静水盈盈

二十九 蒸馒头 ； 三十晚上 熬一宿；大年初一 扭一扭

也有说，“二十九，做米酒”的，不管怎么说，米酒和馒头都没做！（照片是以前的，拿出来充充数。）

妈妈和爸爸都是无锡人，那边地方的人把除夕的前一天叫“小年夜”，也就是二十九。妈妈很少做面食，家里大多数时间吃米饭，喝米粥。只有过年才会包一次饺子。年夜饭很早就开始准备了。像笋干差不多两个星期前就开始泡了。泡了，切，切了，再泡，再煮，再泡，这样到最后，笋干发得胖胖的，经过这么多次“洗礼”，居然还是笋香阵阵的，然后再和熬得鲜鲜的猪肉上慢火炖，那是我小时候最最喜欢的一道菜。其他每年必备的菜还有鸡蛋饺，酱牛肉，蒸熏鱼，红烧黄花鱼，和红烧带鱼。妈妈的凉拌菜腐竹拌芹菜也是我的最爱。（喜欢的都是素的，嗒嗒这点儿像妈妈)。

小年夜吃什么呢？好多好吃的都已经做好了，可是记忆里只有除夕那天桌上才是满满的。饺子也是除夕吃完晚饭才开始包。看着春晚包。到快午夜的时候，饺子下锅，听着震耳欲聋的鞭炮声，全家一起在电视机前吃刚出锅的，热气腾腾的饺子。

蛙蛙和嗒嗒一听“熬一宿”，兴奋得不得了。“妈妈，能熬一宿吗？Please!” 现在知道了，答应她们就是了，免得孩子们扫兴。实际上，让她们熬，她们都熬不住！这不，刚过十一点，俩丫头倒头就睡着了！压根儿就忘了这个茬儿！ 也难为她们了，第二天还得上学呢！

“妈妈，为什么熬了一宿，还要上学呀？”嗒嗒问道。
“因为这儿过年不放假！你要是在中国，过年的时候要放三个多星期呢！过完十五才开学。这样除夕晚上就可以晚晚地睡，因为第二天不用上学！第二天，妈妈可以带着你和姐姐去逛地坛的庙会，吃棉花糖，糖葫芦，买风车，买面人儿；第三天，咱们可以上北海去看腊梅花；第四天，我们去陶然亭划冰车；再下一天，妈妈带你们去大观园看“元妃省亲”；然后还有颐和园的宫廷庙会，龙潭湖的民间杂技，天桥的老北京绝活... ... ”
“我想回中国过年！妈妈！”

我也是。 

(蛙蛙05年回国过春节的部分照片）

二十八 画年画

“...
二十八，把面发；
... ”

朋友送来满满一大口袋的发面豆沙包，因为前些天我们刚刚给他们送了新鲜鱼。这么多的包子，省得我发面啦！二十八，改成“画年画”吧！

龙年，就画龙吧！

“妈妈，我不会画龙。”嗒嗒显然不太喜欢我的建议。
“龙嘛，叫姐姐说说龙是什么样子的！蛙蛙！” 蛙蛙从里屋跑过来，“什么事？”
“妹妹想知道龙是什么样子的。”
“噢！龙是蛇的身子，鱼的鳞，鹿的角，鹰的爪子， 还有须子！”
“就按你自己的想象画吧！”

 左边是姐姐的龙，叫“红红”；右边的是妹妹的，叫“小小”。

 

