From our friend Violet in Taiwan - YEAR OF THE DRAGON

Going on right now in Baguio City in the Philippines is the Panagbenga Festival. In April, Nicker will be swimming the Pacific Ring of Fire to visit some friends. He'll miss the Flower Festival, but you can be a part. Just look up Panagbenga and learn more about it. Get some flowers. Dance the Canao and the Bendian.

Our friend Kyle and his fair lady Beth have decided to open a bed and breakfast. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a little like spending the night with good friends or close relatives. I hear that Beth is just about the best cook in all of Texas! This is the house they bought. They’ll be fixing it up, and it will soon be open for business. It’s located in May, Texas. Kyle said that you look at a satellite view by looking up the town and finding the address, 3845 FM 1689. What he didn’t say was if they accept dogs, cats or visiting sea dragons.

The new issue is almost ready to go up. Are YOU ready? It's another birthday - sort of. March brings St. Patrick's Day. That means lots of green ... although St. Patrick was first connected to the color blue. It's an Irish holiday ... although St. Patrick was Welsh.

Here is another dragon float from Violet of Taiwan. This is the Year of the Dragon, and the festival of lanterns. Taiwan is also a place where you can get dragon fruit.

Danny's and Nicker's birthday is this coming Sunday. You don't have much time left to send them a birthday card! I had Cornish pasties for my birthday. Danny wants stuffed grape leaves. Have you ever had them? Leaves from grape plants are soaked in brine (salt water). A mixture of meat, rice and spices is rolled inside and tied with thread. These are then steamed. Danny likes his best served with yogurt and something called hummus. He is an expert at making hummus!

Our friend Violet from Taiwan sent this wonderful photo. This is the Year of the Dragon and in Taiwan (do you know where that is?) there is a Festival of Lanterns.

Here is another photo of the dragon fruit. Nicker has been telling me all about it, and I'm beginning to learn. He says that Gordie the Tortie would really like the yellow kind.

Our friend David Keddy was in the store, saw this and took a picture. He didn't know what it was. Neither did I, but Nicker did. "It's called dragon fruit," Nicker told me. "It's also called pitaya." Now Nicker wants some for his birthday.

Our friend Violet in Taiwan made this image available. To remind you, this is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar.

Nicker is very excited. This is the Year of the Dragon on the Chinese calendar. The painting, however, is Japanese. Nicker says, "That doesn't look like me. It must be an old cousin or something." He also asked me to remind you that his birthday, and Danny's, is coming soon. He wants me to remind you to send your cards and drawings to Nicker Stories, 18521 E. Queen Creek Rd., Suite 105, #603, Queen Creek, AZ 85142