The Great Leap 4ward

No Title

2010-06-06T13:28:00.006-04:00

Beautiful cards and sweet gift was received from these two ladies of my favorite -Pat and BC for my Bday - 45 exact. Love you and sorry for my lack of action on my blog. I like you to see my hood and my nest. Here they are

My New House and Garden

2010-04-26T00:08:00.012-04:00

Pat and BC, sorry I abandon my blog for so long. I know that you are my loyal readers. Well I just like to post some pictures of my new house and garden (those you have not seen)

Story in My hood

2010-04-25T23:59:00.001-04:00

As you might know, I live in a semi "hood" but still people keep their yard clean and a lot of young kid. Just full of life. But sometimes life might not be easy for every one or a lot. Last weekend, a middle aged guy came and asked if he could mow my yard. He did not ask much. I told him that I would pay double since the backyard is even bigger. He finished the work and got paid. Well, He came back three days later and asked if he could borrow a couple dollar to buy a humberg. I told him that I only had a few coins. I went inside and tried to collect all my coins. Then I realized that all coins might not be enough. I told him that I could go to McDy to get a couple humberg for him. I could tell that he felt so embarrassed and kept telling me that he was sorry to disturb me. then started to walk away. I said it was alright and gave all the coins I had.

He came back yesterday and asked if he could mow my yard again. Well the grass just did not grow fast as he hoped^^. I told him how about he can do it this coming Wednesday. He was so disappointed and asked if he could borrow $5 and I could deduct from the next service. I told him that he can come today to help me clean the flower bed and I can grow veggie this year since I think that I only can do so many projects this summer. I gave him $5 dollar and he walked away.

Today, when I came back from Lowe's, he was waiting outside next to a SUV. Then he introduced his wife and two young kids (a boy and a girl, they are nice and cute kids). He told me that he is separated from his wife and lost his work from the State a longwhile ago. His wife has kids and she has the only car they had together. They just had a bit family together thing. He flipped that whole the flower bed, took all the weeds out and get paid (I did not deduct any). I do not know how much I could help nor any noble. But it definitely gave me a different perspective when I observe so close to others who are so less fortunate than me.

He told that he was so lost when his mom passed away and thing started falling apart. I know he constantly struggles and never knows where the next meal comes from. But he said to me just like a lot of black folks that he has faith in God and thing will work out. I am totally atheist but I feel relieved that he still sees the hope no matter where the faith comes from.

Just share a bit story of my hood.

Christmas Eve Tonight

2009-12-24T19:58:00.007-05:00

We visited Atlanta earlier this month instead of during Christmas time in order to celebrate Bc's 80 year old birthday. It is always so happy to see how well BC and Pat are doing. I had to tell BC that 80 is new 60 since 100 is common place now a day. I am always fascinated how meticulously they decorated for the Christmas, especially a old American town with many years collection from Stein Mart. Also sided with skating man given by us several years ago. So cozy and warm. BC was so intrigued by this glass ball to reflect sunshine over the wall and tirelessly moved into a optimal spot until sun finally went away.

I am waiting to post them until now. Merry Christmas and happy New Year, BC and Pat. I have to tell you that I am so lucky to have you in my life.

Happy holiday to everyone!

My Dream Is Still In the Pipeline

2009-11-29T00:27:00.006-05:00

Just not sure how long it has elapsed since my last post. Really just lazy or not motivated or ... Well I did post some pictures once a while in my Facebook. But I can not believe that I have forgot my most loyal readers here - Pat and BC.

Finally I stepped out a tiny step to create my pipeline dream - my own brand which is culture meaningful and transcending. Here it is my first prototype which aims to just get touching and feeling. Those Zodiac characters are made by real Chinese peasant artists. Its imaginative purity makes it so authentic and inspires me.

Beautiful Morning

2009-09-14T23:11:00.002-04:00

Evening Walk

2009-09-14T22:54:00.003-04:00

David and Kevin's house is right on the edge of the desert. Kevin, Sammy and I took a nice walk before pot roast was slow cooked. Weather just could not be better. It was so pleasant. We walked about 25 minutes to see a reservoir. On the way back,we can see Restless Sin City under the dark from a distance.

Dinner Special

2009-08-26T23:14:00.002-04:00

1. Green Lettuce Salad with home made toasted garlic bread
2. Mush potato with minced onion and diced roasted jalapeno
3. Grilled skirt Steak marinated with red wind, rosamary, black pepper

Lunch Menu

2009-08-26T23:07:00.002-04:00

Cucumber Salad with Peanut Soy Dressing
Grill Cheese
Grape and Salami

Full Moon Right Above

2009-08-24T21:07:00.003-04:00

It has been so pleasant outside and made us realize it would be so nice to read in the front porch after the night falls. It might even be perfect if we have a full moon right above. Well we have this super size paper lantern brought back from the very first trip to Montreal. It survived airport security check by barely escaping squeezing through inspection machine. Well it really is peaceful.

Back to the Basic

2009-08-23T00:23:00.006-04:00

Sorry Ina, this is not your Barefoot Contessa. It is my basic- my garden this time. I worked in the garden for a quite bit today. Mainly cleaned up our back screened porch. Once a while, I go back to check the sanity of my plants. I always do basic maintenance such as watering and fertilizing. It keeps them live. But that does not necessarily give the charm and appealing they are meant to be. My itching hands touch and feel them once a while for better or worse. But intention is always good. Here they are

The Salad Du Jour

2009-08-23T00:04:00.004-04:00

Sammy made its Ina Garten's recipe with all grilled with vegetables- Zucchini, red onion, potato, beet, bread with fresh tomato, local cheese and Salami. They are either from our garden or from our farmer's market. It can not be a complete lunch without Italian sparkling wine-Prosecco. Simply pleasant!

My Rabbit Update

2009-08-22T23:51:00.005-04:00

I saw my outdoor pet several days ago in the backyard. When I moved to the front garden, he followed me and starting chewed my monkey grass a couple of feet from me. I guess that he is lonely as well. It puzzles me of why he is alone in the middle of the city.

Robert and John, This is warning! Be gentle and behave as a grow-up. I am showing my pet's picture now.

Beef Bourguignon

2009-08-16T00:14:00.008-04:00

To dry beef pieces well is the secret to have a great beef bourguignon. That is what we were told in Julie&Julia. We just have to try to prove the difference it makes. That became a little job for me when Sammy apparently has not faded yet from the fever of Julie & Julia. I went to Farmer's Market and tried to find that perfect beef stew meat. I did not find beef stew meat but I did get a piece of beautiful round beef roast which can be chopped for the stew. I went back to the grocery to get carrots again for this dish.

Well we have something else special. It is golden chanterelles mushroom from our friend Laiyee's woods. I had it very first since I bought some from the market without knowing how delicious it is. It is not able to be cultivated and comes from wild period. It happened that Laiyee dropped by to give us her home-made black berry and straw berry sauce. So we invited Laiyee and Bob to share our beef bourguignon dish. Laiyee is a great baker who baked a beautiful peach pie and mozzarella tomato salad within two hours. As Bob tried to tell my mom, it was very luxurious dinner. Surely it is. $18 of a piece of beef, very expensive and hard-to-acquire mushroom, .... Most importantly, a lot of love and appreciation of fine cooking and above all, family and friends.

I suppose to post this a while ago. Well guess it is never too late to share the joy.

Chinese Lantern

2009-08-09T22:15:00.002-04:00

I was fascinated with the plant that bears a small lantern-shaped pot first time I saw it. I was told exactly it is called Chinese Lantern plant. I managed to order a couple of plants. It was last winter and thought it was dead in my semi greenhouse. Well I found some sprouts coming up after the original branch dried up. I transplanted into the ground this spring. The plant is not interesting as I thought until it started bearing the lanterns. I cut them off before the lanterns are ruined by rain. It started looking nice after I cut off all the dried leaves.

