Chinese New Year

Yesterday was the official start of the Chinese New Year. It's the year of the Dragon. According to my mother, this is a good year for me. Although, just for kicks, I went online and found this Chinese astrology site. You enter in your birthday and some other info, and your birth chart is created.

White chicken, huh?

Sweet! My social life will increase!

I guess my "Lucky Element" is Fire. Uh oh. Bad luck.

This I found interesting. Basically my middle-age years will be pretty crappy. Looking forward to my 50s and 60s!! Can't wait to turn 92! I'll be one happening old momma.

Anyhow, to bring in the new year, the family got together for a lovely feast.

Lotus root signify abundance

Fish should be served whole for good fortune

Red for good luck

Cheers to family

Tradition

Last week, I made a comment on Shutter Sisters about my one word, cherish. I wrote that while cherish was my one word, there were other words that spoke to me, and in turn, these were words that I would cherish this year.

Strength

Beauty

Life

Love

Joy

Memories

The Present

Tradition

That day, I was cherishing tradition, and I shared a collage of Christmas with my grandpa, where he taught me how to make his famous (at least in our household!) bread.

This weekend, I decided it was time to bring this tradition into my home. I took his 8-page recipe, shrunk it down, and spent an evening making Grandpa's bread. The smell that filled my house as the loaves were baking was just heavenly. 

Unfortunately, I realized one of the reasons I don't make bread is because I'm a bread-aholic. I won't even tell you how long it took me to finish a loaf. (It was more than one day but less than two.)

I will have to post the recipe soon but I winged some of it, so I need to make the bread again and take better notes. And if I am going to continue to make this bread, I will have to give it away ASAP before my hips and thighs start turning into marshmallows. 

365 + 1, Week one done!

To all those who keep wishing you had an extra day, well this year you do! Yippee!

So, on January 1, I started my own "366 days of" project on Instagram. I decided on taking a photo of something yummy. Then I decided if I was going to be eating, I needed to counter the eating with some activity.

Now I didn't want to call it exercise, since I think that word can have a negative connotation. "Ugh, I have to exercise today." I didn't want my activity to feel like an obligation. I wanted it to make me feel good. I am lucky to be healthy, to have my two legs and two arms, to have healthy lungs and a healthy heart. "Cherish" was my word I chose for 2012, and I want to cherish being alive. Cherish my heart beating and my lungs working, my legs moving, my arms swinging.

So I'm taking advantage of what I have and I'm being active.

Here's this past week's 366.

One word

Today at Shutter Sisters, Tracey Clark asked, "What word do YOU choose to begin 2012?" My word is cherish.

Cherish: ˈcher-ish, ˈche-rish
1: to hold dear, feel or show affection for
2: to keep or cultivate with care and affection, nurture
3: to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

I looked at my post from yesterday and it was a word I used a few times. I think about how photography allows me to cherish so many moments in my life. I cherish living.

So as a way to commemorate this word and the beauty of living, I've decided to try a few 365 photo projects. The first will be 365 days of food and the second, 365 days of activity (to counter all the food!)

I don't plan on posting daily, but I will be snapping away daily (hopefully)!

Here are my first shots:
The first breakfast of 2012. I haven't made pancakes in a while so I went all out with pumpkin chocolate chip ones. I cherish the mornings that I can make a home cooked breakfast and fill the house with wonderful aromas.

After stuffing myself on pancakes, I took out the bike for a ride. I probably haven't ridden my bike for as long as I haven't made pancakes. It was tough, but as I pushed through those 20 miles, my legs and back aching, the crisp cold air blowing in my face, I felt alive. That is a feeling I cherish.