From Grits to Chopsticks

As we reach the end of the year, it seems appropriate to post a few more random pictures (since we live a very random life).  A sweet Chinese friend organized a birthday dinner for Susan and bought this cake, loaded with fruit, etc:When the restaurant owner noticed it was a birthday dinner, she presented Susan with a traditional bowl of “birthday noodles”:with a fried egg on top to represent longevity:By the way, fruit is the most common snack we and others serve.  The photo below shows guava, avocado, oranges, and jam thumbprint cookies baked by Susan:One more food photo: a recent dinner featured this dish of spicy fish soup:Now that December is here, the “fall colors” have emerged in our apartment complex (the most exciting color is the blue sky in the second photo): The temperature is also dropping, most noticeably indoors:Although the weather is changing, the nearby Thursday market continues to attract large crowds:Last week, Susan bought a new Chinese jacket for 69 yuan ($10) from this seller:While she was buying Asian fashion, the locals displayed an interesting blend of modern black leggings and traditional shopping baskets:We recently climbed to the top of the nearby mountain where three huge statues keep a stony watch over a large cemetery while pre-recorded Buddhist chants play in the background:On the way down the mountain, we saw a man shooting his slingshot at targets on the opposite side of a ravine:This sport seems to be growing in popularity, with numerous targets hanging from trees along the mountain road.  Back at our apartment, a construction project has begun to transform the vacant lot outside our window:It will be interesting to see what they build … stay tuned for more photos in the future!