二十七 宰公鸡

公鸡？在哪儿？ 要不是老公常钓鲜鱼回来，家里的刀就是切菜用的，哪儿见过血呀？

为什么到过年才宰公鸡？小时候平时就只吃猪肉么？不记得了。可是我记得小时候看外婆和妈妈宰鸡。

上小学前我跟着外婆住在无锡乡下。妈妈爸爸要上班，没空照顾我。哥哥跟着奶奶住，也在无锡，但不在一个镇子上。我住的虽然说不上是深宅大院，可对我来说，那可也是个大宅子。进大门，是个很大的天井。左手边是一间房，因为窗户的原因吧，记忆里那间屋子总是暗暗的，里面有什么家具都记不得了，因为平时很少去那间屋子，只有追猫的时候才会进去。猫是外婆养的，因为我老追，最后跑丢了，这都是题外话。廊檐下是砖砌的水道，排雨水的。正前面是灶房。之所以说是灶房，因为里面一点儿都不像现在的厨房。里面靠墙是一个砖砌的灶台，进灶房右手边是一个大水缸，有人会定期给我们担水。水缸的木头盖子上放着快水用的瓢。灶房和追猫的屋子之间夹的是睡房。宽大的屋子尽头是一张有四根帷柱的木床。木床上有精美的雕花装饰，床幔一年四季都挂着，只是夏天会换上薄如蝉翼的纱帐。每次和小蛙讲起来，蛙蛙都会睁大了眼睛，“妈妈，你小时候睡那么高级的床呀？” 除了大床，还有一个类似衣橱的高柜子。之所以说高，因为过年妈妈给我寄来的包裹就放在那柜子顶上。我踮着脚尖儿，仰着头，也只能看见包裹的一个角儿。包裹里是妈妈亲自缝制的棉袄和花罩衣。睡房的门口儿是猫睡觉的垫子。每天一大早，外婆去赶早市的时候，会把猫赶出睡房，然后把门关上，因为我一个人在屋子里的时候， 外婆不想猫来捣乱。

现在回到天井。天井的一角是鸡窝。外婆请人搭的，分上下层，里面至少有四五只鸡。其中一只芦花公鸡是我最喜欢的。高高的，大大的，黑白花色的毛，走起路来，昂首挺胸的，可威武了！别的鸡很少出院子，可芦花喜欢乱跑，院门开着，它就自己出门了。但到傍晚它总能回来，进窝歇息。外婆傍晚喂食的时候，它也不出来，外婆说，芦花在外面吃饱了。可是有一次，芦花到了晚上也没回来。外婆站在大门口，往巷子里张望了很久，也没有芦花的身影。这样过了两天吧，外婆带着我上街去找。我记得看见芦花的时候它正在过马路。街上人来车往的，可就数我的芦花不紧不慢，跺着它特有的方步。我一眼就认出了芦花，尽管它身上的毛耷拉着，还沾满了污泥。

芦花被带回了家，外婆说得把它杀了。我应该很伤心，可记忆里不是伤心的眼泪，而是那一盆鲜红的鸡血。外婆动作很快，等我明白过来，芦花都已经放在开水里在退毛了。地上是一大盆鲜红色，热腾腾的鸡血。鸡汤肯定很好喝，走地鸡嘛。可盛鸡的沙锅放在灶房的窗台上，没关窗户，半夜给野猫叼走了。外婆说的。

后来妈妈把我接回北京，外婆不在，过年宰鸡的时候，妈妈得自己动手。妈妈手不够快，而且没有把鸡的喉管割透，结果吓得妈妈冲出厨房，把鸡关在狭小的厨房里，任它在里面乱扑腾。我从厨房门上的玻璃窗可以看进去，那可怜的鸡扇着翅膀，像没头的苍蝇一样，四处乱撞。等最后消停下来，妈妈确认鸡已经没气儿了，这才推开厨房门。哪儿还有地方下脚呀！到处是沾满了血的鸡毛！

以后这道工序就省了。每次过年买鸡，都是在集市上，让人杀好了，退了毛，才买回家。熬鸡汤的时候，满屋子的香，揭开沙锅盖，上面一层金黄色的油，那汤可鲜了。

蛙蛙和嗒嗒从没喝过这么新鲜的鸡汤。偶尔买一只“天价”的有机走地鸡回家，可怎么熬也熬不出记忆里那个味道。回忆有时候令人望而却步。一点点，包裹在心灵上感觉最坚实的壳慢慢破裂，里面的碎片散落出来，看看这片，摸摸那片，不舍得放手。喜悦，惆怅，眷恋，更多的，是思念。

二十六 炖年肉

一听炖肉，小蛙的眼睛都亮起来了！

“耶！耶！” 嗒嗒也在一边跟着起哄。
“天天不都有肉吗？” 我指着饭桌上的清蒸鱼，“鱼肉不是肉？”
“不是，妈妈。肉是猪肉，排骨，什么的！”

