Be Our Guest! II

Our guests nearly doubled the size of Relief Society. (with Laura, Lily, Vernita, and Lynsey)

We had Standing Room Only tickets on the train to Qingchengshan, but Nancy, Shelly, and Charlie rated a "bucket seat"!  We all laughed so hard tears ran down our cheeks.  You can still see the tears in Nancy's eyes.

 These carriers were eyeing Nancy like vultures when we started up the mountain.  She could have made it--she's sturdy beyond her 72 years (she has exactly a decade on me), but this made for a true Chinese experience!

 Charlie and I scampered up to the top.  He's a super kid, great hiker.  I LURVE him!  He was the perfect guest, so much fun and always enthusiastic.

The Nancies!!  So different but alike in many ways too.  Between them I think they've lived in about 10 countries, but they both shared Alaska!

And my favorite picture!  The wonder of China...just when you max out on the spitting and pushing and spicy food, a random cart pusher connects with your daughter in passing for a truly magical moment.

Be Our Guest!

We welcomed these guests with all our heart for two weeks at the end of February!  They came full of good cheer AND NEWS and spread their good cheer all around.  Who's that lucky 8 year old????

Happy Chinese New Year on at Wouhou Temple and Jinli Street!

Some children shared their cotton candy with Charlie.  I guess that's a universal treat--something I've never quite latched on to.

Charlie was an attention magnet every where we went!!!  Women wanted to pet him, children wanted to stare at him, and EVERYONE wanted his picture!

Jerry instructing Shelly on the finer points of the Global Center--the world's largest building--in the background.  They were fresh out of yak creme brullee!  Boo!

Charlie crossing the 4 story glass deck at the Global Center.

Autumn was our most FAITHFUL and invaluable guide!!!!  We LOVE HIM!!

Getting my broom fix...

Spring Festival at Jinsha Museum.  Spectacular!!

A new friend!

We bought Charlie this turtle at Wenshu Temple to release in the Turtle Releasing Pool.  Hopefully that will provide him a long prosperous life!  The turtle much preferred it over the bucket outside the temple.

Autumn sends a shoutout to two of those left behind.  In the words of Confucius, "It is a great pleasure to have friends come visit from afar."

My Granddog, Chester

When I was perusing my photo file the other day, I came across approximately 400 photos that my adorable granddaughter, Lucy, had taken on my ipad when I stayed at their home in California over my mid-winter holiday in the U.S.  A large portion were of their dog, Chester, so I bring you a Chester "sandwich"--dog bread with Chinese ingredients!

This beautiful (if not a little sober) little girl was calmly sitting on the lap of her grandmother while a small band played the drums on either side during an afternoon at JinLi Street.

Everyone's getting in on the broom act.  Here's Anne doing her best witch impression outside our neighborhood coming home from church.

I thought this guy was extremely handsome.  Of course, his granddaddy appears to "tolerate" him.

At first glance this looks like a protest walk, but my students informed me that they're advertising  product.  I take my camera to school and the kids are happy to interpret all my pictures for me!  Sometimes we laugh and laugh over my inept interpretations of the world around me.

Two favorite students Todd and Chris feebly attempting to "learn me" some mahjong.

Love the hat!

These parents of some of our tutoring classes (plus Bobby and our assistant Ian) took Jerry and me to a Chinese tabletop barbecue (think raclette with various animal parts and unidentifiable fungus).  Such nice nice people.  It's a constant game of charades, but the emotions are communicated.

On Christmas morning this friend from church, Lyncy, invited me to go with her to a fur and leather mall a short drive away.  UNBELIEVABLY opulent--6 stories, probably 300 shops.  Fur coats, hats, leather boots and purses, to name  a few.

And we're back to Chester.