tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79677709961483382142024-02-06T21:56:57.524-05:00KatiewhatcanUdo?Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-48781560288761373522012-02-03T08:04:00.000-05:002012-02-03T08:59:22.750-05:00KI <i>keep</i> forgetting what the "K" word was that I had thought of for Alphabe-Thursday. In fact, for me, this is a common occurrence. I seem to have some trouble remembering. I want so much to be able to capture common days and memorable experiences from my past... to keep laughter, love, and shared histories alive. But I really struggle in this area.<br />
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In addition, I just finished a book which I enjoyed reading immensely. And I'm feeling a little low because it's over. I wanted it to continue or at least for me to be able to linger a little longer among its ideas and pages. The first chapter of the book focuses on the little things of every day life and how they are not meant just to be borne with, but actually make "up the texture of (our) lives and (give our) existence its savor." <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Austen-Education-Novels-Friendship/dp/1594202885/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328274363&sr=8-1">(<i>a jane austen education </i>by william deresiewicz)</a><br />
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This reminds me of a graphic I saw recently on Pinterest...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5ELqBAROi3a-PIMyIgknCLBa2eYDCnY51ySt6_0EAwWz4TOFHlxSvZTS7iphMtvuy7AcS8tGg_R_tjyPseQXOHWdiMpcw_tdoOXFIYo4WPQsnRqWROUhuzN49dez_tya5OITU3crcIo/s1600/tumblr_lkqgn8MCPE1qb13xjo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5ELqBAROi3a-PIMyIgknCLBa2eYDCnY51ySt6_0EAwWz4TOFHlxSvZTS7iphMtvuy7AcS8tGg_R_tjyPseQXOHWdiMpcw_tdoOXFIYo4WPQsnRqWROUhuzN49dez_tya5OITU3crcIo/s640/tumblr_lkqgn8MCPE1qb13xjo1_500.jpg" width="508" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I wish I could tell you more about who created this, but all I have is the link on <a href="http://sayingimages.info/post/5245022070/follow-saying-images-for-more-inspired-images">sayingimages.</a></span></div>
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Little acts of kindness... Hey... Kindness... that's a great "K" word.<br />
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I'm a little late this week and so not linking up. But you can find some wonderful "K" posts <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/02/alphabe-thursday-letter-k.html">here. </a></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-23444427517949780482012-01-27T03:32:00.001-05:002012-01-27T05:30:47.465-05:00Josef Originals Month Girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZ1N4zS-QxubdOouHwDJ9V8pDqeQh4ruBjTcDvqcTDJ6JKAvD5ERMDNMs_4rbcohNMbs3f05byBYaKh5ySOyrfGMyisOBsOPSkfhfG1gRkWPN9gELtWYuMyu6nbXzmIVAEqT2pVyFC3A/s1600/Josef+Month+Girls+February+March.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZ1N4zS-QxubdOouHwDJ9V8pDqeQh4ruBjTcDvqcTDJ6JKAvD5ERMDNMs_4rbcohNMbs3f05byBYaKh5ySOyrfGMyisOBsOPSkfhfG1gRkWPN9gELtWYuMyu6nbXzmIVAEqT2pVyFC3A/s640/Josef+Month+Girls+February+March.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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February & March</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsovV94V0g_ROEpad3MtPHRbRj3j-u2i68hZ_eZ2hdQ3_IVulyq375PSFAeGGN2VgbakTpc2KrroJIu_wE5wsQ2a2QpENAeMP7nsu2dxsitU5LwMjFqa7IdJUkUvkTuNmML7obayvJCjg/s1600/Josef+Month+Girls+May+June.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsovV94V0g_ROEpad3MtPHRbRj3j-u2i68hZ_eZ2hdQ3_IVulyq375PSFAeGGN2VgbakTpc2KrroJIu_wE5wsQ2a2QpENAeMP7nsu2dxsitU5LwMjFqa7IdJUkUvkTuNmML7obayvJCjg/s640/Josef+Month+Girls+May+June.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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May & June</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVdDaHsVVcrhWXd9L5GRXWfHNA4I34AudJOHUDuwG48aLoqMcR58ycp6z0IplAHCi6MiNJ97nxu97FhXWKQZt4lOSeZF4XCMMaq8wYUVfNR9z_QJYkf7lQ8tPtjDlD87maoowQhdQ2uE/s1600/Josef+Month+Girls+August+September.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVdDaHsVVcrhWXd9L5GRXWfHNA4I34AudJOHUDuwG48aLoqMcR58ycp6z0IplAHCi6MiNJ97nxu97FhXWKQZt4lOSeZF4XCMMaq8wYUVfNR9z_QJYkf7lQ8tPtjDlD87maoowQhdQ2uE/s640/Josef+Month+Girls+August+September.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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August & September</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAjM-UhG5-seqsUbCKcAFEwfsBe71oemsb_Qqc17oinBCa7ia5mqR7efYnOBbXCLuyx8z2mRJly9yWawPNByYWBsEDcCmnO4zJvAUttDFMRnsnIenwG5pkKMYHylhSS_TMxT2JHXaz0M/s1600/Josef+older+July.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAjM-UhG5-seqsUbCKcAFEwfsBe71oemsb_Qqc17oinBCa7ia5mqR7efYnOBbXCLuyx8z2mRJly9yWawPNByYWBsEDcCmnO4zJvAUttDFMRnsnIenwG5pkKMYHylhSS_TMxT2JHXaz0M/s1600/Josef+older+July.jpg" /></a></div>
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I believe this little lady to be an earlier series July. Unfortunately some of the lacework on her delicate cap is broken off.</div>
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Sorry the photos aren't so great. These were taken before the new camera on the point and shoot (no tripod).<br />
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You can find out more about these figurines at my Alphabe-Thursday post: <a href="http://katiewhatcanudo.blogspot.com/2012/01/j-is-for-january-and-josef-originals.html">J is for January and Josef Originals</a></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-44354443419335429482012-01-26T21:43:00.001-05:002012-01-27T05:41:54.514-05:00J is for January and Josef Originals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPCT9dVRPspA-tZgRp9wmYu3u4n9XD3Gd0Hxw3MoYDeLiGr3oik42fMhOHk11rPojzutoMb2l3KsbN3B53-41M-m02ootro7oK9TkSrn2m3RGat940BOtbGHfzDDyO5Y7QZDeooK3Em8/s1600/Josef+January+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPCT9dVRPspA-tZgRp9wmYu3u4n9XD3Gd0Hxw3MoYDeLiGr3oik42fMhOHk11rPojzutoMb2l3KsbN3B53-41M-m02ootro7oK9TkSrn2m3RGat940BOtbGHfzDDyO5Y7QZDeooK3Em8/s640/Josef+January+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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January Girl says,<br />
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<i>I make so many resolutions</i></div>
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<i>Many things that I'll improve on</i></div>
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<i>But as the months go rushing by</i></div>
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<i>I can't remember what or why."</i></div>
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Muriel Joseph George of California <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_pottery">(see California Pottery)</a> evidently started her career designing lucite jewelry; but as this material became rare during WWII, she switched to pottery. Having a love for children and animals, she created a unique line of inexpensive figurines with sweet and simple themes, expressions, and lines. After the war, Muriel began making pottery out of her basement and garage. She averted a possible crisis when her name was misspelled on labels she had ordered by choosing to use them, and "Josef Originals" was born. Known for their distinct black eyes and markings*, these nostalgic figurines have become quite popular with collectors. Her work has been copied; so interested buyers should do their research. There are several good books available itemizing her collection. She created many different series including: International, Month (pictured above), Bell(e), and Birthday girls. For me, Muriel Joseph George represents the ingenuity and indefatigable passion and heart of the WWII generation. Her attention to design and artistry while trying to offer something affordable to the average person are inspiring.<br />
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Much of the information in this post was gleaned from <a href="http://brettbrock1896.wikidot.com/muriel-joseph-george-the-lady-behind-josef-originals">this article</a>.<br />
But I think the original source may be this <a href="http://www.misterfindit.com/josef-originals.html">excellent article by Leon Carlson.</a><a href="http://reviews.ebay.com/JOSEF-ORIGINALS?ugid=10000000007815218"></a><br />
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I've posted images of a few other Month Girls <a href="http://katiewhatcanudo.blogspot.com/2012/01/josef-originals-month-girls.html">here. </a><br />
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*Markings may include "Josef Originals" carved in or stamped on the bottom of the figurine and/or a letter "C". Earlier figures may say "M J George." Figurines may also have their original foil labels saying "Josef Originals" and "Japan" (as production was moved there around 1960) and their paper card tags.<br />
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I am linking to Alphabe-Thursday and, by the way, J is for <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/">Jenny</a> our wonderful host too. Please take a jaunt over to the her blog and read the other <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/01/alphabe-thursday-letter-j.html">J posts.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsKCVh9eXboHvQpYy84Iqjwt_ZajUJUUvLL8r8EEolaZW7TSVYsudJzSJdrrOY6xYiY8qo9DSV2KHYrErQmcxJNmI5KCqbMDDTkZSFNkwiUG2Sd_Gnt7Li13O68QKPV8vTn0Cd2atAcg/s1600/DSC_4201reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsKCVh9eXboHvQpYy84Iqjwt_ZajUJUUvLL8r8EEolaZW7TSVYsudJzSJdrrOY6xYiY8qo9DSV2KHYrErQmcxJNmI5KCqbMDDTkZSFNkwiUG2Sd_Gnt7Li13O68QKPV8vTn0Cd2atAcg/s640/DSC_4201reduced.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">新年快乐!</span></span></div>
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<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">春节快乐! </span></span></div>
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<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">恭喜发财!</span></span></div>
