Scenic Route

Today I went to the grand opening of the New Life Quilting Centre here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Selenge (in picture #2) began this work 5 years ago in an effort to help Mongolian women find a creative outlet for relaxation as well as create community for them. Selenge, as a single mom herself, has also tried to help other single moms earn income (and self-respect) through the art of quilting. From humble beginnings in a yukky basement apartment (where the toilets above would often overflow into the Centre's space) to this wonderful new location, the Centre is a success in every way. The day drew a good crowd of foreign as well as local women--and TV cameras! I think the pictures speak for themselves! Below is the the Centre's workshop--looks like one of Santa's, eh? A better woman would have left her own stuff out...but not me! It's been so long since I shared my stuff, I cannot resist. Here are just a few of the projects I worked on in the past few months, several ...

Sunday afternoon we took a hike up Zaison Hill (finally! It's only taken us 4+ years to do this). The October weather was spectacular (God bless global warming--especially in Mongoila--is what I say :) As far as we could figure out, this hill is a monument to Russian victories in World War II, as well as Mongolian/Russian collaboration. As you can see in the 1st picture, there are what surely are a gazillion steps! Once up there (whew!), I did manage some nice snapshots of several lovers as well as, once again, the contrast between the modern city and the traditional hashaa districts. Much of what is in the city veiws did not exist even 4 or 5 years ago. Amazing to have a front row seat to all this change!

Well, I've been back in UB exactly 2 weeks today. Within the first 7 days I came down with food poisening and got robbed (while sick and napping I left the apartment door unlocked--Randy was due home any time--and someone came in and took the $ out of my wallet and then snatched my iPod. That's it. Gutsy, eh? Grace-and-peace, grace-and-peace, grace-and peace...) The good news is we finally have a road out front (see above pic)! Yippee! No more 3-story clouds of dust rolling down the road and into any open window or crack or crevice. At least not until the spring when the Gobi winds come and nothing is safe. Anyway, here are just a few of my favorite pics from our trip home to US. We had so much fun with all these little ones! As you can tell, life can get very fancy sometimes. Look out Elijah & Kelby!