Clearing out

I must be in a moving mood.  I don't necessarily like the actual process of the move itself, but I will admit I like unpacking in a new place that has not yet had the time to accumulate dust bunnies.  I like finding new ways to arrange the furniture, the kitchen, the bookshelves.  For someone not exactly gifted in the area of housekeeping, it's one time I'm highly motivated.

Now  I like our little place.  We live on the 23rd floor with a view of city all around and mountains in the distance.  I have a small enclosed balcony that I have set up a little corner for reading and sewing (space shared with the dryer, hanging laundry and various stored items) and I love sitting out there on sunny days.  At this time of year, when it is cold the one truly warm place in the house is that one sunny spot on the balcony.  NOT being a big fan of the cold, I get a lot of reading done on those cold but sunny days. 

But just the same, the urge to move is upon me.  Reasons?  Well, for one thing, we are used to having space to for people to stay with us.  We love it when people are passing through and can spend a few days with us.  We've almost always had an extra room, or at least an extra bed.  But at the moment there is no space for that.  I'd like that extra bedroom for that.

Also, I really could use an office.  I'm training as a life coach and have already seen a number of clients, it would be nice to have an office at home to meet clients.

 I'm recognizing the symptoms because suddenly I"m going through bookshelves and cupboards sorting through things that we no longer need.  A packrat I'm not.  There are certain things I love and won't part with, but I am happy to clear out space and get rid of clutter.   So currently, my dining room table has a pile of books and other items designated as donations to the local homeschooling resource center and other friends. 

For me, the clearing out stage immediately precedes the packing up stage.  I'm hoping this is a prophetic act.

My dream place would be, hmmmmmm, well, I have learned to like living in a tall building, so another upper floor if I had my way, nice and sunny, a larger kitchen (also sunny), a little further North since that would put us closer to most of our friends and the locations we are most often.  But still a balcony.

Chinese New Year is coming up, a long break off, perfect time for moving.  So maybe.......

I'll keep you updated.

Cheers!

Celebrating Christmas

I have to admit I've always loved Christmas.  As a child, I liked it for the reasons most children do....PRESENTS.  Eventually even that strong mercenary motive began to wane.  When I was 15 I became a Christian and Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me.  Lines out of often sung Christmas carols like "God and sinners reconciled" spoke profoundly to me in a way they never had before. 

Then I had my first baby, a whole  new level opened up.  Now understand, my daughter was not quite a year old for her first Christmas, but suddenly my motivation to really celebrate in any way possible really moved up a few notches.  By December 1st of that year we (well, me really) were baking cookies, decorating, getting a Christmas tree, getting presents.  All during the time my children were at home (still one here, thankfully) Christmas traditions grew.  As the girls got older we did more and more of the cooking together.  One daughter was especially good at decorating and setting a nice table that was a wonderful asset.  While still in the US we added the tradition of volunteering at hot meal programs and similar projects.

A personal favorite tradition of mine was the annual Christmas shopping date that Mark and I went on.  I would carefully prepare a list of gifts we needed to get and then we would get all of it (or most, if not all) done in one day.   He would take a day off of work, we would shop, stop somewhere for lunch, then finish up the shopping and go home.  Although it was a long, sometimes tiring day, it was fun and very satisfying to spend that time together.

Living in China has brought some changes.  No more real tree for Christmas but we adapted to the idea of (shudder) an artificial one.  Still baked our cookies although we had to go further afield for ingredients and some things were just not to be had.  But I had gotten into the habit of making Rugelach every year and we were still able to make that, I just had to make my own sour cream. 

The upside of being in a country that doesn't have Christmas as a national holiday is that you can actually receive your package sent from home ON Christmas Day.  Which is what happened this year, the second time it's happened since moving to China, the first time was our first Christmas.  Very cool.
Another thing is that you don't have the crazy holiday shopping crowds here.  Just the normal crazy shopping crowds.  But don't worry I will get to experience that in abundance when Chinese New Year begins.