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<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">For more information on Chinese New Year check out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year">Wikipedia's article here</a>.</span></span></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-34569491993310965702012-01-19T20:23:00.001-05:002012-01-19T22:11:08.893-05:00I is for IgniteMonday the 23rd of January 2012 will come in with a bang. It is the first day of the Chinese New Year and at midnight New Year's Eve the sky will explode in a crescendo of whistles, pops, booms and color. The fireworks and firecrackers will light the night and leave a lingering gray haze over the ground. And the fun has already begun. Red tents are set up on every corner with fireworks for sale and the children in my neighborhood, off from school and reveling in the holiday atmosphere, have already begun to take good advantage of them. People have bought their plane, train,and bus tickets; all preparing for their yearly hiatus which leads them home. Roosters crow and chickens squawk from apartment balconies, dumpling flour is scarce on grocery store shelves, and glutinous rice for 八宝饭 (bābǎofàn or <a href="http://eggwansfoododyssey.com/2011/01/20/eight-treasure-rice-pudding-chinese-new-year-dish/">eight treasure rice pudding</a>) is also in high demand. Round red lanterns hang from trees and light posts, and children anticipate the red money filled envelops that they will receive. Doors will be decorated and an overall festive mood hangs in the air.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf3xJWL4iN2Ca6LOF69o-4L2UOe0tw5SEljAF8WfOz4AO0ffjgwIMfkzyDPUS9g8SL0lYOfcWkK_zaYSco7i0XwlYlIEo4zcO-14pdPl5G50k7U_iU0YEVCLd9H8ZwM92O2IYiLHjRLI/s1600/Fireworks+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf3xJWL4iN2Ca6LOF69o-4L2UOe0tw5SEljAF8WfOz4AO0ffjgwIMfkzyDPUS9g8SL0lYOfcWkK_zaYSco7i0XwlYlIEo4zcO-14pdPl5G50k7U_iU0YEVCLd9H8ZwM92O2IYiLHjRLI/s640/Fireworks+tent.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fireworks' Tent</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe92Zawg5n3pIo9dH_pj7lkBBQyZProsTz7-EvVCF_wuHW47yeKOwyb4OUbtn_D5xcSpD3kEdnwldz8ZTBBMOEw3D26hDU4p0O4Bb-rpDfRK7FWiV7JprrEBRtLIhJqRLQGyNrzq78Azg/s1600/Firecrackers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe92Zawg5n3pIo9dH_pj7lkBBQyZProsTz7-EvVCF_wuHW47yeKOwyb4OUbtn_D5xcSpD3kEdnwldz8ZTBBMOEw3D26hDU4p0O4Bb-rpDfRK7FWiV7JprrEBRtLIhJqRLQGyNrzq78Azg/s640/Firecrackers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Firecrackers in Rectangles and Rounds</div>
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Smoke Balls, Crackers and other "Mild" Fireworks</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHvQSZFrwoedotsoAg-NmiKweOIPU1_6g9XoWBiMYon0cbsTmvXtKF8hR-grnudVTMJK_fY3lXXGmj6PIluLM6gJelcwjfRTicOGFBeaYgoZ-_SKtl-mwhMUgsQ2x4hL0q0mcd10EAOQ/s1600/Fireworks+buying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHvQSZFrwoedotsoAg-NmiKweOIPU1_6g9XoWBiMYon0cbsTmvXtKF8hR-grnudVTMJK_fY3lXXGmj6PIluLM6gJelcwjfRTicOGFBeaYgoZ-_SKtl-mwhMUgsQ2x4hL0q0mcd10EAOQ/s640/Fireworks+buying.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Buying.... One of my favorite fireworks are the ladybugs at the bottom left corner.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O3xq7-Z3zwNbfPVG3jQwmsiPnlYREPQVjvzjVmpe_0CNq9WtJUDkppcSboiLimDuH0qJ_CT8QKlKTI4GoYwvrLkU_SrjkjI2dLM6XlCjlJCavaGABC9Csmz2SOJc6ovJzIDAgdsyNFg/s1600/Fireworks+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O3xq7-Z3zwNbfPVG3jQwmsiPnlYREPQVjvzjVmpe_0CNq9WtJUDkppcSboiLimDuH0qJ_CT8QKlKTI4GoYwvrLkU_SrjkjI2dLM6XlCjlJCavaGABC9Csmz2SOJc6ovJzIDAgdsyNFg/s640/Fireworks+boys.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lighting Bottle Rocks into the Pond</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Welcome Chinese New Year of the Dragon!</span></div>
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I am linking to <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/">Jenny Matlock's</a> Alphabe-Thursday. Please check out other <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/01/alphabe-thursday-letter-i.html">interesting "I" posts here.</a></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-50963774183087279942012-01-13T02:19:00.000-05:002012-01-26T21:44:31.571-05:00H is for History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj505XiirB7o2Bzq6JJMODMCOrKthGPvA6rzS1_zTpnrJ5Q7mJmydagh8yqA2QojkYAF0vFppoRYfbXm107K-UHapQVZOdr7bltj2IFuIBEvaw73dIGfz2nGiOldDPBEHznSueDKv-9ZIw/s1600/Steph+doll+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj505XiirB7o2Bzq6JJMODMCOrKthGPvA6rzS1_zTpnrJ5Q7mJmydagh8yqA2QojkYAF0vFppoRYfbXm107K-UHapQVZOdr7bltj2IFuIBEvaw73dIGfz2nGiOldDPBEHznSueDKv-9ZIw/s320/Steph+doll+blog.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Me with my doll</span></div>
I love history.... Well, I haven't always loved it. High school History class seemed to be a vague collection of unrelated dates and battles which held no particular meaning for me and threatened my GPA. I don't know whether it was age, wisdom (or both) which led me to the discovery that history is actually the interwoven stories of life.<br />
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Innately I must have had some sense of this all along, even though I didn't connect the dots. I have always loved "old things." When I was a little girl I went antiquing with my mother. Being the youngest by five years, I was her ever-present side-kick. While she examined the lovely wood furnishings (she has exceptional taste), I wandered here and there in search of treasure. I was always particularly drawn to phonographs and some times other amazing inventions of the post Civil War Industrial Age. All I knew then was that there was beauty in its looks (design) and there was romance in its memories.<br />
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I went to college in what was then a fairly small town in Virginia. You could easily walk from the upper campus blue stone buildings to the town square. And yes, it was a square with the county courthouse building symmetrically enclosed by perpendicular strips of road (thus "Court Square"). Main Street and its tributaries still contained proprietary businesses such as an occasional small antique shop, general store, and cozy college sandwich nooks. Jess's Quick Lunch has been there forever.... best hot dogs in town.<br />
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Anyway, as a freshman I loved to walk downtown and scour a certain vintage clothing shop. I found a wonderful cardigan sweater there with a deep front "v" of one black, one red, and one white stripe. I also bought a great black pencil style party dress. My mom thought it was a little strange for me to wear someone else's old clothes (which is understandable for what her generation had been through), but I felt incredibly artistic and pretty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinm2nDFi2wRfsMEzFcqKbnZuZjX59PE-Q9z7-W2hr-7y7LkHs-RHAlphBayf-Zwb44Y-Foxm9TyPA4XIAvwstx1XsnOGprNkzIKbS-Im2PkwYcxAWpcj1VrhoCYmW_OVuZX5OdvYMxbM/s1600/Vintage+Clothes+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinm2nDFi2wRfsMEzFcqKbnZuZjX59PE-Q9z7-W2hr-7y7LkHs-RHAlphBayf-Zwb44Y-Foxm9TyPA4XIAvwstx1XsnOGprNkzIKbS-Im2PkwYcxAWpcj1VrhoCYmW_OVuZX5OdvYMxbM/s400/Vintage+Clothes+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Across the way from this shop there was also an antique dealer. His place wasn't large or plentifully stocked, but in a glass case on a small wooden shelf sat a tiny one-legged doll which I fell completely in love with. I had not yet read Rachel Field's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hitty-Her-First-Hundred-Years/dp/0689822847">Hitty Her First Hundred Years</a>,</i> but I found myself wondering about her history. Perhaps this is where my adult love for dolls was born.<br />
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Okay, so back to the present. I just finished reading<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Affair-Novel-Isabel-Wolff/dp/055338662X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326435300&sr=1-1"> <i>A Vintage Affair</i></a> by Isabel Wolff and, other than the premarital interaction, I found it to be an extremely well-crafted, enjoyable and sensitive story all about the magic of vintage clothing and the healing power of friendships. The unique characters along with their back stories compel you to appreciate and care for them; and the plot hangs delicately on the the threads of an unsolved historical mystery.<br />
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<i>“What I really love about them (vintage clothes)... is the fact that they contain
someone's personal history... I find myself wondering about their lives. I
can never look at a garment... without thinking about the woman who
owned it. How old was she? Did she work? Was she married? Was she
happy?... When you buy a piece of vintage clothing you're not just buying
the fabric and thread - you're buying a piece of someone's past.” - Isabel Wolff</i><br />
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I hadn't actually intended to mention the book in this post, but as I reflected on my fascination with "old things"... boxes with hidden compartments, 1950's wedding dresses, Ada Lum cloth dolls, vintage children's books, black and white photos... I thought again about this novel and how "objects" contain the mysteries of history... the interwoven joys, sorrows, laughter and tears of our lives.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVUhdlF_5cUKlJ-gNNsFMxMEuN9Tc44EajqQ8Y3YV6M4-xruN_0rGfLREr3mR7DZ9gD2Mc2GsRDdbhnW-c4km5uCRuvJosYrZuosspmsA3Cti3DHOw9PsmfOjwP1V_LpYdmpPAWj-79s/s1600/Josef+Original+Case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVUhdlF_5cUKlJ-gNNsFMxMEuN9Tc44EajqQ8Y3YV6M4-xruN_0rGfLREr3mR7DZ9gD2Mc2GsRDdbhnW-c4km5uCRuvJosYrZuosspmsA3Cti3DHOw9PsmfOjwP1V_LpYdmpPAWj-79s/s1600/Josef+Original+Case.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Josef Original figurines</span></div>
I am linking to Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. You can find wonderful posts brought to you by the letter "H"<a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/01/alphabe-thursday-letter-h.html"> here</a>.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-30334210740218205312012-01-05T22:37:00.000-05:002012-01-06T03:11:28.505-05:00Oh the Possibilities...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl_bGSiPQmnF9JDPXoYKVbuSi7y8EItqkTzdD846j0bWp6yxrzEeYAzAxgUtRdhgS3L8TqPOrJLxXkag1PRzo5EuhTnsgwPcABrh0TxjVkpNfcjbFpPzOJ9u9DKtx8cV9e_S1ePeKAEMY/s1600/2228201299_a76b34f792_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl_bGSiPQmnF9JDPXoYKVbuSi7y8EItqkTzdD846j0bWp6yxrzEeYAzAxgUtRdhgS3L8TqPOrJLxXkag1PRzo5EuhTnsgwPcABrh0TxjVkpNfcjbFpPzOJ9u9DKtx8cV9e_S1ePeKAEMY/s1600/2228201299_a76b34f792_z.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zniper/2228201299/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Go Ahead by <span class="given-name">Hà</span> <span class="family-name">Phạm Duy</span></span></a></div>