After Julia and Julie

2009-08-09T22:07:00.004-04:00

A Little Bunny

2009-08-05T21:43:00.007-04:00

It has been stuck in my mind when our friend Robert one day told me affirmatively "Trust me, a little bunny is cute but he is dumb too". Not long after, we started noticing that a little baby bunny hopped around our garden even in the bright daylight and in the middle of monkey grass of our front yard next to a busy road. The first thing that went through my mind is if he eats my plants. Sammy insists that he only eats weeds and unwanted grass. I spot him just about every other days and he grows up in front of my eyes. It is a big relief that he always eats those weeds every time I see him. I have tried to take a picture of him for a while without success. Finally I saw him a couple days ago and run inside the house to grab my cam. This time he was still grazing outside. He has no fear around me and I can get close to a couple feet. Now I have it.

I wonder why I was so eager to have his pictures. Just prove how eco-friendly my mini surrounding is , or to be certified as wild life refugee if such thing in Athens, or just to prove that Robert's assertion is totally wrong. He is surely cute. I still have to prove that he is not dumb, don't I?

Just Diving

2009-07-19T21:56:00.005-04:00

Some photos from World Diving Championship including Chinese champions, Aussie Mathew Mitcham and Canadian Cutie Alexandre Despatie.

Friday Gossip

2009-07-17T15:31:00.004-04:00

Sammy's mom subscribes "the Week" for us. We love to check out "Best Properties on the market" and "Steal of the week". Well I found my new favorite called "Gossip". Here is for this week

"New York Times columnist David Brooks last week said he's not surprised that politicians get caught in messy affairs because "they're all emotional freaks" who have a desperate need for both power and adoration. "They're guaranteed to invade your personal space," he said. "I sat next to a Republican senator at dinner and he had his hand on my inner thigh the whole time. I was like, "Ehh, get me out of here."

David, I thought that you love your Republican pals. You look surely cute for this Republican senator, well who I assume is him. Wow!

My Garden from A Different Angle

2009-07-12T10:43:00.004-04:00

Last night I went to get vanilla ice cream cross the street. On the way back, I realize that Cleome on the side gives a very nice look of the garden from the distance. I just have to take a picture of it.

Sampling Our Athens hood

2009-07-12T10:06:00.008-04:00

It is finally toward the end of my oncall week. It has been brutal. After several bad outage, I also have to stay two nights up to 6:00AM for the release. Somewhere I feel much liberated even though handover is still a day away. I woke up at 7:00AM and felt bike riding. This time I carried my fancy camera to catch some of town. I cruised a lot in our hood, took pictures of the best street Elmwood, our friend Julie's Hippie garden and this garden from a lady who overhauls her garden every year. And one of Sammy's favorite house in repainting. Then I headed to the bike path along Hocking River to snap some pictures of My favorite nurser White Mill and our Athens community garden.

Reborn Coffee Pot

2009-07-12T09:51:00.003-04:00

I bought this coffee maker for Sammy's several Birthdays ago. Well the handle finally gave up and was broken. Since he has several new toys for coffee making, we retired it into the basement. Then after a while, this handle broken coffee pot showed up again in our kitchen counter. My poor mom turned coffee pot to a tea pot. It is surely not up to Sammy's aesthetic "criteria" to make the cut for our kitchen counter. We hided it away and have not see it in the counter for a good six months.

Well it showed up again. My mom found it and saved it from the fate of dumpster. We lost again. What do we do next? Here it is your reborn.

accumulation

2009-07-09T23:32:00.017-04:00

As a Chinese, I know that we are good at accumulation of money. Did I just say "we". I am not sure how much of that "we" I am now. I went to lunch to Columbus' North Market with my Chinese friends at work. One of my Chinese co-worker mentioned that she starts shopping in Whole Pay Check(Food) for meats. The reason is that one of her friends does the research in OSU and told her that some strong evidence shows hormone fed meat increase the risk of cancer. I remember that my nephew told my mom that he stopped eating in his favorite KFC since the fried chicken might cause man boobs a long while ago when he was in elementary. I laughed at where he dug that out.

As I always say that I am Chinese enough to bitch about our Chinese. Money seemingly accounts for disproportionate importance to our over all richness. I have been reminding my Chinese friends that life and health are also about accumulation. "Eat healthily" is a part of accumulation of our health as well as "exercise physically and mentally". I wish that we apply the money management savvy to other aspects of life. Preaching does not help until people come to realization. I thought that our Chinese are hopeless. Now I can hope. I am so glad that she finally realizes worthiness. Well I consider we are lucky to live in a community that people are so believing in local, natural, wholesome and organic. I do not have to go to Whole Pay Check to break my bank account. Instead we have our great Farmer's Market. And after all, we grow our own vegetable all along.

2009-07-04T08:35:00.009-04:00

We were planning to go hiking for a couple of days for the long July 4th weekend.Well 50% rain possibility made us a bit hesitate. We wind up staying at home. Finally I played outdoor volleyball for the first time this year. My whole body is just aching. How our muscle works fascinates me. I run 3-4 miles and do some weight stuff and do not feel much impact since it is a routine that I do 2-3 times a week. But my body just aches when I start playing VB after a month away. All the jumps, maneuvers and spikes certainly use very different muscles. Or simply just get too old and have to admit it.

We had a great fun when Sammy's moms visited us. They are very low maintenance ladies. Last weekend, we went to Cincinnati to pick up my mom and spent a day to visit Underground Railway Freedom Museum and got lost in IKEA.

I did some gardening as usual and took some photo as well. I experiment growing lamb ears left by previous owner. It attracts hundreds of bees without exaggeration. So glad to do something for shrinking bee population. Everything we do have impact with the surrounding we rely on. Hope more positive than negative.

I have to show the Chinese Zodiac chain that my cousin bought in Shanghai and my mom brought to us. It is three dimensional, very folkloric and authentically beautiful.

Hope that everyone has great July 4th holiday.

Snap Shots

2009-06-17T23:11:00.005-04:00

I have a bit technical issue with downloading pictures from my new cam. Still old one is in use for all these pictures. Just catch some of what happen in my garden.

No Topic

2009-05-28T00:24:00.009-04:00

Just hate when the long weekend is over. Sammy's sister Karen came in Town to visit. I picked her up in Columbus after work. We did a bit every Athens' thing - biking on the path to old mine town Eclipse, wandering in Farmers' market, dinning out, cooking and baking and especially napping. In between, I did a bunch of dirt worshiping. It was relaxing but still some happening. Our big screen TV is finally walking into history after long eleven year. It busted on it own. We had to go shopping and the only place for large screen TV in town is called Wal-Mart. Yuck!

I am posting a bit of everything I can think that we had done during those days. Sammy's peach tart, my simple noodle soup, more peony from yard. Also I did a mini hydro system to reduce the damage to my plants of rain water pouring from the gutter. Amazingly it works. Sammy's brilliant system to use rock weight to guide tree branches to go horizontal.

Sunday Brunch

2009-05-19T22:11:00.002-04:00

We had some friends come over and had a nice Sunday Brunch. I met Krista during my weekly Volleyball plan. She is a resident in our local hospital and her bf Paul is in Nursing school. And also Bob and Laiyee. Sammy made his comfort food shrimp and Grit and baked Apple Tart. I made mango salad which was fresh from our garden. Well both couples brought us flower from their yard. I made a simple arrangement. They are still looking good.

Would You BE MY Cutting Board?

2009-05-17T07:55:00.002-04:00

Still In Making

2009-05-07T22:38:00.009-04:00

Am I just lazy or overwhelmed? I have not done a post since we came back from Atlanta. Guess it is both. The trip was very nice break. The GT party was super fun. Glad to see Dawn and Preston and meet some of Sammy's old classmates for the first time - Bruce, Ben, Celina, Steve, Barber and ... People can always amaze others and their owns. How different they are becoming now but how much the same they still are. We went to Bruce and Ben's house for a little party after party. House is beautiful and garden is incredible. People are still beautiful with the continuation of their life drama.

Every time we goes back, it appears that we never have had enough time to visit family, old neighbor and friends. We always have a wonderful time with Sammy's mom and bc. Glad to help them set up wireless router for Pat's new toy - laptop which is already 6 month old. Now she can launch her writing career right outside her patio. Wish that they are living closer to us.

