March Musings

My Sarah girl turned 18 this week. Where have 18 years gone? It just seems like yesterday that she joined our family on a blustery day in March. We welcomed another girl with open arms and hearts and our circle of love just grew larger.

Sarah and her favorite cherry cheesecake.

 Amused with Anna's gift.

We bought her a birthstone ring and Mama wrote 'another' letter. 

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. 

Today the girls and I visited my baby sister's gravesite for the first time since her funeral in March of 2005. Seven years have passed and I still find it hard to believe that she is gone and that March still brings with it memories, sorrow, and the insistent question of why. Sarah had been wanting to go and today dawned clear and was a good day for driving. Sarah, Anna and I drove to Camperdown and I was able to locate the church yard where Wendy is buried. I wasn't sure I would remember exactly how to get there, but managed to find it without any problem. 

Wendy was the sister any family would love to have. She was generous, kind-hearted and loved with an amazing heart. All my girls were very blessed to have her in their lives. She cared for them and loved them as if they were her own. Wendy was a joy to be around with her quick wit and beautiful smile. I miss her so much and think of her often. 

The girls remembering their special Aunt Wendy. 

Thank-you, Anna for your great photography today. 

We then headed towards home but made a quick stop in picturesque Mahone Bay for some more photo ops for Anna.

Mama and Sarah - Mahone Bay - March 2012 

The often photographed three churches in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

A day of remembering, making new memories and getting in another spring road trip. Thanks girls!

Weekends Are For .....

This past weekend was a combination of relaxation, competition, celebrating new life and exploring a part of Nova Scotia that I have never experienced before.

Looking towards the Cabot Trail on the way to Sydney.

Anna's high school basketball team proceeded to the provincial competition which was taking place in Sydney, Cape Breton. I had never been to Cape Breton in the 27 years we have lived in Nova Scotia, so Andrew and I decided to go and cheer on the team and enjoy a relaxing weekend at a B&B. We booked 2 nights stay at Colby House and were pampered with a delicious breakfast for 2 mornings in a row.

Colby House, Sydney, Cape Breton

It was the break I needed and the girls won their first game against the Cape Breton Bears which put them in position for a Bronze medal. The last game against Yarmouth was a hard battle, and they ended up in fourth place. They played extremely well and came home very tired. Very proud of the NKEC Titans!!

The Northeast Kings Education Centre senior girl's basketball team.

We also celebrated with Kathryn and Tim this weekend as they welcomed their second little girl into their family. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and they gave her the name Kathryn (Kate) Jane. We certainly take advantage of Skype and have been able to see Kate and talk to Kathryn. She is a very adorable, perfect little girl. We are so very blessed to have 4 beautiful granddaughters.

Beautiful Katie Jane born March 3, 2012. 

All in all, a weekend to remember - thankful for my wonderful family.

Just north of Beijing

(This is a guest post from the husband of the blogger.)

Last week I attended the 7th International Strawberry Symposium, held in Beijing. Of the seven, I have only missed one. This one was the largest (~1000 delegates) and probably the most interesting from a scientific as well as cultural standpoint.

The site of the conference was building #16 of a resort complex. It had over 1000 rooms and three very large halls. There were lots of security people (Beijing Police, military, etc.) around to keep us in line and to prevent us from photographing the hotel. This image was from the bus as we were leaving.

The hotel lobby from the third floor.

These gals escorted dignitaries and posed for ordinary folks just wanting pictures.

In advance of the conference, a strawberry-themed exhibition centre and "theme park" were constructed.  Money seems to be no obstacle to showing who is #1 in world strawberry production.

Our tour guides awaiting us.

Production is mostly in these (passive) solar houses.  There are thousands of them north of Beijing.

The north brick wall is about 70 cm thick.  It absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night.  Even though the outside temperature may be -10 C, the inside temperature doesn't drop below about +8 C. Would this work in Nova Scotia tucked into the North mountain?

This experimental vertical system would go well in my kitchen.

A street scape viewed on our trip to the Juyongguan pass of the great wall.

Sixteen tour buses parked behind this arch.

The wall at this pass was designed to keep out invaders from the north.

It was a smoggy, hazy day (very common in the vicinity of Beijing). The wall climbs the mountain with watch towers at the peaks.

I walked up to the first tower. The stairs were uneven in height and very steep.  A good cardio workout!

Proof that I am not making it all up.

Very steep!

Normally, the wall wouldn't have this many people on it.

Detail on the eves of the Cloud Terrace.

The wall climbs the mountain on the opposite side of pass as well.  The great wall is a sort of pilgrimage site for the Chinese. From rural villages around the country, people desire to visit the great wall once in their lifetime.

Some old-school weapons.

Looking from the wall into a village.

Ditto.

Tourist shops.  Note the red banner which welcomes the Strawberry Symposium delegates.

Very ornate!

You have heard of a wall-flower, how about a wall-cat.
After leaving Juyongguan pass, we headed for the Ming tombs. Ming Dynasty emperors starting about 600 years ago built some fancy burial places for themselves and their favourite gals (who were interred at the same time as the emperor) along with some other possessions. There were 13 Ming tombs.  We visited the Dingling tomb which has been excavated and restored. All of the tombs were located in an area chosen for its favourable feng shui.

Approaching the Dingling tomb, you can just see the soul tower which is just before it.

The tree of choice is the Imperial Cypress. A closer look at the leaning ones in the distance show...

... that the leaners are actually made of concrete. Many of these cypresses are well over 200 years old,  ...

... and they even grow out of the walls.

The soul tower, contains a sculpted obelisk...

...which has a series of...

... dragons encircling it.

Descending 75 metres into the tomb...

... you pass through several arches which have doors of copper...

... then jade, each with 9 x 9  knobs which likely have some religious significance.

There were thrones, just in case his spirit needed a place to sit.

And finally, the final resting place.  The emperor would be in the biggest one.  Apparently the builders of this tomb would have been executed so they wouldn't tell others where it was located.

On a lighter note, a couple of humorous signs.

This was just below the shower head in my hotel room's bathroom.

Self explanatory in any language.

Thanks for sticking to the end.  It translates "I Love Beijing".