Postcard Wall 明信片牆

旅行中的人們, 

總焦急於與友人分享某個場景的感動, 

可惜那與自己心靈契合的人, 

常常無法一起見證感動的片刻, 

因而藉由明信片, 將這份感動, 傳達至遠方。

I've been keeping a postcard wall like this since we moved in Sherman Apartment in Evanston. In the beginning, I just needed something to decorate our wall but have no intention to spend a penny on it. So, I thought a number of postcards may serve the same purpose since we had been collecting some from our trips and friends traveling.

Now the size of the display has been enlarged as the number grows...... 

Iv'e always enjoyed sitting on the sofa, looked at the wall and spontaneously one of them caught my eye. Then it recalled something to mind. That could be a friendship, a memory with someone you love, or a city you've always wanted to go but your friend went alone. I believe this sense of achievement is more than anything we can have. 

When surrounding by those messages, I am certain I'm loved and always can find a meaning of life. :)

Life is a combination of tragedy or comedy?

很多時候, 常覺得摸不清自己到底是什麼樣的人...

常常覺得自己有著消極的人生觀, 想著既然每個人人生的終點都一樣, 那又何苦努力? 但又常像有強迫症似地逼迫自己做著各式各樣的事, 讓生活的表面看來多姿多彩... 有人說, 這樣的妳看起來一點都不消極, 事實上, 我不確定人生觀應該用行為來定義還是用思想來定義, 就像很多年以前曾經有人問的, 到底愛只要有愛的行為就好, 還是必須有愛的情感?

回憶起自己經歷過的生活, 好像可以確定自己不算 虛度, 但為什麼現在想起來, 卻覺得離自己那麼那麼地遙遠? 那個對世界充滿熱情和抱負的我, 還在嗎? 有時想想現在的自己, 會不禁自慚形穢, 不忍深探, 連看著鏡中的自己, 都不免有那麼一刻, 覺得自己的人生似乎要在這一刻完全靜止了... 但再往深處想, 又覺得即使有個不停轉動的人生, 最後又會有不同的結局嗎? 我懷疑!

不知從何開始, 常常有個故事不時地會浮上心頭...

希臘神話裡的Sisyphus, 不停地推著石頭, 眼見石頭即將到達山頂, 石頭便會滾落山底, 只好不停地為了將石頭推到山頂而工作著...

常常覺得這是自己心情的寫照, 因為無論做什麼事情, 總覺得完成了這件事, 自己應該會達到人生的頂峰, 應該覺得此生無憾, 殊不知, 再一次又一次的目標達成後, 等待著自己的一直是更大的慾望, 更多的期待, 覺得自己擁有的永遠不夠, 就像石頭跌落山底一般, 從頭來過...

最近看了"武媚娘傳奇", 是一部關於武則天的故事,  這是一個關於中國歷史上的盛世, 關於在重男輕女的中國歷史上的唯一一個女皇帝的故事, 但最讓我印象深刻的不是武則為天父子通吃的美貌, 不是她為何有力排男性為主的朝堂之眾議而登基的勇氣, 而是一個宮女講述她的人生... 她說: 當時宮裡有個柱子在維修, 因為擔心路過的人受傷, 因而在那兒設了一盞燈,並派她每天負責維持燈火不滅, 以確保路人的安全, 後來, 柱子修好了, 大家也忘了當時派她點燈的理由, 因此這個工作也就繼續下去, 雖然早已失去意義...

我偶而想, 到底是努力做了很多的事, 最後發現徒勞無功的人生好些; 或是從頭到尾都做著無意義的事的人生好些? 抑或, 哪一種悲劇, 才是真正的悲劇?

COOK the cooking studio @ Ashburn, VA 烹飪教室在美國

Cooking is kind of a heavy duty everyday for housewives, especially for those in Taiwan. Probably because of some old sayings, people tend to believe men are better being away from the kitchen and women are supposed to be responsible for cooking. However, things are completely different here in the States. Cooking can be fun and something you would love to enjoy with everyone in your family or with your girl friends. I love this idea!

See?! 

They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with the whole family by cooking together! 

What a great idea! :)))

***For more information about COOK the cooking studio, please visit:

      http://www.cookisjoy.com/

New Orleans - Beignet & Café au lait @ Café Du Monde 紐奧良-法式雙胞胎&咖啡歐蕾

Believe it or not! This French doughnut is one of the most famous food in the City of New Orleans. You can't say you've visited New Orleans without stopping by having a cup of Café au lait and some Beignets(French doughnut). Although it does look and taste like 雙胞胎(Horse Hooves) in Taiwan, everything is completely different with unique atmosphere while you are having them.

Rice Dumpling for Dragon Boat Festival 端午節的味道 - 外婆的粽子(南部粽)

My grandma is always the one who is in charge of making rice dumplings for the whole family. I have been having the grandma-made rice dumplings since I was capable of eating. It's a very simple flavor, but will indeed stay with everyone forever. 

I have been missing the flavor since I was aware the festival was coming and I am still so away from home. I called my grandma and asked for the recipe. I was so excited like getting some secret thing.  Although the recipe is rough without exact measurement, it's still good enough as a guide for me to learn how to make them by myself. 

I'm so glad it turned out pretty and yummy!! Love you~ grandma!!

