Christmas in Scarberia

The Christmas of 2013 will be memorable not just for good times with family and friends but for keeping the home fires burning during a lengthy power outage. So far, we are 6 days without power though were thrilled yesterday when a kind neighbour turned up on our doorstep with a shiny new bright yellow generator he had picked up for us ( in case we wanted it!). Gassed up and working within an hour, it ran all night and in the morning the house was a toasty 10 degrees instead of 4! Our street looks like a disaster zone with many branches from the mature trees that we admire all summer now perched precariously on wires and festooned on cars and lawns. We peer out the window with great anticipation every time we hear something that sounds like a truck. Maybe they have come to rescue us from the winter cold and dark! A turkey dinner with family in Tillsonburg and presents by our trusty Regency fireplace cheered us up. The sun is shining today and the sparkling ice on the trees is truly beautiful and tomorrow is another day!

Weekend in Montreal

Fabulous but freezing weekend in Montreal to celebrate yet another birthday. Just like when we went to Quebec City in January one year, we had to buy some warmer hats and gloves to protect us on our strolls. A real highlight was the hockey game ( a first for me)  between the Canadiens and the Penguins. Bravo to P K Subban and Sidney Crosby who are true stars! 

Last Harvest

Hard to believe that we were still collecting vegetables from our garden in mid  November! Beets, leeks, kale and Swiss chard. Alas, the raspberries didn't make it through the last frost. The leeks made a delicious chicken pot pie. Comfort food for these gray days. Enjoyed a fabulous multimedia David Bowie exhibit at the art gallery for a culture fix. I didn't realize what a multifaceted artist David Bowie is. And I love the views of downtown Toronto from that amazing architectural gem. 

At the Cabin

Last weekend in Bancroft for a while I expect. The shed for the vintage tractor now has the steel roof on it and more copper bracelets were made. A roaring bonfire got rid of all the brush and kept the snowflakes away. Snow on the fir trees a harbinger of what is to come. 

 

Winter is on the way

The brilliant fall leaves have faded and fallen. The basil has survived the frost at night but its days are numbered! Went to the Art Gallery of Ontario for the Ai Wei Wei exhibit which was very poignant after being in China so recently. We saw only the surface of that amazingly complex society. Waiting for a furnace to be installed at home. Our fireplace is doing a valiant job of keeping the chill out if the air. I am thrilled that my jewellery production in the summer has resulted in $900 for my contribution to our United Way campaign at work. Can't wait to do more and focus on the metal work rather than the entrancing beads. 

Back in the Saddle

Well my six month journey has come to an end with many amazing memories to amuse me through the winter. Fall is here with the first fire in the fireplace last night. The leaves are turning brilliant colours and falling to cover the ground. I am reacquainted with all my work buddies and sharing my adventures. I feel so fortunate to have had such a wonderful time with my friends and family as we explored the world. I will continue the Serendipity blog over the coming months as the spirit moves me. 

September 28 Beijing Last Day

The tour is almost over. We have seen marvels both natural  and man made and have been witness to how quickly a society can transform itself into  something different. We spent the day in a haze that never lifted. Many folks in our group were coughing a bit. The pollution is quite bad here but the city impressive nonetheless. We saw  Tiananmen Square, the  Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Quite impressive to be in such historic places. A final dinner of Peking Duck and we bid farewell to our wonderful travelling companions and guide. 

September 27 Beijing and the Great Wall

Magnificent, amazing, massive, beautiful....what else can be said about the Great Wall of China built over 2000 years ago. The Ming Tomb on the way to see some 600 year old sculptures. Beijing is full of traffic jams, hard to imagine that 20 years ago there were few cars and lots of bicycles. 

September 26 Beijing

 Arrived and went immediately to the old section if the city to take a rick shaw ride (bicycles thank goodness for the drivers) through the narrow passages to have lunch at the home of a local artist. His family has lived there for 5 generations. Home cooking is the best! A lovely low key way to be introduced to this historic place. A tea ceremony then back to relax at our 5 star hotel before tackling the Great Wall tomorrow. Still marvelling at how quickly a rural agrarian country has been transformed over the past 20 years. Obviously high rises  and luxury cars seem to be the way to go to get ahead in the world. Equality for all is a dream for many that seems to fall apart when combined with human nature.  Not quite sure what to make of it all. Oh well, I guess I've done my part so far to contribute to the economy and can now sit back a bit and see how it all plays out. 

September 25 Xi'an

Xi'an is a really happening place! A city of 8 million-not large by Chinese standards.  Everyone is very well dressed and there is a feeling of prosperity here. Our guide said that the city bird is the crane...because of all the building cranes! Rows and rows of new condos being constructed everywhere  while farmers, both men and women, still till the fields surrounding the city by hand. On the way to a tour of a local art institute and calligraphy lesson, we drove through a "morning market" where we saw a goat that gives fresh milk tethered to a mailbox, fresh Fuji apples, persimmons and pomegranates all brought in by the farmers at 6 am.  The Terra Cotta Warriors site is truly the 8th wonder of the world. We were all speechless with amazement at the magnitude of it all. The rest of our jam packed day included a visit to the Great Wild Goose pagoda in a peaceful park and a brief walk on the wall that surrounds the old part of the city. Beijing tomorrow!