孩子馋肉了。怎么像我们小时候似的。年龄相仿的朋友一定还记得肉票吧。每家每户，定期定量供应。记得那时我拿着肉票，到“9号楼” --- 副食店在9号居民楼的一层 --- 去买肉。排队，眼巴巴地，还很紧张，因为生怕等轮到我的时候，那片肉太瘦。得是有肥又有瘦的才好。肥肉妈妈可以给我和哥哥炸油渣吃。刚炸好的时候，满厨房的香。洒点盐，脆脆的，还烫着就吃完了。瘦肉妈妈用来炒肉丝。妈妈会放酱油，再加水，这样连汤带肉的可以做出一大碗。接下来的几天，每次炒菜的时候，妈妈就往里面扒拉点儿肉，不用太多，有肉香就行啦！

过年才吃“大肉”呢。爸爸掌勺，会烧一大锅的红烧肉！盛在大碗里，可不能一次吃完，得慢慢地吃。一碗热气腾腾的红烧肉摆在饭桌最中间，感觉很隆重。爸爸会给我和哥哥一人夹一大块，然后微笑着，看着我们吃。红烧肉放在米饭上，鲜红的肉汁儿会渗到米饭里，一会儿半碗饭就下肚了。再想吃一块，理论上是可以的。可是我和哥哥很懂事 --- 这碗肉下一顿还得吃呢！哥哥忍不住，会趁着爸爸离桌去添饭的时候，迅速地夹一块，埋在米饭里，然后再把大碗里的肉扒拉扒拉，回复原样，好像没人动过一样。妈妈便会再夹一块，放在我的碗里。不是爸爸妈妈不给吃，好东西得慢慢享用啊！

买来五花肉，蒸了一碗梅菜扣肉。

蛙蛙激动得很夸张，嗒嗒很淡定。尝了一块，“有一点点好吃。” 就是不好吃的意思。多照顾妈妈的情绪呀！小蛙呢，一块，两块，三块... 
“蛙蛙，吃! 啊！能吃多少就吃多少！” 蛙蛙无比幸福，感激地冲我笑着。
“年肉, 年肉，一年就这一顿！”

？！ 

 

 

二十五 糊窗户

姐姐剪的大提琴和立体的春字。四个小“刺球”( Sophie calls them spike balls ) 是嗒嗒的杰作！

Happy Paper Cutting!

二十四 扫房子

春节的装饰都摆出来了，圣诞树只好被请出去了后院儿。我还真舍不得！摆在那儿，把灯开上，可好看了！

小时候过年，妈妈从两个星期前就开始大扫除了。

妈妈细心，家里什么都得洗干净，换干净才能过年。床单，被罩，窗帘，沙发套，电视罩，椅垫，桌布，靠垫套子... 也许是北京多灰，妈妈习惯什么都要做个套子。罩子，套子都是妈妈自己做的。沙发是帆布做的，边角都有滚边装饰；靠垫是耐脏的花布做的，电视罩子是深红色的天鹅绒，窗帘是淡金色的锦缎稠... 做得比店里买来的还服帖，还好看！只是我没跟妈妈学来这手艺。那时没有洗衣机，都是手洗。洗完了，再清干净，晾在楼下的院子里，等拿上来的时候，往往硬得像块板儿。太冷了，都冻上了。

 

现在有洗衣服，有烘干机，可人比妈妈那会儿懒多了。过年，又是蛙蛙的本命年，怎么也得隆重点儿。来美国，有多少年没有回家过年，已经记不清了。春节对我来说，是缠绵无尽的乡愁，也是记忆里最美好的往事。而这都是妈妈给我的。

洗被褥，扫地，洗尘... 看！就数我们嗒嗒最勤快了！

二十三 糖瓜粘

进城，置年货，给两个丫头买冬瓜糖(吃不够的糖！），连这歌谣都给改了：

“小孩儿，小孩儿，你别可以馋，
过了腊八就是年！
腊八粥，喝几天，呖呖啦拉二十三。

二十三，糖瓜粘，
二十四，扫房子， 还是糖瓜粘，
二十五，糊窗户糖瓜，
二十六，蒸年肉糖瓜，
二十七，宰公鸡糖瓜(?)，
二十八，把面发糖瓜，
二十九，做米酒糖瓜，
三十晚上熬吃一宿糖瓜，
大年初一扭一扭糖瓜！ 

