Outdoor Wednesday...Chinese New Year...

To continue with the Chinese New Year celebration I wanted to share the photos that I snapped at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It is outdoor Wednesday but I thought since the weather has been so cold and snowy I could stretch the meaning of outdoors today and take you for a stroll to show you some colorful flowers that are indoors.

As you enter the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel guests are greeted with an amazing display of fresh flowers to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The Bellagio Hotel has a conservatory that changes with the seasons and holidays.
No trip to Las Vegas is complete to me unless I visit the dancing fountains and the conservatory.

I was not disappointed this year when I saw this massive statue of the most powerful God of wealth and fortune who welcomes you into the conservatory.

This folk figure is dressed in the opulent costume of a high official.

Traditionally, his image adorns doors and walls of Chinese homes, bringing prosperity throughout the year.

Yards and yards of beautiful intricate and colorful fabrics are incorporated into the costume of the God of wealth and fortune.

We are greeted by the tiger which represents just one of the zodiac signs.

This mechanical tiger head swivels delighting the young and the old alike.

Bamboo and pretty red and gold bridges adorn the conservatory.

A baby panda bear takes a nap among the colorful flowers.

Pretty lanterns and pagodas welcome us to sit and relax before we journey onto the next part of Chinese New Year tomorrow.

I am sharing these photos at at a southern daydreamer HERE.
Thank you Susan for hosting this fun weekly event and allowing me to fudge the meaning of outdoors this week.

Chinese New Year...Sesame Balls...

These delicious sesame balls of glutinous rice flour, are filled with sweet red bean paste and rolled in sesame seeds. They are especially popular during the Chinese New Year. What makes sesame balls special is the way they expand during deep-frying. I have to warn you to be careful frying these in hot oil and turn the balls carefully to retain their shape. According to Chinese tradition, this symbolizes the way your luck may expand throughout the New Year.

There are lots of recipes for this treat in cookbooks and they seem to differ slightly. I am still searching for the perfect recipe. If you have the perfect family recipe I would love for you to share it with me.

Chinese New Year...Year of the Tiger...Mosaic Monday

Click on photo

This Mosaic was assembled from snap shots that I took this month at the
Palazzo Hotel-Resort- Casino in Las Vegas.

I invite you to follow along on my blog all this week as I celebrate the Chinese New Year, the year of the Tiger, with photos, information, and Chinese recipes.

Please visit our hostess Mary at the dear little red house for more Mosaic Monday posts HERE.