Ahh…last night there was a beautiful December full moon! Here is a picture that Terry Conrad took and our local weather broadcaster shared of the full moon over Lunenburg, Nova Scotia last night. I love it!
A crisp cool moon reflecting on clean white snow and shining over the harbour.
On a little side note. Do you know what I noticed about Facebook while I was in China?
Take a look…
In China
And here in Canada
Notice the difference?
I thought it was pretty cool!!!
Have a good night!
I NEED 2 days this year to get my Christmas baking done!!
Even though I decided before I went to China that I would bake less this year, and only make a few of our absolute favourites and nothing too fancy that is too stressful…I NEED 2 days, when otherwise I could do it all in one.
I’m just too tired! The jet leg on this end coming back is so brutal. I ALWAYS find it harder!!!
Stay tuned tomorrow I should be able to finish up and post some pics. But right now I need to lay my head down for a quick rest before I continue today’s goodies.
I’m home! We got in late last night( rather 3am this morning) and this week I KNOW I will be dealing with a bit of jet leg… yep, I’m heading to bed right after I post this at 7:30pm.
BUT with only 12 days til Christmas…
I’ve gotta get busy! Baking, wrapping , last errands…and there are a couple of events to attend this week.
But today it was relax and rest up a bit, open mail, and shop for groceries and baking ingredients.
Tomorrow, yes tomorrow I’ll get at it!
Time Flies! It is a saying my Chinese friends like to use. Our time sure has gone quickly. Today is the last full day in Shenyang. Sadly, tomorrow morning we are flying home!
BUT…today is Sunday. What to do?
Well…we ended up shopping. LOTS and LOTS of shopping!
We stopped at the bank for some money, very important because China is a CASH society more so than a card society. Especially when you’re a foreigner. They don’t want foreign plastic.
WE jumped in a cab and went off to Wuai market. On the way we stopped at the Catholic Church to show Ron the amazing architecture. Shenyang’s large, Gothic style city cathedral stands out quite clearly from the surrounding buildings. Generally the cathedral serves as a backdrop for photos, but on Sundays the area is teeming with people and dancing in the square. The church offers at least four Masses in Chinese each Sunday beginning at 7am.
Then on to Wuai. I didn’t get a lot of pics here. I was busy picking out a couple “Chinese fashions” ( no, not the hats)It’s so hard not to buy these cute outfits and for this reason among others is why I only brought carry on luggage and not a suitcase. We looked at clothes, handbags, watches, Chinese decor items…and bought a few things.
Then off to San Hao Street. This is the electronics street. The guys had a couple small items on their list and I wanted to get the screen on my iPhone replaced. I thought my screen was cracked in a few places but thankfully it turns out it was just the protective screen. I got one of the really good protective screens put on last year when I was here. I didn’t realize they would crack like this . So for 15rmb ($2.85) I got a new cover.
Street food was the way I dealt with my bit of hunger today. A street wrap and sweet potato. The guys opted for McDonalds.
David wanted to show Ron the tool market. Every guys dream under one roof. Whatever you can imagine. We asked the price of a HUGE vice at one stall. 800rmb. That’s $150. Only a $150. You would pay that for a small one at home.
We finished up the shopping back near the hotel in the underground fashion mall at Taiyuan Jie. This place is the absolute coolest for shopping with 2 levels all underground going for miles under the city. And again the coolest unimaginable thing happened. I was walking along and heard “Anna”. I turned around and there was my friend Wanda’s driver, Long. Oh Long! I can’t believe it’s you! I am so happy to see you. I spent many days with Wanda and her driver Long shopping. We would always check with Long before purchasing items, whether or not it was a good deal. Long has terrific fashion sense.
It has been a very full, very busy wonderful week. David was here for networking meetings and so we didn’t get a lot of time together but we both knew that going in to it. Tonight we had dinner together just the two of us. We took the subway to Mix C. I was there earlier in the week by myself and had been wanting to get back at night. WE had a wonderful dinner with jiaozi of course and then took a few pictures outside in the beautiful lights of the city. Ahh…Shenyang! You have my heart. I will miss you. ❤
Then it was back to the hotel and try to stuff my weekly purchases in the carryon that was already full when I came. BUT I did it!
Now…sleep! Goodnight Shenyang
How’s that for a title?
Today it snowed!! I figured it would, and I am just like a young girl!!! eek BIG squeals! Watching from my window on the 11th floor, playing “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” I couldn’t wait to get out and play in it…rather just walk in it. Today was full of traffic jams in slow moving traffic, taxis that didn’t want to take you anywhere, and overcrowded subways and buses because EVERYONE is using them today. SNOW days create a WHOLE new adventure in China!
BUT I had to get to Shifu Square ( Government Square)
And Today’s special EVENT was a Seafood hotpot with some members of the hiking group that we used to go out with on the weekend. 3 guys, 3 girls and me. They were thrilled to hear I was back in China and of course wanted to treat me to dinner. Sometimes I feel like I get invited to things like this just so they can have a foreigner sit with them at their table. Unfortunately the 3 ladies that were coming were traveling together and had a fender bender, very common on a day like this. I am so glad we took the subway rather than taxi. Anyway it ended up that I had lunch with the group leader (far right), my Chinese friend and another person I have never met from the club.
This was interesting as I could just sit back ( the conversation was mainly Chinese) and enjoy as many plates of crabs, prawns, shrimp, clams, mussels, oysters and the like… were steamed in front of us. After the seafood came the regular hot pot items with one very interesting item…bone marrow. eww…but I ate it and it was ok.
