中国 - Zhongguo – Center Country

I was intimidated by China before going. Part of this was because I had so little information about the OT work we would be doing. But much of it was because I expected China to be so different and foreign from what I had experienced before. While in China I was frequently amazed at how normal and comfortable it felt and how easily I adapted to the little differences, like the weave of buses, cars, bikes, and people that comprise a city intersection. I called it "threading the needle." You find that one space amidst all the traffic and move yourself through it. Chinese intersections truly are an amazing phenomenon of instinctual organization in a seemingly chaotic space.

I'll post more later but this video is a taste of what I experienced in China.

This is a time lapse video that I took on the path to the Qing tomb museum/Terracotta Warrors, at a Beijing intersection, the Great Wall, and the Yuyuantan (park) in Beijing.

Here is a link to a higher quality version of the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV569vlj0QU

Summer is here!

It has been a tough spring in the Pacific NW this year. As a matter of fact calling it spring might be generous.  We turned the heat on June 20th because our house was just too cold.  We are ready for a little bit of warm weather.  We decided to celebrate the  Summer Solstice on the 21st by going to a local park to watch the sunset. Crystal picked me up at work and we drove over to the sound to watch the sun go down and have a picnic.  I’m a sucker for sunsets and we hoped the first day of summer would provide a peek of good weather and enough of a break in the clouds to see some color on the clouds.  It turned out to be a fun night.  The kids were crazy enough to wade in the sound (water temp about 45 degrees) and had fun playing on the beach.    Right at the time the sun was supposed to set the clouds actually broke and we got a view of the sun setting over the Olympic Mtns.  Summer Magic!

Here the kids are on the little island or gravel bar out in the sound. They had to wade through 50 fee of freezing water to get there.

Lucy enjoying the beach life.

This was a game of don’t take my pictures.  The kids were cold and wet after wading to an island in the sound and this got them running around and warmed back up a little bit.

By the way Seattle’s calendar must have been a day off because today 6/22 the weather has been fantastically glorious like it  usually is in the summer.  Phew!!

Finally!

Katie was happy to finally be out of Elementary school this year.  She got kind of a tough deal when we moved from Georgia to Washington.  In Georgia her last year of elementary would have been 5th grade and then off to Middle school.  Here in Washington she had to wait until 6th grade and then go to Jr. High.  After a tough 5th Grade year Katie landed with a good group of kids and a great teacher and has really enjoyed this last year of school, making good friends and having fun memories.  Upon Graduating she received the presidential award for academic excellence.  We are proud of the effort she has put forth in her schooling and look forward to new adventures next year.  Go Katie! :)

Crystal was in charge of getting refreshments for the graduation ceremony.  The Cream Puff’s were yummy!

A tough hike to bear

I took my Emma on her 1st one on one backpacking trip this weekend.  We decided to go over to the dry side to try escape the rain.  It may never stop raining this spring in Western Washington.  So far this year we have had one day above 75 degrees.  I searched online and found a great trail called Ingalls Creek.  There was lots to look at, beautiful wildflowers, varied trees in the forest, sunlight (gasp) on the rocks made for interesting views on the way to the campsite.  We hiked in a coupe of miles and made camp right next to the creek.  The creek was so noisy we had to raise our voices to talk but it was a very pretty place to spend the night.  Emma had fun hopping on the large boulders that lined the bank and we enjoyed having a small campfire to ward off the evening chill.  At dusk we had two visitors.  First a small field mouse with the biggest eyes you have ever seen came and inspected our camp for crumbs.  He found a few bites then went back into hiding.  A little later a bat made an appearance and buzzed by our heads a couple of times.  There were very few bugs on the hike and I didn't even apply insect repellent.  Compared to our last camping trip the lack of skeeters was heaven.
The last and best visitor came the next morning while we were cooking breakfast.  A medium sized black bear ambled almost into our camp (probably could smell the bacon) before we saw it and shouted it off.  I was cooking and had my back turned but Emma said it got to about 20 feet before she yelled to get my attention.  By the time I looked up the bear was about 40 feet away and was ambling up a steep hill.  It was a thrill to see a bear so close and it got my heart beating as well.  The cameral was in the tent so I didn’t get any pictures of the bear but I did get lots of other  pictures.

