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"What's New II"
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Ah....just when I figured a way around the "censor" issue I ran out of photo space on my blog. What a bummer! I am sure there is a way around this too.....I just have to figure out how to work the system...
Tim is in Vancouver this weekend. Abi stayed out very late last night as it was her Senior Prom. We both slept in this morning then went to lunch at TaiKong Lu (a fun lunchy/shopping place) and did a little browsing. And...tonight we took Peter to dinner at a new place called Cool Docks. It is just across the river from our apartment. Swimming would be the fastest way to get there....but....we would die from the nastiness of the water....so....we took a taxi because the ferry was closed for the evening.
Tim is in Vancouver this weekend. Abi stayed out very late last night as it was her Senior Prom. We both slept in this morning then went to lunch at TaiKong Lu (a fun lunchy/shopping place) and did a little browsing. And...tonight we took Peter to dinner at a new place called Cool Docks. It is just across the river from our apartment. Swimming would be the fastest way to get there....but....we would die from the nastiness of the water....so....we took a taxi because the ferry was closed for the evening.
Friday, May 22, 2009
OOPS!
A crazy thing happened on the way to my hair cut appointment today.
A crazy thing happened on the way to my hair cut appointment today.
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My taxi crashed into another taxi...or... did the other taxi crash into my taxi? The yelling started before either driver got out of their respective cars. It has been hours since that happened and I think they might still be yelling at each other. I am totally fine....just a little "freaked".
What does one do when your taxi gets in an accident in Shanghai? I have no idea. So....I watched what the passenger in the other car did. She got out of the taxi crossed the road through the traffic and haled another taxi. So....I did the same thing.
I am still blogging like a mad women...and feeling a little smug and tech savvy that I "worked" the censor system.
Monday - this week
Happy Mothers Day
My new baby arrives!!!
My new baby is a Juki industrial sewing machine. It came in three boxes and was assembled in our foyer.
Ta Dah!!! Isn't it a beauty?
It is like driving a very fast sexy sports car. Top speed is 5500 stitches per minute.
Strip piecing here I come! Watch out I am a wild women!
I am working on perfect 1/4 inch seam allowances while going full speed....well maybe not full speed. I don't have a 1/4 inch guide foot (yet) so this is a little tricky. Then.....my quilting friend Vreni gave me a great tip. Place a magnet on the throat plate at the 1/4 inch mark. The magnet sticks to the metal and works as a perfect seam guide!!! Wah Who!!! Full speed ahead!
One more post today before I get caught (see below)
Flash back to last Saturday....
The school hosted a brunch for all the graduating seniors last Saturday. The kids met with the counselor for a few hours in the morning and talked about repatriating and living on their own at college. The parents were invited to join them for the afternoon. We had one on one time with our student....they had a set of questions that we answered and then we listened to the Counselor read the Dr. Seuss book, Oh the places we will go. That is a perfect book for the graduating senior!
Afterwards the Mr. Harris gave us a tour of the new high school. All I can say is WOW! Our senior were just a little green as they are just a year early to enjoy the new facility.
Bud, Amanda, and Abi ready for the tour....
What a fashion statement!!! I think we need one in every color! After the tour we went to Yu Garden in search of a dress makers mannequin. Abi wanted one she could drape fabric on and take to school with her next year.
We went several places...I thought I knew just where to find one....but I was in the wrong building. We finally found the "right" building but they were closed. We were very disappointed.
With the help of our "ribbon lady" and some might fine Pictionary we walked to another area of the "notions village". With luck we found a store that was still open.
We found a "body" shop and we were immediately directed to follow the sales guy into an alley... I started to have flash backs from a previous visit to this street with my friend Teri...
Down the alley....into his house...and then into the storage room... Okay....so it was a little creepy but Abi was there so I wasn't scared.
In the storage room... Who has a room full of "models"???
Ladder to the "upstairs" storage area....We measured Abi and found just the perfect model...Her name is now Sally...
Abi making her purchase
Happy shopper....
