New Blog

I have started a new blog to write about the journey of homeschooling Fei and Jun through learning together. It's exciting to begin to document the many things we learn, not just the academics but also our life experiences. I want to grow to know God with them, and I want to be able to bond with them throughout their childhood together. Hopefully it will be updated more frequently as well, as I am learning to capture many ordinary yet holy moments in each day. I don't know what we will do with this current blog yet, but we will see!

Watch Hill

This past weekend we went to Watch Hill, Rhode Island, to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. It was a very special trip on many levels, but the one that was most significant to all of us was that we were able to experience together, as a family, with Mark's childhood memories of this wonderful beach town, and with the adjacent town of Westerly, where his grandmother lived for 30 years or more.

I have been to Watch Hill twice before. The first time was when we were dating. The second time was when my parents visited five years ago. I don't think I ever connected with this place so strongly like this time. It was as if I walked into a black-and-white movie, as we spent the weekend together.

The drive to Watch Hill from our house was a little more than 2 hours. As we drove, Mark described how he used to drive from Amherst to Westerly to visit Grammie, and back, and how he hasn't done this route for so long now that he's forgetting some of the directions to get there. But somethings do still stick in his memories:

"This section used to have less development", as we drove through Stop and Shop and Home Depo near Westerly.

"Man, this house's front yard still have the same yellow flowers, just much bushier now", was the comment about a house located at the bend of a road.

Mark told me that every summer as a little kid he would come to Grammie's house at Westerly, spent two weeks there and went to the beach every day after lunch. Sometimes his parents would send him and his sister on an airplane and Grammie with pick them up at the Rhode Island airplort. Sometimes they would come together as a family. Many times other cousins were around also, and they would go to the beach together, play at the famous merry-go-around, eat ice cream and popcorn, and after a full day playing at the beach, they would all go back to Grammie's for dinner.

Our children had never been to Watch Hill before. As we pulled into the town, the sight of the boats, music from the merry-go-around, the beach smell, the moving horses, colorful signs from the stores, etc. immediately captivated them.

The view of the main street in Watch Hill

Oh the horses! Fei Fei is somewhat familiar with them since she had read a book about them at Grammie's apartment in Boston. Mark said that they used to have to reach for the stainless steel rings from a machine arm loaded with them. Kids had to reach out hard to get them, and the person who got the last brass right got to have a free ride. Mark remembered having to work so hard to get the last ring, and he did win his free rides many times. Now it seems to be easier, because a staff is there to help hand out the rings to kids who are smaller and who can't reach the machine. Also, you can pay for one ride and get a free ride if no one is waiting in line.

"Look at me! I am flying with my horse!"

Reaching for the rings

Therefore, kids like Fei Fei can proudly boast, " I got on the carousel for 12 times and got 20 rings!"

At the beach, we were grateful for a fine weather. The forecast was that there would be thunderstorm and the possibility of Hurricane Bill. But it bypassed us and went up to Maine during the weekend. The kids totally entertained themselves with sand everything--digging and building things, drawing and writing on sand, burying treasures and finding them. At different times, Mark also took them for walks along the beach, finding rocks and shells and playing at the waves. Both Fei Fei and Jun Jun are much bolder now with water, compared to the last trip to Cape Cod. Fei Fei was learning to jump when the waves came to her feet, and Jun Jun was daring enough to inch closer to the water this time.

But to Mark, it was different. He missed the community that once was here on the beach with him.

"Grammie always came with her group of girlfriends. They would all sit near the entrance on their beach chairs, and with their pretty beach umbrellas up, they would chat with each other while the kids played." It must have been such a scene for a little boy to remember so vividly all the ladies behind him. And he pointed to us the 30-years-long parking spot that Grammie used to have at the beach. I stared at that space, picturing how Grammie the "chief commander" was like, driving all the kids in and out of the beach, and everyone knew her.

