My Grandma and I

I do not remember when I started attending kindergarden. It was a daily routine for me to get up early, wash face and brush teeth and get ready in hurry in the morning. Then mom or dad rid me to kidergarden by bicycle before heading to work. Almost my mom carried that daily task since my dad was sent by his company to do on-site design far away. I always counted my figures and wished that I could be able to grow up fast. I did not hate my kindergarden. But I was so jealous of our playmates in my neighborhood. They had their grand parents around. Some of them was brought up by grand parents at home. That was just such a luxury beyond for me and my brother.

I grew up right in the middle of the Great Culture Revelution. People just did not have any control of their own life. I could not remember if I ever asked my mom where my grandma was. But my brother and I gradually grew up without. My aunt always came and took care of my brother and me in the absence of our parents. My mom brought my aunt to the city from their hometown when she was 16 in late 50s. She had a chance to finish high school and attend college.

We called my aunt's hunsband Uncle Wu. One day my mom picked my brother and me and told us that my uncle's mom just arrived. We took bus to go to visit them. I was around 5 or 6. I had seen my uncle's mom a couple years before. But I was a bit confused that this grandma looked differently from what I saw last time. She was taller, thiner and had a longer hair. I could not remember much of that visit.

I think that she arrived in fall or early Winter around 1970. Mom, my brother and I visited her 2 or 3 times a week during her stay. But she never came to our apartment. My aunt always introduced this grandma as my uncle's mom to her neighbors. However behind the door, the talk between her and my mom was like mom and daughter.

I still vividly remember two of the visits. My mom was a high school principal. She always had meeting almost every night after work. Sometimes the meeting lasted into late night(10 or 11). Sometime my brother and I went to school with her and waited until the meeting was over. One night, someone in school gave us a water melon after the meeting. It was already late. My mom would like to bring water melon to this grandma and share with my aunt and uncle as well. We took bus for twenty minutes, then walked another 10 minutes to get my aunt's apartment. I was asleepy but just could not wait for tomorrow to finish that water melon. But we could not stay for too long since we had to catch up with the last bus back home.

We usually visited my aunt's apartment after my mom's evening meeting in the week day . That was the only time we was able to. Sometimes we missed the last bus and had to walk almost a hour back home. But we never complaint since that might be the only time that we could talk with my mom for that whole day.

One afternoon, my brother picked me up early in the afternoon from kindergarden in a cold winter day. We took the bus to my aunt's apartment. I think that my mom asked my brother to go to see this grandma. When we got there, this grandma was the only one at home. My aunt and uncle were at work. She built a fire to keep the house warm. We were sitting around the fire. She peeled a pear for us and put this traditional sweat rice pie on the fire. It turned soft when it got hot. Then we dipped them into sugar power. We did not talk much. her eye was very peaceful and looked at us eating. when it was the time for us to leave, she just kept check again and again to see if we had enough to brave the cold winter outside.

A few days later, my mom brought us to see this grandma last time before she went back to the country. I still remembered that I sat next to her and my mom asked me what you likeed grandma to bring you when she came back. I hestitated since she was not really my grandma. I was tentative to say how about a hen. She asked anything more. I said: "Could I have a duck too .. and a goose as well?"

Less than a year later, I was told that my own grandma passed away. I did not even know at that time that I had ever seen my grandma before until years later. My mom told me that my grandma told her that night no matter how hard she must bring me a hen, a duck and a goose from the countryside thousands miles away. I still can not imagine how hard for her to keep from showing her affection to us at the time and that her grandsons were not allowed to know that the grandma in their dream was right in front of them.

She would live a much long life if she was not forced to go to the countryside. She would get a much better medical care. That is my mom's biggest regret. But it was out of her capacity. We just can hope that never happens again.

When Weed becomes Vegtable

When I planned to put bracken roots along our front curb, I had to remove a lot of dirt in order to make the soil level with the curb. The lawn level was much higher than the curb. I can not figure it out since none of previous owners we know were gardeners. But it was not an easy task to remove and move all the extra dirt. My body had ached for days after I completed the mission.

After having bracken planted, I was constantly checking to see if brack sprout broke the ground. Well, I observed zillions of tiny sprouts came up. I knew they were not bracken. I suspected that my mom might put some other veg seeds without my consent. well sometimes she is a bit of crazy to use every inch of yard to grow vegtable. That surely is not what I vision for my garden. I used to constantly check on her. Well that is not the case this time.

However I was so puzzeled what those new tiny sprouts are. It did not take too long for us to identify what they are. It is a kind of wild vegtable and herb. In China, we calls it MaShaHan. My mom picked up some of them and made a dish from it. It is quite tasty. It tasks like Bean Sprout. Of course, Sammy just barely touched that dish. Somehow he has a mental block to associate a weed with a vegtable. Well all today's vegtable is discovered weed from Yesterday.

