Bipinnately Compound

Ok, it rained. It properly rained. The dog got all wet, rolled in the mud, tracked it through the house and shook himself in the kitchen.

Today I went to lunch at Amanda's house. She is the mom of one of Alfred's friends and is very nice and interesting. She is originally from Nanjing, lived through the Cultural Revolution and now works translating ancient Chinese poems and inscriptions made on jade and bronze for her husband's business. She made me delicious homemade pork dumplings, asparagus, potatoes and the tastiest "Dragon Well" green tea. There was also a moon cake with a whole salted duck egg yolk, bean paste and nuts in it! I will have her over my place for lunch next week. Must figure out a nice menu. I think I'll give her sprats. Have to think what to make..

Besides the culinary delights, she was quite delightful to speak with. She is sensitive and talks about things I like to speak about, essential things, ideas, senses, family, culture, history. There is a lovely hill near her house which will go hike on next time I visit her.

Outside her house there is an unusual tree. It droops like a willow but has more delicate, bipinnately compound leaves with dark pink berries just forming now after an efflourescence of tiny white flowers. Maybe it's just plain old pinnately compound. I wonder what it is.