Otter Pop - Not!

So last week we found our new favorite Chinese summer treat. They are similar to Otter Pops in price and convenience, but better in all the ways I always wished Otter Pops could be (if I'd really ever bothered to think about it, which I'm not really sure I ever did ;).


Introducing:

果味棒 Guǒ wèi bàng (fruity stick)

by the company 台尚 Tái shàng

 They're shaped like a sausage with a place in the middle for bending and twisting until they pop open. NO scissors or little pieces to pick up-- just cold hands, but that's the point, right?

There are no edges to cut up your mouth, and the insides are true to their name-fruity without a chemical (??) after taste. YUMM! Everyone at our house loves them.

Occasionally, China really surprises us. =]

~vbb

November: Food, Mao Mao, and other Adventures

A few snap shots from November:

Chinese LOVE KFC. This is NOT KFC, but the similarities are comical, no?

This is the round of Gouda cheese that we bought at the bulk food market (nothing like Costco) for about $37. We love it, but we ration it. We've had it almost a month now, and we're only half way through it. 

 Some friends in the Branch gave us these bikes.

This is the grocery-getter. Quite often I have Beca on the little seat that MJ is on. It's not super comfortable, but it's faster than walking.

Riding the subway. 'Which one of these is not like the other?'

 INTRODUCING:

Máo Máo 毛毛

 which means 'hairy' in Chinese. He's a golden retriever, mostly.

The kids love him! Rob loves him!  . . . and that makes me happy. ;)

I love his fluffy tail. And the blond hair all over the house is invasive, but more tolerable than black hair, at least.

Yes, he eats and drinks lying down like this.

Enjoying a scratch on the landing of the stairs.

Nathan and some of the other kids have been working a lot at the neighbor's home helping him with his new garage addition.

Thanksgiving at the Duke home

with the Newton family too.

Happy Holidays! 

. . . and not because I'm to PC to say 'Christmas'. There's just a lot of holidays in the next few weeks!