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What is it about gates that they seem to create a passageway in to magical, otherwise uncharted worlds? Is it the "breaking the rules," "No Trespassing" thrill or the heart-pounding discovery of something previously unknown and secret? I, myself, am not a rule breaker... pretty rigid in that way. I guess the fear of getting caught weighs too heavily on my conscience. But when I think of neighborly English countryside gates and glorious rose bestrewn or boxwood hedged private gardens, I am captivated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhFcrROp8PX1gENjJ65w8hBU1z8jWjfuKpu0gHTezebNUUfnJnqpvHbZ2eNFX7tmAff-Jn2gGcIRFF0GUyCMKZemHHpSEPDZ8PRwqhJqB_DeXeIlgDnYvnALgqKxwyZ5xCK2OzeA9W9VG/s1600/3585158014_f97a40c9bd_zflickrrPatDalton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhFcrROp8PX1gENjJ65w8hBU1z8jWjfuKpu0gHTezebNUUfnJnqpvHbZ2eNFX7tmAff-Jn2gGcIRFF0GUyCMKZemHHpSEPDZ8PRwqhJqB_DeXeIlgDnYvnALgqKxwyZ5xCK2OzeA9W9VG/s1600/3585158014_f97a40c9bd_zflickrrPatDalton.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27518426@N03/3585158014/in/set-72157618590001842/">And Another Gate by Pat Dalton who has a whole series of wonderful gate photos</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz0_VGJFE2uG4EfDiPvytuOmsGjW9jPkUwjLNiLk3-SmBlyv-PMDKuxlymlkPqCLfW-C105fjQME1zENusHmpKRKxrRipVpgDsdfHziRLCopD-_2cNrXCh25QRDhPj-cjYaztZ6ZORhnw/s1600/6214585238_0c15c9d927_zflickrrmsSeason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDz0_VGJFE2uG4EfDiPvytuOmsGjW9jPkUwjLNiLk3-SmBlyv-PMDKuxlymlkPqCLfW-C105fjQME1zENusHmpKRKxrRipVpgDsdfHziRLCopD-_2cNrXCh25QRDhPj-cjYaztZ6ZORhnw/s1600/6214585238_0c15c9d927_zflickrrmsSeason.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianew/6214585238/">Walled Garden Gate by msSeason</a></span></div>
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Even a good rugged American cattle guard stirs the imagination. What's inside? Or what beauty and mystery does each hinge swing wide to embrace. The possibilities are endless. There is security and safety in being lovingly enclosed, and wonder and excitement in the exploration and adventure of what lies within and without.... of whatever's on the other side. There is romance in a gate where lovers tryst or one designated specifically as a place for them to kiss.<br />
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Gates can be unyielding and exclusive, not a glimpse or hint of what sterile thing may be guarded behind the walls, but these are not the kind of gates I like. I like the ones that open in to love and indefinable riches... and freely open out to daydreaming's limitless possibilities.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbg4UqEAvAHCeoFI7jDvTJX979mdIt54suKmySg_Myiet04jyePeWBNpPd7IUzjtEFLkQedb5I4FnDts_2QPyAYtg7_o3xZ4Ds-kBldgr6peT_F6EVxhcT7BegnjrbxR1nt4Mv5i0ZY1R/s1600/5068258312_d6f14c0ba1_zflickrrRupertBrun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbg4UqEAvAHCeoFI7jDvTJX979mdIt54suKmySg_Myiet04jyePeWBNpPd7IUzjtEFLkQedb5I4FnDts_2QPyAYtg7_o3xZ4Ds-kBldgr6peT_F6EVxhcT7BegnjrbxR1nt4Mv5i0ZY1R/s1600/5068258312_d6f14c0ba1_zflickrrRupertBrun.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rupert_brun/5068258312/in/photostream">Dew (Minster Lovell) by Rupert Brun</a>. This image reminds me of the interior of the gated community in the film "Notting Hill."</span></div>
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As JRR Tolkien says,<br />
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<i><span class="sqq"> "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your
door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's
no knowing where you might be swept off to.”</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7X9Wm_TR6fcXoUnlmLKXx7GtS5etKrhr8zNSKwGsKuLEaP44pgFL0p0VjecU3WtbGIiBWONuKqCeRYKMTuTSFmVvqg7042ETMtARKDYpQjFVzYmRVvzh7JGEAhLEDAHx7WbEhHfCp3tR/s1600/6270231852_4399115e2e_zflickrr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7X9Wm_TR6fcXoUnlmLKXx7GtS5etKrhr8zNSKwGsKuLEaP44pgFL0p0VjecU3WtbGIiBWONuKqCeRYKMTuTSFmVvqg7042ETMtARKDYpQjFVzYmRVvzh7JGEAhLEDAHx7WbEhHfCp3tR/s1600/6270231852_4399115e2e_zflickrr.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/48379763@N03/6270231852/"><span class="sqq"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stile by paul.mcgreevy</span></span></a><i> </i></div>
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I am linking to<a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/"> Jenny Matlock's</a> Alphabe-Thursday. This week is brings you these <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/01/alphabe-thursdays-letter-g.html">great G posts.</a><br />
<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-34053577859223922412011-12-30T12:27:00.002-05:002012-01-19T21:03:31.054-05:00The Christmas Apple<div style="text-align: center;">
New Year's Eve is fast upon us, but I didn't want to let Christmas slip away....</div>
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(in your heart, never let Christmas slip away)</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"... and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well,
if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us,
and all of us!"* - Charles Dickens <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol"><i>A Christmas Carol </i></a></span></div>
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Which, while we're on the subject (we were on the subject, right), my all time favorite movie version of <i>A Christmas Carol</i> is the 1951 rendition,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Carol-Original-Version/dp/B00000JT8Z/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1325255117&sr=8-5">"Scrooge,"</a> starring Alastair Sim. I don't think you could find a more penitent, joyful Ebenezer anywhere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6qTSjNiG6Nv8rgtJEJMYqrog5A6Zf2GXhDYXSLoiFaY2Geubtb63SKNRgz02wBUr-mxBZab-Tj1zNKS555x-X2IrN5nd1dS7r47YXSylg5j2KU0u2Svd35Hw1qhZ3bohSuBlafC7SWZB/s1600/518TKDMGSXL+christmas+carol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6qTSjNiG6Nv8rgtJEJMYqrog5A6Zf2GXhDYXSLoiFaY2Geubtb63SKNRgz02wBUr-mxBZab-Tj1zNKS555x-X2IrN5nd1dS7r47YXSylg5j2KU0u2Svd35Hw1qhZ3bohSuBlafC7SWZB/s400/518TKDMGSXL+christmas+carol.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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Okay, so where was I? Oh.... Not letting the holiday slip away without mentioning a Christmas Eve tradition which is, as far as I know, uniquely Chinese....<br />
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The Christmas Apple.<br />
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In Chinese, Christmas Eve is called <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">平安夜</span></span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">(</span></span>Píng'ān yè), literally "peaceful night." The title and verses of the lovely carol "Silent Night" are also translated in this way. Because the first character in the word "peace," <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">平(</span></span>píng) and the first character in the word for "apple," <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">苹果(</span></span>píngguǒ) are basically what we would deem homophones (sound the same, but with different meanings), these two unrelated objects have become now and forever linked. The giving of a cellophane wrapped and ribboned apple at this time of year has come to represent a wish for peace and health. And most often the gift giver will be a young man or woman in love.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This apple says, </span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">"</span></span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">我爱你</span></span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">"(</span></span>Wǒ ài nǐ) <span style="font-size: x-small;">or "I love you." </span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class=""> </span></span></div>
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*I am indebted to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jholbo/">John Holbo</a> who supplied this great <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jholbo/4197655736/in/set-72157611526185778">image</a> from an 1843 version of A Christmas Carol illustrated by J. Leech.<br />
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Apple images all from Chinese shopping website <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taobao">Taobao</a> (which does not sell to those outside of the Mandarin speaking world) and are credited to the following shops:<br />
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每日鲜果旗舰店 shuiguo123.taobao.com<br />
Mini Bears shop60317385.taobao.com<br />
青花瓷7701 qhc7701.taobao.com<br />
<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-25486019980325611792011-12-23T00:19:00.000-05:002012-01-19T21:05:27.538-05:00Christmas Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A comfortable, safe, fire-lit or candle-lit darkness.... Perhaps a faint, lingering remembrance of the sheltering, life sustaining environs of the womb. Protected and cared for, warm and surrounded by love. These are my early associations with Christmas. Family traditions weaving a pattern of togetherness and belonging through the fabric of my life.... Like the rolling out and icing of sugar cookies that were cut into shapes of bells and stars, trees, angels and reindeer. Forming the Mexican wedding cookie dough (my Dad's favorite) into crescents and smothering the fresh-baked partial moons in layers of powdered sugar while still warm. The small galley kitchen was a center for mother-daughter activity which included the production of fudge and cheese biscuit delicacies and small bread pans filled with sweet batters (strawberry and poppy seed) waiting for their day to be given as gifts to neighbors and friends.<br />
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Other than the one outing to the fir tree farm to cut our own holiday icon (which was an adventure); we typically searched the fire station lot diagonal from our home or the specially set up lot in the empty grassy plot by Ben Franklin and High's Ice Cream. Huge white bulbs hung from draping wires as we lifted one tree then another trying to agree upon which was the best.Then in a shower of needles and tumbling of branches the volunteer would stuff it in or strap it to the car; so we could bring it home.<br />
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There was always the event of my Dad trimming the bottom limbs and base of the tree in order to make what always turned out to be an awkward, twisted trunk fit into the stand. We did have that one time when my Mom and Dad were out for a Christmas party and the tree tipped so dangerously that my sister had to stand precariously holding it for dear life while my brother telephoned some of our oldest family friends. Mr. Gunter came right over to handle our tree emergency which if I recall correctly required a secure tether. There was also that other time my parents were out and the front, wide bay windowsill caught on fire due to the large cylindrical candle and encircling holly, but all in all there were no serious decoration mishaps over the years.<br />
