Home...

It feels great to be home. I've gone nonstop since getting home, but I think that has helped my jet lag. This is prime season for Lily's Greenhouse, so Ray and I went and kept these two 'China' cuties while Emily worked. They have so many traditional and unique bedding plants in stock, but they are going fast...I totally stocked up and can't wait to fill my planters tomorrow!

Lily loved her China gown and Layne looked so handsome in his silk China pajamas. I can't get over how grown up Layne seems. Of course, Lily had asked me to bring her back a stuffed panda, so that was really all she was concerned about! Love these two so much!

Homeward Bound...

Went to bed at 12 am and woke up at 3:30 am wide awake.  I guess I was nervous I would miss my flight home!  Wheels Up (AZ terms for you better be in the vehicle or we leave you) at 6:15 am and hope to be in Memphis at 5pm tomorrow!  Have had a great trip, but can't wait to be home.  And, I can't wait for a cup of coffee...I'm just not a hot tea person!  

Tuesday Photo of the Day...

Team afternoon of negotiation training at the copy mart was extra exhausting!

When in China...

You do as the Chinese.  Noodles and eggs for breakfast; Great Wall wine and TsingTao beer with dinner! Delicious!

Monday's Picture of the day...

When you got to go, you got to go...

And we've made it to Shanghai!

Good thing this is my last stop, because it is beautiful and I would be sad to leave!

Sunday's Picture of the Day

Clean laundry, picked up and delivered in cute bamboo baskets.  Not a bad deal.  Today a vendor took us to pizza hut for lunch.  The pizza was delicious, much better that at home.  They had salmon, shrimp, etc on their pizzas.  Visited a battery factory today and then did some site seeing and had a massage and facial, then dinner with a factory owner.  Now, I'm ready to go to sleep.  One factory visit in the morning about an hour outside of Ningbo and then I'm Shanghai bound!  Can't wait to get to the largest city in the world via the longest bridge in the world!

Saturday's Picture of the Day

I am the year of the horse (which is a big, big deal here)...I think the Chinese know me very well!

Looking across the lazy susan...

You can tell we didn't go hungry today!

Friday's Picture of the Day...

So, things started looking up once I got to breakfast.  It went from 75 and sunny yesterday to 40 and raining today, so it was a bit cold (but the cooler weather seemed to help the smell that was in the air!).  Had two good factory tours today and they were both very informative and interesting.  Tomorrow, we have 3, so it will be a long day.  One of our current vendors took us to a traditional Chinese lunch.  First we started in the market to pick out the food we wanted to eat (hence pic of the day...everything was live...shrimp, frogs, turtles, snakes, duck, alligator, etc), then we went up to our private dining room.  The brought all the food out as it was ready and it was served family style on a lazy susan.  The vendor did a great job picking and everything was delicious.  I loved the scallops served in the shell with some rice noodle on top.  It was a very fun experience.  They focused on me, so I got first dibs on everything that came out!  We met another vendor for a Teppanyaki style dinner.  They cooked live lobsters on the griddle in front of us, but in a classy way...no tricks or anything.  I learned so much today and still can not believe the dedication the Chinese have to their jobs, their lack of understanding of personal space and their excitement for Americans.  There are some poor conditions over here, but also if you are even close to middle class you are living large!!

Thursday's Pic of the Day

hursday at 11pm...

Take 2...let's see if this will post this time...I'm taking some pictures out!

Yes, we did land on Wednesday night at 7pm (6am Wednesday back home), but after clearing immigration and customs in Hong Kong and then again in Asia we didn't get to our hotel until 11pm.  I think I went to sleep at midnight and woke up every hour from 2:30 till 5:30 when my alarm went off.  The Hyatt in Duanggan was very nice except that the air didn't work well and China smells. Everywhere you go, it smells (the worst was the dinner they served on the inner country flight tonight in First Class...I opted out, but the smell about put me out)! The hotel breakfast was amazing...6 or so stations of different foods.  I stuck with a basic omelet, but they had everything from seabass to dumplings, cold cuts to danishes.  Then there was a scheduling error with someone else's vendor, so we had to set in the lobby for 3 hours and wait for my vendor to come pick us up.  Not a great way to start; however, the flashlight factory I saw today was state of the art.  Amazing how each piece is touched and all day long these tiny Chinese women do the same job and then volunteer for overtime (and the average pay is $200 a month).  To make us feel at home, they brought in McDonalds.  I had the Mc Chicken and it was delicious.  However, the Chinese McChicken didn't like me.  All I can say is Thank You to Sonca for having a visitor's bathroom with a Western toilet!  I survived our first inner country flight and am now at the Nanyuan Hotel in Ningbo.  I get to stay here till Sunday and everyone says I'm getting spoiled.  I don't really consider a hotel without wifi spoiled, but oh well.  Plus, they are really into saving energy here, so the hotel turns the hall lights off at night.  It is really scary actually.  Tonight for dinner I had Fungi soup and a shrimp pancake, both of which were delicious!  Now, I'm about to get in bed and hope to wake well rested!

