Today is Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, and is one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, which is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work.
Traditionally, red envelopes or red packets are passed out during the Chinese New Year's celebrations, and usually contain the gift of money in lucky even number denominations. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits.
In Chinese tradition the gift of a sunflower on the Lunar New Year means you are expressing wishes for a good year, so I am passing this sunflower to all who read this post today! I am not Chinese, but I find it is fun to join in the celebration of the holiday.Happy New Year! Xin Nian Kuai Le! click here to hear Chinese pronunciation
Melissa, of the lovely blog Melissa's Hear and Home, kindly presented me with this lovely award from Norway called " Nobelpris,"which translated into English means:"This is an award for being a wonderful Mom.~
You do fantastic work!~Be proud of your accomplishments."
You do fantastic work!~Be proud of your accomplishments."
I am touched that Melissa feels I am such a good Mom and grandmother deserving of this award. Being a mother was the greatest gift God could have given me, and I feel especially blessed now be a "Nonna" to our darling little Leo.Here is one of the most recent photos I have of our little charmer.... babies grow so fast!
It's very hard to pass this award on to just a few of all the wonderful mothers and grandmothers that I know through blogging, as I feel everyone is deserving of this award! So if you are a mother or grandmother who reads my blog please accept this beautiful award from me and pass it on to your readers also. Every Mom and Grandma, Nonna, Mimi, Nanna, Oma, or whatever your grand baby's name is for you, deserves to be "proud of their accomplishments."
Thanks so much Melissa!
Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the Award!!
Blogtrotter, with a new post for you!
Congrats Pat, and like what Gil said, Kung Hei Fatt Choi and a big congrats on the award. The new grandson is growing up handsomely :D
ReplyDeleteSuch joy to see sweet Leo! Oh, look at the smiles!! :o) The celebration of Chinese New Year is splendid...I love the fun and exuberance...even more festive and meaningful than here in the west in some ways. Congrats on your most wonderful award--that one is a good one for you. Happy Days, my friend...Love the new banner! ((HUGS)) Oh, if you have time, stop by this week--I'm having a fun Valentine Giveaway! :o)
ReplyDeleteAs a mom I thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy New Year to you too.
Hi Pat!
ReplyDeleteLeo is sooo adorable! What a fabulous smile... he's a real charmer! It's so amazing watching how they grow and change and add to their little achievements. Big achievements for them! Congrats on your award Pat, you certainly deserve it!
Happy Chinese New Year friend!
Big hugs, Sherry
Happy Chinese New Year!!! That leo is one juicy boy... yum!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous baby!!!! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThat Chinese red is so pretty...and the sunflower perfectly complements it. I'm sure that the Chinese were thinking of many other things besides color coordination.
ReplyDeleteKeep the Leo pics coming...he's so cute and growing so fast.
Congrats on your award!
Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteYou wee grandson is getting more handsome:))
Happy Chinese New Year to you as well!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your well-deserved award. Leo looks so happy, I think he's going to be a really loving and good-hearted young man.
Pat I love seeing pictures of Leo! Congrats on your award, it's well deserved and Happy Chinese New Years!
ReplyDeleteWe have a large Chinese community in Vancouver...and I love to roam about Chinatown. It always feels as though I have travelled to an exotic place! So we have heard much about the Chinese new year lately.
ReplyDeleteYour grandson is so smiley...and very sweet!
Hi Pat...Wanted you to know that I made the Manicotti yesterday and to say it came fabulous is an understatement...My hsuband couldn't believe how good they were and I was shocked that I was able to make crepes...They didn't stick to the pan!!!! I used a combo of melted butter and a tad of olive oil to keep the butter from burning. I brushed the pan just like you said and they were oh so easy to make...I stuffed the heck out of them and covered them with a veal marinara sauce...Before bed last night I had to heat up some more for him...Not good for the waistline...Ofcourse his waistline went South years ago....So thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe with the world and by the way that baby of yours is just getting more adorable by the day...What a smile Leo has.....Sue.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, again. How fun is this?