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My southern Mother has the gift of making a home truly welcoming and lovely for the holidays. Fresh greens: pine or holly with bright orangey-red berries or even magnolia draped along stair rails and mantels, around tall, thin Williamsburg candles and accented with stiff, full cloth ribbon bows. Between the smells of the kitchen, candle fragrance, cinnamon and clove bedecked pineapples, oranges or other fruit pyramids, flickering candles in the windows and Christmas tree lights, stockings hung and log fires; the house was magical.<br />
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We strung popcorn and cranberry chains, trying to eat less of the former than we put needle through; and watched seasonal specials like the stop-motion animation favorite "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," fearing the Abominable (well, I did anyway) and never knowing the snowman narrator was the famous Burle Ives. We loved the original "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with Vince Guaraldi's incredible jazz-piano compositions and Linus' indomitable wisdom beyond his years. I read on Wiki that Coca-Cola was the original television sponsor for this show, but all I remember were those Peanuts' cameos in the Dolly Madison snack cake commercials.<br />
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Every December 24th we shared a special, formal Christmas meal with the above mentioned family friends at their house or ours; and then, bedecked in velvet and curls (not my brother - he wore a coat and tie), we piled into the station wagon or current family vehicle and drove to Trinity Presbyterian Church for their Christmas Eve service. The purple and pink candles were re-lit on the Advent Wreath and the white Christ candle finally flickered and burned. I loved sitting on the dark wooden balcony pew surrounded by family, hearing the Christmas Story re-told in parts interspersed with the familiar holiday carols. The sweetness of the story, the excitement and anticipation of what the next day held, and the novelty of being at church at an unusual time swirled comfortably around me. Finally the expected passing of candle light. Each of us holding our own small white candle, receiving light from the one beside us and passing it along. It's wonderful to watch the beacons of light spread and prevade the darkness. Then we sang "Silent Night" raising and lowering the candles in unison to the music and finally filing out of the building, some times to freezing cold or even delicate flurries of snow, we blew out the tiny flames and exchanged warm Christmas wishes before heading into the crisp, star-lit night.<br />
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Once home my sister and I, if we didn't first watch "A Christmas Carol" (of which I was mortally terrified), climbed the stairs; donned our matching floral flannel nightgowns with yokes and edges trimmed in eyelet lace; and got into the twin beds in the room we shared, but would one day be hers alone. The room had three windows and the headlights of passing cars traveled through them in an arc across the ceiling. From the side window we had a fairly good view of the winter night sky and my brother and sister assured me repeatedly over the early years that they could make out Rudolph's nose from a distance through it. This is irregardless of the fact that a traffic light also stood sentinel in that general direction. It was hard to go to sleep that night.<br />
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I guess you can tell, my memories are all sweet. Even from the Christmas when I was sick. Year after year one of my favorite things to do was to lay by the fireplace watching the flames and eventual glowing embers and experience the warmth surrounding me, inside and out. I also loved to sneak into the dark living room and position myself underneath the glowing Christmas tree looking up through the branches at the myriad of twinkling, blinking lights. Of course, I enjoyed the ever growing number of red and green wrapped and be-ribboned packages under the tree. And at times we were allowed to choose one to open on Christmas Eve. But in my quiet heart, I loved and love still the primitive hand-carved wooden nativity from the Holyland settled in the candlelight and Christmas greens of the coffee table the best. I could sit there suspended in time and surrounded in the comforting darkness, looking at and touching the figures, because the Light of the whole world shone in my little girl world. And Love had come.<br />
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This is not my Mother's own nativity, but almost identical. Thank you to<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/apmethodist/5252709455/"> Avondale Patillo UMC</a> for this photo from their church display.<br />
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Hope you have a wonderful, meaningful celebration of this special season!</div>
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<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-71648304975847463022011-12-14T23:50:00.000-05:002011-12-15T09:22:03.466-05:00Focus on Christmas Past and PresentWhen we first moved to China 14 years ago, we had difficulty finding Christmas decorations to help make the season bright. In fact the only place in town which carried any festive items was a Japanese department store strategically located beside the Holiday Inn (the only foreign chain hotel at the time). I managed to find two stockings and some wooden ornaments there, bears playing musical instruments; but passed on the expensive artificial trees. My husband finagled a cedar tree from a nursery that grew plants for parks and roadsides, and we were set.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Standing in front of the nativity scene we made in their usual dress-up attire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Second son playing at Santa on his sleigh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Singing Christmas songs.... If you know anything about our boys you will smile, as the one on the left still loves to sing and the one on the right loves to create music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Under our "Charlie Brown" cedar Christmas tree.</span></div>
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Things have changed since then. While Christmas is still not a nationally recognized holiday in China, people have adopted some of the trappings of the season. They know about Santa, Christmas trees, and presents; but very few know that Christmas has anything to do with the birth of Jesus or who Jesus is at all. While chatting with my tutor yesterday, she said Christmas has become somewhat of a shopping event. And that it most especially resembles Valentine's Day with young couples going out to buy gifts for each other.</div>
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I don't miss the pressure or stress that can accompany the holiday season in the states; but I do miss the music, decorated homes, greenery, candles, smells, the warmth of Christmas greetings, and the remembrance of the Christmas story. It's a shame for China to receive all that is commercial in Christmas and none of the miracle and love.</div>
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In this modern, globally connected world if you were introducing Christmas into a culture, what would your focus be? Or would you do it at all?</div>
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Wishing you all that is Joyful and Meaningful in this season!</div>
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I am linking to <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/">Jenny Matlock's</a> Alphabe-Thursday. You will find many wonderful Letter "F" posts <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/12/alphabe-thursdays-letter-f.html">here.</a><br />
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</div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-59250167346439837912011-12-14T00:55:00.000-05:002011-12-14T00:59:25.308-05:00Can You Guess What This Will Be?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weeks back we had a dear, <a href="http://katiewhatcanudo.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-long-has-it-been.html">brave little house guest</a> whom I will call Rose. She heard about a childrens' photography studio contest and decided she would like to participate. I told you she was brave. At five years old, she made it to the third round (the very youngest of the top 8). He mother was so sweet and kept asking her if she was sure she wanted to continue. She loves attention and loves to perform and didn't know it was supposed to be a competition; so she was still having fun. Anyway, her last round required a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trashion">Trashion</a> outfit. Neither her mother nor I were quite sure what this was or where to begin; so we looked online and got some garbage bags plus a grocery tote I had from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrefour">Carrefour</a>, and <i>Voila!...</i> Our little Rose Fairy.<br />
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This was her final day and she ended as happy as she had begun.<br />
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I am indebted to Dana at <a href="http://bungalow56.blogspot.com/">Bungalow56</a> for the reminder that I had these photos. If you want to see a simply darling duck tape dress her daughter created, you can find the post <a href="http://bungalow56.blogspot.com/2011/12/picture-day-in-december-normal-rockwell.html">here.</a><br />
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Hope your day is full of joy and creativity.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-19199224497059422592011-12-07T11:10:00.001-05:002011-12-07T19:22:01.523-05:00E is for Expressive Canines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dogs can be extremely expressive. Their deep, pitiful eyes lock on to yours, wearing down your will until you rise from the computer and feed them or take the much anticipated walk. Our current visiting guest pet has an adorable way of pawing and whimpering his pleas, all the while his body remains taunt like a spring ready to bound ahead of you in the moment of response.<br />
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Our permanent resident and precious little white poodle, unfortunately, seems to lack the dogs' amazingly sensitive sense of smell. Her sight is also questionable. But she remains alertly snoozing on the back of the comfy chair waiting for shadows of humans, or better yet cats, to pass by in the scene below our apartment picture window. To make up for her lack, her ears seem to be overly developed and she can, in fact, hear and acknowledge a family member's approach as he or she treads across the open paved area that leads to our stairwell doorbell. Before the button is pressed, she is already announcing the arrival.<br />
