Marlene and Ellen

Marlene Linn and Ellen Seppenen from Minnesota came to visit for 5 days.  Will is still in Singapore so the three of us had a great opportunity for some "girl time!" Went to Tombstone one day, and Marlene is standing in front of the famous (and huge) Lady Banks Rose. It dates back to the 1880's.

Dinner out at the Persian Room. We had dinner out a lot!

At Tubac

We had mostly wonderful warm Arizona weather, however the first morning after they arrived it dipped below freezing and Ellen had to scrap her windshield! Had to find a kitchen spatula--who has an ice scraper!!

I SO enjoyed having them here!

Gallery and Show

I came home in time to participate in a Ceramic show and sale at Tohono Chul Park. The snow was past and the two day event went well. And then I had the chance to be exhibited in St Andrews' Gallery for a 6 week show along with pottery friend,  Gretel.  We each have our own style and complement each other for a distinctive show. It will run for 6 weeks. The picture is only a small part.

Its snowing in Tucson

Home in Tucson

I arrived home Wednesday afternoon.  Had a 4 hour layover in Tokyo airport which I made the best of by spending the time in the United Executive Lounge, complements of my United credit card. The one nice perk that makes that credit card worth it.  Then flew on through Denver to Tucson uneventfully. . .thankfully.  Pete and Alice picked me up at airport which was super nice.

  All good at the house, except its cold and rain forcast for next few days. (How quickly I complain!!) AND its very quiet.  Will staying in Singapore for a couple more weeks.  Miss him the minute I walked in the door.

Second Grade

One day a week we go to Lia's school to pick her up at the end  of her day and get her to 

her cello lesson.  This day she does not ride the bus home.  It is so fun to see the

 pandemonium of the end of the day as all the elementary kids are dismissed and heading for their busses or ride home or whatever.  Mrs DeMicheal dismisses each of her second grade kids with a hug and encouraging word or at least a "high 5" before they leave.  And she is not the only teacher that does that.  Fun to see.  Lia is having a great year.  What a privilege for us to watch her reading and math skills soar, her self confidence boosted. . .what an amazing experience to be in second grade!! 

"Empty Bowls" is here in Singapore also and Lia got a chance to participate.  This is a nationwide endeavor--actually world wide endeavor to help the hungry.   Local potters make bowls and then a local food bank or charity sell them to raise money to help those in their communities who need it.  I will be participating in Tucson's Empty Bowls in March.  Lia's second grade class got to go to the high school ceramics class and make a bowl for the local event.  Was a fun art project for her plus a good way to learn about giving to others.

Getting their instructions

Lia and hands-on hand building a bowl!

Now it needs to be dried and fired and then she will get 

a chance to glaze it--and then she can buy her bowl

for Empty Bowls!!

Hmmm. . .maybe she will be a potter like her grandmother!

Flower Show at Gardens-By-The-Bay

Another Flower  Show going on at the Flower Dome at Gardens By the Bay so we spent a pleasant few hours taking it all in—in air conditioned comfort, btw!  I took a ton of pictures but lucky for everyone I only posted a few.  

Valentines Day

It was Valentines’s Day here, too.  Lia got to wear a special heart shirt to school, instead of her uniform plus she brought home a box full of wonderful, mostly hand made Valentines from her classmates.  She worked hard on making a special Valentine for everybody, too.  It was a really nice “Friendship Day.”   Loved seeing second grade “hand crafted” valentines!!

Yu Sheng

Doug hosted a lovely Chinese New Year dinner at "his" Crystal Jade Restaurant

last night and invited a couple of families that have been best friends for Lia and

a joy for us to know.  Great food, fun conversation, lovely ambiance and the highlight

was a "Yusheng."  

It seems to be a distinctly Singaporean thing because the "China-Chinese" say they

don't do this in China but Singaporean Chinese seem to embrace the fun activity.  Its called

a Prosperity Toss or "Lo Hei" which literally means "toss up."  It is the act of, well, tossing the yu sheng salad to symbolize reaching for greater prosperity.  It is served at the beginning of the meal, each ingredient is chosen for its significance for good health, wealth, happiness and all those positive

attributes.  Shredded carrots, green and white shredded radish, pickled ginger and various condiments and sauces, other crunchie vegetables and more. . .

and various sashimi (raw fish) are added at the table, each one accompanied by a different New 

Year wish.  Once ingredients are presented, everyone stands around the table with extra long chop

sticks and participates in the "toss" shouting their own New Year wishes.  The kids

of course, really get into it, as do adults!!  And by the way, it is delicious!!

Yes, that is gold flecks among the

tuna and sushi sword fish for the Yusheng

Wish I could use chops sticks as well

as this 3 year old!

Great evening enjoyed by all.  Besides the Yu Sheng

there were multiple other dishes.  We always just

let Doug order as he makes the best choices!

Tree Top Walk

A hike we have been meaning to return to this time is the "Tree Top Walk."  Its located in one of the several nature preserves on this island and is a series of trails that all converge on an elevated bridge over a deep ravine that puts you right up into the canopy of the tropical forest.  Good looks at critters like this huge spider lurking near the path.

Such unusual vegetation, beauty in unlikely places.

Pictures just don't show how huge and lush the trees are in these tropics.

Stuff grows on stuff. Epiphytes everywhere.

We met a gentleman on the trail who turned out to be a Naturalist, doing research in the preserve.  He spotted this "Common Gliding Lizard" next to the path and told us all about him.  They are one of a family of lizards only found here that actually glide from tree to tree much as a Flying Squirrel would.

The walkway.

This gigantic fig tree root is bottom part of a previous picture.

Just threw this one in. . .grandpa and Lia on the subway coming home from a cello lesson.

Can't forget this guy! "Wagless Pit Viper."  Apparently poisonous according to small crowd of people who gathered around to get a look at him.  He sat there motionless peeking out from under the coordinated leaf!

Happy Chinese New Year

 Its the year of the Pig!  That is my year, by the way. My Zodiak sign, so I should have good luck this year!

Gong Xi Fa Cai.  Happy New Year

Lunar New Year in Singapore officially celebrated Feb 5 and 6 this year.  First day Doug’s restaurants closed but open on second day.  They have a troup of Lion dancers visit each store in town to open and wish good luck for new year.  Its mainly for employees but people on the street cant help but notice. We went to one store and was pretty fun.  Very loud drumming, cymbals clanging, lions “tossing” oranges and other food stuffs.

Couple of interesting birds from Sri Lanka. This guy has a red spot under his tail.

Cattle egrets everywhere

This Kingfisher has neon blue wings.