We stayed with Sammy's dad and Norma for a couple of days. I did some gardening work in front of the entry and chatted a bit with Norma in a beautiful day outside. Sammy mowed the grass. They were very appreciative. I did take some picture of the lake in the morning.

Back to Athens, Bracken turns into a miniature of Forrest while they just broke the ground less a week ago. I almost missed blossoming of one of my peony tree. Well Sammy totally did since he flow to Philly right after. Fortunately the most magnificent one was still on its prime. My imaginary chic hippie prairie garden finally shows some reality this spring. Naked lady lily, lupine, astilbe, fox glove and Asiatic lily and tulip can not wait for their turns to shine rising above the base of monkey grass. Spotted lamb ear plant creates surprisingly negative space in between with Irish moss. Unexpected Zen with hippie lush. I start to like what is taking shape. For me, the beauty of gardening is that never have a finished product. We do not create it to be but it evolves to be.

That is for now.

Irresistible

2009-04-21T23:14:00.013-04:00

I just sit here and download all the pictures I took during lunch time. I am just glad that my crazy on-call week is finally behind me. I am so looking forward to the trip back to Atlanta later this week.

I just check Robert's blog with its beautiful background music. The ocean disappears at the end of the sky. The mother holds her little son. She might ponder what the future lies ahead for her son and the little boy could really want to touch the other end of the sky if it was not far away. It brings me back many years ago when I just came to this land. In my world, oceans are always connected, it brought great comfort when I missed what I left at the other end.

Spring just comes slowly this year. But the air becomes so irresistible. I can breath it so do my plants.

Chinglish

2009-04-15T23:19:00.009-04:00

1. Mang Out After Shit (flush after number two)
2. Don't Hurt Me For Your Pretty (Very Chinese expression in the first place, Can not find English one)
3. Welcome to Presence (Welcome to visit)
4. Take Care Of Your Slip (Wet! or mind you steps)
5. No firemaking in hard core scenery ( fire cracking prohibited in the center of the scenic area)
6. Divided Chick ( Chick breast, leg ...)
7. Noticing Security (watch out of pocket lifter?)
8. Visit in civilization and pay attention to hygiene
9. This WC is free of washing Please leave off after pissing or shitting (auto flushing)
10. No Entry On peace time (Emergency Exit)
11. Have a dog (warming of a dog in the house)
12. The Sea Fucks Goods (dry seafood section)
13. May reclaim (Recycling)
14. Taking care to deep water, not to take water please (no swiming is allowed)
15. The American Anne space sinaked eye pick ( angus beef )
16. No More Steps (employee only)
17. After first under on, do riding with civility (Let passages get off before get on to the bus)
18. Lesser Panda (redder panada)
19. Campfire Dance Hall (Campfire dance ground)
20. No Whoopla (Please be quiet)
30. Comfort Station (Toilet)
31. Bei Jing Super municipal in wine in smoke (Beijing Wine and Tobacco super store)
32. Slip and fall down carefully (Watch your steps)
33. The former address of the emperor's toilet
34. Show mercy to the slender grass
35. Wash after relief
36. Salute to The Tourists who keep the public hygience.
37. If you are stolen, call the police at once.
38. The less footprint, the more green (very cute)
39. Medicine No Fakes.

Much funnier if you understand what the express is intended in Chinese. A German guy had a blog to ask to preserve Chinglish as a national treasure. I think that he is out of his freaky mind. But it is just hilarious.

This is his web sit. Am I creating American Chinglish?&^%

Yard, Food and Dog

2009-04-12T12:22:00.006-04:00

Happy Easter After All

2009-04-12T11:14:00.004-04:00

It is still slight cold in the morning and evening. Nevertheless it is Spring time after all. Our backyard has been junkie looking since piles of cleanups wait to be hurled. Sammy went to Columbus to find a jacket for the GA Tech Architecture School Centennial Party on Friday. He bought a big piece of ham from the North Market.

After my chore in the yard on Saturday, I went to Grocery store while he started cooking this Easter Ham. As usual, he handed over his list to me - certain brand of unsalted butter, FAGE Total Honey Yogurt, Cod fish in two packages..... I had to check the item off when it is in my cart to avoid his bitching of missing ingredients. I am always amazed at how rigorously American follow a recipe as Bible is followed literally. While I was wondering between aisles, I run into our great friend Mary Dewey. She is this 80 plus year old artist with a incredible youthful soul. She asked how I think about David Sedaris's story telling in Athens. It happened last Tuesday night that Dewey folks sat the row right behind Sammy and me. We talked how much we loved his unpublished piece of Obama wave in Europe. I just knew yet another burst of laughter is about to send my way from Jamie(Mary's daughter in law) when David's punch line was on the way such as "Elect your own black president".

European never thought that we could ever elect a black to be president. Well I guess that there is a good reason. Mary said that I do not blame that David lives in Europe. Finally we had someone have a good brain in White House. But that is not enough when Texas education board opened a back door to allow intelligent design taught in public school as a science sort by not telling the time that scientists think the universe were formed. Yeah it could be hundred million years or maybe 6 or or 7 thousands by God sort of. Then Mary told me that when her daughter Robin went to the elementary school, the principal was so proud to tell her how "religulous" the school is. She could not believe her ears and told the principal that is illegal to do so. She went to the boss of the principal and complained. The practice stopped for good.

As Bill Maher joked about, we dumped a lot trash into the ocean as we are doing to the space. It estimated that the trash dumped into Pacific ocean is already twice the size of Texas. Just hard to imagine somewhere has more white trash than Texas for real.

At the end, Mary said to me happy Easter after all.

Food, House and Woods

2009-04-05T23:51:00.008-04:00

It was another perfect Spring day. I got up at 9:00 and was about to put my work shoes on before was stopped. Well I tried to finish my garden work before going to have brunch in Bob and Laiyee's house at noon. But I had to sit down to have my breaky by "force". Still I managed to have a couple of hours to wrap up my work afterward.

We had very pleasant brunch - home-made spinach wonton. It is yummie. Laiyee really like to show us this house for sale near hers since she knows that it is in our alley. She is absolutely right. It is a rustic mod built by a couple of a sculpture artist and a professor a while long ago. We just can smell the originality of 60's. We almost love every bit of it. We would not hesitate a second to make an offer if it went to the market when we looked for a house. The view is awesome right on the top of the ridge. Thing can be so attractive when it is understated. It is the beauty of authentic modern.

It is perfect day to have a convertible ride. We went back to the house and had a raspberry pie before going to Bob and Laiyee's back yard which is 17 acre of woods. We always find something new or surprise there. Today is no exception and we found three morrel mushroom. We made a delicious soup tonight. Incredible cliff and beautifully created Japanese Moss garden by the nature.

Yeah it is simply pleasant afternoon - food, friends, authentic modernism and the nature. It makes Monday even harder for us.

History Is a Mirror To the Future

2009-03-23T22:55:00.004-04:00

I run into this article to introduce this new film 'Good Nazi of Nanjing' on BBC web site. It is Chinese version of Schindler's List. He was a Germany businessman happening to be in Nanjing during the notorious Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese Invaders. He witnessed the atrocities and cruelty of Japanese army and told himself that a man can not be silent about this kind of cruelty even though he was a Nazi member. Actually he used his Nazi party membership to save hundreds and maybe thousands of Chinese lives while estimated two hundred thousand Chinese civilians were slaughtered during a short two weeks in this ancient city during the World War Two. John Rabe is this extraordinary German whose humanity will be remembered by Chinese forever. Please click this link to read the article.

My parents' generation experienced this painful humiliation and hardship when they grew up during Japanese occupation. My generation only learned from movies and told as stories by grandparents in the neighborhood. Meanwhile we found how advanced Japanese was when I had my very first tape player and recorder made in Japan. I love a great deal of Japanese Culture and its aesthetics reinvented to great extent from Chinese Culture. However in the contrary to what Germany treats its shameful history, still a portion of Japanese tries everything to deny or minimize that dark history. They tried to rewrite and make up that history and hope that shameful history will be totally erased from the younger generations.