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And she tends to lure our boisterous house guest in to her joyous and triumphant chorus. "They're here....they're here. Quick open the door. Did you know they were here?" Some times the puppies' untimely expressions may feel inconvenient, disruptive, or crazily noisy; but their devotion and affection are beyond compare. As I write this post, I feel deeply grateful for the intense eyes and acute ears of our own dear canine companions.<br />
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I am linking to <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/">Jenny Matlock's</a> Alphabe-Thursday. Please check out other E-ntertaining posts <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/12/alphabe-thursdays-letter-e.html">here.</a><br /><br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-64547607021765037672011-12-01T19:08:00.001-05:002011-12-03T04:01:52.726-05:00D is for Dòufu 豆腐Before I came to China, I never liked dòufu (<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">豆腐)</span></span> or tofu as most Americans call it; and I certainly didn't know it came in all shapes and sizes. The dòu in dòufu means "bean" as in the soybeans it's made from. The fu actually means "rotten" if you separate it out. I'm not sure where you want to go with that. (Okay, curdled or fermented does sound better.) Anyway, I love it now; in all shapes and sizes. It has the great quality of taking on the flavors within the sauce (spicy or sweet) or other foods it's mixed with, and is often used in soups.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9ykzJARyc9fnAq40p0qiYF2J-s47mp2i0RJ4nAE1KK832BxTp25B_CpfOFN-2jtjLGQKpPs89bak8Gljkmuogt9BjcXbntACrJgpafTIOb4rH20wQfa31fEDzMEXZQ9gTCiEPLQoGGI/s1600/3483856521_d2def73451_z+flickrr+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9ykzJARyc9fnAq40p0qiYF2J-s47mp2i0RJ4nAE1KK832BxTp25B_CpfOFN-2jtjLGQKpPs89bak8Gljkmuogt9BjcXbntACrJgpafTIOb4rH20wQfa31fEDzMEXZQ9gTCiEPLQoGGI/s640/3483856521_d2def73451_z+flickrr+cc.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/omakase/3483856521/in/photostream/"><span style="font-size: small;">Various Doufu photo by Tinnytintin</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2GZ_Lwi2R2jdVyATEMge-f0Ubn7BWw3Vep2v9NHGwZcjH52XClKqYZKFJJy2MUMisgHkvjdMlQXwNw3bADadGcoIkJlyh4LbJIbRJEN0tyqrqyEcICG7rmDOjUszsKVo9K8GiJEoNqs/s1600/2623832222_0555bbf44e_zflickrr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2GZ_Lwi2R2jdVyATEMge-f0Ubn7BWw3Vep2v9NHGwZcjH52XClKqYZKFJJy2MUMisgHkvjdMlQXwNw3bADadGcoIkJlyh4LbJIbRJEN0tyqrqyEcICG7rmDOjUszsKVo9K8GiJEoNqs/s640/2623832222_0555bbf44e_zflickrr.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathyehcat/2623832222/">Bamboo & Doufu Soup by Cathy Yeh</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07NYhJez-WhQKLuKg1HJnPDE44_XHBGnmBr2J4JbLjeS_F4f9LjLqW3vwHYFSAUTpW9xSk1ymNBtJF2YU5Vv5PCtbVAGOePrfGVWTwSo6wdy6N4YcvLsn5GetXkimftkO3-hAF1PZUmk/s1600/3344564292_0fd34d1f6c_zflickrrcc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07NYhJez-WhQKLuKg1HJnPDE44_XHBGnmBr2J4JbLjeS_F4f9LjLqW3vwHYFSAUTpW9xSk1ymNBtJF2YU5Vv5PCtbVAGOePrfGVWTwSo6wdy6N4YcvLsn5GetXkimftkO3-hAF1PZUmk/s640/3344564292_0fd34d1f6c_zflickrrcc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/openarms/3344564292/">Mapo Doufu by Open-arms</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeLAEZV686zPwPxyVv-HROsGrBjtDsEpPgVdtC6UmatOx-YVeFurUNXFtt3DZ9c6WUvNRcqAaLeczrb21J4nLdxCw7wjotrqQF0NQWf23jsY-O_N8C6ebMBoCUaqwjBtZVyUIM8vVcb8/s1600/4803852378_bd0abf628f_zflickrcc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeLAEZV686zPwPxyVv-HROsGrBjtDsEpPgVdtC6UmatOx-YVeFurUNXFtt3DZ9c6WUvNRcqAaLeczrb21J4nLdxCw7wjotrqQF0NQWf23jsY-O_N8C6ebMBoCUaqwjBtZVyUIM8vVcb8/s640/4803852378_bd0abf628f_zflickrcc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/litgreen/4803852378/">Doufu Dish by Effie Yang</a></span></div>
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My favorite way to eat it is stir fried with chives.<br />
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The only kind I've found so far that I have no desire to eat is chòu dòufu<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class=""></span></span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">(臭豆腐)</span></span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">or</span></span>"stinky doufu."<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/larryleenyc/1801569527/">Stinky Doufu by Larry Lee</a></div>
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Also in China, people have been drinking warm soy milk, dòujiāng <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="zh-CN"><span class="">(豆浆)</span></span>, long before it became a health craze in the West. I can remember visiting the countryside over ten years ago and being offered a hot frothy mug; and China's history stretches way beyond the limited spans of our US few hundreds of years. Ancient, we would call it. I feel grateful to be able to experience such a rich culture and expanse of history, especially when it comes to food.<br />
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Soybeans or soy milk are also really good for you... so eat or drink up!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jedi-holocron/2177884654/">Warm Soy Milk and Youtiao by Jedi RC</a></span></div>
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I am linking to Jenny Matlock's <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/search/label/Alphabe-Thursday">Alphabe-Thursday.</a> There are so many great posts to read <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/good-morning-class.html">here.</a><br />
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<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-11837651919418259802011-11-19T03:30:00.001-05:002011-11-26T00:32:05.862-05:00Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118.24) Each day has it's things to be thankful for. Of course, Thanksgiving is not taking place in every part of the world today. In fact Canada celebrated their Thanksgiving last month and it is just a regular work day here in China. Some times it's hard to celebrate your national holiday while everyone else around you is just going about life. But we are extremely grateful for dear friends to come together with and share a tremendous meal. In fact, we had two such opportunities this year. A glorious five family feast complete with regional southern recipe contributions from all and then a special turkey meal at a small expat and Chinese run restaurant nearby. It was such fun to give our dear Chinese friends their first taste of turkey. My blessings are too many to count... good friends, health, a safe warm place to lay my head, a loving family, and a husband and three sons who bring more joy to my life than my words can express. This Thanksgiving my predominant feeling has been a deep gratefulness to have this last year as a family altogether here in China. Next Thanksgiving will find us with two sons in college and settled in some cozy southwest corner of Virginia. Hope this day is delightful for you, with many reasons small and large for giving thanks.</i><br />
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Linking to <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/search/label/Alphabe-Thursday">Jenny Matlock</a> on her "Thankful Thursday."<br />
<br />Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-56213669455272395732011-11-19T03:29:00.001-05:002011-11-19T07:21:37.841-05:00Do you know what this is?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAAoyvQ0EvWYtiP3F_GHBdadRy_Do8Iyp7vGdVmW9yAOoofFhWACgqh6bzpnQ4MUmAgIsYHnTQg63HhzYSthCdCv-9_a74fdMqeeY-mM2geOZgBg65SDc8TmgsJWGNcZCke38Gv5WNRs/s1600/ADSC_3323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAAoyvQ0EvWYtiP3F_GHBdadRy_Do8Iyp7vGdVmW9yAOoofFhWACgqh6bzpnQ4MUmAgIsYHnTQg63HhzYSthCdCv-9_a74fdMqeeY-mM2geOZgBg65SDc8TmgsJWGNcZCke38Gv5WNRs/s640/ADSC_3323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm actually not sure myself... </div>
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We had it at a friend's house last week and really enjoyed it.</div>
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So we decided to give it a try... </div>
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with rice wine vinegar like previously. </div>
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My son says it tastes like cold slaw. Can anyone out there tell me what it is? And would it lose something in the translation.</div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-41131861133232610432011-11-17T04:14:00.001-05:002011-11-26T08:51:25.195-05:00Learning Chinese Language Like a Child<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBOgBV-aousD8-0h7JedTMQSBCfQe4w8tpsP0hZkkrpob4UcU06ktaUeEPnmaUcy917-Kv-BGeFqS0x9QfZdT1AhQBB5b3DBpQpHesO7-5yHiLXG8Tn9YWhXaQZx6hQ99JJ5t11qMsKM/s1600/219864640_5bb97d5c4a_occflickrnadworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBOgBV-aousD8-0h7JedTMQSBCfQe4w8tpsP0hZkkrpob4UcU06ktaUeEPnmaUcy917-Kv-BGeFqS0x9QfZdT1AhQBB5b3DBpQpHesO7-5yHiLXG8Tn9YWhXaQZx6hQ99JJ5t11qMsKM/s640/219864640_5bb97d5c4a_occflickrnadworks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For much longer than I'd like to admit, I have been feeling dissatisfied with my Chinese language ability. I can communicate on a surface level and get most things accomplished, but there is so much more that I want to say. So after learning about the Growing Participator Approach or GPA (not to be confused with grade point average) method of language learning, developed by sociolinguist Greg Thomson; I decided to start again from the beginning. The GPA method strongly takes into account the way language develops in childhood. Infants <i>listen</i> for a long time, storing up a well of information; and <i>then</i> begin to speak. Our vocabulary or language reserve can be demonstrated through the illustration of an iceberg. Everything visible above the water, the small tip, represents the language we have ready at hand and are very comfortable using. As you get deeper and broader into the iceberg, your ability to use the words is considerably less; though you may still recognize a word as one you've heard before. At the base you find words that you've had some contact with, but they will need much more interaction before they will begin to rise closer to the surface. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYeQ__M9n46ptf-rMrht-kiIHWC-aLBQRYbCCkyU83QyT73zrK55QSfcHP1sOG3WI_wlWvrAuFB2jM0O7RmcQPC41vCwzCIwxPqb_DIdZJBA_TNcBbKwRX-YSsy4eVB9FR_l4DH3JCfI/s1600/ADSC_3261a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYeQ__M9n46ptf-rMrht-kiIHWC-aLBQRYbCCkyU83QyT73zrK55QSfcHP1sOG3WI_wlWvrAuFB2jM0O7RmcQPC41vCwzCIwxPqb_DIdZJBA_TNcBbKwRX-YSsy4eVB9FR_l4DH3JCfI/s640/ADSC_3261a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are an assortment of activities which take place in a learning session of GPA. All are intended to help the learner interact with new vocabulary in numerous ways. But to start out, the learner ONLY LISTENS. Listening may require a physical response. Many people are familiar with the TPR (Total Physical Response) method of teaching. This is one kind of activity in GPA. So on any given morning you may visit my home and find me placing plastic animals in or on play dishes; or hopping across the dining room; or touching my head, shoulders, knees, and toes. Which can be a bit humbling for a forty-ish mother of teenage boys. But I must admit, I am a bit fascinated by this whole process and am keeping my sense of humor. <br />
