Sunday

Steps's Facebook post as her year in Hong Kong winds down!

"Old North Reformed Church in Dumont,NJ.

NOrganized in 1723 as the Schraalenburgh Reformed Dutch Church. First church was built in 1728. In 1801 the present Old North Reformed Church was built, one mile north of first site, and continues as a Reformed congregation. This sanctuary is considered one of the finest examples of early American church architecture. Its churchyard is the resting place of many Revolutionary War soldiers."

     Went to church here, nice very traditional service, sparse crowd this morning, guest preacher gave inspired message.

Hiking Hudson River Palisades

Japanese Cherry Blossom 

Dogwood

What's more spring than tulips

Lia, Will and I drove over to Fort Lee Historical Park on the Hudson River, Jersey side, right under George Washington Bridge for some hiking and a history lesson. This is site of the real Fort Lee of Revolutionary War history--Where George Washington began his infamous retreat across New Jersey to the Delaware River--where the tide of the war reversed!

Across the Hudson from Manhattan.

Spring in New Jersey

It's Spring in New Jersey and trees have "popped" and every tree that blooms--is blooming. Sounds of lawn mowers all over the neighborhood. Doug's "lawn guy" is coming today and then we can tidy up around the yard.

Boba on a walk thru the natural aread got preyy (wetland) next to their house. You probably can't see it, but he spotted a deer --common sight, actually-- and got pretty excited 

Lia goes to Archery twice a week.  Arie and Tammy gone for 5 days on a "shoot" so it's just us until Saturday. Arie has a part in an Amazon series-details can't be revealed yet--but what knows so far sounds exciting!

to New Jersey!

Bags packed, catching the shuttle from Tucson to Phoenix airport to catch my noon flight to New Jersey. Will is already there, has been since we got home from Hong Kong.

Waiting to get picked up at Newark airport.

Speeding up the freeway to Haworth, New Jersey and Doug and Tammy's home. That blur is the lights of New York City as we are speeding up the Jersey Turnpike.

And here we are having breakfast with the youngest of my two favorite granddaughters. We are going to be here a while--starting our summer travels early, just without the RV.

  Think most of my blog followers are probably aware of our son, Doug's recent difficulties. In 2022 he first was diagnosed with AION (Anterior Ischemic Optical Neuropathy) which has resulted in significant vision loss. Started in his left eye and seems to have progressed in what I call episodes, each episode leaving him with more severe vision loss. It is a condition that doctors have no understanding of a cause and no cure. For whatever reason oxygen/blood supply is interrupted to the optic nerve and it slowly dies-- that is how I understand it anyway.  Anyway, it is devastating. He can no longer drive and sees his world dimly and must be very deliberate to navigate his world. 

 We just want to be here, to help if we can as the whole family adjusts to a new way of being.  Doug is "working it," doing whatever it takes to research and find resources that he can avail  himself of. He is determined to continue working. He is a Consultant and has mostly worked with his clients on line and has been able to continue doing that with amazing technology helps that are out there.  Will and Doug have found amazing resources, organizations and people who have stepped up to help. Doug is truly an inspiration and through his fear and grief and sadness he is moving forward. 

  And he has an army of people praying for him. It's hard to see God's hand in this but I know He's there and my heart will feel that truth in good time. Can't deny we have witnessed daily miracles already.

 We will be around for another month.

Bee Hive too close!!

Desert living!! That's the top of our front door. Now if you look closely you see . . 

a bee hive!! Just noticed it a couple of days ago when I noticed an inordinate number of bees when I went out the door. A spring swarm has decided it has found a home under the eaves in my house!!  Right above my front door!  Bee removal services came out to look over situation and HE GOT STUNG!! Since they are inside wall, there is no way to remove hive, they have to destroy them and seal the hole where they are getting in. Hate killing bees, argued that they are just honey bees but was assured all honey bees in Arizona are Africanized.  And I obviously can't have a bee hive right above my front door!! When company rep got stung--and he wasn't all that close, I gave them the go ahead!

Spring

My pride and joy bloomed early this year. So short lived but puts on a great show for a day! It is the size of a luncheon plate--certainly dwarfs the cactus that produces it!

Lots of things blooming on my morning walk!

Blooming yellow

Eberthing coming up yellow!  What's with that?!?! Maybe yellow attracks bees? 

Sorry to see this dear lady head back to South Dakota. Missing  you already dear friend Alice.

Last Day

Our last night in Hong Kong. We went down to the harbor front and took a tour boat ride on the water to take in the "Spectacular of Lights" show that happens every night in Hong Kong across the facade of  the buildings lining the waterfront of Kowloon and Central. 

This particular screen and the IMF building (tallest in Hong Kong) was most impressive.

Our time here coming to a close. Flying out in the morning for long trip home! Amazing time with this amazing person.  I am in tears missing you already, Steph!

Easter Sunday

Easter in Hong Kong. Interestingly, Easter is a public holiday in Hong Kong--not in China but is here. Hong Kong is losing most of its unique cultural differences as Beijing brings it more and more into its fold--but so far not this one. 

Easter Sunday we made our way downtown to (believe it or not) St Andrews  Apostolic Church, a lovely small oasis left from British era surrounded by skyscrapers. Built in 1905. 8:30 was English service, traditional hymns, worshipful sermon, and communion. Smallish sanctuary but could those people sing. What a Blessing.

  

We spent the rest of the day enjoying an incredible outdoor adventure. We took a train north in New Territory to Mai Po Nature Reserve in the shadow of Shenzhen--across the River from Shenzhen in a protected wildlife area managed by World Wildlife Foundation. 

Thats Shenzhen across the river beyond the wetlands.

We could only enter with a guide. She was great. Led us thru wetlands thru ancient fish ponds (some still in use,) across this floating boardwalk thru the Mangrove forests

One reason for the guide is that we passed thru the border fence and actually entered mainland China territory.  To a bird blind where we could watch a gazillion shore birds on the mud flats where the tide was out on estuaries.

Great life Bird--This is Black Faced Spoonbills, an endangered species that was our good fortune to spy.

Chinese Pond Herons in a tree. We were worn out by the time we went home, decided we walked 5 miles!