Skating with a crew

 

We just cannot get enough skating. Here is a picture with some friends taking a break to show off our skates. A friend of ours also threw a skating party which included skating at night in -15 degree F weather!

The wonders of winter

 

Getting ready to separate the sticks to make teams for a game of pick up hockey.

 

Skating outdoors was great but my ankles hurt. I am not sure if it was because I was breaking in my friend's wife's skates or because it has been 2 years since I skated last.

Making Baozi

 

Aunt liz taught us how to make Baozi which is a yummy steamed bun. Here are some of the steps. Make the dough and wait for it to rise. While we waited we ate a wonderful hot pot lunch!

 

Roll the dough and fill it with meat and vegetables, or sweet red bean.

 

Steam the buns.

 

Take them out and eat them!

Holidays in London 1

 

Here is a view of St. Paul's Cathedral. We visited the cathedral for mass on Christmas Eve.

 

Here is a photograph catching the full, busy streets of London and the soul of the city's old, beautiful architecture.

Holidays in London 2

 

This is a view of Big Ben and the lights of London from Trafalger Square. This was a great place to rest our legs, people watch and shoot a few photos.

 

There was great pedestrian shopping areas in London that had great stores, resturants and pubs. Here is a picture of the beautifully decorated Carnaby Street near Oxford Street.

 

Here is a picture of the family in front of an air-brushed Santa. We are at the huge Hyde Park in the heart of London which was hosting a "German Christmas Market". The mkt had German imported midway rides, ice skating, sausages, drinks, and soft pretzels!

 

London is full of great outdoor markets. Here is the "slow foods" market which focused on local/sustainable foods and products. Another favorite market was the Burrows Market that has so many super yummy products!

December

 

The snow is piling up for the holidays, making an adventure for walkers, bikers and drivers alike.

 

Who knew that part of this building would be tore down. One day we were walking in our neighborhood and were surprised to see this icon of Uptown being removed.

Movie: Slumdog Millionaire

If you find yourself with some time and wanting to sit in front of a large screen we would suggest you see Slumdog Millionaire. It has all the check marks of a film: love, truths, deception, and the human condition. Mix this with past and modern day Bombay/Mumbia and it is an electric film. And if you are an MIA fan her tunes rock throughout the film.

Movie: Slumdog Millionaire
Director: Danny Boyle
Watch a Trailer at: cruise over to cool links to get the official website/trailer

The ice is encroaching

 

I can't believe how much of the Lake of the Isles is covered with ice. I was also amazed by the circles that layed on the ice's surface.

 

Lake Calhoun is still ice free except on its perimeter. As the current of the water slid under the ice it made a relaxing rushing noise.

 

The ducks looked cold and without boots they only had the choice of putting their feet in the cold water or on the frozen ice!

Chinese Night and Snow That Stuck

 

A good friend of ours spent a year and a half in China around the same time we were in Taiwan. We all miss being in Asia. He had the brilliant idea of doing Chinese language and food night. He made spicy eggplant and bar-b-que pork ribs. We made homemade dumplings.

 

It is really cold right now. The low last night was 24 F. This morning we woke up to some of it actually sticking to the ground. That stuff is slippery and cold. The car tracks in fresh snow makes nice lines.

Snow Obama

It has been a week of many firsts: snow in our lives again and a new president.