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This has already gone on far longer than I intended, but I did want to mention one other guiding principle of GPA; and that is that language takes place within culture and in community (not apart from them). We all have our own stories and use our words in unique ways to communicate them. For example, if I ran in to you at about noon time in the states, I may say, "Hi. How are you?" You may reply, "Fine," with neither of us thinking of this conversation as more than a greeting. Here in China, at the same time of day, I wouldn't say, "Hi." I would ask, "Have you eaten?"<br />
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Words in different cultures may not carry the same meanings and objects may not as well. It wouldn't be shocking for me to be out for a stroll on a pleasant evening and run into a neighbor doing the same in his or her pajamas. Last time I checked this wasn't common practice in the states. But a nice set of pajamas are like comfort clothes here; the kind you wear around the house on a Saturday afternoon or out for a walk with your spouse. Also umbrellas are commonly used here as protection from the sun. I, myself, like to carry one for this reason. We like to say, "Not bad.... Just different," when we encounter aspects of another culture that seem strange to us.<br />
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Anyway, all this long discourse was really just an attempt to follow up on some thoughts I had for <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/alphabe-thursdays-letter-c.html">Alphabet Thursday....</a> <span style="font-size: large;">C</span> is for <b><span style="font-size: small;">C</span></b>ommunication, <b>C</b>ulture, and learning <b>C</b>hinese like a <b>C</b>hild. You can visit <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/">Jenny Matlock</a>, read the creative posts there, and add your own too.<br />
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Isn't the first photo wonderful?! It was taken by <span class="given-name">Nadja</span> <span class="family-name">von Massow <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nadworks/">(nadworks)</a> and can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nadworks/219864640/">here</a>.</span>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-49512235506873306912011-11-10T11:01:00.001-05:002011-12-07T19:29:10.298-05:00B is for (my) Boys in "Beauty and the Beast"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9etfvTJulK8twIyNGUDANSISXooj92p7U_kHhBQf8aK35bwqIHaaLVV0zBu8YWZ1daDCFeT2SKP2fftPuO69iv2teHXTr8XGtoXukfXYph3nOZa-LSmiK22HE7TIkFeVPJo2zlcX0oT8/s1600/BB4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9etfvTJulK8twIyNGUDANSISXooj92p7U_kHhBQf8aK35bwqIHaaLVV0zBu8YWZ1daDCFeT2SKP2fftPuO69iv2teHXTr8XGtoXukfXYph3nOZa-LSmiK22HE7TIkFeVPJo2zlcX0oT8/s1600/BB4.jpg" /></a></div>
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As a Peasant</div>
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As Lumiere</div>
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Guy in the Tavern</div>
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Lumiere moonlighting as a Peasant</div>
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"Be Our Guest" (Note the Dancing Knife)</div>
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Finale</div>
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Cast Photo<br />
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I am linking to Jenny Matlock's wonderful <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/alphabe-thursdays-letter-b.html">Alphabet Thursday</a>. Please check out the other brilliant B posts. </div>
</div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-33055398425180138702011-11-03T12:26:00.001-04:002011-11-03T12:32:05.289-04:00Around Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">I noticed from my side column that some friends from <a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/alphabe-thursdays-letter.html">Alphabet Thursday</a> are at it again. Starting with the letter "A" for the fourth time around. Wow. I think I was a first round participant. Time is flying by.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Around.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Life circles and cycles around and around. Makes me think of the old sweet song <i>"Sentimental Lady" </i>by Bob Welch.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Sentimental gentle wind<br />
Blowing through my life again<br />
Sentimental lady<br />
Gentle one<br />
(all I need)<br />
Sentimental gentle wind<br />
Blowing through my life again<br />
Sentimental lady<br />
Gentle one</i></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">I guess I am feeling sentimental tonight. We've just returned home after watching our two youngest boys perform in the musical <i>"Beauty and the Beast." </i>Our oldest, after performing in seven seasons of theatrics, stayed in; preferring to watch the Saturday, closing night show with his girlfriend.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;">The air has a nip again. The days are getting shorter again. We left the brightness and energy of the theater and ventured into the enveloping muffled darkness of the night. Life is sweet and sad all at the same time as it circles around and around again.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/">Jenny Matlock at ...off on my tangent...</a> hosts Alphabet Thursday.</div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-89611343071240865962011-11-02T00:45:00.001-04:002011-12-03T04:07:34.245-05:00My last post was "How Long Has It Been...."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOXboON45T9h2rAvU4vNC7B3eV0GfwuTcgjQeG9BW6BuyU6nzFDUkpRdmhdP6Vofb53UnUZbKFv7Dvv8YpHja00g9GGLEAq-1oYTBzn2s9PnDDyYXBu-X1Tzc7JZD5hiVNKd4Gn0SDp8/s1600/Crochet+Scarf+blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOXboON45T9h2rAvU4vNC7B3eV0GfwuTcgjQeG9BW6BuyU6nzFDUkpRdmhdP6Vofb53UnUZbKFv7Dvv8YpHja00g9GGLEAq-1oYTBzn2s9PnDDyYXBu-X1Tzc7JZD5hiVNKd4Gn0SDp8/s640/Crochet+Scarf+blog+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
How long has it been since I started <a href="http://katiewhatcanudo.blogspot.com/2010/02/work-in-progress-journey-scarf.html">this</a> lovely crochet <a href="http://www.naturallycaron.com/projects/journey/journey_1.html">pattern</a>? It's called "Journey Scarf" and was created by Kim Guzman. Journey Scarf for certain... if you click the link you will see that it has been over 18mos since I started this project and that there have been some u-turns and route changes along the way. I decided the baby yarn I was using was too bright and tiny and so switched to the denim and ivory colored cotton yarn I found on sale at Walmart (in the states). I also decided to make a shell stitch doggy scarf for my girlfriend's intelligent and much beloved Shih Tzu. Their photo is included below. I hope she likes them!<br />
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"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" -Lao Tzu</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSLYSxaYUavvA8Hk-49rmtk7Z-W0LQEpusQd4n2lr6iGlBJm_yhYWtepqYilgLc-zYgS9ykZI_iyUqvmvAMmwoIbi68JGC1Vpp16L29sJ2diQ_swUbKh-DlBBB_JHScf2dUSEqf28JKE/s1600/Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSLYSxaYUavvA8Hk-49rmtk7Z-W0LQEpusQd4n2lr6iGlBJm_yhYWtepqYilgLc-zYgS9ykZI_iyUqvmvAMmwoIbi68JGC1Vpp16L29sJ2diQ_swUbKh-DlBBB_JHScf2dUSEqf28JKE/s640/Friends.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-16614259183636613652011-10-30T02:53:00.020-04:002011-11-19T00:57:28.006-05:00How long has it been?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK9XCwCCWJzFL3fFjmcrfLNnFPQ6tgHcgAYPuN76IVWZTugFumPG5KHmZ8HK6dpUkCVNcgsg_JNZNrNXiSsg_qVQAHzBOwq9_Lc4mlD03VDlsogoe5D1eRqWkFR-GixObw8IgqHzCFlQ/s1600/ADSC_2562b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK9XCwCCWJzFL3fFjmcrfLNnFPQ6tgHcgAYPuN76IVWZTugFumPG5KHmZ8HK6dpUkCVNcgsg_JNZNrNXiSsg_qVQAHzBOwq9_Lc4mlD03VDlsogoe5D1eRqWkFR-GixObw8IgqHzCFlQ/s640/ADSC_2562b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
How long has it been since you last played Candy Land? Princess Lolly, Queen Frostine, and all.... Considering I have a high school graduate, senior, and tenth grader at home... it's been way too long for me. Thankfully, I had saved it. All part of the joy of moving in to the auntie-ing or grandmothering stage of life. A couple of weeks ago we had the privilege of caring for a Chinese friend's little girl while she and her husband needed to be away. I thought Jia Yuan would feel disoriented and frightened staying in our home for a few days and nights, but she showed no real fear and only a slight, temporary shyness. She slept in my second son's full-sized bed (which is a bit tight for him). The next day she asked, "Am I sleeping in 2nd brother's bed. The tall one?... No wonder it is so long and wide." I cannot imagine how I would feel thrust into a home were the language sounded like loud white noise; and the main staples were milk, cereal, peanut butter, and bread instead of rice and vegetables; and household rituals and customs seemed odd. Especially when I was five years old. We did try to accommodate as much as we knew how, but for all our efforts it was really she who bridged the cultural gaps (our little white poodle helped a lot too). I returned to my young mother days, playing blocks and cars while sitting bent knee-ed on the floor and listening to simple songs sang full-heartedly and with joy. It's way harder to get back up from the carpet than it used to be and I was thoroughly tired by the end of the day. But we enjoyed walks to the playground and digging in the complex sandbox. She was much neater in the sand than any boy I ever produced (and tidy in the apartment as well, for that matter). It was a surprise gift to relive the sweetness of seeing the world through the eyes of a small child and to have the responsibility of her care. It's priceless to have a preschooler to make memories with again, if even just for a little while... and a girl at that! And it's nice to be able to give her back in to a loving family. I get the best of both worlds.