An Ending And A Beginning

The past week for me had me saying goodbye to an old friend and hello to a new one. Mama Roxy's two funerals were held on Thursday and Friday. I got to see some other long lost acquaintances. Why is that when people usually catch up its at funerals? We all had a nice lunch at Dixie Kitchen after the service. Since the repast would be on Friday out of the city, everyone and Roxanne's family ended up there for lunch before they hit the road. It couldn't have been orchestrated better. A nice laid back informal lunch.

On Saturday I was a guest at a Chinese Banquet to celebrate the birth of Baby K . I represented both Marc and I at this new experience for me. I tried not to over indulge that day to make room for the feast.The above symbol I was told means long life. On my way to the event I found a great kitchen store in China town. My eyes were drawn to the vegetable cutters. How fun is this! I cut the above out of a potato. I cant wait to play some more with this. I can even see me using it on cake designs.I need to revisit and get the Double Happiness symbol. I'm going to apologise for the pictures on today's post. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Certain Someone has reclaimed his camera and I reduced to an antique digital and my Blackberry camera with flash. I cant figure out how to deactivate the flash on it. I photo shopped some pictures to make a tad better, but its still doesn't the food justice.

These shots show 9 out of the 12 courses we had that evening. I was seated at the American table unfortunately . Because we weren't Chinese, they felt one course of braised Pigeon would be to exotic for us. I could have ate the Pigeon. But the other people at the table were not so keen as they passed on it before at the older child's banquet years ago. Here is a menu of what we were served:

Tea Dyed Eggs and Pickle

Assorted Chinese Cold Cuts( pork belly, beef, bean curds,

jelly fish,pork with crispy rinds,etc.)

Peking Duck ( Braised Pigeons for the other guests)

Shrimp Puffs( The best!!!!)

Chinese vegetables (mushrooms, bamboo, etc.)

Scallops and Chinese Broccoli

Steamed Lobster

Shark Fin Soup

Crispy Chicken

Noddles

Steamed Whole Fish

'Fried Rice'( More like steamed rice with 2 types of toppings, very saucy)

Did I mention they had cake too? I could barely stand and walk after this.And there were so many kids running around and rolling about under the table I was getting antsy. But it was a joyous time . I'm not a preachy person but I think this verse sums up my week and life best.

To everything there is a season,a time for every purpose under the sun.A time to be born and a time to die;a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;a time to kill and a time to heal ...a time to weep and a time to laugh;a time to mourn and a time to dance ...a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;a time to lose and a time to seek;a time to rend and a time to sew;a time to keep silent and a time to speak;a time to love and a time to hate;a time for war and a time for peace.
ecclesiastes 3:1-8