今年冬天因為新冠疫情持續肆虐，無法像往年一樣回台灣，所以我們決定利用假期造訪全美國離台灣最近的一州：夏威夷。第一站是有「花園之島」美譽的可愛島。
This winter, we could not go back to Taiwan because COVID continues to rage. Therefore, we decided to visit the state that is the closest to Taiwan — Hawai’i. Our first stop is the beautiful “Garden Island” — Kaua’i.
Turducken v7.0: Encore | 火鴨雞（七）：安可曲
Turducken this year is like a dream come true, and I can finally make peace with all my unreconciled emotions since the beginning of COVID. I look forward to all the adventures we will go on together — thankful for everything we already have. I believe we will continue to be a part of each other’s lives, no matter where we are at – after all, when we gather, we are a flaming campfire; when we scatter, we are a skyful of shiny stars.
今年我們能一起讓火鴨雞重出江湖，對我來說簡直是夢想成真，我也終於放下了將近兩年的意難平。我期待我們日後將一起踏上的所有冒險，因為自從我們認識以來，我們始終聚是一團火，散是滿天星。
捐婚紗 | Wedding Dress Donation
婚禮後三個月，我決定捐出我的婚紗。在我踏出郵局的一瞬間，我覺得媽媽看見我了。
Three months after my wedding, I decided to donate my wedding dress. When I stepped out from the post office, I think my mom saw me.
一年 | One Year
轉眼間，媽媽離開已經一年了。時間過得既緩慢又迅速，我努力走出傷痛的同時，也牢牢記著媽媽曾經對我說過的話，繼續努力成為她眼中「美麗的人」。
It has been a year since my mom passed away. Strangely, time passed by very slowly and quickly. As I work hard to overcome my grief, I never forget what my mom once told me — I will keep working hard to become a “beautiful person” as she wished.
食譜 | Recipes
我喜歡烹飪和烘焙，但是以前從來沒有系統性地收集食譜。今年生日時，老公送了我一本食譜活頁夾，我終於開始記錄多年來我所有招牌菜的做法。
I love cooking and baking, but I have never collected my recipes systematically. Steve gave me a recipe binder for my birthday this year, and I finally started to write down the recipes for all of my signature dishes.
《和光同塵》| ”Harmony with Light”
親愛的爸爸，生日快樂！這首《和光同塵》的歌詞——「你看那盛放的花，來自期盼的種子。你看那豐碩的果實，來自耕耘的浪漫」——讓我想起了你帶給我的陽光和活力，還有你不畏前方的艱難險阻、依然奮力拼搏著做對的事情的精神。希望你喜歡我第一次自己寫的吉他譜。
Dear Dad, Happy birthday! The lyrics of “Harmony with Light” — “Look at the blooming flowers, they came from the seeds of hope. Look at the ripen fruits, they came from inspiring hard work.” Reminded me of your optimism and energy, and how you always strive to do the right thing regardless of the obstacles in front of you. Hope you will like my first attempt to write guitar chords myself.
婚禮 | Wedding
08/08/2021——我在最美的年華，遇見了最好的人，我們又牽著手，一起成為了更好的人。
08/08/2021 — I met the best person at my most beautiful age, and together, we became better people.
《我想念妳，媽媽》| “Mother of Mine”
親愛的媽媽，去年妳生日時，我送妳我學會的第一首吉他彈唱。妳說，妳好喜歡，覺得好像每一天都是妳生日。今年我再唱一首歌給妳，希望妳聽得見。我真的好想念妳。
Dear Mom, last year for your birthday, I sang you the first song that I learned to play on the guitar. You said you liked it so much, and you felt like every day was your birthday. I am singing you another song this year, and I wish you can hear it. I really, really miss you.
《同手同腳》| “Brother and Sister”
曉彤生日快樂！這首《同手同腳》，送給滿二十七歲的你。未來的人生之旅，我們會同手同腳地走下去。
Happy birthday Hsiao-Tung! This song is for your 27th birthday. We will continue to walk together in our life journeys.
蛋黃酥 | Yolk Pastries
上週末心血來潮在家做了蛋黃酥。我有一段時間沒做這種技術含量高的點心了。
I made yolk pastries (a traditional Taiwanese pastry with red bean and salty egg yolk fillings) last weekend. It has been a while since I baked anything this technical.