The Dead of Winter

This is the time of year that we here in Saskatchewan start yearning desperately for an end to winter.I think one of the biggest triggers is the arrival of the torturous seed catalogues. Pictures of happy,warm vegetables in homey baskets looking all pest-free and fabulous, they rely on our having forgotten last year's tomatoes with stem rot and mildewy pea plants. No,with a seed catalogue order you are buying a dream." This year I will can tomatoes" you say to yourself,forgetting that in August you don't WANT to can tomatoes, you just want to sit in the shade and read a book. Those seed catalogue people know what they're doing,sending those magazines in February,and it's not just because it's time to put in your order,either.

Home again

The final day was spent at the National Palace Museum,full of treasures from the Forbidden City.Artifacts that represented the history of calligraphy,ceramics,painting,sculpture,bronze,etc.Amazing building-so grand!The grounds are stunningly beautiful as well, and though we were in a hurry we stopped for quite some time to feed the Koi fish and try to get a picture of a crane in flight. Then it was a rush to get back to Bob's(80 steps up to his apartment!No elevator) get my bags and say goodbye to my two wonderful traveling companions!"See you Bob and Matt!Try to have fun without me!",and the gittery pre-travel feeling(Yuck) and then I was off to the airport,through security, and sitting in a room-the only non-asian in a sea of people. To Hong Kong first,then to Vancouver,overnight at a hotel,then Calgary, then back to Saskatoon by 4 this afternoon. 15+hours in the air, and the endless waiting in airports.I walked off the plane and was greeted by a sign with my name on it being held by my grand daughter,Maria.The kids organised supper.Nice to be home.Goodnight!