There have been other changes in my celebrations.   Being the person that I am, I am continually thinking, reading and rethinking.  The current rethinking has brought some really good changes to my Christmas customs.  I've started giving more and more handmade gifts.   I like doing this so much that one of my New Year's resolutions is to spend my downtime, like when I'm watching tv with Mark and Seth making gifts to give next Christmas.  Since I like sewing, knitting, and numerous other little crafty things this will be a gift to myself as well.   I've just found a simple pattern for crocheted fingerless gloves I can't wait to try out.

Another change was prompted by the website:
Changing the Present

I have certain friends and family who a) have all that they could want and b) share these ideas and I send them gifts from here.

It is a site that lists numerous projects and charities:  water wells, books for schools, food for school children,  clearing minefields, and many other things.  You can make a donation in the name of a friend or relative and they will receive a Christmas card in the mail telling them about the project.  I find it a wonderful way of giving that reflects the heart of Christmas.

So though things have changed over the years, reasons, customs, gift giving, children added to the family, children moving out on their own.   Christmas seems to grow even more meaningful for me every year.

Cheers!

Wintery Winds

Now you have to understand.  We live in a city that is known for it's Spring like temperatures year round.  A very pleasant locale for a family who is not a fan of extremes.  We do have a winter (in spite of the advertising) that usually lasts a couple of months but that really is about it.  We layer up, get out the semi-working space heater and hang in there until about February when we start seeing more comfortable temperatures again.  Even with that it rarely snows here. 

THIS year has proven to be a little colder than most.  My running schedule has gone right out the window because I hate the cold and even though I know it would warm me up,  I can pry myself away from my bathrobes (doubled), hot tea and space heater only for absolute necessities.  I do it and I brave the cold, but in a city that doesn't bother to heat it's buildings for only two months of cold there's no escape. 

We heard from some friends living in Hong Kong who were wondering if their city might see snow for the first time in over 100 years because of the low temps.  So not just us!

As it happens, our bedroom is just off an enclosed balcony, all windows.  And the doorway that leads from our bedroom to the balcony is just that a doorWAY not a door.  So not the warmest room in the house :). 

The other night I woke up convinced that we were having an earthquake because the windows were shaking and rattling like they were going to come out of their frames.  As it turned out it was just a strong, cold, winter wind that had blown up in the night and one of our windows with a broken latch had blown open.    After getting up to tie the window closed Mark came shiveringly back to bed.  Thank goodness for shared body heat!

But every few days the sun comes out for a bright and beautiful day.  Those days are gratefully welcomed.  Those days are the days I'm glad we homeschool.  For the cold and bitter days it's huddled up on the couch watching documentaries, reading good books, brainstorming ideas for writing projects.   For the sunny days,  out we go,  to soak in the sunshine while we can.

Is it heresy to hope for a sunny Christmas?

From the Crow's Nest,
Jamye

Welcome to our World

Post 1 of a new blog!   You can look forward to random posts posted randomly about our life and times in China. 

It's Monday on our side of the world, while friends and family back home are just a few hours away from getting up to start their week our first day is quickly drawing to a close.  For me, Monday means Chinese class (as does Wednesday and Friday).  Now I have to admit that some Chinese classes are better than others and while I would like my first post to start on a positive note, today's class definitely fell into the category of "not so good".   I have a most sweet and patient teacher but if this were housework rather than Chinese class I think she would be saying "you missed a spot!".  Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.

Weaving through traffic on my old, but reliable electric bike on the way home I really felt frustrated.  So I did the things I do to get to a better place.  I texted my very understanding husband a few times and vented my frustrations, he responded with some appropriately comforting replies. 

After that, I turned to one of my other fallbacks, exercise.  Something I need anyway but when feeling the way I do today it is always especially therapeutic.  So I got out the Wii Fit Plus and marched, stretched, stepped and swiveled till I felt better. Feeling much better now.  Next on the agenda is making dinner and while I"m at it, some good hummus for lunches this week.

Other highlights for the last few days.  We got our Christmas tree up and our house decorated.  A good friend just moved to our city and I can look forward to getting to see her more often.  Today was a beautifully sunny day.  AND next week Christmas break starts...HALLELUJAH!.  Hopefully, besides Christmas preparations and other events I can do a little catching up with my Chinese studies and start off the new year with a MUCH better experience.

For now,  zai jian! (Goodbye)
Jamye