Now Bracken plants are sprouting everywhere among this wild vegtable. I am not sure what I will do with it. What really fascinats me is that all the seeds were buried for a long time until I stired and remove some of dirt. Surely Bracken is beautiful. It has the gracefulness of fern but low maintanence. It loves full sun and can tolerate dry condition. I can not wait for its full growth.

Routine Starts Becoming Normal

I have been commuting between Athens and Columbus daily for exact two weeks. The new job in Nationwide is fine and I had a conversation with my mananger. Evetually I will be able to work from home most of the week. It is a nice drive with a beatiful countryside landscape even though it is long. It will not bad at all to commute once or twice a week.

Sammy's moms came and have a 10 day visit. We are so glad to see them again and have a wonderful time together. They had a chance to sample some of this Southwest Ohio town and surrounding area - farmer's market on Saturday, Zoe restaurant in a tiny town, Glass House Work nursery(Harmony in Mess), visiting Ohio oldest city Mariatta and Columbus. My mom made delicious Chinese dishes. Of course I just had to show off my signature Spaghetti Chinese Meat Ball. I surely love them to visit us often.

Well, I still tried to have our yard in order. Sammy and I are going to make backyard patio and some path ways with flagstone. I am so looking forward to it if we are ever able to have 10 tones slate put in place. By the way, my recently planted bracken are sprouting along with tone of a wild vegatable(we did not plant them). Sugar maple was order and red maple is in the ground. My vision to mingle sugar maple with gold leaf and hot red leaf will become reality. Hopefully the vision is what I expect in reality.

Some pictures to share:

Guess In The Mode Again!

I have been working in the garden quite a bit recently. Just a lot of clean-up in order to make it presentable. Really just tried to get thing done. Somehow, I feel that I like to repot some and rearrange some today. Nothing hurries and simply go with the flow of my mind at the moment. meditating or gardening?!? Well, maybe just in the mood.

Tall and Short

















Everything starts from tiny!













Life is just beautiful!














Mother of Thousands - Magic of Life














Chinese Orchid - Simply Graceful














Budda Belly - Carries My Imagination!













Nature teachs us co-existence














Harmony comes from compli(e)menting each other!

When the Moon is full

It was a beatiful night. We were sitting on the fron porch. Sammy tested his Airport to see if wireless works. It took a several tries. Of course he blamed me that I forgot the password I set. Then we figured out that signal is weak since the airport extreme is set up in the office at the back of the house. We had not been able to find his tool charger. He thought that my mom put it away and did not rememeber since it was in the kitchen. Then the matter of fact is that he moved it to the side room of the office. Well he has this not too good records now.

It is such a wonderful thing to enjoy the full moon without worrying about mosquito outside. It is almost impossible when we lived in Atlanta. Gorme had fun to explore the yard and slept on my chest. I surely enjoy this three months time off even though a lot of paint job and yard work. Several more days before I go back to work next week.

Curb Finally Appea(l)rs

I have been working in the yard during the past several days. Today, I mowed the lawn with new sharped lawn mower. I have had this lawn mower for more than 8 years. It is a good one. However I never have had it serviced. The blades were so dull.

I chatted with our next door neighbor Michael several days ago to see if he could recommend a service shop. He told me that he could sharp the blades for me. Well I said that I could pay him for the help. He told me plainly NO Money. We have become good friends with Michael and Jane since we moved to our new house. We really like them since they are just sweet and real. My mom made a Chinese dinner for them and they loved it.

Well I used my new sharped lawn mower the very first time. Surely difference was made. Michael told me that only one previous owner tried to do something in our yard but gave up in the half way during the last 12 years since they moved into their house next door. Surely I have no doubt since curb was totally covered by weeds and nothing appeals. It took me a while to trim the edge. Now curb finally appears.

This is something I complain a bit about this hippie town. Somehow people here confuse messy with natural. Garden is a kind of reflection on nature. Neatness and natural is nothing conflict. It is order without order and control without control. That is simply our instinct about the surrounding of our own habitats.

Just For You, Happy Birthday Tricia!

It has been so long since the last time when I was inspired to create a flower arrangement. I think that it is the first time since I moved to Athens. I am not sure that my touch is still there.

Well, I tried out and made one for Sister Tricia's BD. I picked up some of flowers from our yard. And make something simple. Wish you happy birthday!

By the way, how old are you, girl?

P-a-i-n(t) -F-(o)-u-l(r) Seasons

Well I finally made my mind to pick NationWide for my next job today. I hope that I made a good choice. I have to follow my instinct.

