A Final Update

For a few weeks at any rate. I know it's been a while but I have a million excuses, life has been quite busy and quite stressed the last few weeks. And to be entirely honest I've been exhausted and my mind quite lacking in topics of interest, and things worthy of the time it would take to write and read them. But we'll be on the ups with lots to share when we get back.

Where are we going?   China.    How long?    Three weeks.    When?    In three days.

So the rest of my week will be quite busy, trying to finish everything, pack everything, clean everything, and hopefully forget nothing! Well here are some garden pictures  as well as a few of my corset for you and if you think of us say a prayer for easy, safe, successful and enjoyable travels.

Shipwreck Adventures

A couple years ago I helped take care of an elderly neighbor of mine and on those late nights she would often tell me stories from when she was just a girl. One night I remember her telling me that there use to be a shipwreck on the south end of the beach and when they were children they would go climb around and play on it. Obviously I liked the story, but I'd been down that way so many times and never seen anything more then a couple of 12x12 beams. So naturally I assumed that the tides had long since pulled it out and down to a watery grave, and I soon after forgot about it.

However, a few months ago I was looking on the satellite view of google maps and what should I happen to see but what looked like a shipwreck. So after excitedly telling Leon (my husband) about it we decided that the next nice weekend we should go on a little family adventure and see what we could see! Needless to say it took us a lot longer then we anticipated for us to get around to it. But the Fourth of July came, and with it time off and clouds. Apparently the ship has been there since 1889, you can read about it here. I guess I should say that technically this area is now a "bird sanctuary" which is of course rediculous, however in my defense the signs use to only say no driving, so on the way down I wasn't even paying attention to them.

At any rate it was a fun day out with my loves, and a nice first outdoors adventure for my little Guin!

Happy & Blessed

Wishing y'all a happy and blessed Easter with love the Li Family!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

What are some of your Winter Favorites? I like scarves, fruitcake, hot spiced cider, snowflakes, caroling, Christmas lights, decorations, eggnog, real Christmas trees and of course cookies 

Cider Abroad

The holidays just aren't the same when your living in another country, everything is different. It's not just the obvious lack of family, friends and all things familiar but the entire atmosphere and feeling of life is off. We don't realize in America how much life changes around the Holidays, particularly Christmas. Town streets are decorated, Christmas music fills the air, there are trees and decorations, parties and family get togethers, Christmas cards and so much more. But in China it's not a big thing, though interest as "an American holiday" has allowed it to get more attention, life still goes on pretty much as normal I've even had work and school and exams on Christmas, which let me tell you is a dreadful feeling.

Unless you have yourself lived abroad you really can't begin to imagine how good it feels to be home for the holidays. Well to get back on topic, two lovely holiday staples that aren't available in China during the holidays are eggnog and cider. Our first Christmas as a couple in China I tried making eggnog from scratch,  it looked nice but it tasted a bit funky, and I really wouldn't recommend trying it. Cider however is a completely different story! Second Christmas together I tried making cider and it was amazing, not only is it delicious and easy but it also makes the house smell so amazing. I wish I had a picture to share with you, I'm sure I took one unfortunately I can't seem to find it.  But if you have either a large amount of apples or a lack of store bought cider, well then you really have to try making your own!