The rice dumplings from Southern Taiwan are a little bit different from the ones from Northern Taiwan. The major difference is the way of preparing sweet rice. We from Southern Taiwan wrapped the sweet rice with the leaves before they get cooked and boiled them for 3 hours which makes the rice dumpling have abundant flavor of the leaves.

For more information about "Rice Dumpling":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zongzi

A beautiful gift...

I've never thought of that Orchids might remind me of home at some point.

第一杯自製咖啡 My first homemade coffee

I have been dreaming of having my own coffee store where people can always find a place to read, talk and meet people. A place full of the smell of coffee always makes me feel I am embraced. Actually I am a tea person more than a coffee one, so I used to enjoy smelling coffee more than drinking it. However, recently I found some nice coffee beans and they completely changed my mind. Coffee can be really nice if you get a good one!! :)))

A nice coffee with cream and cinnamon on the top...

It's almost heaven when you smell and drink it.

一邊看著書, 一邊聽著窗外的雨聲, 一邊呼吸著咖啡的香味, 是一種無法言喻的幸福滋味!!!

ESL Conversation Class @ Northwestern University

Maureen and Jane were our ESL conversation class teachers. They sometimes would also invite us to their place to have some potluck parties or holiday parties. They are undoubtedly great people. It was very nice getting to know them right after we came to the states. They are patient and knowledgeable to help we while we are alone and away from home. We can't have thanked them enough!!

International Potluck Party @ Maureen's
Through the party, we not only got to know each other more but also enjoyed the foods from around the world which was amazing to see such an exotic meal. :)

our loved Maureen

 our international friends

X'mas Party @ Jane's

The decoration Jane did for the X'mas was amazing, cozy and elegant. There was a blizzard(which Chicagoland always famous for) that day, we got into a traffic trouble and had a very hard time figuring out the way there. When we stepped in her place, we felt like home which was a super comfortable, warm, gorgeous and cozy home. Are you exactly feeling what I was feeling?

 elegant table setting

dear Jane and us

Kiki & Lala 雙子星

Every girl has her own dream when she is little. I had always dreamed of being a little angel flying in the sky, sitting on the moon, dancing with the stars and playing with the flying horses. Now I miss the time when I had this kind of beautiful and mysterious little dream.

Where I was born and grew up... 台南

Unforgettable neighborhood...

Miss the time we simply lay down on the grass, looked at the sky and thought about nothing.

My sweet home...

My grandmother's gardening in our yard...

The vegetables and fruit are more than organic. :)

loofah

baby loofah - Aren't they cute?

star fruit flowers

My piano

I was practicing very hard when I was little. 

Every now and then, pianos remind me of my dear father since he was the one who pushed me very hard and always believed in me to be a great person.

Where we biked...

There was a time, nothing worried us at all. We always knew that we were under a perfect protection because of the love we possessed. 

Abundant breakfast

How can a person be satisfied with pancakes and eggs if they have had this abundant and delicious breakfast with fresh-made soy milk, fresh-squeezed orange juice, sausage, fruit and the steamed buns?

about the Dreams

You never know the endings of your dreams are supposed to be, but it always nice that it turns out to be a happy one.

Last night I had a bad dream which made me wake up several times during the night, but I was able to continue the dream when I fell asleep again, again and again... which was odd. I hardly recall the dream at this moment but I know there was a happy ending at the end. :)

Life

Even though you've tried to make everything under control, you always find something out of control eventually controls everything. Too bad, but it's the way it is.

Lake Geneva @ Wisconsin

A place recalling me stressful and relaxed feelings. 

It was the end of 2010's summer and we were in the middle of the endless hospital visits, and a time full of bad news and desperate emotions. We didn't know when everything was gonna be end or if there is a time it will be end. When people fear about their future and can't foresee anything ahead of them, they need an "Escape" which is the way Americans use for taking vacation. Actually I love the word and totally get how it touches people's hearts.

The beautiful lake and sky always makes people forget who and where they are. That's so called the embrace of the nature. In the embrace of nature, we felt so safe. :)

By the way, the lobster soup in the Popeye's there was super delicious!!

Lake Geneva rose because of the Great Chicago Fire and has been a famous place for people to take vacation, especially the rich ones.

Rich people can have a "castle" by the lake and their own boats.  

Feeling super relaxed while taking a nap there. 

No one wants to miss any moment while staying there and walking around the neighborhood by the lake.

Being a teacher

In my lifetime, I've never thought how hard it could be to be a teacher. However, it turns out it's never easy in every way. When catching a severe cold, you can't just call and take a leave right before the class begins. When finding yourself angry and tired, you can't just leave the classroom and hide in the restroom because every move and every word you take might influence someone's mind profoundly.

paper making class

A salesman only has to care about his/her own sales number; a scientist only has to focus on his own experiments. They can't succeed if they don't do things well, but no one gets hurt. On the other hand, if you're a teacher and you do or say something wrong, that might affect a young man's mind. And you never know how and what concept it will turn out to be in the future.

I should have respected every teacher who had ever taught me.

The lovely package my mom sent us from Taiwan

One of the most beautiful things while living away from home is to get packages, letters or postcards from people you love. They always make me feel I am remembered, loved and connected. :)

first layer

second layer