Down the alley....into his house...and then into the storage room... Okay....so it was a little creepy but Abi was there so I wasn't scared.
In the storage room... Who has a room full of "models"???
Ladder to the "upstairs" storage area....We measured Abi and found just the perfect model...Her name is now Sally...
Abi making her purchase
Happy shopper....
Abi and Sally on the streets of Shanghai...
Okay....I am posting like a mad women before they find out my secret "go around the system" access to the blocked web sites...
Concordia Auction 2009
This is the 10th anniversary of Concordia International School Shanghai and in celebration of that occasion all of the funds raised at the auction this year went to the Yunan Education Foundation. This foundation was started by two high school students and has continued to grow. The funds go to a village in Yunan that support education and build water systems so the people can have safe drinking water.
Here's our "Shanghai Gang"...don't we look pretty.....Okay...we always dress like this....NOT!
Shelly, Tom, and our "return for a visit" friend Hakan
Angie and Mike
Kathy and Mike
Kathy and Brian
Forgive the missing blogs for the past few weeks. The "great firewall of C" blocked all blog sites for the past three weeks. They are still blocked....but....I learned a way to "get around" (shhhhh!) that issue so I am FREE to blog as I want. Yippee!!!
So here is the quick and low down on the Spofford family...
Tim is currently in the US...soon to make a stop in Vancouver and then in Bellingham to see Tucker.
Tucker is busy finishing many projects for school and looking for an apartment for next year.
Abi finished her last final and is writing her last essay (today) for her high school career. She is very excited to be done with the "school part" of school. She will start a two week internship on Monday at Hyatt on the Bund. She will then have one week of presentations and graduate on June 11th. Yippee!!!!
Tucker and Hattie will be here for Abi's graduation then we are all off to Tibet to climb to the base camp of Mt Everest. Tim will celebrate his 50th B-day at the base camp. Pretty cool way to turn 50.
How long will the Spoffords be in China you ask. Well that is a good question....stay tuned for the answer as it is always changing. We may have some firm answers in the next few weeks.
Okay...I feel that I have been "repressed" for the last few weeks so I am just typing a mile a minute just to get this out! I am sooooooo excited to press the Post button and see what happens!
I hope to post some pictures soon!
So here is the quick and low down on the Spofford family...
Tim is currently in the US...soon to make a stop in Vancouver and then in Bellingham to see Tucker.
Tucker is busy finishing many projects for school and looking for an apartment for next year.
Abi finished her last final and is writing her last essay (today) for her high school career. She is very excited to be done with the "school part" of school. She will start a two week internship on Monday at Hyatt on the Bund. She will then have one week of presentations and graduate on June 11th. Yippee!!!!
Tucker and Hattie will be here for Abi's graduation then we are all off to Tibet to climb to the base camp of Mt Everest. Tim will celebrate his 50th B-day at the base camp. Pretty cool way to turn 50.
How long will the Spoffords be in China you ask. Well that is a good question....stay tuned for the answer as it is always changing. We may have some firm answers in the next few weeks.
Okay...I feel that I have been "repressed" for the last few weeks so I am just typing a mile a minute just to get this out! I am sooooooo excited to press the Post button and see what happens!
I hope to post some pictures soon!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Today is a national holiday in China. It is Labor Day holiday. Xiao Zhang and Mr. Zhang have the weekend off so the back-up driver (Tim) and the back-up Ayi (me) are on duty. So far the back up driver is working out okay....he drove us to JinQiao for breakfast this morning. However...the back-up Ayi is not doing so well....the beds are still unmade and the dishes are piling up in the sink. :)
We have had gorgeous weather for the past two weeks. Spring is actually lasting longer than 3 days this year. Everyone is shocked! The smog has gone away thanks to the afternoon wind so we have enjoyed magnificent views. Currently there is a Blimp flying over the city and up and down the river. The sight for the World Expo (which will open exactly one year from now) is perfectly framed by the Nanpu bridge.
