Our Christmas Decorations

We wanted to get a tree for Christmas. We looked many places for a real tree. The ones we found were like small shrubs, so we found a nice artificial tree that was reasonable. We decided to decorate it inexpensively, so the Ayi and I made gold ribbon bows, used curly ribbon for icicles, and red berries. This past week, after Christmas, I found these beautiful cloisonne bells and added them to the tree. Our Ayi wanted to help so she sewed and hand quilted our Christmas tree skirt and table runner. She has a special talent and love for sewing. Our luck!Add a little Santa, a wreath, and holly bushes at our door. We were ready. In the hallway the door of our neighbor is always decorated. I'm guessing they love Chinese New Year!Bet you wish you had a couple of wooden sand cranes, red lanterns, and glittery banners next to your front door too!

Our First Christmas Party

This is our first Christmas in Beijing. Early in December we hosted the 'Empty Nesters' from our branch for a sit down dinner and Chinese gift exchange.

There were 28 people from all over the US, most of them were from the BYU Kennedy Center program. They are couples who come teach English at a Chinese university. Most of them live in campus housing. Some of their apartments are pretty sparse. But they are here for 10 months and seem to enjoy every minute of their time in China.
Some had never played Chinese gift exchange to trade white elephant gifts. It was so funny. The greatest gifts were a pickled chicken foot (that really is a snack that parents give to children) and a pickled chicken gizzard. Bet you wish they were yours!

We even had some young married carolers stop by to sing to us. It was a fun evening, full of laughter and good food.

New Sewing Machine

Our helper, Zhang Ayi, has indicated that she enjoys sewing. We talk together in a sign language-pigeon English/Chinese and charade style language. I decided to have her help me find a sewing machine. Our driver, Mr. Huang, took us to an area outside of the city where there are warehouse type building full of fabric and sewing supplies. After finding a shop that had sewing machines, I asked Zhong to choose which one she liked best. There were two to choose from. One was a modern style with decorative stitches and reverse needle, and the other was a simple straight stitch. Guess which one she chose?The simple black treadle style machine. It looks like it came off a treadle sewing machine, don't you think? It does operate with electricity and has a simple spinning wheel and belt.
She was thrilled. We took it home and she put it carefully away in her special closet. Soon she was sewing 'up a storm' making the Christmas tree skirt. We are lucky to have her.

Cute 'Lil Bike Rider

While we were shopping at Panjuab, commonly known at the dirt market, I saw a father and his young son. The father had been delivering things on his bike-truck and passed me by. When I turned to look at him I saw the cutest little boy. There were so many people I soon lost them in the crowd. I quickly got out my camera and went looking for them.


Luckily I found the little guy watching after the bike while his father was working.

After I took his picture the first time, I showed it to him. He was thrilled.


He began to 'cheese it' for me, so I took several pictures. I couldn't resist.


He loved being the center of my attention and seeing the pictures of himself.


Adorable, don't you agree?

Bicycles, Bicycles, Bicycles

I have found it so interesting to see how many ways the Chinese use bicycles. I was reading in the local expat newspaper, The China Daily, that China has the worlds largest number of bicycles. I can believe it. When you are walking you have to watch out for the bicycles as well as the cars. They both will run you down if you're not careful. These are street sweepers. Notice how they cover their mouth and nose so they won't breathe in the dust. Many pedestrians also wear these surgical type face covers, especially during the winter. They don't like to breathe cold airThe round shaped objects are actually dried fish. They are sitting on the back surface of a bike-truck. Notice how old the bikes appear to be. They are really an important means of transportation. They can load amazing amounts of 'stuff' on the back of a bike-truck. For many this is their means of income. You can hire a bike-truck to transport things for you.
There are many of these covered bike carriages on the street. They are a peddle taxi that even the locals use.
This is a bike repair shop. You can find these shops on almost every street corner. Many fruits and vegetables are sold from bike wagons.

Bikes are great, don't you think?

Temple of Heaven

We decided to go sightseeing on weekends while the weather is still good. So on Nov. 1 we visited the Temple of Heaven. Beginning in the 1400's the emperor started building the Temple of Heaven, which is an enormous park and several pagodas housing alters. During the winter solstice, the emperors would lead a procession to perform rites and make sacrifices for the purpose of improving next year's crops and for the general health of the empire.




The park is square symbolizing the earth and rounded on the north side symbolizing heaven.

Inside the temples were beautiful painted columns and wooded alters where they offered animal and crop sacrifices.



After we walked through the entrance gate, there was a long corridor with bright colored paint. This we were told to separate the earth from the heavns. It is tradition that often there is music performed by the people who visit.



Today we saw a man singing with a microphone. We learned that often opera singers come to perform.

There were groups of men singing songs that sounded like they were from the revolutionary period.


Today a woman was dancing with a costume from an opera with extra long sleeves. Every movement means something.


In the park area surrounding the temple square were huge juniper trees. Most of them have amazing huge knots. May of them are over 500 years old.


While we were walking around outside grounds there were many local people enjoying the outdoors and good fall weather.



It was great to see people dancing out under the trees.



Also there were beautiful pagodas among the gardens.


This was a cute gal being photographed as a model.


It was a great day. We are happy to share it with you.