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">I mentioned previously that, while rest and relaxation was just what the doctor ordered for my husband and I, our boys experienced some stretches of boredom at the beach. So if they weren't reading, napping, or swimming; they had to be creative. My youngest, who has already shown some interest in photography, decided to explore the medium in more detail as he took some lovely macro shots of Thailand's flora. I thought I would share my favorites with you. </div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-25783267653362606102011-08-09T20:06:00.023-04:002012-01-20T00:58:33.460-05:00I Love the Beach!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU8HSo2OBZMWW1acXTH2OeX7L7Z4AsgZFsvlIami8gVzQDzIrLq-mkW5sDkyBhOdRww1zzDvkOCqU0XGVPKYSqOnDtW4gtETukhmPt9z_kH-K2HCs1Jn25YIi5J9jU5GfqnuinahuNuo/s1600/boys+at+Phi+Phicolorblog.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639042340770630338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU8HSo2OBZMWW1acXTH2OeX7L7Z4AsgZFsvlIami8gVzQDzIrLq-mkW5sDkyBhOdRww1zzDvkOCqU0XGVPKYSqOnDtW4gtETukhmPt9z_kH-K2HCs1Jn25YIi5J9jU5GfqnuinahuNuo/s400/boys+at+Phi+Phicolorblog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 270px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">Koh PhiPhi 2003
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Over these years we have been privileged to live close enough to Thailand to be able to enjoy some summer holidays at the lovely beaches there. We haven't gone every year, but enough times to have built up quite a store of family memories along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. This year we spent a quiet 8 days (perhaps our last Thailand vacation together as a whole family) at Dolphin Bay near HuaHin. There were moments, even half days, when the boys felt it was too quiet; but we did manage to squeeze in a kayaking trip to infamous Monkey Island, an evening of night fishing and a day of snorkeling, daily swims and walks on the beach, and amazing Thai meals.
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">The Plot....
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Monkey chief: "You two monkeys lead them down the rocky coast, and the rest of us will move in for the heist."</span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZpVM4h1f9iMaGvy9rBmZG-vpjRWz_rE_OdVnMNN3v17TJ7t1XEz9dwIgSkQNRSDaxXYcOhQ37fPGFs_24_wY2-7tQjxwAYHvGwGXPFkQGR2D5xE819SsQJehL6VhNdqYn_Tl4s3YOkw/s1600/BDSCN5484a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639127287397087586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZpVM4h1f9iMaGvy9rBmZG-vpjRWz_rE_OdVnMNN3v17TJ7t1XEz9dwIgSkQNRSDaxXYcOhQ37fPGFs_24_wY2-7tQjxwAYHvGwGXPFkQGR2D5xE819SsQJehL6VhNdqYn_Tl4s3YOkw/s400/BDSCN5484a.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">Monkey scout: "Ouick! It worked. Those gullible <span style="font-style: italic;">farangs</span> (Thai word for foreigner). There's food in this boat!"</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixFaJ8VNT7Ct-xNT_ADQiUQhLdn6YN_pK7amODqx4TQWylg1Y_FtJjbC7ou9AVzm32EBPEkI7uQbfGZ9j9mAnEdBvrit-ZopNSM4tvvuf8xsEyBf7C-L7MWXOma4r7Z0ugDxfrzMfc9M/s1600/BDSCN5485a.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639127660635272578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixFaJ8VNT7Ct-xNT_ADQiUQhLdn6YN_pK7amODqx4TQWylg1Y_FtJjbC7ou9AVzm32EBPEkI7uQbfGZ9j9mAnEdBvrit-ZopNSM4tvvuf8xsEyBf7C-L7MWXOma4r7Z0ugDxfrzMfc9M/s400/BDSCN5485a.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">Yep, they stole our snacks and would have taken the water bottles as well. Wish we had thought to bring along some bananas and lychees.</span>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">We had a lovely place to stay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Even at high tide the shallows lasted a long way out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">Patiently waiting for a nice Thai-Seafood dinner: Crab, Stir-fried Shrimp & Cashew nuts, TomYamKai, PadThai.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTeyTvsmjMAtHqMuWRYfs7kYMiqv30GYsBoqJLnFjE5ZDD3lQS3HVZqO0O07fjDDExXNmbLyUOSqkmadpAAng_xM0Z3n9yRkdGmqWUtJXfJKb0WEFnGSty3g5tXxsxX_5f4V5A5CFCNo/s1600/BDSC_1800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTeyTvsmjMAtHqMuWRYfs7kYMiqv30GYsBoqJLnFjE5ZDD3lQS3HVZqO0O07fjDDExXNmbLyUOSqkmadpAAng_xM0Z3n9yRkdGmqWUtJXfJKb0WEFnGSty3g5tXxsxX_5f4V5A5CFCNo/s640/BDSC_1800.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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What a gift this time has been.</div>
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Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-57599318481055449842011-06-15T23:16:00.032-04:002011-10-09T06:10:55.398-04:00Out My Window<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK27ylrPzaB5Wo5uznsKgiGlW8cenO43IZKs2RfIjPP1fXRR9WZblw47nmtDS3h-UCX2a2zSA2B4gOXLKfLjUwEPQ3acVagULZHiQDn0ei7y-02dKpia1RbhC3HpOR2hm1f3FG2IIlPNw/s1600/WDSC_0447sm.jpg"><br /></a>Last weekend we took our two younger boys the seven hour drive (one way) to camp. After dropping them off and a final unconcerned, "Okay... bye Mom," we started for home.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2-6NYsZbEDoBgv52dCQB9LzPKUDpSdccP4FjUu0beMTgnZqK_Exv375i0QFh1IJ0Qyt0pst-93Z71NKDPhI4TUNmaQhREFzpyUdjHIhMN104pytSRJSozaYkhvBeIeEXCXdzxLT3-pI/s1600/DSC_0383sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2-6NYsZbEDoBgv52dCQB9LzPKUDpSdccP4FjUu0beMTgnZqK_Exv375i0QFh1IJ0Qyt0pst-93Z71NKDPhI4TUNmaQhREFzpyUdjHIhMN104pytSRJSozaYkhvBeIeEXCXdzxLT3-pI/s400/DSC_0383sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618652783791011202" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RYLMImP8b4TvOtKARTwg1tiIV6SovrzQDcWRV-xCA47clsoPFatf18RvziDp7moB6gdiCaqsxgvNPCEYb2bldV08qtY0EG9iXT73TyNUnNs6MWlEtHonh9KY3UFz3L7-5DVhrbKEy90/s1600/DSC_0388sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RYLMImP8b4TvOtKARTwg1tiIV6SovrzQDcWRV-xCA47clsoPFatf18RvziDp7moB6gdiCaqsxgvNPCEYb2bldV08qtY0EG9iXT73TyNUnNs6MWlEtHonh9KY3UFz3L7-5DVhrbKEy90/s400/DSC_0388sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618652948797475074" border="0" /></a><br />Our trip took us through some of the most beautiful countryside in the province and as I had our new camera and lots of time on my hands, I began to take photos out my passenger-side window.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpG3LwNsYUiqx9IAOT7rvDxyNGZb8zt14xbqvfXS9m1lUTd9jyDOo7LNuuEkBd70e9RDUcFtln8-b9hAaSrhWWnn51nEDbZa0tQKpyUdQjJ6fnzN0Jq5KgP_j0zPLF6aDAPF-1xN-3Ww/s1600/WDSC_0395sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpG3LwNsYUiqx9IAOT7rvDxyNGZb8zt14xbqvfXS9m1lUTd9jyDOo7LNuuEkBd70e9RDUcFtln8-b9hAaSrhWWnn51nEDbZa0tQKpyUdQjJ6fnzN0Jq5KgP_j0zPLF6aDAPF-1xN-3Ww/s400/WDSC_0395sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653306689925746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzXimRMNARAiyLDDcwh_CGOIQbV3-lXrPEl2rI0UxajJTY871nHNY0IR267d9PmOcEjz4902o5wl7Et3CKsJrCgb00yC0lKovzupu3Q1U8AI53wg7q44vRvuOQxANn6DSxBzZsLilY3Q/s1600/WDSC_0403sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzXimRMNARAiyLDDcwh_CGOIQbV3-lXrPEl2rI0UxajJTY871nHNY0IR267d9PmOcEjz4902o5wl7Et3CKsJrCgb00yC0lKovzupu3Q1U8AI53wg7q44vRvuOQxANn6DSxBzZsLilY3Q/s400/WDSC_0403sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653385120189650" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjivaQE1quHZtyeYFkZ32ZQrmyzUCxQwboLKdsFmolpake-6_qgGycPEiK6ar9yh0-P9oyD9XqUved_VR5nf0Uahyphenhyphen97UNCd624TClSWJX0vJ2m_-NespQsh5xY41SZPWVvB_atBXlgwh4/s1600/WDSC_0405sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjivaQE1quHZtyeYFkZ32ZQrmyzUCxQwboLKdsFmolpake-6_qgGycPEiK6ar9yh0-P9oyD9XqUved_VR5nf0Uahyphenhyphen97UNCd624TClSWJX0vJ2m_-NespQsh5xY41SZPWVvB_atBXlgwh4/s400/WDSC_0405sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653486180947586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D_zlVSDuIkPETpzMo2cBKyOkPC9VbYrSQNsDvuv3Az3lWS3gt2bkMzN07NYjCl9wLLRFGVLloiHb31KmtL9zDkkmgZbk-YxaqNgLacTA0BIndL2TUtTF8NcjZfIHb_dUlJ-YLp0uui0/s1600/WDSC_0407sm2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D_zlVSDuIkPETpzMo2cBKyOkPC9VbYrSQNsDvuv3Az3lWS3gt2bkMzN07NYjCl9wLLRFGVLloiHb31KmtL9zDkkmgZbk-YxaqNgLacTA0BIndL2TUtTF8NcjZfIHb_dUlJ-YLp0uui0/s400/WDSC_0407sm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653576374020754" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWqvsBRe4VBBeXHUYH7PoWB6E2SzFXQpSnd7T1hafXjgGAqHN0WvVVXyR3fru1bymQYRBpXNSLBiLbYc6ZLCsxtQgCKENwcMW2bpJHmSo1HJEO7Zn9_gpZZIuI4Pf9s6Iofy13VnR1yE/s1600/WDSC_0415sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWqvsBRe4VBBeXHUYH7PoWB6E2SzFXQpSnd7T1hafXjgGAqHN0WvVVXyR3fru1bymQYRBpXNSLBiLbYc6ZLCsxtQgCKENwcMW2bpJHmSo1HJEO7Zn9_gpZZIuI4Pf9s6Iofy13VnR1yE/s400/WDSC_0415sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653688969048274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKLQw74VFiN1jL1KM05dBAbRVVu2hp9il-hksKo7RjpuoXR85Ws21LqT0RASAUaKL0vTU_JN5aN55SFkvCOryxuUqystYS0YI9Z2iKNBMvWlUR92kt_PawlLv-3vZUedyk59v14Zr8OM/s1600/WDSC_0419sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKLQw74VFiN1jL1KM05dBAbRVVu2hp9il-hksKo7RjpuoXR85Ws21LqT0RASAUaKL0vTU_JN5aN55SFkvCOryxuUqystYS0YI9Z2iKNBMvWlUR92kt_PawlLv-3vZUedyk59v14Zr8OM/s400/WDSC_0419sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653777096496258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I wish I had kept track of the number of tunnels. A necessity to mountain highways.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOZrZm-WyZGktZOSQec_IbD-pTzSFlZlc3yzpt_w5SjdvFsgfqMf7D-LKORFwLBI021ImzVEqe5IS0vFeHUZl6vUV3ALCfD9EOYsaSIEtOw1dRF_mAQ8K7MAFAM3gsIwxIQbx9ANriVA/s1600/WDSC_0431sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOZrZm-WyZGktZOSQec_IbD-pTzSFlZlc3yzpt_w5SjdvFsgfqMf7D-LKORFwLBI021ImzVEqe5IS0vFeHUZl6vUV3ALCfD9EOYsaSIEtOw1dRF_mAQ8K7MAFAM3gsIwxIQbx9ANriVA/s400/WDSC_0431sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653861778968690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Villages are often tucked on hillsides or beside lakes or rivers close to the road which came along long after they had been established.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK27ylrPzaB5Wo5uznsKgiGlW8cenO43IZKs2RfIjPP1fXRR9WZblw47nmtDS3h-UCX2a2zSA2B4gOXLKfLjUwEPQ3acVagULZHiQDn0ei7y-02dKpia1RbhC3HpOR2hm1f3FG2IIlPNw/s1600/WDSC_0447sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK27ylrPzaB5Wo5uznsKgiGlW8cenO43IZKs2RfIjPP1fXRR9WZblw47nmtDS3h-UCX2a2zSA2B4gOXLKfLjUwEPQ3acVagULZHiQDn0ei7y-02dKpia1RbhC3HpOR2hm1f3FG2IIlPNw/s400/WDSC_0447sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618653963902719010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Before the highway existed these roads were mere paths and grazing areas. It's a memory that's hard to let go of.