Abi has only 42 more days of high school. Wow! Tim and I have been gearing up to be empty nesters starting this summer. Hard to believe! Abi actually had to go to school today...it is a school holiday too....to take a test. It is so weird...this happens often here. Tests on holidays and on Saturdays. The kids don't seem to think this is strange....I think it is totally strange. Can you image a US school telling the kids that had to take a test on Saturday?
Speaking of Abi....she is home from her test and bugging me to go shopping for Prom shoes...better go.
Also....Congrats to Abi again. She has been accepted at UPS (University of Puget Sound). Western Washington is still the front runner.
We have had gorgeous weather for the past two weeks. Spring is actually lasting longer than 3 days this year. Everyone is shocked! The smog has gone away thanks to the afternoon wind so we have enjoyed magnificent views. Currently there is a Blimp flying over the city and up and down the river. The sight for the World Expo (which will open exactly one year from now) is perfectly framed by the Nanpu bridge.
Abi has only 42 more days of high school. Wow! Tim and I have been gearing up to be empty nesters starting this summer. Hard to believe! Abi actually had to go to school today...it is a school holiday too....to take a test. It is so weird...this happens often here. Tests on holidays and on Saturdays. The kids don't seem to think this is strange....I think it is totally strange. Can you image a US school telling the kids that had to take a test on Saturday?
Speaking of Abi....she is home from her test and bugging me to go shopping for Prom shoes...better go.
Also....Congrats to Abi again. She has been accepted at UPS (University of Puget Sound). Western Washington is still the front runner.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
I am still in Ohio and doing well. I am in the studio from 7am to 10:30 pm and I fall into bed as soon as I return to my hotel in the evenings. I am exhilaratingly exhausted! Tim and Abi went to Hong Kong last weekend. They are back in Shanghai now.
I went to the Amish country last Saturday and I have lots of photos to share as soon as I have time to post them.
I am off to bed....it will be a short night.
I went to the Amish country last Saturday and I have lots of photos to share as soon as I have time to post them.
I am off to bed....it will be a short night.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sights from Ohio...
I took this picture for my Dad....these geese were sitting right outside a restaurant close to my hotel.
While I was in Ohio at the quilting art workshop several of us took a break from class and toured some of the Amish area. Nancy Crow was a fantastic and gracious tour guide....so....we got to see many sights in just a short time.
rural area of Ohio
So beautiful...
Shaker Furniture store
Inside the store.... the items were absolutely beautiful and impeccably made.
Shaker boxes in all sizes
Small items in the furniture store
tools for sale
Work shop
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Next door to the furniture store
Across the street from the furniture store
Furniture store
Horse and buggy's everywhere...
Just like on the post cards!
This is for all our woodworking friends....We visited a family owned lumber yard/store that was incredible. I am not sure I can ever shop at Lowes or Home Depot again.
Welcome to Keim Lumber Store
The lumber area of this store was immaculate...not dirt or dust anywhere. Every pieces of wood was marked with a white tag that told what kind of wood it was, the measurement of the piece and the price.
Rows and rows of beautiful wood...
more wood...
Love this purple stuff...
tag identifying the wood..
This is a view of the store from the upstairs restaurant
Many beautiful weather thingys
The tool department
Welcome to the custom order area on the second floor
The floor is a patchwork of 6'x6' samples of many many different types of wood flooring. What a great way to choose
Each section was labeled so you could identify the wood and see exactly what it would look like when it was installed.
The millwork area
The door section
Stair banisters anyone?
The restaurant on the second floor....reminded me of Friends of the Carpenter in Vancouver
door knobs.....sorry only a few to choose from.....
Parking outside the store
Next stop Miller's Bakery
Home made doughnuts are their specialty...they just melted in your mouth...Now you don't find this in Shanghai.
More sights in Ohio...
We stopped at Hershberger's bakery and produce
Across the street from the bakery...
This is Kathy standing in front of on of their giant horses....and I mean they were giant!!!
Our three ladies from Japan
canned goods for sale in the bakery
and of course bread...and pies....and rolls...
And last but not least.....the dry goods store. Oh look.....they sell fabric....what a surprise!