What makes me sadder and even angry are what I run into here. When I worked for a consortium a quite while ago, my boss who comes from Austria is very nice guy and is a great friend of mine. One time when we touched this topic, he just laughed and said something I still vividly remember. That is "come on, Chinese need get over with it". It happened again later to my Mexican American co-worker. The reaction is so amazingly the same. I still wonder what they would react if German chancellor had paid visit to Nazi's cemetery as Japanese prime ministers repeatedly visited this shrine that buries a dozen of Japanese top war criminals of World War Two. Move forward only when history is told as what it was

At the end, I would like to pay tribute to Iris Chang who finally awakes the Western world with one of the great atrocities of world history- Rape of Nanking.

Back to Atlanta Series - Our House

2009-03-01T21:30:00.008-05:00

We will go back to Atlanta this April for Sammy's Georgia Tech Architecture School 100th anniversary celebration. I guess that his excitement might affect me a bit. Yeah we can see Sammy's mom and BC and his sisters again. We may finally be able to visit our dear friends in the old hood. And our friends as well.

That certainly brings a great memory to our old house. That is the very first house we have had together and did a lot of projects around it. We just love mod quality of 50's and 60's ranch house - openness, extension from inside out, flow of chi. I miss those indoor planter dearly. We settle with our arts and crafts and feel cozy with it. But we hope that we may rekindle that kind mod house once again.

Back to Atlanta Series - Our Flowers

2009-03-01T21:21:00.002-05:00

I wish that I can do this for living. So much fun, peace and imagination without forcing.

Back to Atlanta Series - Our Garden

2009-03-01T20:38:00.005-05:00

This is the house that ignited my passion toward gardening. Natural woods in the back, magnificent Japanese Maple on the side, gardenia which gives me a long lasting inspiration for flower arrangement. It taught me that the beauty of gardening resides in harmonizing our creation with the one from the Nature.

I still miss our lady bank climbing rose. It is so naturally mingled with fig vine underneath in front of our house. It is simply warm and elegant at the same time. I experimented having Asiatic lily growing out above monkey grass. I am trying to recreate here in Ohio to create a dynamic garden - one background with different looks through the seasons. I still crave for the smell of Chinese sweat olive tree.

We may go back to see our retro mail box that Sammy created and our giant bamboo vase. Hope that we still can see the green house we built from old windows salvaged in the hood and our fountain for koi fish. We had to leave after three year hard work and finally witness the vision turned into reality. What I missed most is the sanctuary for me to practice yoga and tai chi chi gong.

Back to Atlanta Series - Our kids

2009-03-01T20:17:00.004-05:00

Trotsky never made it in Ohio. We had to put him to sleep the day before our final move after a long period of agony. We had a long walk the night before through his familiar neighborhood woods and elementary school. He was such a sweet, crazy and smart dog. We had to let Gorme go more than a month ago. She is our little fluffy butt. We are glad that they both had a wonderful time in our Atlanta house.

Trotsky would balk each single moving thing and not stop after it is long gone. We have to shout him off or literally go to the garden to knock his head off. Gormie could wait right outside chipmunk hole for hours. I hope that she could have that patience for her endless meals.

We surely miss them!

Back to Atlanta Series - Ourselves

2009-03-01T20:11:00.002-05:00

I am glad that I finally got rid of my Germany philosopher glasses. Sammy loved it and is still not totally over with it.

Back to Atlanta Series - Our Moms

2009-03-01T19:29:00.003-05:00

We had a garden tour in Atlanta with Pat, BC and my mom. Sammy baked a cute name tag for every one. It was really fun. Especially the garden of Lush Life's owner and the garden of very well known landscape architect Ryan Gainey.

Are they all cute except me there!

Pomelo - 我的柚子

2009-02-22T00:37:00.011-05:00

Last week it was another regular Monday. As usual, I got up around 7:00Am, left home before 8:00 for a seventy five mile drive to the office. It was just another winter morning with a bit thin snow in the air.

I turned on the radio and listened to WOUB which is NPR in South East Ohio. Actually it is the best public station I ever have had. While I drove through Nelsonville, snowing started a bit thicker. I switched to Pat Metheny. Somehow I love that feeling to drive through white snow powder and mesmerize cruising through California coastline when that music is on. But this time the ride was a bit different. My emotion gate just busted open on me. It brought this ride all the way back almost forty years ago. It became vivid and right back in front of me.

I still remembered that was a sizzling summer time. I was about 4. My dad was not around much since he was always assigned to work on projects far away. We might see him every three or four months. My mom was a high school principal. Always she had endless meetings into 10 to 11 PM. Still my brother and I were able to see her everyday. However this very summer, she was asked to go to another part of city and stay to receive group study for two months. It was not unusual during the chaotic period in China. She was allowed to come back home every Saturday. Sunday was only day off for a week then. During the week, my brother sent me to kindergarten and then went to school in the morning. For me, I had my three meals in the kindergarten. I knew that my mom gave my brother some money and kept some money in our neighbor for him as well. I could not remember how he got by his three meals every day. Sometimes, he picked me up in the kindergarten in the afternoon and we took a bus to go and stay with my aunt over night. Sometimes my brother had to wait outside door until I finished my supper. I still have that image of my skinny sweaty brother waiting outside the door and hoping I could swallow my food faster. It took us about 40 minutes to our aunt's home. Most times we went back to our home on our own during the week.

We counted our fingers every day for that very Saturday since we could see our mom again. During the week, we had no way to communicate with her since no access to the phone. Even though we might be all dirty during the week, we always washed our faces and feet and had a clean clothes on before walking to the bus station. We did not want her to worry about us. We walked through the neighborhood, market and arrive in the station in 10 minutes. We always got the station at 6:00 PM. When every bus arrived, we were just so anxious to fear that we ever missed her. When finally mom appeared, that was the happiest moment in our whole week. My mom checked through us from head to toe many times. She might be just relieved that we were just fine. The every first time she brought us a pomelo fruit. We were so excited and could not wait to get home and cut it open. My brother and I just fought to hold that pomelo on the way home. My mom had to let me hold half way first before reluctantly handing over to my brother. We tried to preserve a bit long but it would be long gone before the weekend is over when my mom had to leave again.

We started to count again for the next yummie pomelo. It was another Saturday. We washed our faces and feet and arrived in the bus station at 6:00PM. Many bus stopped and left. We checked every single person coming out of buses. That familiar face just did not show up. Bus arrived from every 10 minutes,20 minutes to 30 minutes. We had been in the station for 4 hours and it was already dark. We started to realize that mom might not be back today. We just had to go back home for the safety. It was a long way home for that 10 minute walk. I dragged my feet. I just wanted to cry in the dark and could not. We turned our heads every few steps to hope that mom miraculously appeared right behind us. But I just did not have someone to have arms around and cry to. My brother was just another kid 3 years older. I can not remember how we spent that long dark night and the day followed. I was worried about our mom but just could not imagine how much more worry and guilty went through her mind through another long week.

Every time I taste a bite of this juicy fruit, its bitter and sweet sense offers a life experience more memoriable.

China Becomes A Foreign Place For me --

2009-02-15T09:55:00.009-05:00

in amazingly good way. I thought that I still could feel the pulse of that country well. I read this article about Vale tines of gay couples in China. Attached are two pictures. It allows us to peek the couple's intense kiss and ease and light mood of the crowd through the lens. It happened yesterday in the Beijing street. Even though Chinese culture never has strong resentment of same sex love, it still has me breath catching of the openness of Today's China -coming from a long way in a very short time.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T14:29:00.008-05:00

We do not pay a whole lot attention to Valentines day usually. However, I sense that people around suddenly are a bit more into it or I was really not into it. Or I guess that people just need that bit warmness during the hard time. Actually Sammy always remembers and gives a sweet gift. I am just bad about this. Maybe do some flowers if that counts.

Rose, I like it but it is never my favorite. When we just repeat the same more often, that becomes boring. I used to do flower arrangement more often and love it. I love those less significant kinds of flowers. Green mum is one of them. Nothing needs be grand. Just let my mind run its flow and be mindful of beautiful things that we need each other among living creatures and our Nature.

