Another Song

Here's another Chinese song I've fallen in love with! I can play along, now all I need to do is learn how to sing it :) I really love his voice, he's a couple of other great songs you should defanitly check out. 

It's been much colder the past few days, felt like -24 as I waited for the bus yesterday. I kept rubbing my eyes to keep them warm, certain things you don't really think much about like the liquid in your eyes and nose freezing, I'll tell you right now it's the strangest feeling. Well I have to out for dinner with a friend tonight and I'm praying for several reasons that all goes well with that. I'll be busy for the next week but I must say I'm really looking forward to our 15 day break, my Chinese New Year would be so much better if everyone wasn't going home on break, but I know I would if I could and I would never want to deprive them of that. As is I'll just have to be more creative with my time. Hope you enjoy the song!

Happy New Year! 新年快乐

Well it's 2012 and my New Years weekend was a blast.  I actually had Sunday off (a big thank you to the Peoples Republic of China for convincing my boss to give me a day off). At any rate, I had Sunday off and was able to go to an actual Church service for the first time in almost 5 months, yes believe it or not I have been here for almost 5 months now. Later we had a Birthday Party and then our Sunday night "Family Meetings". So basically I got to spend time with my friends and basically just have fun all day long! I must admit that though gowing up I imagined a number of things, I never really imagined I'd be a English teacher in northern China when the year 2012 rolled in. Well this year has been good to me so far, I feel happier and prettier on a pretty consistent basis, other then this morning when I was still exhausted from my long weekend and really didn't wanna get up, but that's another story. I also really wanna focus on being healthy this year, Spirtitually, Physically, Emotionally and Mentally. Makeing sure I read my Bible, pray, and do some worship everyday. Eating healthier, focusing on the good and keeping my mind focused.  I so look forward to learning Chinese next year, and though I almost can't wait I'm also learning to be good and focused where I'm at. Here's a project I wanna try.

Here's the pattern on etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78846028/the-beekeepers-quilt

And a video about it.

http://vimeo.com/26832987

I love her stuff!

Big dirty love of mine

Cold, dirty, God forsaken city. I use to subconcusly think that about this city. I couldn't wait to leave and I felt so purposless here. Simply surviving a week at a time untill that special day when I could say farewell to the smells, sights, and sounds of Harbin. I wondered why any person of their own free will would ever choose to stay in a place like this. But now I find each day that passes I love this big, cold, dirty, noisy city of 10 million more, and more. I don't know that I've reached the point of  wanting to "live and die here". That being the question my friend is always throwing around. But I know that my origonal plans of leaving in August of 2012 and never comeing back are certainly changing. I don't want to be a teacher though, I'm considering language school. I dream of being able to speak Chinese,  and to actually be able to live here and talk to the taxi drivers and sweet little children and the shop keepers, to ask the fruit venders how they're doing and just be myself. I'm also trying to think of a Chinese name I like, I was thinking firefly or bright or hope or something like that. What do you think?

Cold adventures!

 Yes! It is quite possible every post till spring will involve the word cold. Last weekend I got to spend my Saterday hanging out with a friend, exploring central street. We got Coffee from Harbins first ever starbucks, wherein I may have found Christmas present ideas. Later we played on the frozen river it was a beautiful day!

 

Cold Days of Joy

Doesn't this picture just look cold? It was! At any rate, it's true it has been cold and I haven't liked it much, and by cold I do mean cold, for example it is 5:30 pm and it feels like -6F outside. I'm seriously considering getting one of those down quilted cotes that goes down to my ancles. Well enough of weather reports and on to more important things. I got to skype my parent and my one brother and sister in law were there. (he has been in Egypt) It was lovely to see there faces and laugh with them again. Also we had our first thursday night worship meeting at the local YWAM base. It was amazing and so refreshing, unfortunatly it got cut off short by a neighbor who didn't like the noise. We prayed and sang over the city and it felt so much like, this is what I'm suppose to be doing. And the building itself was just so peacful, I feel I could go there every day to pray and worship and ya it just felt right there. Well on another topic, this wednesday I went again to my friends house for arts and crafts night, this week we made paper snowflakes for their window. I must say theirs is the prettiest window at night you can see their Christmas tree and the snowflakes, and a solar system the boys made and wax paper cross suncatchers. I have no work tomorrow and so a chinese friend has planned a day out doing fun stuff. In the mean time I've been working on my Chinese and also on Christmas presents for my adopted little neices and nephews. I'll show you those later, here's the song I'm learning now.

Wǒ néng gěi Ní shénme?

                 D

wǒ néng gěi Ní shénme ?

              D/B

Ní shì héděng pèi dé 

                   G

wǒ néng shuō shénme huà 

  D/F#-A/C#

gòu gǎnxiè Ní ?

                 D  

wǒ néng gěi Ní shénme ?

D    A        Bm

nǐ běn wèi zhìgāo shén 

       G           D

qiān bēi jiàngshì wèile rén 

D      A       Bm

wèi wǒ zuì shòu xíngfá 

       G        D

wèi wǒ zuì dīng shízìjià 

D     A      Bm

nǐ bǎo xiě wèi wǒ liú 

      G           D

shǐ wǒ nénggòu dé zìyóu 

D               Bm

nǐ wèi wǒ shè shēngmìng 

       G           A

shǐ wǒ nénggòu dé liánmǐn 

Bm7-F#7-G        D   

yēsū yēsū wǒde jūn wáng wǒde jiùzhǔ 

Bm7-F#7-G        D   

yēsū yēsū wǒde jūn wáng wǒde jiùzhǔ

Our Hearts are Warm

The cold dry air here is bitter on my face, but do I stay inside? NO! I've been busier then ever, scampering about the city all bundled up hats, sweaters, coats, gloves and lots of layers on every part of me. It's December 2ond and most people are counting down to Christmas, a time of happiness and good cheer, a time for eggnog, cookies, decorations, lights, good music and loving hours spent with family. This will be my first year to not be home with my family, and I will be spending my Christmas at work 7:30-7:00 just like any other busy Sunday. But somehow I seem to not be too upset, you see I think it puts into better focus that though I'm not celebrating at home, I am still be celebrating the same thing, the reason why I'm not at home. I'm celebrating the birth of Christ, the comeing of hope, the dawning of a light, and the redemption that was given. It is difficult to be here sometimes, this city feels so cold and empty and dirty, everyone is always busy, but no one ever seems to be really doing anything. It'll change though. 

