Lotus Is In My Imagination

When I grew up in China, one thing I loved to do in the summer is to go to the pond to pick up lotus pods. It holds a lot fresh lotus seeds. They are just so tender, crispy and a bit sweet. We love lotus root as well. I miss my hometown speciality -lotus root soup so much. However it is a painstaking, skillful job to pull the root out of mud since the root is straight down and comprised of many blocks. You can imagine if the root is broken in the middle, it is very hard if not impossible to pull the rest out of mud. The most amazing is its leaf . Its elegance rises above water and out from water. It represents a virtue - keep purity coming out of muddiness.

I know It is not even close to catch your beauty and spirit in my arrangement. But it continues carrying.............

A Prairie Garden In My Mind

Summer surely comes at us fast. It is 2/3 way through. I really can not count much of what we have achieved so far. I have this idea to transform my junk looking front yard into this natural, controllable, and chic prairie garden. So far I has not even dig an inch dirt yet. All the monkey grass is still living temporily in our vegetable garden and daylily are still sitting in potts. What else some mail order plants are yet to deliver .........

When Summer draws to the end, winter will not be far away in Ohio. I just have to get busy. I hate to dig dirt. it is hard, hard work. I just have to keep that beautiful prairie garden in my mind.

On the Way to Eclipse

Eclipse was a small mining town during its hey day. Well mining company building is still standing but becomes a ruin in the half way. It is still very harming and I hope that it can be saved before it is too late. There is hope. Besides a few permanent residents living, it hosts two charming restaurants - Janas and Zoe. Bicycle tail runs from Athens to Nelsonville. Eclipse is one third way of 19 miles from Athens. Now every Friday, we Sammy, my mom and I ride the bikes after work to have a dinner in Janas. Janas is a soul food restaurant. It is still simple and sophisticated , of course hippiesh. We stopped the very first time more than a month ago and had a wonderful brunch. The waitress was nice but we were not able to give a much tip since cash only. I run into her last friday and finally can tip her nicely for her great service and graciousness. This time around that grumpy owner plus cook Janas surely was in good mood. Lime apple pie is just divine as well all the dishes. I guess that is why we love Athens - simple and simply pleasant!

A Different Kind Jazz From CoCo Zhao

This morning I listened to NPR's interview with CoCo Zhao. This was the very first time that I heard this name. It reminds me of how little I know of today's China than I thought. The upcoming generations possess great command of culture and arts between Western and Chinese.

His interpretation of 20's and 30's music brings nostalgia of old Shainghai. Simply beautiful and deliciously fresh! Here they are:

Dream Situation

Possicobilities

Beijing Olympic Countdown

Bird's Nest WaterCube Spectacular Spectacular Spectacular
Spectacular Bird's Nest WaterCube Spectacular Spectacular
Spectacular Spectacular Bird's Nest WaterCube Spectacular
Spectacular Spectacular Spectacular Bird's Nest WaterCube
Spectacular Spectacular Spectacular Spectacular Spectacular

Our Wonderful Friends in the Old Hood

A year ago we were surely not certain what this adventure would bring by moving from metro Atlanta to mini Athens, OH. Now we have so well settled in this great hippie college town. Atlanta is where I stayed the longest period since I came to this country and Sammy had lived all his life right before we moved. I can make a laundry list what we do not miss that city. But a few things always brings our mind back to that city. One of them is our neighorhood friends where we lived. A most sweet old couple Sadie and Frank - we just loves Sadie's Brooklyn accent. We love to hang out with them, Sandra and Marianna and our favorite couple Keith and Debbie who were finally married last year after some 25 years together. We had many dinners and parties together but not nearly enough. Three and half years was so short but great memory lives.

Debbie just sent us the pictures of their newly renovated bathroom. I just have to show whoever read my blog. It is simply beautiful. The color and texture are just well complemented each other. With their permission, I am pleased to present it here. Keith, sweat equity , nicely done. Garden re-invention looks great too. Now we have to work hard to convince you that Athens is the place for your retirement. I have all testimonial ready- from my gardening friends, real estate agent, fine arts professor, hippies from Farmers' market and other do-nothings who are currently enjoying retirement here.

Well, at last not least, where is our little precious, precious princess? We love to see her testimonial of mom and dad's new achievement.