A colorful display of umbrellas

"A whinbow!" Jun Jun yelled,

as he looked up from under the umbrella.

Checking out the water with Daddy

The wave was still pretty big, even though we missed Bill. The next day the beach was closed down for swimming, but we could stand and watch the crashing waves.

Making sand art together

Our kids befriended with the ice cream lady by the beach, who is of Cantonese descent and who also has two children. She recommended Italian Ice than popsicles for the kids because they fall too easily. She was right.

One of Jun Jun's favorite spots on the beach: the feet watching station

"We are so happy to be here!" Watch Hill light house is at the background.

Lindsey, Fei and Jun's 6 yr-old cousin, made these beautiful shirts for them

The same water fountain by the waterfront promenade where

Mark's Dad had held Mark to drink water from

Taking a walk by the beautiful waterfront promenade

I loved the view of this window box from where we were sitting for dinner.

The sunset was gorgeous.

The last view of the water before the day ended

The next day we visited Westerly and the outside of the house that Grammie used to live in, on 35 Spruce Street. Grammie's friend, Nancy Balentine, bought it from her 11 years ago since Grammie moved to the assisted living apartment in Boston. No one seemed to be at home, so we just let the kids peek in the front porch screen door. The swing chair is still there, dark green color seat and connected to two chains hooked to the ceiling of the porch. Mark said, "the smell of this space is still the same."

35 Spruce Street, Westerly

I imagined the summer days when the kids would sit on the swing chair in the front porch, looking to the people on the streets. Houses around that neighborhood all seem to have generous front porches for socialization and engagement with the street life. I imagined there must also have been plenty of fighting among the kids on who got to sit on the swing chair first and why. Those were the days.

Riding on a rabbit sculpture at the Wilcox Park, Westerly.

Mark thought it may have been the sculpture of the famous Peter Rabbit.

The kids were excited to see ducks in the lotus pond,

but were wondering why the fishes were hiding.

As we concluded our trip to Watch Hill, Mark said to Fei Fei, "it seems like you have done all my childhood here in two days!" It was a joke, although with a much faster pace of life now, it is somewhat true. I feel like we will be returning to this place again, and each time we will walk into the same black-and-white movie just like the old days.

Summer!

This summer feels so different to me than the other summers since we had kids. Having lived in the valley for so long now, I am finally feeling that I am gaging the seasons better and planning activities for us accordingly. Starting the experimental garden at our backyard has helped me to watch the seasons like a good farmer should (Thanks to all my friends who have gardens in their backyard and have encouraged me to do so too!)

This year we have had plenty of time to go swimming at various public and private pools, biking, playing in the playgrounds, going for walks after dinner with friends, a trip to the Cape with Katy and her lovely family (joined by Fabby at the beach for one day), weekly farm share picking, library reading program, etc. Fei Fei is taking her swimming lessons with LSSE and is a Tiny Tuna right now. Jun Jun has been watching his big sister do swimming and is also learning to hold his breath at the bath tub. They are both getting a good tan!

At Mark's command, everyone made a goofy post before the ocean.

From left: Fei Fei, Emily, Evan, Marissa, Timmy, Rachel

Swimming at Sanjoy's backyard,

as well as celebrating Elijah's 1st birthday.

Fei Fei and Kathleen playing with Toro at Terry's house.

Kathleen's baby sister Allison watches at the back.

Eggs

Eggs are such versatile kind of food. It is common, speaks for comfort, is easy to fix and provides for an instant nutritious meal. I remember when I was growing up, my family always made eggs, whether they were cooked with noodles, egg fried rice, or the plain and simple tomato-and-eggs stir fry. My mother often told me the story of a basket of eggs for her when she was pregnant with me in China in the beginning of the '70's. There was no pregnancy counseling, no prenatal vitamins, no nutritional supplements. Food was very scarce for everyone at that time, let alone attention provided for pregnant women. In the middle of her pregnancy, my mother received a basket of eggs, wrapped carefully in towels and delivered by my uncle via a train all the way to Wuhan. It must have meant so much for her that whenever we talk about her pregnancy with me she would mention those 28 precious eggs with fond memories. Eggs are special to Chinese families.