Advent here in Harbin

I love kids, I love Christmas, I love crafts projects, decorating and what nots. Unfortunatly I don't have my own house, I'm not married and I have no children. But untill that wonderful time comes .... I have a friend here in Harbin with 5 children and an apartment that could use decorating. So I've started and Arts and Crafts wednesday night project with her kids. This week we made an advent calender. First I cut out these little boxes and the boys wrote a number on the outside of each. Then we put a tag with a name for Jesus and a scripture reference on it, these they can read each day and then hang on the tree, we also added candy for them and then tied them all up, it took a bit to decide where to hang them but I rather like what we finally came up with. They number 1-24 from the bottom up so each day they can simply cut them off.

Iphone Questions

So I was considering getting an Iphone while I'm in China, they are expensive here, but cheaper than in the U.S. However, in China there is no Verizon network, everyone uses sim cards. From my understanding an Iphone has to be unlocked to do this, I could use AT&T in the U.S. but I have a year left on my Verizon contract and I'd really rather not use AT&T. Do any of you know if I can get the Iphone relocked in the states and put on my already existing Verizon plan? Any comments, ideas, advice or links are welcome.

Late Thanksgiving

So Thanksgiving was last week and it was fantastic. I missed my family (it's my first time not spending the holidays with them). But all the American and some of our Chinese friends got together and had  blast! We made lots of tasty food and a thanksgiving tree, then we read the story of thanksgiving in English and Chinese and sang songs of thanksgiving.  I'm truley blessed with the friends I have here, and all the wonderful people the Father has sent my way.

Not so crazy lately ....

Well! Not much going on today, work earlier, the room is almost cleen. I'm finally working on my pajama pants, I have a basket of paper hearts and a bag of granny squares. I want to get a bright blue metal frame bunk bed and I want to paint my walls yellow. I just realized it's past midnight and I'm not remotly tired yet! Oh well ... This is my Chinese notebook and my sock knitting. I really want a pair of heels and I'm really into this idea of lace up ankle boots. I may have found some that I like, you'll know if I buy them.  At any rate, a friend is comein over at lunchtime tomorrow and we're gonna mess around with my skateboard so maybe I'll take some pictures. Also throwing around the idea of doing yoga excersizes. I understand it's really good for you. Anyone ever tried it? Any comments? 

The world thinks eccentricity in great things is genius, but in small things, only crazy.' ~Edward G. Buwler-Lytton

Long Weekends, Happy Mondays, Sock Pets and Skateboarding

So it was a long but good weekend, I had an unexpected holiday on Saturday. It was lovely, I got to hang out with some of my Chinese University friends. Well yesterday as always was a long Sunday full of long classes. However, this particular Sunday night dragging myself up the 97 steps to our apartment at 7 pm, was not the end. There was a party at school for the teachers and I had to be there. Well it wasn't bad, but the walk home was rather chilly. It hasn't gotten far above freazing the past three days and I have this feeling that it won't be warm again till spring. Ah well, such is life in Harbin. At any rate I got to have lunch with my good friend Punk today and we had a lovely walk in the coooooooold outside afterwords. P.S. I got a scateboard last week and I'm very excited to learn its wonderfull ways.

Yes I was practicing in the house :)

A friend of mine who lives Glasgow makes adorable sock animals and I was feeling rather inspired. Soooooo  I went out to the night market and found some I thought would make some cute pets.  Here are some wonderful little tutorial links. Hope you enjoy!

Cute baby sock bunny!

Floppy sock kitty!

Fat little frog!

Cute little owl!

Down the Rabbit Hole, and Under the Brick Wall

 Well dearies I was out on adventure today and found the loverly spot, it's quite perfect a quiet walf, a loverly picnic or a pleasent party, I can't wait till the spring, late spring of course, when things are warming up and turning green. For now it'll do for walking and a quiet place to sit and knitt or write or practice my Chinese, and not be gawked at or scolded for sitting on the ground. It's really an answer to prayer, I was just telling my mom the othe day that I needed a place like this. Well that's all for now lovelies.

Loving Selbu

The free pattern for these can be found here.

And what about these lovelies.

So I haven't posted anything for a while, I keep meaning to but it just keeps not happening. Well here's a little something to hold you over. If your thinking it's not really about your life though, think of it this way, these are the things I enjoy thinking about, they're a real enjoyable part of my life. Anywho I've recently rediscovered Selbu patterns and I really love the look of Norwegan knitting, I think it's absolutely beautiful! Well I'm working on my socks now, but a friend took me to a big yarn market, and I'm looking forward to trying my hand at a Selbu mitten pattern before the winter is over. Here's some beauties and some free patterns I found, hope you enjoy and let me know of any patterns you think are wonderful! So there's a scrap of news and a bit of insight on my crazy brain, I'll write a much better blog post soon.

Love this one!

Find it here.

Color it Brightly

Some times life seems dull. Esspecially here in China, the subtle consistencies in the standard life here are almost unbearably predictable. So it's time to switch it up, color your life bright! 

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.

this

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.