My cozy little world was shaken up a bit this morning. I went to my annual eye exam and found the office locked and a middle-aged lady knocking on the door loudly and repeatedly saying she's supposed to pick up her glasses.
After calling the office and learn that they've moved to a near-by location, I spent the morning there getting my usual eye check-up. This tiny event did get me thinking about the possibility of Dr. Chia's retiring. Also a lot of the small stuffs in life we took for granted. At my age now, I definitely do not like change. I expect to go to the same doctor every year and hear that my condition is as good as last year. Not much changed is actually the best. Well, Dr. Chia didn't disappoint me. She didn't like the move either but she has to do it because her son the younger Dr. Chia would like to have a bigger office and update the office equipments.
She gave me 2 pairs of contact lenses to try, just like a good old fashion doctor would do for a long time patient ; )  She mentioned nowadays contact lenses can be worn for 1 year straight, but she wore daily type for about a  week.

Cookie Scarf

Finally finish this cookie scarf: 16 cookies sewn together.
I used Venna's Choice Honey and Bernat Softee Chunky Topaz together for most of the cookies. Size I hook. Pink, mint and cream frosting is from Redheart Soft. Size E hook. Swirl frosting is from Michael's Loops & Treads Country Loom Warm Cream. Oatmeat cookie frosting is from Redheart Soft using size G hook. Found the pom-poms at Michael's. The scarf is thick and heavy, but it just make me happy looking at it.

Postcrossing

This postcard is going to Nataly in Mosco, Russia.

This one is going to Tanja in Valay, France.

This one is going to Pinuo in Taipei, Taiwan.

Carved Pumpkins

Our collections of carved pumpkins just grew by 2. The haunted house and bat are carved by Carl and Carol.

Manhole lift (rotated)

Pastor Liao

Pastor Liao and his wife visited my mom on the first day after she received chemotherapy. Pastor Liao just retired this year. He still teaches and travels.

lacy scarve

This is the lacy scarve I've been working on and off.

The pattern is from a crochet book I purchased in Taiwan.

I've used 3 balls of wool blend yarn from Switzerland.

According to the label, the "Astra" yarn is 80% Schurwolle and 20% Polyamid.

Each ball weights 50g and is approximately 100 meters long.

The yarn can be handwashed and ironed.

I found about 10 balls of this pink yarn and a half-finished sweater at my mom's second floor workroom in Taichung. That workroom is primarily a sewing room with a lot of old fabric, threads, zippers, bottons etc. Further investigation reveals that the sweater was my sister's handwork. The sweater has a few small holes, possibly by some bugs. With my sister's permit, I start using the leftover yarns for this scarve. I want to crochet something quick and easy when I'm chatting with my mom at home or hospital. She sometimes laments how tedious to crochet fabric. Sometimes she suggests that I should crochet a vest. She said it's easy if you know how to make a pattern. She still thinks like a tailor.

Survivor of 1935 earthquake

On April 21, 1935, a 7.1 earthquake shook central Taiwan around 6:02 am.

A baby girl barely one year old was sleeping inside a bamboo basinet on the second floor of a house built with fine wood.

The basinet fell into an open drain and was toppled with piles of wood from the fallen building which killed one unlucky neighbor. However all residents of that house was able to escape to safty when they started to look for the baby. Following weak crying through the cracks, they lifted debris to find the baby with the help of a strong neighbor whose work was transporting carriages. The man of the house was not at home that morning as he went to a nearby town for a festival. They were relieved to see the baby alive with a big bump on the left side of her head.

This survivor of earthquake is my mom. I found a picture of the town she lived right after that disaster.

Miramar Mall

I took the metro train to Miramar Entertainment Park (mall) in Taipei. I have to change train at Taipei railrod station and then change again for the small train of Wen-hu line. This is the new line that goes between Nei-hu and Taipei Zoo. I rode this new route for the first time. The train goes through a tunnel and passes by Taipei Song-san Airport. The view of the airport is spectacular. A helicopter was landing right when we got there. After this outing I rode the free shuttle offered by Miramar mall back to Chien-tan metro station.