 

 

OKC Museum of Art

We went there for the Exhibition "Illuminations: Rediscovering the Art of Dale Chihuly". He actually got his first degree from University of Washington in Seattle! The collection here at MOA in OKC is one of the most comprehensive one of his glass in the world. In the slide show below, if you watch patiently, you could see several oil paintings in there. They're done by Dale Chihuly, too.

Go check it out when you get a chance.

Philbrook Museum of Art

Benderoo Doors

Sisters' new project today - decorating their doors with Benderoos (Sophie's Chrismtas gift from Santa this year). They decided to put things that they liked on the door. 

For Laura, a toy cello, a Irish dancing hard shoe, a bowl of Instant noodle, a tennis racket, a hand-made earing and of course, a little frog.

For Sophie, a toy cello, a paint brush, a cherry, a banana, a bunch of grapes, and a little bumble bee!

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

We originally went for the glass art by Dale Chihuly, but the show won't be open until the New Year's Eve. Instead, we were carried away by another exhibition called "Faded Elegance" --- the Photographs of Havana by Michael Eastman.

Although each photo is up to six feet, the scale feels right because when you look at the photo, you feel you could enter the print. I was never a fan of photographs. But I found myself enjoying thsoe oil-painting-like photos enormously. Girls also had fun looking at the details of each photo. The layout, the perspective, the color, the light, the texture, and the scale, it's amazing. "It’s very important for the viewer to be able to discover the narrative of that photograph and of the person that lives in that space. Those details are on the wall, they’re in the chairs, they’re in the artwork, they’re in the peeling paint, they’re in the chandelier..."

If you cannot make the trip, here is what I found on Youtube, beautifully composed, with much more photos by Michael. I especially love his photos of interior architecture. Enjoy (with Full Screen)!

Tulsa Christmas Light Show

Looks like Santa is not only coming to town. The Santa is coming to "sea" this year. I'm wondering if Sophie's favorite Puffer Fish is on the nice list. Here, Sophie is saying "Hi" to the underwater Santa Claus at the Oklahoma Aquarium on the day of the Christmas Eve.

 

Girls also enjoyed the Christmas lights enormously.

"Sophie, did you love the lights?"
"Mom, this is the best day ever!"

Christmas Sewing

Sophie "preordered" these plushes, and I made sure they're "delivered" by Christmas.

Took pictures before wrapping them up. The girls are in bed. On the chair by the Christmas tree, set the food tray for Santa.  This year, girls decided to put Clam Chowder instead of milk and cookies. Laura even put a lemon for Santa in case the sleighride "sick" happens. 

We're ready! For the sweetest and happiest moment of the year (for the girls)! I wish you do too!

Merry Christmas!

紫色的圣诞袜

by Laura 雪盈

妹妹最喜欢紫色。因为我最喜欢紫色。可是妈妈只买了一个紫色的圣诞袜，是给我的。买的时候妹妹还小，踮着脚都够不着袜子尖。

那个紫色的袜子是用紫色的天鹅绒做的。上面用银色的线绣着雪花，因为我出生的那一天是个雪天。袜子上还有浅紫色的宝石。

妹妹今年五岁了。可挑！说好听的，有个性。说不好听的，就多了 － 难伺候，不讲理... 烦！！

快到圣诞节了。家里的圣诞树都支好了。就差圣诞袜没挂了。我把四个圣诞袜拿出来，摆在沙发上。
“妹妹，挑圣诞袜了！”妹妹飞快地从里屋跑出来。我突然意识到了什么，一把把紫色的袜子抓起来，攥在手里。妹妹跑到沙发前，扫了一眼，
“我想要那个紫的。”
“不行！”
“我就要那个。”
“No, 你只能选沙发上的。”
“为什么？”
“因为这个紫的是我的。一直是我的。”
“那该是我的turn了！”
“你一直用的就是这个红的。”我指着一个红色天鹅绒的袜子。

妹妹嘴巴紧紧地闭着，眼泪在眼眶里打转。“我只想要那个紫的... ”说完就拖着脚进了里屋。

吵的时候我想赢。可是妹妹一哭我又想去哄她。我把紫天鹅绒袜子塞在红袜子里，然后...

