Watch your Heart

Have you ever noticed it's easier to watch other peoples hearts and forget to protect your own? Anyhow! I had a fantastic weekend and I'm looking forward to the week ahead, here's some picture for you lovelies.

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Shopping and lots of Fun

Sooo yesterday I went on a 5 mile shopping excursion! I found 4 pairs of shoes I loved and I didn't buy any. However, I did get some material from the fabric market, sadly I didn't take any pictures. I also got some glue, tape, a ruler and a stapler. Later I got a ring and I found a really cute little shop where I got nail polish and a wallet. Later I found this belt, I tried not to buy it, but I was in love and couldn't resist!  Also I had this brilliant idea to see if any of the small shops near here want to buy stuff I make and sell it as handmade american goods :D it's brilliant! Possibly....

The stripes will be pajamas and who knows what else. 

The flowered material I will atttempt to make a button up shirt.

It was a chily, grey, foggy day.

I'm a little obsessed with the idea of getting a bike.

Apparently this place sells Pigeon BBQ.

All in a Days Work

Well at least the socks were all done in a days work. It took me an hour to cast on but once I got the hang of it they went pretty quickly and I'm rather proud of how well they are turning out. I also made two apple pies for my little friends 6th birthday. Had a nice day hangin out with his mommy and ended it all with a super game of rummy that lasted till midnight! It was a pretty good day. Also made two more granny squares for my up and comeing cozy afghan! 

Granny Afghans they Warm the Heart, the Mind and the Rest of Me

Right now I'm missing haveing afghans around the house. The weight of them some how holds the heat so much better. And lets face it! They're just fun! They have personality! Well I've decided to make one! it probably won't be as pretty as these but it'll be mine and that will make it better.

Wednesdays Dinner

I've decided every wednesday I will make dinner for myself and the family I'm staying with. Tonight was Chicken, noodle, spinach, tomatoes soup and garlic bread. I wish I was at home and making this for my mommy and daddy, they'd be so happy and proud! I was going to go to the fabric market this morning, but I got a message and went instead to KFC for lunch with a friend. Deep discussion of serious topics occured. Things that are far more important than the fabrick market. Tomorrow is game night and in honor of the party I'll make some apple pie and maybe cookies.

First Snow

Normally I get excited about the first snow. Considering It's only October 17 ..... well, not so much.

That place

Song bei da dao bridge Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

So I had my class over at Hulan today and when I left it was pouring rain, with thick angry black clouds and lots of streak lightning. By the time we got to the bridge (40 minutes later) this is what I saw. Oh yes! I almost forgot! I got a charger for my camera. I realized on the way back today that I can think of home fondly now, instead of only in desperation. What I mean is I can think of going home and the thoughts are pleasent and warm and happy, I can think of all the wonderful things I will do when I get back and smile about it. Whereas a week or two ago I could only think sad thoughts of lacking and desperate longing. This all may change by the end of next week, but for now I am content and blessed. 

Socks!

I've always wanted too knit socks, when I found this yarn the other day I knew this was the year! So I bought it and I will start as soon as I've finished roaling it into individual balls. I really hope that I can master the art of pretty, wearable, lacey, knitted, socks. I'll keep you updated on that!

Stairwell Sessions

Quilted Hearts with Bows

Looky what I found yesterday! These quiltidy heart earmuffs grabbed my eyes at the street market the other day and just would not let go. I knew they would be gone the next day so I stopped and bought their cute littles selves. Also I found the first birthday/christmas/from China/because I miss you present. But because such people have access to this blog I can't put any pictures on untill they've been given their gifts. So in 10 months you can see all the cool stuff i've gotten for my friends. It's hard to believe, but I've been living in China for a full two months today. On schedual for today, go and find a cameras I like, come home and look up reviews for them. Hopefully I'll have found and purchased one by tomorrow afternoon.

Lamps Galore

So there is this light fixture on my ceiling that is in desperate need of a shade for the middle light. So a few days ago I thought, why not make one out of paper!?

Here are some ideas I found, I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do yet.

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And two more ideas found here and here, I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet but I thought these were some interesting ideas.

Learning to write, to live, and to love.

So last night my new friend Punk brought me these books to help me learn to write in Chinese (actual simbols). It was so completely unexpected, he really is sweet. My friends and I were talking today about how he's so considerate and careing and how he's just punk and we've never met anyone quite like him. I love talking to him and I can't wait for the day when he's introduced to the Father, I hope I get the honor. I feel so certain that he will before I leave and I pray I'm there. Well today I have no classes, but it's pay day which means I'll be getting a camera soon. New camera = more blog posts.  Well for today, I've been studying and soon I'm gonna go scout out a new place, Lenore's Coffee Bar, and then hopefully find the fabric market today, it's beautiful outside and I want to soak up as much of the nice weather as I can before it turns cold. I had a lot of spirit changing realizations this past week and I'm feeling much better about being in China, and my purpose. 

“You keep him in perfect peace whoes mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

~ Isaiah 26:3

Studies start NOW

So I had 11 classes to teach on Wednesday and 11 again yesterday, but today I had off and tomorrow and Monday. So I'm officialy going to start my self inflicted study time today. Really what it is, is I miss being a student and so I'm creating my own study time. This afternoon I took a nice long walk down to find the fabric market ... I never found it. Oh well, I kept calling my friend and I don't even know... BUT! I did find a nice little shop that has yarn. I met a university student there named Lee who spoke English, I got some nice olive almost drab green yarn that I think I might actually be able to tat with we'll see how that works, anyhow the little lady who owned the shop was nice enough to make me a gift of  2 knitting needles. She was so sweet, I think I will go back sometime.

He's still there. He's here. He never left.

Learning Chinese and Fried Cabbage and Scrambled Eggs

So last night I went out for a walk to the bookstore with my new friend Punk, it was such a blessing to get to talk to someone, like really just have a normal conversation like I would with my friends at home. I really hope and pray that we can be good friends for the rest of the time I am in China. Anyhow I got this book to help me learn Chinese, and I plan to start seriously studying that and some other things on thursday, but I don't have time to tell you about that now as I am going to the Harbin Science Museum with a bunch  of friends and I have to leave in about a half an hour. This morning I did go out to the morning market and yum yum, I fried up some cabbage and scrambled some eggs for breakfast! Aint it purty? Also here's a good song.

Not so good, but never so bad.

So today, today was hard. I can't lie, I cried several times and all I wanted tonight was to be at home. I'm still sick, and I think the medicine I'm on is adding to the sickness. I know there's a purpose for my being here,  but I really don't know what it is. Maybe it'd be easier if I did, maybe not. I hate that lacking of purpose I feel and sometimes all I want is to lay down on my own sweet bed and never leave home (in DE) again, at least for a very long time. I miss everyone and everything soooooooo much. I need peace, and calm, it's not that I don't trust the Father, I mean I'm in China obviously, I trust him, but I'm not sure how much I trust myself.

Lovely Gypsy Caravans and the Like