish, sauerkraut, American mustard and ketchup for snack. still cannot remember a dime's worth, and how many make one dollar! I managed to spend under $100 - that's including food, travel and museum tickets over 5 days.

BTW, a decent cup of coffee was a lot harder to find than expected! my favourite place to browse and shop had to be Dean & DeLuca.

Early Spring

I've had a joy of a time, seeing early signs of spring. Every corner of the countryside is filled with snowdrops. Crocus heads are starting to sprout out, yellow, purple and white colours! It was a sunny day, wonderfully refreshing to be out and about.

I learnt about an early spring flower commonly known as the snowflake plant. It's so delicate and similar to a snowdrop, with a bigger head and a yellow/light green pattern against white petals. Here's a photo I took to show some friends!

Tulips are in season this year!!! I've got a bunch by my table, I've really started to appreciate flowers since moving to UK. Truly an overlooked phenomenon.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Gong Hei Fat Choi!!! Wish you all a fantastic new year. Year of the Rabbit!

I somewhat feeling lonely, I wish I'd returned to my childhood country. There just aren't enough communal celebrations in England.

My parents called to say they just ate Poon Choi at my Great Grandma's village.

So, to cheers myself up I've steamed some Lap Cheong, braised some mushrooms.

Yum. Eat my sorrows away. HAHA

Wishing you all a prosperity, longevity, and many red pockets!

(England has lots of stuff going on really, I'm exaggerating slightly and have been in a massive house on my own for the last few days.)

post 2010 now

I'm ready for spring already! I noticed this morning bulb shoots are sticking out of the ground. I've changed my blog photos to remind me of spring flowers, and when the shades of green are lush.

Made my first snowmen

It snowed 4 inches this morning. I got to see it in it's untainted fluffy glory as I went out to buy a few bananas from the store to make cake. Before that though, I made my first few snowmen. really enjoyed it!

There are six kicsi snowmen (one is hidden behind the pot)!

I played with freckle this morning too! She leaps up and down - so trilling!

It's the earliest and most snow I've seen in London. I wish I could see the countryside all covered with it. I will need to get some snow boots, as my feet were hurting from the cold. I'm visiting New York City in Feb for a school trip, and it'll be below freezing there! I'm sure glad I did my food shopping yesterday, was riding on my bike and it wasn't slippery. I felt like I was in Berlin, and enjoyed it very much. Wouldn't be able to cycle today.

LIttle Girls Cupcakes

I found this today...

...all laid out ready to be eaten! Vegan cupcakes. I had a couple without icing, not as moist but still tasty.

The other week I baked dairy free muffins. Instead of butter I used olive oil and stewed apples. Mixed with carrot, cranberry honey muffin. It was so moist and filling. Made two dozens, by the evening there were two left! Must try making that again.