Lu La the rocker

Here is a picture of Lucy in our front yard.  She is riding a rocking horse that Dad brought to North Carolina when Emma was a baby.  I think he bought it at the Larsen Picnic and then carried it on the plane in two pieces.  Airlines were less restrictive with carry on luggage back then.  Uncle Monty made it and our kids have loved that horse!  Katie once tied Emma to it and made her cry because she couldn’t get off.  It has been rocked, tipped and smashed but it still keeps on ticking.  We have carried that horse from NC to AZ, back to GA and then up to WA.  As you can see it has been ridden hard and had its ears ripped off a time or two.  Lucy loves to rock on it and the horse has an honored place in our Family room.

Derby Time

It is Pine Wood Derby time.  Chas just participated in his first derby.  We had a lot of fun designing the car and racing it.  There were some crazy last minute modifications to get the car up to weight.  His car was a great starter and he did all the painting on his own.  In case you can’t tell it is a shark car!  He won some races and lost a few too and won an award for the most innovative design.

It’s Rhodie Time :)

When I first had the opportunity to come to Seattle several years ago it was spring time.  I immediately fell in love with the place seeing all of the beautiful flowers and the million shades of green.  I still feel the same and more! 

There is a Rhododendron garden near my work so I took an hour at lunch to walk and take pictures.  Locally these plants are called ‘Rhodies’ and we have picked up the habit as well.  We are blessed to have several bushes in our yard and I love it when they bloom in the spring.  I always wanted to plant one of these in Georgia but it was too hot where we lived for them to grow.

I took a couple hundred more pictures but these are some of my favorites.

Little no tooth

you know how it goes lose a tooth and get money. This is her 1st lost tooth.

Expectations

I drove home from Arizona on Tuesday via a rather zig – zig – zaggedy route.  I veered from my route the first time to go to the Grand Canyon.  I followed Interstate 40 for 30 miles, only to find out that the road to the Grand Canyon was closed due to an accident.  I turned around and retraced the 30 miles, deciding along the way that I would visit the meteor crater.  I had a nice visit there and upon leaving I decided that I still had time to see the Grand Canyon and could get there via another route!  I arrived at the Grand Canyon about an hour and a half before sunset.  They canyon is always a place full of color and I imagined that sunset would just add to the dimension of color.

Walking toward the canyon I reminisced about how wonderful it was when I was able to see it for the first time when Mom and I went.  As the canyon came into view it was as spectacular as the first time I saw it.  I could see the beautiful rock layers and the river below.  But I was really taken aback when I looked to the West and saw not the colors that I expected but rather a darkening succession of canyon walls.  It was stunning.  It was nothing like what I expected but it took my breath away! 

 

Carpe Momento

April 1st was serendipitous – so often driving down the hill I see beautiful scenes.  This day was no different except that the snow encrusted trees made the scene even more stunning!  I didn’t have my camera with me and I fought the urge to return home to get it but I finally succumbed and ended up with some of the most beautiful pictures that I have taken in a long time.  It is a lesson in the importance of everyday moments.  It is a lesson in following your instincts.  It is a lesson in seeking perfection despite imperfections (i.e. smudges on my lenses that mess up every pic I take!).  It is a lesson in Carpe Momento – seize the moment.

 

Myrtle Beach

Hello Family!
Its been a while, still trying to figure this whole blog thing out...? But anyways i figured i would get on here and let everyone know that Myself, Jaqui and Jaylin just spent an amazing weekend in Myrtle beach for Easter. It was my first time in Myrtle Beach and it was absolutley gorgeous! We stayed at the Hilton overlooking the ocean. Spent alot of time relaxing in the sun and just enjoying each others company. We had pictures taken and i've posted them to facebook. So... since i dont know how to put them on here i will give you the address and you can check them out there!
Love and miss you all!!
Jayson, Jaqui and Jaylin

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=200411&id=562059881&l=451dac239f