I'm not sure how my photos will load as China doesn't allow blogspot to load (of Facebook).  Something about free speech...Anyway,  one is of one of the 6 food stations at this mornings breakfast, the other is the Chinese McDonald's bag that I hope to not have to see again, one is me and our customer service agent at Sonca, Chris, one is Kelly (our Director of Direct Import and Quality) and I as we boarded our China Southern plane and the other is Thursday's picture of the day...on the interstate the truck had his back open and a person riding.  I was scared in the car with the driving...can't imagine being in the back of a truck.  Good Night all!  I can't get skype to work, but I am checking both email accounts!  

I only thought my bed at home was hard...

The one at the Nanyuan is like a brick.  I slept on top of the pillows, but still only slept for 4 hours.  Been up since 4 am.  In the middle of the night my air turned to heat.  I have it set on 20 C isn't that 60?  I need to look that up.  Went to run on the treadmill, but didn't make it very far...I think the lack of sleep and lack of keeping food in isn't a good mix.  Forgot to take my key out of the lights when I went to they gym, so I go to front desk and in my slowest English explain my situation...they keep saying, 'You want to check out?'  NO!  I need a key.  'You want a car?' NO!  Key!  Finally, I'm back in my room, but not before running into the wrong public bathroom in the lobby because I couldn't make it to my room . Yes, I came out of the horrible potty to see an old man with his pants around his knees...This day can only get better...right?

Hyatt in Duaggaun

Was very nice and the people were too. However, they didn't have lights in the hallways and it was very warm! Even thought we landed at 7 we didn't get to the hotel till 11pm because even though we cleared customs in Hong Kong, we had to clean again in mainland China. So, went to bed about midnight and woke up every hour. We started at 6:30 with the most amazing hotel breakfast then onto our first factory!

I took 2 Advil

Just to be on the safe side. Flight wasn't bad...worked, watched 3 movies and slept 5 hours. Now very hot as I wait for immigration.

My bags seem to be on the right plane too!

I think I'll be eating well too!

Heated seats and champaign...

Might be the best part of trip!!

This is where you will find me for the next 16 hrs

Some of my favorites from the weekend...

Ashley shows off her gifts at her shower on Friday

We all got into teams and created Ashley 'toilet paper' wedding gowns

Some of the shower attendees smile for the camera

The parents of the bride are all smiles at the rehearsal dinner

Ashley and her bridesmaids at 'rehearsal' above Ruth's Chris

Aj and Ashley enjoying their rehearsal dinner

Wedding time...the rain blew over just in time for an outdoor ceremony!

Absolutely Beautiful wedding and a stunning and happy bride!

It was a last minute call, but Grandmother and Granddaddy made it to the wedding. Everyone was thrilled, especially Ashley!

While cocktail hour was going on, I snuck down to take some pictures of the set up. I think Ashley was happy with how everything looked (and I was too). Some tall curly willow with hanging candles and floating candles below

Some short ones I did inside cool twig vases that Ashley and Mrs. Helsley made

Cute banner

Beautiful pies on super cool tree stands

Waiting for Mr. & Mrs. Aj Cox...almost dinner time

A quick picture with the Bride

Everyone having a good time dancing the night away

A family dance

'Leafing' the guest book

Everyone is still all smiles at the end of the night!

Now, I'm going to bed, so I can get up early to catch my flight for China. I hope to post from there!

Not sure why, but

This kinda makes me nervous!

Love that a party bus picked them up...

And took everyone to a bar! I think Ashley had her dream wedding!

Having a Good Time!!

The Happy Couple!!

You send me..

A little Sam Cook for the first song! Mr & Mrs. Aj Cox!!!!

Rehearsal Dinner bound...

If I ever open a 'shop'

I have some great help lined up!!

Beautiful day...

To play with flowers! And I found some helpers!!

So proud of MYSELF!!!!

Now to get faster!

It was a Happy Birthday weekend...

On Friday night we had couples poker at our house...Jeri brought Birthday Cupcakes. Then on Saturday night, mom and dad cooked a birthday dinner. Delicious grilled chicken and veggies! Plus petit fours! Yum!

Lily was super excited about about the card she got me. It was super cute and interactive!

After bath time, we had petit fours! Originally Layne was on my lap too and Lily was so worried he was going to grab all the petit fours, so she got a bit upset and decided she wasn't going to smile for our picture! I love family time!

My Little Pony time!

Time with Layne!!