我喜欢看妹妹开心的样子。 

 ＊老师的评语：很温馨。羡慕你有个有“个性”的妹妹，更羡慕你妹妹有你这么体贴的姐姐！

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

遥祝所有的朋友们圣诞快乐！

Cello Journey(V) - Smooth Drive

With all the dramas along the way, I have to say it's been a quite smooth ride. So much more pleasant than I expected.

Here are some moments captured along the "Journey". It's such a joy to watch her taking music to her heart.

 

She was 4 when she started, so she treated her cello pretty much as one of her toys. She played cello for her then-favorite doll, Selina. She got the doll from her auntie June in Seattle.

Sophie tucked her Cello for a cozy nap with her. 

Both cellos were wrapped up cozy on carpet after a rainy day out for lessons. Sophie said they caught cold and needed medicine, a tomato and some bagels.

Sophie has been enjoying playing wherever she goes:  1- in kitchen showing me what she just figured out while I was cooking; 2- on backyard patio on a pleasant weekend afternoon; 3 - on driveway when the fall sky is high and sun is still warm; 4 - on the lawn in backyard in early spring.

Once Sophie insisted playing cello for the ostrich in the Oklahoma Zoo. She wanted to bring her cello and play outside the fence. Only for that request, we kindly rejected. But for others, they're quite acceptable: 1 - outside the local Community Center while Laura's having dance lesson inside; 2 - outside the Seretean Performing Arts Center right after her cello lesson(She looked pretty serious, she's playing a sad song she just made up); 3 - in the park; 4 - in our minivan( doesn't it feel like a limo?!) 

No instrument, no problem. See how Sophie makes music on the go without her cello: 1 - in hotel on our Vancouver Trip; 2 - in car on the way back from our Houston Trip; 3 - in bed.

Cello Journey (VI) - A Few Clips

A few short clips from the early days of learning cello.

This is one of her very first videos. Just started learning cello parts and how to hold the instrument.

Two months into learning. The variation of the first song "Twinkle". I love how she nodded her head when she thought she got it right.

One of her night time practice moments. The song is called "French Folk Song". She was playing for her "Ohmu", because she thought this song sounded like a lullaby.

Power outage didn't stop Sophie from practicing cello. She actually really enjoyed playing with only the candle light. The song is called "Allegro".

Sophie sang along as she practiced her new bow strokes in our backyard. The song is called "Oh, Come Little Children". 

Cello Journey(III) - One Thing At a Time

Sophie learns fast. She listens to the songs on CD, then she can play it on her Cello. By that I mean she can make the tune right, but not necessarily the right bowing strokes. "Mom, I want to figure out the next song!" That's what she likes to say most. And she always did, at least so far when the songs are not very complicated. 

Once she insisted playing even after the shower. In her pajamas, she tried and tried the new song, but couldn't get it completely right. Even if she messed up at the last note, she would start from the very beginning. 
"Sophie, just do the wrong part. You don't have to start again." It's already very late.
"No!"
"How about we try it tomorrow?"
She ignored me, which happened quite often when she's into her playing. So almost an hour later, she figured out the whole song and played perfectly right.  

Then came the problem.

It's not fair to say she didn't try hard on the bow hold when she paid so much attention to get the notes right. Just as Sophie started to cruise along the songs in Book One, she was asked to slow down and do "Cello Stuff" right. Cello Stuff here means: loose relaxed bow hold, straight back, even shoulders, tucked cello hand thumb, curved cello fingers, raised elbow, playing in "pasta", the right place where the bow is supposed to land, and keeping "T" shape, the right angle of the bow and the string! 

I felt that's too much to ask for a 4-year-old child. I assumed everything would fall into its right place when she's ready, or when she's bigger. But Dr. Blecha was very firm and clear about her expectations, even though I didn't understand her zealous attention to details until later on. "If the child learn incorrect bowings and fingerings, it's very difficult to undo the learning."