ReplyDeleteWow...he's really growing, isn't he?? So very cute!
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year!! Congrats on your award. Little Leo is as lucky to have you as you are him!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year to you, too, Pat! :-) Are you cooking a Chinese dinner for us tonight, and if so, what are we having??? I'm starved!
ReplyDeleteLook at that picture of Leo! Oh, he is going to be the Heartbreak Kid. He's a big flirt! LOL! So precious!
You deserve that award for not only being a good mom and grandmom, but for being a good friend! :-)
Very proud of you!
XO,
Sheila :-)
I thought about making egg rolls today with my little girl in honor of the Chinese New Year--but I'm too tired from the weekend. So instead we're going out to the only (decent) Chinese place around here:) I'm looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Love that pic of your grandson! He's a doll!
Hi Pat, Kung Hei Fat Choi from me and Vanni too. Vanni's parents are in Singapore and celebrating at the moment, they are having a feast with Sea Cucumber (not my fave thing to eat) but they sound like they are having lots of fun. There will be a big festival in San Fran next week.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your award and Leo just get's more and more adorable in each photo, he looks so good in Green. Have a wonderful Monday. we just got back from Tahoe there was a lot more snow this time :). hugs, Kathy.
Happy New Year to you as well! Congrats on the award. Your little guy is so precious. Can't wait to be a grandma!
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year to you, as well!
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought I remembered that you are from Brooklyn. Today I read a question on a blog, concerning Brooklyn. I told the blogger that I would ask you to please go visit her, and perhaps you could answer her question, for her.
Would you please be so kind as to visit Celestial Charms and perhaps you can answer her question about 'Brooklyn Ponies.' :-)
Thank you...
Aunt Amelia
"In the garden mystery glows/
the secret is hidden in the rose--"
~Farid od-Din 'Attar
Gee happy new year...i should have gotten chinese food for dinner...i made mexican :-)
ReplyDeleteJust checking in. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteSelamat Tahun Baru - Happy New Year in Indonesian where many many Chinese people live.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great award, Pat! You love being a grandma, I know!
Pat,
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year to you as well. Thanks so much for visiting my blog today and leaving those informative comments. I enjoyed visiting your blog and congratulations on becoming a Nonna to the lovely Leo. He is adorable.
Maureen
Leo is absolutely the cutest baby. He looks so bright and alert for a 6 week old. I believe I was born in the year of the ox. If it's 12 year cycles that would be right. I'll be 60 this year so that makes sense. I hope you are keeping nice and warm. I agree that it is wonderful being a grandmother. I love it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year and Congratulations on the Wonderful Mom award. Your little Leo is growing fast. He's so cute!
ReplyDeleteMy son and DIL had a great time in NY. I will be replying to your email soon. I spent over an hour reading stuff on the website you sent me. Thanks.
What a wonderful toothless smile!
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year. Kung Hei Fat Choi. I love the bright colours in the celebrations.
Hi Pat
ReplyDeleteCan't believe that picture of Leo. Seems like he was just born. He has such a sweet cute smile!
Diane
You are so well read...... how do you know all these things..... my...... I was born under the sign of the rabbit..... I don't know what that says about me...lol
ReplyDeleteThat is such a happy baby..... there is nothing more beautiful than a contented baby.... he is gorgeous...
HUgs
Linda
Happy Chinese New Year. Once again, I learned something new, I didn't know that the color red was supposed to ward off bad spirits.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Award!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you!
PS: I have a note about Ecological Day: my blog friend Elma, will host Ecological Day next 2 February. We would love to have again your participation. To see her blog, click on this link:Caliandra do Cerrado
Have a nice week ahead.
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYou DO deserve the award. Congratulations.
Awww, that grandson of yours is so adorable and he looks so good in that green color.
Big hug,
Paz
Congratulations Pat on your award. My isn't Leo growing fast- love that smile.
ReplyDelete