We collected some sycamore bark last fall along our biking trail. Well Here it is my arrangement for your Valentines. Happy Valentines Sammy, all of our families and friends far or close.

A Nice Break From Winter

2009-02-07T22:49:00.004-05:00

Icing drive way still reminds of freezing cold days that barely passed. It was up to 55 F this afternoon. The drive way was still covered by thick ice and it took me a solid 3 hours to scrap and clean it up. Our neighbor's dog Nellie was around. She has been fully grown now. Very hyper sweet!

We were so worried if the electricity might go off last a few weeks. Then all our plants in green house might go to heaven or hell. Fortunately it was not interrupted as a large part of area went out of power. Today was the very first time that I was able to open doors to let my plants breath a fresh air. I have had a few plants casualties this winter so far. I am coping the pain a little better than last time.

Life Takes all Forms

2009-02-01T15:46:00.004-05:00

Have you ever heard a plant named "mother of thousands"? It is low maintenance to keep it alive and thriving but does take a bit effort to pick all the little mothers of another thousands to grow. By nature, human being tend to cherish less when something comes by easily. My neighbor told me then that this plant would grow too leggy. She gives up on it.

Well, When I got an Ikea round shallow pot and started to create a miniature Zen garden with succulents, mini figures, bridge and temple. I thought that it needs some high structures. Since nothing came to my mind handy, I put a couple of mothers which were nearby then. Since the pot has been moved in the house for the winter. These two baby moms grow into adult leggy ones. I feel that my Zen baby has a hippie mom. It is a meticulous tranquility living somehow with a sort of harmony between disarrays.

Once a while, Sammy accuses me of garden Nazi if I deny his ideas. I do not think that Nazi should never associate with gardening. Well, somehow we will tend to follow our own ways or philosophies to conduct. Most likely our ways could be single minded or narrow. But life takes all forms which have the beauty in their own ways. Yeah my struggle is going on. But I can let my hippie mom tend my Zen baby. After all, they both are Nature worshipers.

Mother of Thousands can take you by surprise with beautiful orange trumpet flowers.

Brini Maxwell in My Mind

2009-02-01T01:44:00.006-05:00

More accurately Brini is in Sammy's mind. She is this cool retro queen. Her show is our favorite and unfortunately it was canceled in style channel. Unless living in NY, we can not see her on TV. Well Sammy is so so happy to have some of her pillows now.

Are we foodies?

2009-02-01T01:25:00.003-05:00

We started the day by watch sun coming out and shining on the white snow in the bed. It surely put us in a pleasant mode. I turned out TV and watched recorded Barefoot Contessa. The show is all about making out of Cheese. This goat cheese, caramelized onion and tomato tart caught Sammy attention immediately. He just has to have it. That is what we had tonight. Just simple delightful. Ian Garten gave me a guide for my very first American dish - Italian Spaghetti and Chinese Meatball. She is simply wonderful.

Here the tart is

New Year Event

2009-02-01T01:06:00.009-05:00

As I mentioned, we went to Ohio University New Year Celebration Party last Sunday with our friend Laiyiee and Bob. We had a lunch at our house before the party. Laiyiee made her signature New Year cake made of sweet rice and red bean. We just love it. Besides the rest is all western. Sammy made this yummy lemon pasta with shrimp. All that matter are abundant for the rest of year.

I have to say that I am impressed by the Chinese Student and Faculty association to organize the event. The program was very good and involved other groups of students in OH and Athens community as well.

牛年大吉

2009-01-25T10:33:00.005-05:00

Spring Festival was my favorite holiday when I was a kid. My mom would make a new clothes for me and my brother. We would have an abundant dinner at the new year eve. New clothes and a big feast dinner was not easily come by then. It made that time of year so looked forward as a kid. Played with fire crack with friends and stayed over midnight to embrace the very moment of new year coming.

After many years aboard, this Spring Festival is becoming more and more like symbol. We might never know where life brings us to but we always know where we come from. It makes me feel grateful and lucky as a Chinese as well as an American.

We will go with our friends Laiyiee and Bob this afternoon to the New Year's party of Ohio University Chinese Student and faculty association. It was wonderful last year and the party was so packed with Chinese students and professors as well as all wonderful Athenians from our community.

As the title says, Good Luck Bull Year! It is so coincident that our Chinese have Bull year but not Bear year. I wish that all our families, friends and everyone have a better and happier year to come.

MakeOver

2009-01-21T20:04:00.007-05:00

I tried to think what I have done for the past long weekend. Really not much. Oh yeah one achievement, maybe half needs be mentioned. I started to repaint our bathroom. Well after three layers, the standard was still not met. Wonder whose standard that is ?!? Another two layers were applied by the standard setter last night. The project was finally complete. I have to say it looks good.

A natural element(Chinese wrap leaves) is added to the new light shade. They feel organic. By the way, Here it is

Go Local

2009-01-19T00:01:00.007-05:00

It appears that every once a while, we have another food recall from salad green, tomato to peanut butter happening right now. Every time it takes a quite while if not ever to figure out the source. A lot of food has to be destroyed and wasted because of how the food is processed and distributed. Despite Federal advice to put off eating foods that contain peanut butter, we are very comfortable to make peanut butter & Jelly sandwich since we have been using our local produced organic peanut butter. After the jar is empty, we take it to our favorite Village Bakery and get 50c for the recycle.

So coincidentally Sammy was making this very interesting pasta dish tonight. I suddenly realize that Go Local is becoming a part of our life without realization. We have our favorite Wild Mushroom Rossi Pasta made in Marietta, OH (used to make in Athens), chicken sausage of King Family Farm from our Athens Farmers' Market and yogurt from Village Bakery made from our local dairy Snowville Creamery's whole milk. They are organically grown or naturally raised.

We produce our own vegetable in summer and fall in our own garden or buy some from our Farmers Market. And jar some for the winter. After all, wonderful food and be satisfied to support our local farmers.

I have to show Sammy's cute presentation with Chinese Zodiac figures. Hope that Ox year brings good health and happiness for everyone.

My New Oakley

2009-01-15T22:24:00.007-05:00

I went to my eye exams after two years. Last time I picked this Gucci frame. Did I mention that sometimes Sammy just has strong opinions on what I wear. Yeah, He hated my old one and has been bitching since. He insist that he should be present when I pick the next time. Well, I picked again myself this time. It is Oakly Dictate 2.0 Metal frame. Somehow he likes it.

When I took some pictures, I was accused of becoming a Narcissus. Well he just had to squeeze into the scene. I guess that he was just so innocent^^

We Are Invited!

2009-01-15T21:54:00.004-05:00

When I got home from work this past Monday, Sammy was excited and eager to show me something. I was ......wondering if another his eBaying or .... Well he run upstairs and had this invitation from the Presidential Inaugural Committee in front of me. It reminds me of Sammy's step mom's can-not-wait showing us her Bush's white house Christmas card every year. I guess that poor Norma might miss her White House greetings for a long while.

I know that hundreds of thousand of Obama's donors might receive invites. We are just so glad that all insignificant contributions together have made significant difference. Look forward to a better tomorrow of this country and world at large.

We might be better to stay at home to witness this history making. Otherwise we might only can afford to sleep on the street in the cold DC winter night.

Wait, is White House For Sale?

2009-01-11T16:05:00.010-05:00

I just read Chinese news. One news came across about our old hood in Atlanta. On my way to work every day then, I had to see this eye sore just 5 minutes from our house. It is called Atlanta White House - A replica. It surely mimics in some way of what has happened in WH of Washington. It is like what Bush has done to our country is what this house owner did to our old hood. Now he is facing foreclosure of his own house. He is a house developer by destroying old 50's or 60's houses and building many mc-mansions. They were all asked a million and up. It destroyed the charm and its natural surrounding of our 50s to 60s neighborhood without any consideration. He is a religious freak as well next to Bush. "God Hearts You" is in front of his White House all year around. We were told that "West Wing" is his in-house church. I do not mind that you switched your god from Mohammad to Jesus. Just keep for your own. I feel that everyone is forced to be preached no matter you like or not every time we drive by(it is right on the main road into all neighborhoods). Yeah its size is so out of portion in the neighborhood.