In the front of the mall is TGIFriday. Inside the mall, a long line of people wait in front of the Cold Stone counter. The line is even longer than the line in front of 85'C Irvine store, as it's Sunday and the mall is packed. There's also an Imax movie theater in the mall.

Blogger issues

Even though I started using blogger more than a year ago, I can't post as I'd like to. It's very hard to move text and picture around. Is it only me?

That explains why some of my pictures are out of order and why I can only post short entries. I'm considering starting another blog somewhere else.

Roast Duck

Rosat duck is one of the food you must have in Taiwan.

It's almost impossible to make at home. All the roast duck stores here sell only roast ducks because it's so time consuming. We have sliced duck meat for wrapping and also a stir-fried dish. Both are delicious.

New School Year

Nothing represents the beginning of a new school year like a new backpack.

This cute bunny backpack is discovered in the traditional market, next to live chicken, fish, fresh flowers, vegetables and cooked food. It costs about $6.

Capricciosa

We went to an Italian restaurant for lunch. The food is modified for Japanese and Taiwanese flavor. We had pizza with salmon and squid. Pasta with pesto sauce and pasta with tomato/garlic sauce. The special sauce make the pasta delicious. We also had salad and appetizer (chicken roll and fried squid ring). When everyone is full, the waitress brought desert which I had to skip.

Grandma's new look

Grandma got a new haircut today at the hair salon in the hospital.

Give Away

I'm giving away these 3 prizes for whoever leave a comment and claim the prize first. One prize per person.

Morning walk in the park

This water fountain is being repaired again.

Went for a walk in the park with my mom. Around 5:30 in the morning it is 30 degree C. There're not as many people in this park. The temperature quickly climbs to 33 degree in an hour.

Mail art collections

Taiwanese children's book illustrator Chen Ming-Chin corresponded with children's books illustrators all over the world. Even though they speak different languages, their mail art communicate across culture. I really enjoy looking at these mail art created by professional illustators, especially in this era of electronic communication.

crochet kitchen helper

It took me less than an hour to finish this using organic cotten. This can be used in the kitchen to wash dishes or as a hot pad.
This is the first crochet project I started during this trip. I don't want to be too ambitious.

First week in Taiwan: color leads for automatic pencil, mechanical pencils, pens, eraser, glue sticks, pencil pouch and a bag.

Whiting Ranch

We hiked Whiting Ranch and enjoyed the sights on one of the trails.

Today's blog is dedicated to Gizmo.......

Gizmo likes to sit in front of the TV while we're watching TV.

He also sits on the newspaper when anyone happens to read it.

He walks onto the keyboard once the laptop is open.

Lately he even sits on our kitchen table when there's good food.

He enjoys the company of people. He jumps on my lap when I settle down on the sofa.

When we took a trip to Taiwan during summer, his days must have been pretty empty.

He nagged unstopped almost 3 days after we got back from extended summer vacation.

He laughs out loud when he observes a bird on the tree or fence wall.

He is timid by nature. Once a grocery paper bag got on his neck, he ran through the house as though a monster is pursuiting right behind.

Gizmo has been a good company for 5 years. It's finally time to say good-bye.

Vegetable Garden

I found this vegetable garden while walking around Heritage Park.

It inspired me to plant my own tomato and watermelon plnat.

Tea Devil Egg

I managed to take picture of these devil eggs before they are all gone!

The one in the front is made with tea egg and these tea devil eggs taste devine.

I used eggs, patato, mayonaise, salt and pepper, red bell pepper. The red bell pepper clogged the tip of my pastry tube. That's why these eggs looks not so party-perfect.

I used only half of the egg yolk to mix with mashed potato.

Here's the tea egg recipe:

http://www.eatingchina.com/recipes/tea-egg.htm

The egg white of tea egg are flavorful and the brown color with marbled egg crack lines are totally wicked.

Single crochet daisy

This stitch makes a fairly tight fabric with a little lacy look.
Maybe a stiped scarve or neck warmer.