More sights in rural Ohio....
Love the laundry....reminds me a bit of Shanghai....except the blue sky...and the fresh air...
Our next stop was a broom maker....
This equiptment was given to this family by Goodwill. The father was blind and this is how he supported his family. The father died last year and his wife has taken over the operation. She showed us how she makes the brooms...part of the process was tying a fancy knot.....Ellen asked if it was a Miller knot....she said NO! This is a Hershberger knot! Oops...I think we might have discovered a little family rivalry???
More sights.....
This parking lot was full of carts and horses.....they were having some sort of equiptment sale in town and it looked like it was a very popular place to be on Saturday.
Next stop....A Goodwill store....
Inside the Goodwill store is a weaving loom. They use old jeans and other discarded fabrics to make beautiful rugs. Hmmmm.....How can I get one of these back to Shanghai??? It comes down to weight....and I would rather fill my suitcase with fabric!
I took this picture for my Dad....these geese were sitting right outside a restaurant close to my hotel.While I was in Ohio at the quilting art workshop several of us took a break from class and toured some of the Amish area. Nancy Crow was a fantastic and gracious tour guide....so....we got to see many sights in just a short time.
rural area of Ohio
So beautiful...
Shaker Furniture store
Inside the store.... the items were absolutely beautiful and impeccably made.
Shaker boxes in all sizes
Small items in the furniture store
tools for sale
Work shophref="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO022iWcdKuY2Ctal3Lvh6UExwT811nZz9kZqG4uc4n2LqJKvBsRYSAF44sPqartKuZWcgdhTnus35g3nNMYGySVkmF8MQmEE5LQ_QNGxzhUrKJsyYhkvurB_SnC8yz4JL_zKi/s1600-h/IMG_7047.JPG">
Next door to the furniture store
Across the street from the furniture store
Furniture store
Horse and buggy's everywhere...
Just like on the post cards!
This is for all our woodworking friends....We visited a family owned lumber yard/store that was incredible. I am not sure I can ever shop at Lowes or Home Depot again.
Welcome to Keim Lumber Store
The lumber area of this store was immaculate...not dirt or dust anywhere. Every pieces of wood was marked with a white tag that told what kind of wood it was, the measurement of the piece and the price.
Rows and rows of beautiful wood...
more wood...
Love this purple stuff...
tag identifying the wood..
This is a view of the store from the upstairs restaurant
Many beautiful weather thingys
The tool department
Welcome to the custom order area on the second floor
The floor is a patchwork of 6'x6' samples of many many different types of wood flooring. What a great way to choose
Each section was labeled so you could identify the wood and see exactly what it would look like when it was installed.
The millwork area
The door section
Stair banisters anyone?
The restaurant on the second floor....reminded me of Friends of the Carpenter in Vancouver
door knobs.....sorry only a few to choose from.....
Parking outside the store
Next stop Miller's Bakery
Home made doughnuts are their specialty...they just melted in your mouth...Now you don't find this in Shanghai.
More sights in Ohio...
We stopped at Hershberger's bakery and produce
Across the street from the bakery...
This is Kathy standing in front of on of their giant horses....and I mean they were giant!!!
Our three ladies from Japan
canned goods for sale in the bakery
and of course bread...and pies....and rolls...
And last but not least.....the dry goods store. Oh look.....they sell fabric....what a surprise!
More sights in rural Ohio....
Love the laundry....reminds me a bit of Shanghai....except the blue sky...and the fresh air...Our next stop was a broom maker....
This equiptment was given to this family by Goodwill. The father was blind and this is how he supported his family. The father died last year and his wife has taken over the operation. She showed us how she makes the brooms...part of the process was tying a fancy knot.....Ellen asked if it was a Miller knot....she said NO! This is a Hershberger knot! Oops...I think we might have discovered a little family rivalry???
More sights.....
This parking lot was full of carts and horses.....they were having some sort of equiptment sale in town and it looked like it was a very popular place to be on Saturday.
Next stop....A Goodwill store....
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