One thing I can not get used to is the mixed washrooms, side by side, at these restaurants.
On the way home I took more pics of the lovely snowfall before taking the subway which was sooooooo crowded. No pics of this because I was literally sandwiched between hundreds of people. I kept thinking if anything happened…explosion or whatever…I would never be found. SO MANY PEOPLE!!! That’s what happens on a snow day.
David was late getting home from work. He had fun in the snow too, rather trying to get home in it from Michelin. Normally they take a bus but because of the weather the company figured it would be faster by subway too!
This evening we were invited to dear sweet friends for dinner. Sarah has been here from the start of the Michelin Project in Shenyang and for the past two years has taken the position of site manager. You have to know she is an amazing lady to communicate in Chinese, and keep things top notch at the plant with mostly Chinese colleagues. There really aren’t too many expats left these days so her circle of business and the people she relies to get these accomplishments are Chinese. Our very first Christmas in China in 2011, they invited us to their home for Christmas dinner, along with a few other expats who didn’t go home for Christmas. Sarah & Rodney live in a serviced hotel apartment that does not have a kitchen and so over the years they have become close friends with the chef that prepares delicious meals for them tailored to their special diets. How wonderful is that? It was so lovely to catch up with her and her sweet husband Rodney. A perfect evening!
Everyday here is like a gift and I will treasure it in my heart for days to come…or at least until one day I can return?
eek! So excited I won’t be able to sleep tonight.
Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s Giving Tuesday! Today kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. December can get pretty busy and hectic and sometimes…unfortunately…we may not be as nice as we should be. Sometimes it takes just a gentle reminder. Be KIND, Be GiVING, THINK of others!
I saw this Advent calendar. I used to do advent calendars when the kids were little. I suppose I still do with my lifesaver tree.
I loved this idea for an Advent Calendar…a Kindness Calendar and thought I would give it a try for the month of December! A great way to be thinking about giving this Christmas season.
Whether it’s shopping online or just another work day, grab a cup of your favourite coffee and have a great day!
PS. Coffee ALWAYS tastes the BEST on MONDAY mornings!!
Cheers to a new week!
All the way from the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World”…
It’s Christmas by the Sea this weekend!
Image courtesy of Peter Zwicker Photography Bacalao Studio. He does amazing photography!! Check out his website.
We don’t have snow yet but I think this photo truly represents “Christmastime in Lunenburg” I live 20 minutes from Lunenburg, one of Nova Scotia’s well known Historic towns. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Town. People come here from all over the world .
This weekend in Lunenburg it is their Heritage Christmas and Christmas By The Sea.
There are actually 3 Christmas Festivals in towns close by this weekend, not to mention the small communities having events and then there is the Victoria Christmas at the Citadel and Lighting Ceremonies at various spots in Halifax. And of course I want to go to all so… yesterday I stopped into Mahone Bay for Father Christmas Festival pics and we drove to Lunenburg today. Tonight is Bridgewater’s Christmas On The LaHave complete with fireworks. These are the local ones. Next year I think I’m gonna take in some of the events in the city I haven’t seen.
This morning we bundled up, picked up some coffee and drove to Lunenburg.
Lunenburg is a well known fishing town by the sea, it is the HOME of the Bluenose II, and so much of the Christmas traditions and decorations revolves around that. It is also very beautiful!
And a few at night…
We didn’t get chance to take in the festivities, the lighting of the vessels, the Christmas by the Sea market and crafts and food tasting, we didn’t see the parade or the tree lighting at the bandstand BUT we got some beautiful pictures of a very special place…Merry Christmas from one of our favourite towns by the sea…
It’s November 25th…ONE MONTH TIL CHRISTMAS!!!!
which also means it’s time for the Annual Father Christmas Festival in Mahone Bay. This Festival is one of my absolute favourites! It really puts me in the mood and excitement for ALL THINGS Christmas.
It’s the little rituals and traditions in the small communities along the South Shore that I love and appreciate so much. This year’s theme is Peace & Love Around the World. 🕊 I like the dove ornament from 1991. It really captures the theme for this year.
In previous years when we go to the festival, David & I would grab a hot drink and wander around beautiful Mahone Bay and look at the many Father Christmas displays placed there by local business and committee members. However, today, David’s back is TOTALLY messed up! Yes, he periodically has problems and yesterday he came home from work walking with an S curve! There go my big plans for this weekend. He’ll be on the floor and on his back much of the weekend trying to get it straight.
Off to Mahone Bay I go, just to get some pictures because the displays are truly beautiful and today it’s not so crazy busy with people.
I missed strolling along hand in hand with my husband, but I was happy to get the pics and we’ll have other years to continue our tradition. He just needs to get that back FIXED, like NOW!!!!!!
I picked up my 2016 Pewter Christmas Ornament, like I always do at the Father Christmas Festival. This year it is a Cardinal. ” There is no better time to catch sight of a cardinal than in the winter, when his brilliant red plumage contrasts with the brightness of a freshly fallen snow. The more vibrant his crimson colouring, the more likely he will find a lifelong mate who can join him in singing rich, cheerful duets to bring sunshine even on the coldest and darkest of winter days. We all have unique qualities to celebrate. Stand out and stand proud. Make the world a brighter place.”
It is these simple pleasures that make me feel truly blessed for the peace and love we have in our country!
And Just for FUN…
A quick stop tonight to get them with lights. It’s just so pretty!!
Just An East Coast Girl 