BLOOMIN' IN MONGOLIA

Despite the fact that it's been hovering around -30 or -40 F or so for the last week (this is my 6th winter in this crazy cold), my plants and my adopted peeps (they're birds so what else would they do?!) seem to be thriving. I'm especially pleased with my BASIL :) I have grown basil here repeatedly but it never seems to make it through my absences (which have been many over the last 5+ years). Each time I return to UB, I start a fresh batch--who can live without fresh basil I wanna know? Here I can get cilantro year round (the Chinese cook lots with it) and sometimes parsley in the markets, but that's it. So, for me and my birds, life is good :) I would also like to share that the traffic out my window is somewhat new. The road was just paved and put all the way through last year and is now a super highway (gridlock as I write this). Not too long ago there were pony carts along there. I'll have to dig up that picture. But that's another blog :)

Comments

Callie Brady said…

The flowers look so pretty and the little birds must be very happy to have you feed them. I see a wonderful looking chicken quilt on the wall in your January 5th post. I enjoyed very much looking at your quilts and photos. What an interesting place to live and such lovely people.

January 12, 2010 at 4:21 PM

Much Needed New Winter Robe - Vogue 9232

Last spring I chucked my 20-year-old bathrobe, giving me no choice but to replace it come winter. Granted, I never took it to Mongolia, so it only got worn when I was home in the US. But still. For summer I made several light weight robes, but I knew I liked the style of my old RTW one. When I saw reviews for Vogue 9232--on PR (all 3 of them), I knew I'd found my pattern. Interestingly enough, the pattern is actually for a caftan-type dress; but all 3 reviews were done up as a robe. Sham's review in particular had great tips. On a trip to Colorado Fabrics in early summer I spotted a beeeuuutiful pink sweatshirt type fabric. The outside is more like a thick knit and inside is dreamy soft. And it's baby pink! Which is hard to tell in the pics as we in Colorado have had lots of rain and no sunshine. And OK, I'm no photographer. But seriously, this is like stepping into a pink cloud. ...

St. Patty's Day UB Style

I know this is a few days late, but we've been out of power for about 48 hours . Another story, another time. Anyway, holidays as we know them are a real challenge here. We did manage to go over to the Grand Khaan Irish Pub (remember, I do not make this stuff up) for a pint of Guinness (OK, it's watery Guinness out of China, but the sentiment is there as you can see :) and some Chinese stir fry. You see, their power was out, too, so the the grill was down but the wok was up. The place was packed and when the power did flash back on now and then, the Irish Rovers were a playin '. My first response to the 2nd picture was " Agghh ! I look 110 years old!" Randy reminded me that he took this on his cell phone. Hmm ... The 1st picture is of my first homemade corned beef!!! My dear friend, Beverly, shared her recipe (and her corned beef!) with my Bible study group 2 years ago. It turned out stellar! I have a handful of ladies of a Certain Age that inspire me and...

Jesus, Me, and Yoga

Almost a month ago I signed up for a 3-month membership at a local Dahn yoga center--and I have to say it has been life changing! Seeking to conquer my constant heart palpitations and gain lots more flexibility in ever creakier joints and muscles, I am constantly surprised--and delighted--to find it a profoundly spiritual experience. Not in a zen way, no Hindu gods invoked--but lots & lots of Jesus. I have found this stage of life to be an intersection where my spiritual life & emotions collided head on with my body. Things that for years I could sweep under the rug or just push through (ok, and blame others, hold grudges, lash out, etc., etc., yuk & yikes); well, my body would no longer tolerate it. Results: constant heart palpitations, sleep issues, anger/depression, etc. God used the hormonal stew of this life stage to bring me to a Ground Zero of sorts--what a journey it has been! My trip to Cambodia was the beginning of Change; it rebooted my decision-making p...

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