Sorry I can not feel sorry for you dude! At least he has to carry the consequence of the mess. But Bush just flees his one and someone has to clean up the mess. Something is so wrong that if you are moron, be a big one.

Click the title for New York Time Story for this. And Click here for checking out the house for sale.

My Facial Play

2009-01-10T23:51:00.008-05:00

Sammy sometimes has strong opinions how my look should be. My hair is cut too short, or I should let my beard grow, blah, blah ... At the end of day, I do whatever I like and he is allowed to complain if he does not. Well, recently he asked to let my beard grow. I finally give a try after resisting for a while. I am posting PWP (product in working process) and let me know what you think.

Inevitability is that we can only get older. We either try to deny it by some artificial enhancement or accept it by aging gracefully. I try to accept with anxiety. I do a few things and hope to delay that process, such as masquerading, moistening or sun blocking besides my regular excises and eating healthy. I am not sure how much they help. The minimum effect is that makes you feel a bit more smooth or tender without much proof. We only have one earth to save. So does my face. I will keep trying hard as well^^

Sammy's Symmetric Setting

2009-01-10T23:35:00.006-05:00

We got some fresh monk fish today. Sammy found a Chinese recipe on line for frying Monk fish with Chinese crystal noodle. It is simply yummie. His presentation is equally simple and pleasant.

ByeBye Our Gormie Girl

2009-01-09T15:12:00.008-05:00

We know this day comes and still feel sadden. Two summers ago, we found that she had enlarged abdomen. Amazingly, she survived last year and half.

We sent her to the vet this noon to see if any hope. We were told that her system was totally clogged up. Her kidney function was failing. We had to make the decision to put her to sleep today. We brought her favorite - ice cream this afternoon. She did lose her used-to zeal for the cream and still licked bits from my finger. That was our favorite thing to do - let her lick ice cream from our fingers and feel her cat-saw tongue. Sammy and I held her for a long time before letting her go. She was such affectionate cat. She was still cooking while we held her the very last time. I hope that dads' arms gave her familiar comfort before she was finally relieved from pain.

We buried her in the side garden. She is back to the Nature. She will accompany me as usual when I go for gardening. But I have missed her mew dearly already.

Am I ?

2009-01-09T14:57:00.003-05:00

During the trip to Adirondack, we drove around besides Lake Placid where we stayed. Saranac Lake is a close town. We walked around and antiqued a bit. It is a charm town with a bit of hippieness. We had a great breakfast in Blue Moon Cafe where is a local hangout. Incidentally we found a local wholefood store across the street called Nori's. It is a very cute shop similar to Athens' Farmacy. Well Sammy found a car sticks and asked me to buy them since it tells very much of me. I did realize that I must have it after we were in the car and about to leave.

Well I run into the store and got it. I am glad that I have it now and stick on my car now. Here it is

Trip To Cincinnati

2008-12-14T18:40:00.006-05:00

Last weekend, we drove to Cincinnati to send my mom back to China. It was very early flight from Cinci to Atl before boarding for Shanghai. We stayed in very nice downtown Hilton Netherland Hotel. We went to a bit shopping with my mom since our friend Ronald gave her a Marcy's gift card to thank for her making sofa cover. The store is fortunately right next to the hotel and we can go through connected skyline. She bought a couple of nice coats with great bargain.

After the flight took off at 6:30AM, we got a chance to cruise the city more this time. Cinci is known for being very conservative. That certainly does not start well with me. But I did appreciate a bit more of the history and its architecture. Besides we went to its upcoming urban hood New Port and visited this nice antique store named Sin City. Especially we got a chance to visit one of our favorite shop Ikea as well. We took some great pictures from the top of our hotel and interior inside.

Love has No Limits

2008-12-13T13:09:00.007-05:00

I was working from home yesterday while having TV on in the background. I overheard this story. I googled this morning and found a blog with this amazing story and video. Click Christian The Lion Cub.

When Time Rolls Back

2008-12-03T22:59:00.008-05:00

I do not even know how I start this story. It seems already too far away since it unfolded right after I was born. That was back to 43 years ago when Great Culture Revolution was just around the corner. My father had been away for his work several months a time. My mom had to take care of me and my brother alone after the heavy duty as a high school principal. She had to find a nanny to take care of me. However my parents could not afford a full time nanny alone. It happened to have another baby boy less than a month older than me. His family lived right in an apartment building next to ours. His father worked with my dad in the same department. During that time, each company provided housing for its employees. Living condition was very basic. One apartment unit with 3 to 4 rooms was often shared by two or even three families with only one kitchen and one bathroom.

That boy was Tang Man. My parents and his came up with an idea to share a full time live-in nanny to take care of both. I think that we were about 4-5 month old when our nanny came to our life. Her family name was Yang. Our parents called her Yang Ma(Nanny Yang in Chinese). She was in her sixties and came from another part of the city. Until this day, I think of her often. When I was little, I always told my mom that I missed her when my mom gave me a warm bath in the winter. I do not remember much when she stayed with us since I was so little. But her love and affection instilled my little mind and becomes inerasable memory. For me, she was my grandma since my own grandma was not able to come since she was classified as "Landlord" and sent back to her countryside hometown. She had never a chance to see me grow up. I only saw her briefly but was not allowed to know she is my grandma when I was around 6.

After many years, our old neighbors still told the story of Man and me growing up from the same cradle. When we were old enough(I am not sure we were 2 or 3), we attended the same kindergarten of our dads' company. Every morning our parents sent us to the kindergarten on the bicycle and sometimes took term. When we were old enough again(maybe 5), we were allowed to go home on our own after the dinner in the kindergarten. It was 6-7 minutes walk. That freedom really excited us. We shared everything and halved our snacks every morning. I can not think that we ever fought.

We went on to go to the same class in the elementary school. I still remember the name of school - Red Flag Elementary School until his family moved to the another apartment area. He transferred to another school and so did I. We went to each other's home once a while after school or in weekend and sometimes stayed over night. We were always best friends because of that natural bond.

Now he settled in Singapore with beautiful wife Sarah and lovely son James. When he sent the last picture of us taken together, I realized that was the last time we saw each other in Wuhan. Unbelievably, it was 27 years ago right before his family moved to HongKong. I hope that we will see each other some day again.

Narcissis

2008-11-14T16:09:00.006-05:00

I am not sure how paperwhite flower is also called Narcissus. Apparently people like them. I guess that we all have that side no matter how much we claim we are so down to earth or blah blah. Well if you have experience to grow paperwhite, you know that plants may not stand tall on its own. It does need help to hold them up and straight. After a little frustration, I did find a "messy" way to do it. It is called Wire-it-Up. Here they are:

Zakaria - A Real Journalist

2008-11-14T14:29:00.009-05:00

Once a while I run into and read Fareed Zakaria's articles. They really resonate with me. The media and Republian constantly emphasize about "is economy stupid?". Certainly, that is the last straw pulled from McCain. But that is not the reason that McCain and Republican lost. Not even he is too old. The whole party runs out of any valid idea. The economy did send a shock therapy to American people - no more stupidity and insanity(I hope)! I made comments on a few blogs as "The rest world has changed rapidly. Our view toward it has still remained the same". Check out Zakaria's recent articlet titled "GOP bereft of ideas or trapped by wrong ones".

He and I have one thing in common. We both move and settle in this country. We do not have to worry about too Chinese or too Indian since we are American enough. Also we don't worry about too American either since we were transplanted from China or India. But it certainly gives me a little different way to look at America and the world as whole. This is not just Republican issue. Many American just do not get it including a lot of democrats. The problem is that we know way less of the world than we believe. That causes ignorance and arrogance at the same time. I hope that this bust of economy bubble finally makes people really think and learn.

You Make A Sanctuary For Us

2008-10-28T23:33:00.011-04:00

We moved some of our plants into the house. Maybe we can alternate some between house and green house. I do not know why our beings attach with somethings. I guess that is just living is all about. Surely they are making a sanctuary for us in the long cold winter. I wonder if I am able to make them happy and thrive.

