gongxigongxi!

the baking's done, the shopping's almost completed and the house is, well, clean. 

we are all ready to usher in the year of the tiger. 

this year, as with the last two years, we are cutting down on excesses. no ordering of kuih lapis from bengawan solo to be given away, no tidbits buying, no extra cans of abalone sitting around waiting for another year to go by before being eaten...

just good old handmade cookies.

made with love and care,

with a handwritten note.

it was therapeutic, baking a few hours a day. 

the last batch of pineapple tarts were baked on wednesday, placed in containers, sealed and labelled "NOT TO BE EATEN UNTIL CNY".  hahaha, otherwise, they would be gone fast.

the year of the tiger will be a good one, can feel it in my bones.

i ask not for more wealth as the usual CNY greeting does but for good health.

for all my loved ones and for myself.