When will I ever get to cook again???

As you can imagine, moving has taken its toll and I'm feeling an itching to get in the kitchen again. I mean, this blog is supposed to be about my "adventures in and out of the kitchen". Seems like lately, all my adventures have been OUT of the kitchen. Of course, its pretty hard to put a meal together in a kitchen that looks like this...

Or eat in a dining room that looks like this...

Or work in an office that looks like this...

Or hang out in this NON-living room...

Our last Beijing meal was, of course, at our "Home Away from Home"..

So long, Beijing!

We will miss you....

Pizza Farewell with Beijing First Branch!

Everyone knows I love a good pizza and can put one away as well as the next girl but after living in the "LiDuFanDian" for the past 2 days and eating everything in Beijing like it was my last chance to ever have it here again....the last thing I felt like doing was going out for pizza. But last night was our last chance to say good-bye to the wonderful friends we've made in the Beijing 1st branch! So, in the interest of friends and good feelings, I stuffed down a few pieces just to make everyone else feel at home. The sacrifices I am willing to make to help others!!

It's truly amazing how quickly this little branch has jelled and the strong feelings of love that exist within its boundaries!

We love and will miss every last one of them!

Xiao Sun, ayi extraordinaire!

Have I mentioned how much I love Xiao Sun, my ayi? She has been with us for 7 1/2 years. She has washed and cleaned and ironed and cleaned and cooked and cleaned some more. Really, its better than a 5 star hotel!! She has been our house manager, our friend and our protector. She cares for us like we are her own children. I 've spent 6 days a week with her for more than 7 years....how will I do without her??? Xiao Sun, we LOVE you!

They're Here!!!

The movers came this morning and in a few short hours with a bit of packing paper and bubble wrap packed our lives into several sundry boxes.

A few good friends dropped by to say good-bye....sob!....

We're exhausted but found the energy to treat ourselves to some good Korean BBQ.....one last time.

Only a few days left to enjoy Tai Tai hood!

In China, a pampered, spoiled, and I like to think, LOVED, woman is called a Tai Tai. Here I am with Julia and Barb in all our Tai Tai splendor....after a mani/pedi at NanNan's.
What a great day.....sigh.....

Cold, Smoggy Beijing Day

This fall, after all the attempts by the government to improve air quality for the Olympics, we had many BEAUTIFUL days!

This is the view from our balcony on a good day...

But today, in spite of driving restrictions, this was the view from our balcony...

Days like this make it a bit easier to leave.....

MOVING!!!!

Just when everything is just as I'd like it...we found out we are MOVING from our cool Beijing apartment...

Back to our home in Alpine....

I'm a list maker.

First...get rid of stuff I don't want...check

Second...get rid of food (this really hurts!) (the U.S. won't accept food from abroad... check

Third...give my plants away (sob!) check (sob..)

Fourth...prepare for the onslaught of packers!!! check