Now looking back, I felt so grateful that she didn't gave in. We got the right instrument, the right program, the amazing teacher, all we need is the right attitude.

So we decided to handle those "Cello Stuff" one at a time. This week, let's just do loose bow hold, and next, we made sure the shoulers were even and straight, the following week, tackle the elbow... bowing, posture, finger, tone, dynamics, rhythm... one at a time. Each time, she had only one thing to take care of, and she's more relaxed and less frustrated. 

Every day we practise, every day, we take on new challenges. 

Cello Journey(II) - Bumpy Ride

The 30-minute lesson is offered twice a week, one as group, one as individual. They spent first few weeks learning the Cello's parts, clapping to different rhythms, playing by plucking rather than bowing the strings, which is called pizzicato, probably the first of many music terms I learned along the way. It was not hard. By the time they had their first Christmas recital, they got on stage and "pizzicato" two short songs. It was cute. I remember Sophie kept asking me when it was her turn to go on stage again. She couldn't have enough. She enjoyed it.

That was  7 weeks since she started. Things went real smooth until...

About 2 months into the program, Sophie started to learn a brand new bowing technique - push bow, or upbow. The bowing appeared in song No. 6 in Book One, called "Oh, Come, Little Children". Up to that point, every song started with a pull (bow), although she only leraned 5 songs before that. 

The seemingly-easy bowing became the first ever obstacle. It seemed that she had to break her life-long playing habit for it. Every muscle and every nerve had to be tuned and "rewired". She tried, then realized she did wrong; tried again, wrong again; one more try, even worse. It's not just the beginning of the song. Every sentence of the song begins with the upbow. She got the first right, then messed up the second one; She made it through the first 3, then she lost on the 4th. She didn't throw the bow, or stop. She kept on going, with tears swirling in her eyes. She was not only upset, frustrated, she was furious!

"I don't like upbow!"
"I don't like it either!" I acknowledged her feeling.
"Why does it have to be upbow?"
"It's the way this song is composed, I guess." What could I say.
"I don't like this song."
"You're very upset! Why don't we just stop here today?" I admit I had to try hard to resist the temptation to let her try even one more time. 

We didn't practice the next day, which rarely happened. I just didn't want her to associate the negative feelings, if there's any, to cello playing. I was thinking about that all along though. That's when I say, "She started. We all did". You just cannot break away from it. How could I do it to help her? Which part did I do wrong? Or when should I back down and when should I push forward? Are there any better approaches?... 

The third day, just out of blue, she said,"Mom, I want you to hear me play."
"OK! Just pick any song you'd like to do."
"Mom, guess which song I'll do first." She gave me this very mysterious grin.

She played "Oh, Come, Little Children" from beginning to the end, with every push bow perfectly right. "Mom, this is my favorite song now!" I remember that smile on her little face. The enormous joy and pride. 

You thought you knew your kids. Prepared to be amazed.

Christmas Party

For our annual Christmas Party this year, 10 BIG dishes. 
It was a very merry night, not to mention the dish washing afterwards. 

Have a very merry holiday!

Holiday Biscotti

It's December. Everybody's busy, especially Moms. If you have kids, and still haven't shopped for teachers' gifts yet ( It's already 19th!), you might want to consider making some Holiday Biscotti. These twice-baked Italian cookies are delicious and easy to make. The best part is you could throw in whatever you like into there - like almonds, walnuts, pecans, cranberries, rasins, or clementie peels, and afterwards, you could decorate them in so many ways. You could dip them in hot chocolate, drizzle them with vanilla icing, or sprinkle them with peppermints... One of my American friends told me, "You can never go wrong with homemade cookies." So I made them for Sophie's Cello Recital, and they loved it. 

Here is the recipe I found online that has both detailed instructions and a vedio, which makes it so much easier to understand and learn. The best part, you make once, and mostly likely, they're enough for all the friends on your list. (My husband liked it too, because these biscottis are not teeth-breaking as the one he had before.)

Good luck! & Have fun baking!

Happy Holidays!