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd8X1MOAxY3MNWYx886Mn6mVx0FJo6Wm5G_CznaZt39LcEXWmsC7iKixVOzRYLuUzInyeThZE4W0GY_Z32SF5QJ5JVUMOY0PwUCnuar6Be_02oyOo1W57PJeae51Lw8UfFbaCqV8JZbM/s1600/WDSC_0481sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd8X1MOAxY3MNWYx886Mn6mVx0FJo6Wm5G_CznaZt39LcEXWmsC7iKixVOzRYLuUzInyeThZE4W0GY_Z32SF5QJ5JVUMOY0PwUCnuar6Be_02oyOo1W57PJeae51Lw8UfFbaCqV8JZbM/s400/WDSC_0481sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618654158902548162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Horse carts are no longer allowed inside big cities, but still come in handy other places.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuJnZD3kcMxhl-MkJy_yHj4fRHf8K4_OB070zAekrnAatdmqUfvfhKvnBJtNuxxqa3y4l9qfzT50Q3W3RhlNIu6Nb09cX06gTWwg_6Zzd4AzAfFJj8Kb-8BijE_6IzH5hfSjUX-wTyb8/s1600/WDSC_0493sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuJnZD3kcMxhl-MkJy_yHj4fRHf8K4_OB070zAekrnAatdmqUfvfhKvnBJtNuxxqa3y4l9qfzT50Q3W3RhlNIu6Nb09cX06gTWwg_6Zzd4AzAfFJj8Kb-8BijE_6IzH5hfSjUX-wTyb8/s400/WDSC_0493sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618654540482625714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Can you see the gravestones? Typically they rest on the hills or mountainside near a village.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90K2ZWIjh0kfC5IlKEM8ZcssBY6gvjHdsVIsGKPGK7gbKczbA6z9aM52_C7jQg8JiW3ABEFcGiQmwmrB9tzu1z85h4D9Cawa_MKwocOZIp2WqvYdKawTDtK0D_5Acp-H-kEUvrc52odI/s1600/WDSC_0507sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90K2ZWIjh0kfC5IlKEM8ZcssBY6gvjHdsVIsGKPGK7gbKczbA6z9aM52_C7jQg8JiW3ABEFcGiQmwmrB9tzu1z85h4D9Cawa_MKwocOZIp2WqvYdKawTDtK0D_5Acp-H-kEUvrc52odI/s400/WDSC_0507sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618654734502844418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Remember this is the equivalent of interstate.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvb8zc_GUxx99tPTvmwDD2EgKJw2Dv4uZ_CaXQLukPfDbeRgooD39TPnh52Q0V4bp7wJEl2rgpHfvnaCWZ2CxDxH2iEE_YCPJV8zUaf-lHHUysvfQ6kd-lHTNoIe5HojG0STNwaKBwA8/s1600/WDSC_0551sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvb8zc_GUxx99tPTvmwDD2EgKJw2Dv4uZ_CaXQLukPfDbeRgooD39TPnh52Q0V4bp7wJEl2rgpHfvnaCWZ2CxDxH2iEE_YCPJV8zUaf-lHHUysvfQ6kd-lHTNoIe5HojG0STNwaKBwA8/s400/WDSC_0551sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618655067400327058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The weather was so changeable. One minute dark and overcast, raindrops spotting the windshield, and the next beautiful blue skies breaking through glorious white fluffs of cloud. This is currently the "rainy season."</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvFbk6f_18q5aDQeNGJgOZRoRlONtEbDIyGibKcFAkHPuhlQkYtGZHt0HIX7e6f2kdvFpRfFKYFoQK_xp8rJ1tkPI5O02pYCwXrFdgPQr4BTQA7BOrwz5mdkMBVz05mYt8whsImIfcS0/s1600/WDSC_0681sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvFbk6f_18q5aDQeNGJgOZRoRlONtEbDIyGibKcFAkHPuhlQkYtGZHt0HIX7e6f2kdvFpRfFKYFoQK_xp8rJ1tkPI5O02pYCwXrFdgPQr4BTQA7BOrwz5mdkMBVz05mYt8whsImIfcS0/s400/WDSC_0681sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618655284864792306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Gorgeous green fields. Mostly rice, but also corn and other vegetables. Some times tobacco.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhzzT6Q0LQRNziODzzzvhE7PbTfq-X-hG3-aUPVhj8xmAf6L0yYjx051-RC9i_Q5go7Wa_-31Vju046gCrwCJy5YQElVmbD4nb8fBs5RRvXhzOt0vCzDt5TBisjqXdg4X1PedBKT4n18/s1600/WDSC_0653sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhzzT6Q0LQRNziODzzzvhE7PbTfq-X-hG3-aUPVhj8xmAf6L0yYjx051-RC9i_Q5go7Wa_-31Vju046gCrwCJy5YQElVmbD4nb8fBs5RRvXhzOt0vCzDt5TBisjqXdg4X1PedBKT4n18/s400/WDSC_0653sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618655179523252706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Wait... Stop... Go Slow... Caution Cow Crossing?</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KSQY5VAjiZx5jerK_f5MXg6CEjw48mOCZQYi76DByz_KFvwy1ss878Wmn3-1_k20Za7sO2BGr4IFwXyDIl1rkZXqVLqMOOIwLPbzY7rJKJ-jrVbNEg7tkmShPa3lsb0_uMuEFT8GBCc/s1600/WDSC_0777sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KSQY5VAjiZx5jerK_f5MXg6CEjw48mOCZQYi76DByz_KFvwy1ss878Wmn3-1_k20Za7sO2BGr4IFwXyDIl1rkZXqVLqMOOIwLPbzY7rJKJ-jrVbNEg7tkmShPa3lsb0_uMuEFT8GBCc/s400/WDSC_0777sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618655504718892114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I think someone got a little separated from the rest of the herd.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfc0whFNO5I8MQZKMQhhzjMfjRiD-KnhYbvJqbbjniCoTSvoHZYR2KgXM2vvaPB5GIrvLnPN4rUWraAvSVnUgJYbFEfVh_7UGsOIrfYgVqCYsY8G6xf4RP_vuxNsItUJl-sYBaqbRW0c/s1600/WDSC_0738sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfc0whFNO5I8MQZKMQhhzjMfjRiD-KnhYbvJqbbjniCoTSvoHZYR2KgXM2vvaPB5GIrvLnPN4rUWraAvSVnUgJYbFEfVh_7UGsOIrfYgVqCYsY8G6xf4RP_vuxNsItUJl-sYBaqbRW0c/s400/WDSC_0738sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618655409964117938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Blue Skies<br /><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzf4GM4XqgSeWbR-Ah6C9_jf7jzTqsxIag_mi9JvzhCpxCB4-tH9xxWkFClpeKlyPzDhTMNWHHq30PolToVt_fc1npN4nlLot2gzxqboqeI6O323S1fhb9X5X-GW7mUiL9smozSqb8EY/s1600/WDSC_0779sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzf4GM4XqgSeWbR-Ah6C9_jf7jzTqsxIag_mi9JvzhCpxCB4-tH9xxWkFClpeKlyPzDhTMNWHHq30PolToVt_fc1npN4nlLot2gzxqboqeI6O323S1fhb9X5X-GW7mUiL9smozSqb8EY/s400/WDSC_0779sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618655614154741858" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P7jwBclZWCz3IvCCeEeWbVnDY551fjKEGB8GK_dIMowqTMPeXCysScqIgYTnt9PcU-mVw7It741BmACI-5DdLZiVusnAxLBjdvU9fB6heFKIr4ERYWpOZBpvEpzzbcJcWP0s54J4sEg/s1600/WDSC_0817sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-P7jwBclZWCz3IvCCeEeWbVnDY551fjKEGB8GK_dIMowqTMPeXCysScqIgYTnt9PcU-mVw7It741BmACI-5DdLZiVusnAxLBjdvU9fB6heFKIr4ERYWpOZBpvEpzzbcJcWP0s54J4sEg/s400/WDSC_0817sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618655714114939506" border="0" /></a>Sorry for being so photo heavy. If you only knew how many pictures I took. I hope you have enjoyed the scenery as much as I did!Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7967770996148338214.post-38786290691479105592011-05-29T05:49:00.015-04:002011-05-29T23:05:08.976-04:00Since I last wrote..."The Girls" have got a new look...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn2brfsossOWmfpUac-Q-ypSsXIlB1-reeu0qkES7-S1SvWWAj17k0xwhbQWqSaNVzN2xFLuGWk_P6gCD2qGkC8hQo8MP3PfvHGsLnRbzWGiQCl8L_emik1QEMUnTtnkKEx7h4IHGx0k/s1600/BJD+mirror+view.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn2brfsossOWmfpUac-Q-ypSsXIlB1-reeu0qkES7-S1SvWWAj17k0xwhbQWqSaNVzN2xFLuGWk_P6gCD2qGkC8hQo8MP3PfvHGsLnRbzWGiQCl8L_emik1QEMUnTtnkKEx7h4IHGx0k/s400/BJD+mirror+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612073650237430834" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSeytLZKM2KWq8cbGuvHixg3pELUwXRwsHP3wZWuCGutOmX57ZdS4BEvmFUcCN3lDD6DMO-hTjXi0UQI-zZjW33MEYbETn_M8pFDJ7YrJ6Q50pRRMmhxdxJJVtKUHHd9cnaF0KlcPga0/s1600/BJD+mirror+view+2a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSeytLZKM2KWq8cbGuvHixg3pELUwXRwsHP3wZWuCGutOmX57ZdS4BEvmFUcCN3lDD6DMO-hTjXi0UQI-zZjW33MEYbETn_M8pFDJ7YrJ6Q50pRRMmhxdxJJVtKUHHd9cnaF0KlcPga0/s400/BJD+mirror+view+2a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612073929819444546" border="0" /></a><br />The Boys have got a new look...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMdYHOr8uuN_gSSyC81rh9p-jw36fDL2LHvtbHMyPhJZLL-f04lzxNFZMotBXhCASti8u-rsWzcnDJjdPToN9UCrbk5UCeuN_FxT0dszGv3t9PGoIrIHNFUMy66t9WwpCoxZTAvvTaWM/s1600/Josh+and+Leanne+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMdYHOr8uuN_gSSyC81rh9p-jw36fDL2LHvtbHMyPhJZLL-f04lzxNFZMotBXhCASti8u-rsWzcnDJjdPToN9UCrbk5UCeuN_FxT0dszGv3t9PGoIrIHNFUMy66t9WwpCoxZTAvvTaWM/s400/Josh+and+Leanne+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612074581946178514" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf8ZXEsahavSu7XNhJANs21jfEtayELiTzyylq-xUipP_cuwnn7XKfF_3GEDnjkJ4PVKsDgpyerWFbzuk1UgpQ_nC4YRLwxVhwgmm8xIGAodx8trN-qasfbWlfUKExZ0CpXTeLKadjKA/s1600/Tim+and+Tabitha+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf8ZXEsahavSu7XNhJANs21jfEtayELiTzyylq-xUipP_cuwnn7XKfF_3GEDnjkJ4PVKsDgpyerWFbzuk1UgpQ_nC4YRLwxVhwgmm8xIGAodx8trN-qasfbWlfUKExZ0CpXTeLKadjKA/s400/Tim+and+Tabitha+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612074823551190194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Junior-Senior Banquet<br /></span></div><br />And I had the pleasure of visiting "the Hawaii of China" (well, they are close to the same latitude), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanya">Sanya <span lang="zh-Hans">三亚</span></a>. It was warm and lovely. And my appearance enhancement? I softened and exfoliated my skin in a feeding frenzy which some delicately call a "fish spa."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKj_ZuClIDfOBIBTDGbIktieGP3OMG4IQCatkrwqwQYrMQ9OuV2J0PxSnnwol473MydzF8tLGXQe50E8qfD98igqR9fQ36m2anTNCX6zBLghZjasIcoYcfEi_dUKt3KLNLIn_a05sLYc/s1600/Sanya+3+fish.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKj_ZuClIDfOBIBTDGbIktieGP3OMG4IQCatkrwqwQYrMQ9OuV2J0PxSnnwol473MydzF8tLGXQe50E8qfD98igqR9fQ36m2anTNCX6zBLghZjasIcoYcfEi_dUKt3KLNLIn_a05sLYc/s400/Sanya+3+fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612085962501068322" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFawIDcoXw0IdRcEN5K1xX4Ku1jdHRpp4X-yWJkeLd4KRZjB53Xoda6iQplGPTkWVrvOq2Up2O1l1jDkq2Wnua8E9oL4d0tMQD2Z0YbYCCJKtpYXEfTpW5j6NWuZx-fK8B84vrxJRMPsE/s1600/Fish+frenzy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFawIDcoXw0IdRcEN5K1xX4Ku1jdHRpp4X-yWJkeLd4KRZjB53Xoda6iQplGPTkWVrvOq2Up2O1l1jDkq2Wnua8E9oL4d0tMQD2Z0YbYCCJKtpYXEfTpW5j6NWuZx-fK8B84vrxJRMPsE/s400/Fish+frenzy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612086375398475714" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm8u98CmsKjukhXFF0lRgQAaSmohTuTCNeOM6PyU4oiLWdUBoh0uzY19wMXTterTTcCjmVX1V94elTfxAGY-8x5mELbVenDiU-FwQXP9RnN2Ixqbr0U0nT4dTqqFzoUE29rvOjjKMbco/s1600/Pool.jpg"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm8u98CmsKjukhXFF0lRgQAaSmohTuTCNeOM6PyU4oiLWdUBoh0uzY19wMXTterTTcCjmVX1V94elTfxAGY-8x5mELbVenDiU-FwQXP9RnN2Ixqbr0U0nT4dTqqFzoUE29rvOjjKMbco/s1600/Pool.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm8u98CmsKjukhXFF0lRgQAaSmohTuTCNeOM6PyU4oiLWdUBoh0uzY19wMXTterTTcCjmVX1V94elTfxAGY-8x5mELbVenDiU-FwQXP9RnN2Ixqbr0U0nT4dTqqFzoUE29rvOjjKMbco/s400/Pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612087262513268066" border="0" /></a>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10994393735624178443noreply@blogger.com3