Since living in the U.S, I have learned to make comfort foods such as egg salad sandwiches, hard boiled eggs and egg on toast (my friend Elizabeth's son calls it "egg-in-a-hole"). I discovered that Americans are just as crazy about eggs as the Chinese. Today a very special time with Mark's grandmother brought me the sentiment about eggs again.

We had spent today visiting Mark's grandmother, Emma, who is 104 and is living in a very well-managed independent and assisted-living community in Westwood, South of Boston. She has her own apartment since she moved in 11 years ago. She brought with her many of her furniture from her old house in Westerly Rhode Island, so the apartment is in a way a miniature version of her own house.

We had spent a good lunch time together at their Grille restaurant in the lower level. Then we went back to her apartment to help her get the new TV settled in her room, helped with a couple other small things around her apartment, chatted for a while and we were ready to come back to Hadley.

Mark turned on the TV in her room to try to show Grammie how to use the TV controller to search for channels. He came across the weather channel reporting about a huge tornado/hail storm that was happening on I-90, heading toward SE. We would be heading right through it if we left at that time. We decided to wait for a little while until the storm passed. I took the two kids downstairs for a walk so Mark could take a rest.

When we returned 30 minutes later, Mark and Grammie were sitting at the dinner table in her apartment having an early dinner together. Grammie suspected that the storm might cause power outage later so she wanted to have dinner early. I looked at the table. There was a jar of apple sauce, some saltine crackers, water, and the quick-and-easy life saver scramble eggs for all of us to share.

"We made the dinner together," Mark said.

"Mark made the eggs," was the correction from Grammie.

"This table can seat 5 people. Come sit down and eat." Grammie said. She had folded out the wings of the tiny table so my children and us can all fit around it.

"Finish the eggs, and I will make more." Grammie urged me. She pushed the last bit of eggs to Mark's plate and motioned me to eat more.

As I was enjoying the food, I was thinking in my mind, "this is exactly what I would have done -- making scramble eggs for something quick." In an instance it seemed like there is no cultural difference, no age difference, no geographical boundaries between us, but a familiar expression of love that I can identify around this table that seats 5. It was as if I was sitting in my own little apartment in Wuhan, China, having a similarly quick and simple meal with my family.

And we would serve eggs, of course.

Strawberry Joy

The Barefoot Boy

Blessings on thee, little man,

Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!

With thy turned-up pantaloons,

And thy merry whistled tunes;

Wtih thy red lip, redder still

Kissed by strawberries on the hill;

With the sunshine on thy face,

Through thy torn brim's jaunty grace;

From my heart I give thee joy, --

I was once a barefoot boy!

By Greenleaf Whittier, from Haverhill, MA in the 1800s.

This Spring we joined a local CSA (community supported Agriculture) farm called Simple Gifts Farm, as part of an effort to help preserve local farming business and to enjoy fresh and affordable local foods. The farm is very near where we live, and they grow organic veggies and other products. We are totally new in this farm share thing, so we are just getting half a share. Every week the kids and I would go to pick up our share of food that the farmers pick in the morning, and on Saturdays Mark would join us for an afternoon walk to pick up the other part of our share: one quart of strawberries from the farm.

Fei and Jun absolutely loved the activity, despite the long walk to the strawberry field that is labeled "better strawberries" then the one closer to the farm shed for share pick ups. We would walk over to the farther field, passing the pigs rolling on the mud, the rows of veggies growing to our left, the greenhouse tomatoes growing vibrantly to our right, the cows mooing in the background, and eventually arrive at the right picking spot. My kids usually get right into business. Jun can now tell the color red instantly to spot bright red strawberries; Fei stoops down to find the bottom branches that have the berries hidden; Mark and I usually hunt for the largest ones that are usually missed out if you don't carefully. And often I would remind Jun not to step on the branches or pick any green ones.