Before go back to work again, I try to finish as much the paint work as I can. The middle room in the second floor was former owners' children room. As many other parents, they created a theme painting covering every inch of the wall. We were told it symbolize four seasons. Sounds lovely!

Well the painting is nothing but heavy. Deep blue on the celling and windows, Purple paint on the door. Some messy hair look-like tree for fall. It looks a bit surreal in the pictures but .... Kids must experience real cold winter, crazy autumn, hot summer and steaming spring for sure.

When it comes to cover it, it is a pain-ful-seasons. I have to coat twice a premium white paint. A whole day was killed and I still have not started the fun part yet. But at least it is all white now.

Say bye to four seasons

New Gormie

Finally, I made another appointment for Gorme to have her hair cut. This is the groomer who mess up my appointment last time. The groomer is really in the middle of nowhere. And the road was closed and the traffice was routed. It took me a while to find the place. I was so mad. I just wanted to find another groomer.

An intern in Sammy's office gave him a groomer name and number. Sammy called this lady and left a message. However, he did not heard back from her for a while. Then he called again one morning. A gentleman answered the phone and told him that his wife Jane is working for the community college. I was still in bed and half way awoke. Somehow, I heard the phone conversation.

I asked Sammy "Are you sure that you called the groomer? It sounded that you called our next door neighbor Mike and Jane.". Well sure enough, he left a message for Jane a week ago for Gormie. She just ignored.

Later, the groomer lady called back and told us that she is allergic to cats and recommend us of calling the one that messed up my appointment. Surely it is a small town that only one cat groomer has be identified so far.

it did a good job. Besides, the service is much cheaper than that in Atlanta($45 vs $65 plus stupid tip). Gormie was happy to see me to pick her up that afternoon. She looks super cute.

Eydie is waiting for dad on the stair

Spaghetti MeatBalls Again

Since our kitchen was gutted in order to refinish the wood floor, we will cook outside on our grill for a while. I made my Chinese version of Italian Spaghetti Meatballs. Chinese has a similar dish called lion's head. It is simply big size meatball. This time I have meat balls made of beef, pork, ginger, green onion, soybean sauce. Besides, I used parsley and red wine instead of Chinese cooking wine to keep the consistency with the sauce. The sause is made of onion, garlic, celery, mushroom, diced tomatoe, red wine basil and parsley. It turned out good.

The kitchen situation certainly makes the cooking a bit more twists. I have to commute between the kitchen and grill outside many times. Here are the steps:

Our Farmer's Market in Athens

My mom and Sammy, Are they cute together!













Market and Teenages













Wonderful Bread from Our friends Robin and Matt


























Can not help but "ate it"!







































Plants make me love more of our market.

We Finally moved, Not Quite!

After two long days, we managed to move all our stuff inside and outside to our new house. It was really hard work and back breaking effort. Now the stuff is all over in the home and plants everywhere outside. I tried to have internet set up in back room on the second floor. Only found out that we have a very old phone line(two thick lines). I went to Radio Shack to see if any converter can be used. No luck. Well we have to find out.

We called moving company and was told that our main stuff will arrive in 15 days. Then it will be another round of moving before we are able to settle. I just can not wait to be over with this moving thing.

After all, I feel being at our home now!

When Can I Take Pride of My Job?

We have been working crazily hard to have house painted. We were siting on the porch and having a quick lunch last Saturday. Here came our mail man. First he introduced himself and said how much pride he takes of his work. His name is Charlie Rose. Of course he has the same as this late night talk show host. Fam..ous!! He just had to remind us of that and his middle which he emphasized that is the same as a famous athlete. I did not have a clue whoever that famous one is.

I just had a bricker with Sammy since my paint job was just never up to his satisfaction. This postman came in the middle of steaming hot day with a lot of enthusiasm and pride. I was not even allowed to take pride of my pity paint job. What a shame!

He surely impressed us with his great memory since he came back later to suggest that we should have all the receipients on the mail box. He named all of us including my mom's chinese name accurately after we just told him once. Everytime when my former bosses preached chorus about how passionate they were about their jobs, I could tell that they were barely able to cover the craps coming out of their a$$es. They were so not genuine.

I certainly could see that the passion flew out from Charlie. At the end, he told us that he is the best. But he does not like to brag about it himself(he surely does not?*^). "I want you to say that I am the best" as he steped down to the next door. We are surely lucky to have you as our postman Charlie!

Update On Progress of Our New House

Finally, we had air conditioning installed today. It is about time. We have painted living room, dinning room and office from yesterday. Even though it is very humid outside, we finally are able to enjoy the cool air when we sweat and paint.


Painted Living Room













Stair to the Second Floor


















Dinning Room -Work in Process


















Special Effect of Paint Pattern













Haunted House