Chinese New Year

Today starts the Chinese new year. Year of the rat. They say it tastes like chicken and I will take their word for it. Although it is a toss-up for nastiest dish between rat-on-a-stick, fried fish scales and boiled chicken feet. But my opinion is apparently a minority over here. It is still cold and snow/ice is still everywhere. I am very grateful for my heat and lights. As I type, a million firecrackers are exploding all around the house, on every street in this city (and the country I am sure). It's not like our new year with sparklers and colorful, pretty fireworks. All blackcats, cherry bombs and louder - nothing pretty. All about the noise. Into the night and in the wee early hours of the morning. This will go on for the next few weeks. Lovely custom.


Here are a few pics taken at the catfish pond while we were at the Williams' place in Cuero over Christmas vacation. The girls loved feeding the fish!