seagull8sblog

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As a spring ritual after the new year, I’ve been busy sowing recently back at home. In the mood for some hand-made hair accessories, I made these Hanfu ornaments with silk flowers, and had this video shot. In this pretty spring, when peach blossoms dye the mountain, take my dear lady to the place full of memory, where all is found, and tick yet another one from her wish list.

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After Frost's Descent last year, I made a jar of persimmon vinegar, and have been waiting till the first snow this year when it’s ready to be served. With frigid chill outside, we nestle around the fireplace, eat newly dried persimmons, And dip the grilled isaws in the vinegar to go with hot fish soup-- Such a luxury of winter… May the red, red persimmons see the old year out, And bring all of you a happy, prosperous new year!

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Dragon boat racing, eating zongzi, hanging wormwood, and drinking realgar wine! All reminds one of home and the good old days… We have less quality time as we grow up and leave for work, And I’ve done something special with this year’s Dragon Boat Day gift box. Bring it back home to enjoy the zongzi with your dearest ones, And play a puzzle game with the gift box wrappings!

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March 3rd of the lunar calendar is known as “Shangsi Girls’ Festival”, or “Peach Blossom Day”, a romantic tradition in China. Sample flavoring flowers for food, And take “my big girls” out to perform the spring ritual. Hello, April!

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Lanzhou Beef Noodles, one of China's top ten famous noodles, is the "living fossil" of pasta culture. This is definitely a bowl of art, "one clear, two white, three red, four green, and five yellow" are indispensable. If any of the steps of kneading and kneading are not in place, this noodle is impossible! From tomorrow on, respect every bowl of Lanzhou Beef Noodles!

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Rose is a treasure flower: Beautiful, eatable, and full of love. Rose petal jam, rose dew, rose smoked chicken, lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice and rose petal jam, rose wine, And rose puff pastry cake, my old kidult’s favorite. All these are for my loved ones! Yes, for you guys.

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As a child, I always expected the sound of “Ding-ding-tong” from Vendors selling rock maltose candy. And grandpa would malt the wheat on his own to hand-pull maltose syrup for us. From a handful of grain seeds to a basketful of wheat is a cycle of life. Malt can turn into maltose, straws into hats, and flour into all divine combinations: Steamed buns, cold jelly noodles, Chinese pork burgers, fried dough twists, noodles, and roasted gluten ... What a treasure crop wheat is!

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I stayed at home during the spring festival due to the COVID-19 outbreak. So bored that I repaired the fence of the long-abandoned pond, Filled it in to plant flowers and vegetables. From a desolate pool to a vibrant garden, It takes no more than half a year. Miracles of Life and Nature never fail to surprise us. The flowers bloomed, the fruits ripened, and the tomatoes are now red. Tomato hot pot! Here we go! 

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During the Covid-19 outbreak in the first half of the year, I set up bamboo fences around the outer walls, and planted some vine plants and vegetables, like cucumbers and luffas. When fleeting spring gives way to summer, these cuties start to send green glow. Pick the fresh cucumbers from the vine, and some termite mushrooms from the mountains. Cucumber peels with Lap-mei, cold noodles with chicken shreds, fried rice with cucumbers, Chinese chicken burrito… #It tastes like Li Ziqi’s summer#. How about yours? 

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Sow in spring to grow in summer, harvest in autumn for storage in winter. And Autumn Equinox has given way to Cold Dew now. We have finished reaping the corn, grain, pumpkins, and peanuts, ready to await the frost and snow in winter. For the past Mid-Autumn Day, my cousin and cousin-in-law came back to spend the festival with granny. Chitter-chatter, lively and jolly--that’s how festivals should be! 

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You reap what you’ve sown. You plant grapes, and it’s the grapes that you get. Having eaten the watermelon, don’t discard the rind! Make it into pickles, cold dishes, and savories in soy sauce. Last year I dug these grape seedlings from my relatives’ yard, And this is the first time they bear fruits. The harvest is quite modest, but enough to brew a pot of wine. Eat well, drink well, and it’s yet another full day. (Warning: Brewing at home is dangerous. Don’t try it.)