a little imagination is necessary

Having a kid does something to you, it suddenly motivates you to do all the things you say you are going to do, or that you should do. For instance, Dom and I had long talked about getting a little country home in one of the villages outside Beijing. We knew we should do this to give our lungs a break from the pollution, but we secretly worried about how difficult this might be to renovate or find, and would we ever go out there? Well in the era Niamh, we have actually gotten around to doing this. We went in on the project with our neighbors and friends, the Plummers (Helen and Ray). We found a great double sized courtyard house out near the HuangHua (yellow flower) Great Wall and have rented it and renovated it. By renovated it, I mean we have cleaned up the outside and inside with the help of some construction workers, installed a kitchen, bought a western toilet, shower and sink, only to find out, we don't have running water! Well, we get running water for half a day once every three days... We're hoping this might improve.

We first looked at our courtyard back in March and I have to admit, it looked pretty barren. But it wasn't for us, it was for our kids, right? So fresh air wins...

This is what the place looked like when we first saw it, needless to say, it required a bit of imagination. (yes, that is the great wall in the background!!)


This is what it looked like this past weekend (sorry, I wish I wasn't in this picture either, blinding viewers with my pale skin..)What an amazing difference, huh? While I wish we could be credited for turning the barren landscape fertile, that is just the amazing difference the season's make in China. Incredible. We just found out the Orchard below our front yard is persimmons, so stay tuned for some colorful autumn photos.

It may not be China's answer to the Hamptons, but its the next best thing...