The better field of strawberries. Our farmers, Jeremy and David, live in the houses in the background with their family.

I found a hidden red treat!

Mark got the biggest of all!

Very happy customers on the way home

Tonight as we came home with fresh strawberries, Fei created her own quesadilla recipe using strawberries for dinner, and it was delightfully delicious!

Fei's strawberry quesadilla:

fresh strawberries

whole wheat tortillas

cheddar cheese

raw honey

cut up / put shredded cheese in a whole wheat tortilla wrap. Fold in half.

heat it up on a flat pan over low to medium heat. Turn couple of times to heat evenly.

remove from heat. put ripe strawberries into the wrap.

spread some raw honey over the wrap. cut up and serve with a cold soup, salad or a chilled drink.

We ate the quesadillas tonight with butternut squash soup, baby carrots, tomatoes and drinks. I asked Fei if I should share this recipe with our farmer, she said, as a matter of fact, "no mama, they should come up with their own recipe for making the quesadilla."

Square Gardens

I have been so inspired by many of my friends who grow their own vegetables at their backyard, so in April Mark and I also built our own two square raised beds in the backyard. I did something I never did before: working with soil. I found out about compost in UMass from a friend, so I made several trips over their to bring home buckets of rick black soil with my kids, and Fei was such a good helper with shoveling and cheering. Over April vacation, at the end of the month, I planted the first seeds in the beds, and at the margin of one of the beds Fei wrote the names of the vegetables: lettuce, spinach, beans, sugar snap peas. In the other bed I planted more peas, as well as some Chinese vegetables that were from a few years ago.

I was very skeptical about the growth of these seeds. I had tried to plant flowers and vegetables before, but none grew very much, and everything eventually died. I had resolved that I don't have a green thumb. Our two raised beds are very small, for I was thinking that in case everything fails I wouldn't lose too much. Every day the kids and I went to check on the seeds. Fei heard from Mark that if one sings to the plants, they will grow very well. So sometimes when she went to check the seeds with me, she would sing and talk with them softly.

About two weeks later, little baby leaves started to show up. I was so excited to see their green heads coming out of the dark soil. And gradually the seeds we planted were just popping out like magic. I was like a diligent mother with many babies. Every day I was checking on them. I watered them and made sure no weeds were around. Fei kept on singing her songs to the plants while Jun loved joining the watering crew. I would teach Fei the mechanism of plant life and leave shapes, and it was refreshing to dig out books about plants I used to read long ago. I feel like something so exciting is returning to my life again. The love for the outdoors, for nature and all things green and beautiful is returning again.

Fei and Jun helping to water the plants

Jun insisted that he was big enough for the watering can

By the end of May, the lettuce were completely grown! Fei helped picked them off, and she tasted the first piece of lettuce and loved it! (This was also my scheme to encourage her to eat more vegetables :) Between the end of May and early June we had a great harvest of our first crop of seeds: lettuce, Chinese vegetables (Choy Sum, Bok Choy), and spinach. It felt like an incredible abundance that I never experienced before. Since we started a half share with a local farm near our house, we were all of a sudden overflowing with greens: salad greens, stir fry greens. We were giving them away because there was so much. It was such an illustration about abundance: you have so much of something good that you just have to give them away, because if you keep holding onto them they will get bad and won't benefit anyone.

Baby Bok Choy

Red leave lettuce, Chinese choy sum, spinach

Fresh from the soil

Now I am in the yard all the time, tending to the second round of seeds (cucumber, tomatoes, Chinese Tong Ho, Hong Yin Choy, lettuce, broccoli), while working with the beans and sugar snap peas to help them stay upright. The beans and the peas already have flowers now, and the peas are extremely tall, almost up to 6'. I am so inexperienced in growing these that I have to figure out solutions to help them along as they grow. I went into the woods on our property and used branches (I read this suggestion from a book) to build support and climbing structures for their endless climbing tendrils. The end result of it, according to Mark, looks like a piece of rugged art.

