Lunch date with these XLB enthusiasts. Dinesty is the real deal —they even have shao bing you tiao 燒餅油條 on their "breakfast" menu (anytime before 2:30 p.m.).

The boys' favorite thing to do in Vancouver is renting bikes and riding the 6-mile Stanley Park loop. The path is flat, paved and impossibly scenic.

For most of the ride, my view was of two dots disappearing into the distance.

At one point I completely lost sight of the kids and I panicked, did someone fall into the water? When I saw them stopped ahead (PHEW) I thanked them for waiting for me.

Paul: "I wasn't waiting for you. I was waiting to tattle! 我沒有在等你。我在等告狀!" (Joseph accidentally swerved into the pedestrian lane, and Paul just HAD to tell on him.)

I guess B.C. kids didn't have the week off from school, because Steveston Village was a ghost town and we had Terra Nova Adventure Park all to ourselves — except for a bald eagle keeping watch over the zip line!

Some photos out and about in Richmond. First stop, of course, was Yaohan Centre for my fan tuan fix.

Quintessential Seattle moment: Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association at Pike Place. I got there early, staked out a good spot with a long lens, waited... and GOT THE SHOT.

We closed out the 15th day of the Lunar New Year in the ID, which turned into one giant block party. So great to see the crowds and positive energy filling the neighborhood we love.

We found street parking a few blocks outside the neighborhood (and stumbled on our new favorite Vietnamese deli; I've been searching for a replacement ever since Seattle Deli moved to Edmonds). People silly enough to try driving through the ID were thwarted by the dragon who danced around their cars. So much joy in the streets, even the rain held off until the end.

I wrote this week's At Home cover story for The Seattle Times about ways to make your move gentler on the planet. Here's a link to my story, with tips from someone's who's moved 6 times in the past 5 years!

Dragon valentines!

The best lion dance in Seattle: I've seen a lot of lion dances in Seattle and now I can tell you THE VERY BEST one is at Tet in Seattle Center.

Mak Fai Kung Fu performed outdoors, in front of Fisher Pavilion. GREAT sight lines, big enough to accommodate the crowd, the perfect weather didn't hurt. They put on an incredible show, and even set off firecrackers! This event is going on my calendar for next year for sure.

A bookmark in time, taken at Hing Hay Park in the ID. These two are gaining on me fast.

Performers in historical Chinese clothing, Hanfu, at a Mercer Island Lunar New Year celebration.

Macro lens on a resting butterfly. Butterflies are classified as Lepidoptera because their wings are covered in tiny scales.

Anida Yoeu Ali exhibit at the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park. Through July 7. It is SO GOOD.

The sun came out (briefly)! Here's proof.

The mosquitos got a few parting chomps, my least favorite souvenir. Home to the land of flushing toilet paper, of shower curtains, a clothes dryer and drinking tap water.

Goodbye narrow alleys, scooters darting around pedestrians, clotheslines, bars over every window and door, the visual chaos of signage gone wild. Miss you.