A Ritual

2008-10-28T23:00:00.016-04:00

Winter draws close to us. It is time for the ritual once every year. I have to retreat with all my plants and move them into our green house. It is back-breaking effort. I just hauled them in and have not got a chance to make them settled nicely yet. I would like to have a very last look at them. Life cycle just goes through another year. Expect some new surprise as well as nostalgia when a year forwards. I guess that is the beauty of gardening, maybe life as general. Caring, reflecting and growing.

Babara, Did You Write These Dumb Questions?

2008-10-26T21:55:00.002-04:00

Babara, Who Did Write Your Stupid Questions?

2008-10-26T21:30:00.011-04:00

Canned Tomato

2008-10-14T22:42:00.008-04:00

We started last year to do home-made canned tomato. We did enjoy the whole winter that followed-especially making my trademark dish Spaghetti with Chines Meat Ball. It was totally home-made since the tomato was from our garden. This year we had to purchase some from our Farmers'market since our garden did not produce enough. It was a busy Sunday. Sammy made Cheese Cake for Mary's dinner before we changed gear to do the canned tomato.

Mary's dinner was wonderful. She is a great artist creating beautiful stuff. She is brutally honest and a proud liberal. I hope that my mind can still be sharp and young like her when I am beyond 80 if there is a 80 for me. I just feel very luck to have a lot of ordinary but extraordinary wonderful people around.

Well here they are

Just Facial

2008-09-24T00:06:00.004-04:00

Sammy and I went to see Don and Chris in OSU's Wexner. It is very sweat story. Well I did read An interview with Don (Bachardy)in BUTT Magazine. He did a lot of portraits for his partner Christopher Isherwood during a long period time. It is such a nice thing to record a unchanged natural process called aging. I do not think that I have that gift to paint. But I can take pictures to see how age climbs on my face. Well I took a few pictures to start. It is only facial, sorry it is not porn. Here they are

Gardening Again!

2008-09-21T20:38:00.009-04:00

I did a bit gardening again today. I know, I know. Yeah am I addicted?@## More like meditating, being real and surreal. Something makes life a bit pleasant. I love one creature nurturing the other one, the intricacy between nature and man making, the various forms of life. Well, I hope that one day I can make living with it and make other happy at the same time. It is still pipe dream and feel good just dreaming^^

Things Hang

2008-09-21T20:30:00.004-04:00

Before heading home from our drafting trip, we stop in Charleston for antiquing. Well we found this Roseville piece - hanging pot. Well we finally have our very first piece of Roseville Pot. Now it hangs right in the middle of our dining table. Just beautiful. Sammy finally found a old clock he loves and it took a while to adjust and make right time.

One of the most fun parties in Athens

2008-09-21T20:13:00.004-04:00

We went to Tom and Ken's annual Fall party in Glass House Work Nursery. Ken once told us that when his client asked where you are located, he told "we are between GUYsvile and COOLsvile.". I wonder if the client got it. I just love their nursery. Talk about invasive plants. Yeah half of Stewart town is invaded. Just charm, crazy and messy all in one. It is hippie party in town and we are glad to be included. My mom made this Chinese Scallion pan cake. And I made Date "rape"(wrap date with bacon and bake). They did not last long at all. Here they are

Feel Zen

2008-09-21T19:59:00.004-04:00

Ilk rampantly touched down in Ohio when we drove back from WV after our fun white water rafting trip. The first thing I spot was broken bonsai pot Sammy's mom and BC gave to us. I am still saddened. Well we still have all the mini figures, temple, gate which are used for my Mini Japanese garden. I hope that helps me get over with my pain.

By Accident

2008-09-01T21:07:00.003-04:00

Not Much To Show For Three day's Work

2008-09-01T19:09:00.015-04:00

I have been working on and off in the garden for this long weekend. Most, rearrange since the backyard is still a mess. It has been a torture to mow the small backyard since a lot of stuff are spread on the grass. Especially the tree trunk lies right in the middle of the yard. This trunk will be used for the backyard deck project. I tried to make a bit presentable among the mess. Just do not see much progress. But does look a bit better. Well here is my arrangement for that trunk and rest

Our Front Yard in Making

2008-09-01T18:47:00.013-04:00

I am not sure how much better it is this year. Certainly feel a bit better and only hope that monkey grass can grow a bit fast to cover the ground. A couple of weeks ago, Susan came and knocked our door. She and her husband gave us all the bamboo for us to build the fence. We did not even know them then. Well she asked me to have our garden in the Athens garden tour. I just do not know it will be ready when you see our jungle backyard. It will benefit animal rescue and adoption. The following is how much it is here to show in our front yard so far

Pattern of Light and Color

2008-09-01T18:37:00.011-04:00

Sammy took a set of pictures that records this pattern on the floor of our guest room every 5 minutes.

Jungle Backyard

2008-09-01T18:23:00.006-04:00

Well, we are going to get ride of all the grass in our backyard. Before that happens, we still have a pile of dirt from the dig of front yard - exactly two piles. I just like you to see the "before" when we have the "after". That is my mom's works for sure.

Light Through Bamboo Fence

2008-09-01T18:07:00.005-04:00

Last Thursday, we went out to have a dinner and Sammy wanted to check out water barrels in Big lot. Well they are a bit ugly and a bit small. But We found cheap chain light. We used it to light up our deck bench in Atlanta. We got some to light up our bamboo fence.

This Is Beijing

2008-08-06T08:32:00.002-04:00

Let Game be Game

2008-07-30T20:37:00.004-04:00

Beijing Olympics game is less than ten days away. As a Chinese, I have all the reason to be excited. However the news here is all about the polluted air, internet censorship, human right and Tibet. Western just has to preach its righteousness when you are invited and party dinner is about to start. I guess that we just never have enough to show how civilized we are.

One time one of our dear friends tried to challenge me and ask me if I feel so lucky to be in America. Frankly I feel a bit sad of her to ask this tasteless question. I always feel very lucky to have an opportunity to step out of China. It opens up a whole new world for me and above all, I found love of my life. But that is not what she intended to ask. The question really is how unlucky I would have been if I stayed in China. Really tell how much less American knows the world beyond us as we assume.

I came across this article in MSNBC. The title is " Why these might be the "Nationalism Games". Just feel pitiful for this writer who I believe she is Chinese American. I made following comment:

First of all, being negative sells, especially to China now a day. That is surely one of reason that Western mainstream media is so bankrupt. This article is just so shallow and ignorant.

Patriotism is good thing for American but not for Chinese. Even high school football game here starts with the American Anthem. Sounds pretty nationalism in your term, is not it?

I am China born American citizen. I love China and American. One is my motherland and another is my motherland in law. To my observation, the Western view to China is largely a part of cold war legacy and a part of superiority with anxiety. I has been critical of a lot things happening in China and here but in constructive way.

Yeah, Western has been leading human civilization during the past several hundred years. Along the way, a lot of lessons need be drawn. a lot of brutality and human suffering as well. Now the rising of China and the East at large can learn from it. Chinese system is far from perfect and so does American. Otherwise how could this country select current president twice under the name of democracy? Is that ironic?

It is not zero or whole game. The world is so intertwined together. The rule-Bad for China is good for American or vice versa applies less and less.

The world leaps forward while our view toward it remained the same.

I have not doubt that China will hold the most successful party in the Olympics history. Let game be game.

Fence, Puppy and Nice a meal

2008-07-15T22:17:00.009-04:00

I went outside after work and took some pictures of Sammy newly made fence. They are very cute. Well they are made of old wood lathes from our kitchen's remodel and recycled from a house in our hood. After hard work, it turns out to be very nice. Surely make our house "swanky" and "upscale" in our hippiehood.

Our neighbor Jane and Mike got a puppy. Her name is Nellie. My mom helps them take care of the puppy when they are at work. I do some if I work from home. She is such cutie and loves to be around people.

