22 May 2011: Being adopted by a Chinese family and A day at the Botanical Garden in Shenyang

22 May 2011

Rod and I have lived here in China for a little over a year and I have been on and off the internet.  Up until now, I've sent out an "update" on email since I had never taken the time to learn how to blog...well, I've now crossed the barrier into blogging... I have no idea what I'm doing yet, so bare with me!  

As my first trial, I've copied my email from my 22 May 2011..this way, the people who have been so faithful in replying to my emails will surely get the mail...for anyone reading this for the first time...it means this blog was successful!  

So, here it goes!

I think it's been a month since I last wrote.  Time flies whether you are having fun or not!  As many of you know, I was traveling a lot and now, I have all the major milestones passed on my project, so in a few weeks the construction will begin on our new plant!  I'm excited about it!  In the mean time, Rod and I have been doing well..I think I'm about over the jetlag of the past month and yesterday Rod and I were invited out to a luncheon with our driver and his family.  We were really treated like royalty and his family is very nice. 

Mr Sun our driver (last row the man smiling on the right as you look at this picture) and his sisters, wife, daughter and mother along with Rod & Sarah Miller

Mr Sun's daughter, Sarah Miller, Mr Sun's wife and Mr Sun's mother in front.

Rod accepting a fruit basket from Mr Sun and his family.  Mr Sun's mother and daughter on the right.

This afternoon, Rod and I went to the Shenyang Botanical Garden and amusement park.  This place is huge (like a lot of things here in China!).  It was the site of a botanical expo held back in 2006 and the gardens are still intact for the most part. 

On of the focal points about the park is a huge tower that is in the shape of a calla lily.  The tower is an observation tower which gives a nice panorama around the area.

The Lily tower with flower garden beneath it

This time of year the Peonies were just starting to bloom...I'm thinking in a couple of weeks they will be in full bloom..it will be outstanding when that happens...so for now, we just enjoyed the few herbaceous ones that started blooming.

Sarah Miller in the middle of the peony patch in Shenyang, China

The other thing that happens  when the peonies start to bloom is the artists come out to the garden.  

In 1903, the Qing Dynasty declared the peony as the national flower and it is used in a lot of the traditional silk jackets. I don't think the Peoples Republic of China have any of this type of designations though! 

Artists preparing to draw the peonies in Shenyang Botanical Garden

The other big draw in the park is the rose garden...well, at least the entry way.  We didn't see very many roses in the outside..they were all in the greenhouses...and not looking too great...but the entry way was very nice!

Rod standing under the rose garden entry way

Rod standing in a passage way...concrete shaped and stained to look like wood...I guess you have to do that when you don't have any big trees!

And of course, it seems none of these new letters would be complete without a trip to the toilet...always fun to give Rod the camera when he goes...

I'm still not sure what they really want you to do here...I'm guessing it means don't leave the water running when you leave...I didn't ask questions!

So that's about all for this update!

Sarah & Rod Miller