Lesson 1: Next time I will build a climbing structure for them before I put the seeds down.

Lesson 2: Read about the plants I am about to plant before I plant them.

I am so thankful that with the rich soil and plenty of water, the vegetables were growing so well for a first time grower like me. Today I checked on the peas. There were 4 little pea pods out! I can't wait for the flowers to bear more peas. They are so sweet and stringless, and my kids are eating them up because they are fascinated with the fact that they come out of a plant.

We are dreaming to plant some fruit trees in our yard too. Ever since Fei studied about polar bears of Greenland for her Geography class, she has been thinking about planting more trees to help the polar bears to not have to lose their ice. We would love to get some pear trees and some cherry trees. Perhaps in a couple of years we will have some homegrown fruits to share with friends. I can't wait.

Winter

I have a feeling that our Christmas tree will take residence of our living room for a while, since Fei Fei loved it so much that she wants to keep it there so we don't have to hang ornaments up every year. We will see. Time flies since the last blog entry, and now we are in early Spring. The snow storms, the shuffling of the snow on the driveway, the cold wind still seem to have just happened so recently, as I stare at our thick jackets in the mud room closet, and yet the smell of Spring and the song of birds are already in the air.

I must say that I have been learning to enjoy, or more accurately, endure winter through the long, cold and bitter months. My children have definitely taught me to let go of all worries of the weather and just discover the fun with snow. Both Fei Fei and Jun Jun love to play outside no matter how heavy the snow is, while I would rather choose to stay warm inside the house. Jobs like shuffling the driveway and digging a car out of the thick snow cover were always done enthusiastically by Mark and Fei Fei, his faithful and dedicated helper. 

Fei Fei cleaning out the walkway

This winter has given us many opportunities to go sledding, often just outside of our house on the little bunny slope in the front yard. One year when Lindsey and Evan came for Christmas, Mark's Mom bought saucer sleds for the kids to play. They have been put to good use this year. Jun Jun has come a long way with the sleds, though he still would prefer not to get on it and would rather just play in the snow with his boots, stepping and making the snow flat. Fei Fei, on the other hand, would go belly down on the sleds and take a dive like a pro. She was also trying snow boarding on the sleds. 

Jun Jun's first ride on the sled all by himself!

When we went outside Fei Fei and Jun Jun would often spot out different sizes of icicles. Sometime they want to keep them, so we would take them inside the house and freeze them in the freezer! But one time Fei Fei found a giant one hanging in the front of the house. It was impossible to store it in the freezer. So I suggested "planting" it outside the deck as our icicle tree, and we could look at it every day from our window. The icicle grew shorter and shorter as the days went by. Finally it was completely melted away. I guess it was the only tree that can disappear all by itself.

The icicle tree

One day there was a blizzard outside, one of those 12"-18" kinds. Fei Fei initiated that a walk outside would be fun. So we went outside while Jun took a nap. There was absolutely no one out walking, just occasionally a few cars driving cautiously home. One car even stopped to make sure we were okay. It was perfectly quiet, only the sound of snow falling on the ground and our steps treading on the ground. It was a very peaceful moment. The two of us were surrounded by silvery branches and blankets of white fluff. 

Shattuck Road as viewed from outside of our driveway

Fei Fei was running next to me, constantly going up and down snow banks along the road. Her little cheeks were delightfully rosy and warm. I asked if she was cold and got tired. 

"Mom, I am never cold. I love the snow." She said confidently.

Go figure. Her Chinese name means "the continuous falling of snow", or as Mark translated, "a blizzard". Suits her perfectly.

It was a very good workout. Since then I have been inspired to own rosy cheeks as well in the winter, no matter how cold it is, just as my children do. 

Resting on the snow fort after a vigorous play outside