Finally we had a home-made hamburger with Chinese flavor and hash brown made of red and gold beet, potato, squash from our garden. they are yummy. Well here they are

Kentuck Knob

2008-07-02T22:48:00.010-04:00

Falling Water

2008-07-02T21:44:00.019-04:00

We finally made a trip to Falling Water. Something is simply exquisite and exquisitely simple. We stayed in a chalet along a river side accessed through a unpaved road called Paddler's Lane. It is in a small town called "Confluence" where three rivers meet. They are Casselman River, Laurel Hill Creek and the Youghiogheny River.

I am

Amish Chairs And Ikea Red Laterns

2008-06-15T23:30:00.007-04:00

Life Starts From Our Garden

2008-06-14T17:17:00.007-04:00

We have found bird nest once a while built on the eave of our house or somewhere high out of our reach, I worked in the yard a couple of days ago and found a bird nest built right in the shrub next to our back porch. Now three little baby birds were hatched and tended by mom and dad. They are cardinals. We can eat our dinner while watching three baby birds demanding food. Glad to provide a safe bay for those pretty birds. Surely make our life a bit of joy as well.

Eydie just had her groomed. Fluffy turns to skinny. She is still getting used to it.

Rafting In New River

2008-06-14T17:02:00.006-04:00

You might see the post from Sammy's blog. I am just posting some of pictures. It is such beautiful area - Mountain, River, Falling Water and Bridge. Even though old mining trace can still be seen, the Nature takes the course in a better direction.

Spring Never Ends

2008-05-30T00:23:00.009-04:00

It has be a prolonged spring this year. We still have not smelled the air of summer time. The temperature can still drop to the middle 40s. This endless spring is pleasant and lush. At the same time, it is like a long torture chamber since my allergy just can not leave me alone. Our garden is still in making and look better every day. But vegetable have not grown much since the temperature is just a bit low.

Peony heaven is back to Athens. It is just delightful. We finally made the bamboo fence . It is so worthwhile working two steaming afternoon last year. Otherwise we never have all the free material. Hopefully our garden will finally take shape next year.

Please Help!!!

2008-05-16T17:46:00.003-04:00

Yesterday our Chinese co-workers planed to launch a relief donation campaign inside the company. I asked Sammy to help make the post for display. I went through hundred of images. It is just heart breaking. I am not able to imagine what have been going through for thousands and thousands family. I hope that everyone can open heart to help . Thank Sammy for the beautiful work.

Please click the image to get information if you like to help and donate.

Charleston - A beautiful Swing

2008-05-04T22:59:00.006-04:00

We drove 9 hours South to Charleston and celebrated our friend JP's 40th birthday. It is hard to believe this is very first time I visited this Southern charm after I lived in South for more than 10 years and left. We really had a wonderful time -beautiful weather, blue ocean, white beach, charming court yard cafe.... Especially once favorite plant - my elegant fig vine.

At the same time, it is a bit beyond expectation in the term of sanity. $38,000 price tag for a pair of stone lion heads -Sold, $42,000 for a library mobile stair. My $180 marble plant stand here can be asked for $1,200 there. Go figure that people are happy or crazy or a lot of bitchy rich divorced wife to burn some real green to vent the anger. After all it is a beautiful city. Finally Sammy had chance to visit his last project(finish after he left) of his old company - Charles Town Landing. That was really fun.

Let Be Not Political

2008-04-15T23:17:00.006-04:00

It has been a while since my last posting. I am not sure what it is - laziness, preoccupied, or not motivated? Finally tax time is over. Even we always get a good refund but I am just not fond of filing until the very last minute.

I have been astonished how far it can go away from facts by Western media regarding Tibet. When I just come to the State, I was so puzzled why Dalai Lama is such a darling in the West and was rewarded Nobel Peace Prize.

I am not sure if anyone in the West knows what it was when Dalai was in Tibet or just do not want to know or pretend to not know. In old Tibet, Dalai was the ruler of the region and the head of the religion. And the system which he represented was called serfdom. American had slavery and serfdom can only be worse. First of all, Why did not Western media ask this basic question? Why have not we seen any prominent scholars in the West present the very facts to the public?

Dalai is such a darling for the West. But he embodies everything against Western ideals. When do we start forgetting the founding principle of this country - separate church(religion) from government. Principle demonstrates the great wisdom of our founding fathers. When some question why Dalai has many followers, hello, my stupid fellow liberals. It is called religion. When we strongly oppose Christian right to influence our government in this country, suddenly we are so retarded to apply the same principle to Dalai.

When Dalai claims often that China conducts culture genocide, monks should have been long gone or go underground instead of monks up close to 10% population, all temples should have been long gone instead of the best preserved heritage, no one should have been allowed to speak Tibetan publicly instead of Tibetan taught in School. Dalai can lie!

The next time when you put a stick "liberate Tibet" on the ass of your car, go to study and know a bit more of Tibet -yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Every time when Tibet brings in some new development, it will immediately be questioned to destroy Tibet's culture and tradition. What a hypocrite we are! It is iPod and iPhone age for us, be owned as serf for majority Tibetan. Liberal ?= progressive.Be not ignorant liberals even though your intention might be good.

Dalai is also cold war legacy. Some of Western politician and elites do not feel comfortable to witness the rise of China and fear losing the high ground to make definitions for others. The more fear, the quicker these days numbers.

China is far from perfect today. I may not agree with Chinese government or totally content with some situation in China today (thanks for being so Americanized^^). But it is definitely undeniable fact that today's China is many times better than when I left almost twenty years ago. Tibet is absolutely hundred times better than when Dalai was there. When the fact is respected, thing becomes simple.

the Moment, Mind and Flow

2008-02-17T10:08:00.008-05:00

"Be in the moment" is becoming something commonly used now

D Room Is Ready For the Chinese New Year

2008-01-30T00:18:00.000-05:00

We decided a whole ago that we would repaint the dinning room. Yeah, paints were purchased a quite long ago. We wanted it some kind of golden, metallic and rich. Surely it is so different than what we had ever done before. Still, when we started putting layers of paint on, we had some moments of uncertainty - too much golden, too pinkish .... Somehow, Sammy found some combination we started to like. At the end of a couple weekends' hard work, we realize that we really love it.

It appears that we did create something that does not fit into a clear style. It hosts a mixture of aesthetic movement, Chinese, hippie and rustic modern well. I guess that a style is something that is felt but do not have to be defined.

Something brought back from Savannah

2008-01-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned, Savannah definitely has gone through transformation for better or worse. A lot of nice shops and swanky restaurants. I do not mean Paula Dean's red neck -Hey Ya'll crap. Savannah should never be famed because of that. We visited a few nice antique shops. I am most impressed with a couple of Asian antique shops.
Just a lot of wonderful quality stuffs.

We happened to run into this home design store DC2D Design. A piece of Chinese Ceramic lantern caught our eyes.
Even better is that the whole shop is on sale since the store will be moved to a new space four times larger across the street.The owners are from LA and very friendly. We have to try hard to squeeze this lantern and a vase into our Beetle with all our backpacking gears. Here they are:javascript:void(0)
Publish Post

Savannah - Southern Charm

2008-01-07T00:49:00.000-05:00

My Garden Dream In Dungeness Ruin

2008-01-07T00:28:00.000-05:00

I always fantasize that one day we will find a place that has a ruin. I can create a beautiful garden in and around it. When I see Dungeness ruin, I can not think of anything better than that. It is so sad to see the ruin is fenced off. It would be the dream world if I would be allowed to create my dream garden in and around it. The garden would connect our imprint from yesterday to today.

Nature Has Force

2008-01-07T00:17:00.000-05:00

Life Passes By But The Place Still Stands

2008-01-06T23:58:00.000-05:00

At the north tip of the island, it stands a tiny church which is the first black baptist church in US. It was built in 1893. One event made this unknown humble building fame when John F Kennedy Jr. got married. One picture was on all the media outlets when the couple stepped out of this 12 seat church. It is still sad to think this day that these beautiful people just vanished so young. It reminds us of cherishing when we have it.

Human Imprint Today

2008-01-06T23:49:00.000-05:00