Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !!!

May this Holiday Season bring to all my Family Member's / Friend's / Blog Reader's a better .. less troubled New Year for all .

Please don't take the Mayan Calendar too serious and stop planning for a great/prosporous Future , beyond 2012 .

Then again , what if they were "Right " ? Oh well , I will take each day as a Blessing and make the most of it anyway . When Chapter two comes , I'll be ready .... !

Who is eating our Tree ?

Or should I have said .. what is eating our beloved Tree ?

As happens every year , it's time to pick up leaves all over your Yard .. as they fall or are wind-blown into your Yard . This is always a multiple task , because as soon you get done with it .. it starts all over again a few days later .

As I was doing that a month or so back , I've noticed something is happening to my "Albizia" ( Persian Silk Tree ) . First , I seen some of the bark on a few branches on the very top was missing . At taking a closer look , one could actually see "Teeth" marks . To mind came "Rats'' or "Squirrles" must be doing this damage . I went to the nearest Nursary and stated my problem to the owner . She had never heard/seen of such thing . Great I thought , I'm the Lucky one !

So , the next best thing for me .. was to get some Prepellant Spray and use it all around the base up to .. say five feet . I only did this ones , one can not imagine the aweful smell of this Spray . Not just putting it on , but for day's after . It kept both of us inside the house . Talking about keeping Pest's away , it also worked on us . A few more weeks pass , I notice it is getting worse and worse .

I'd be there , sometimes in the wee hours in night .. sneaking outside to try to catch whatever it is .. in the act . No luck !

Now , looking at this poor Tree .. that I have planted about eleven years ago .. it hurts me to have to see it subcome to something like this . Unless this stops now , I'll see this Tree not surviving for very much longer . If that is the case , I'll plant something from the Desert with thorns and hope these Beasts will choke on that .. trying the same .

A Year in Pictures ( 2011 ) ... Part 4 !

 Don't mess with " us " .. Boy's  !

 My LaoPo's German Hamburger's ,  what a delight !

 Turning a Familyroom back into a Bedroom ( for Qing's Son Tianchi ) .

 He'll be living on Cloud nine and ten .... we hope .

 New Bicycle's for LaoGong & LaoPo , matching of course .

 My Cactus Salad being prepared .

It really has been a wonderful year for both of us . To add , we must include ( no photo yet ) the House Janet & Qing's brother have bought while here visiting us . I have already Rented it out , just waiting for Escrow to close next week .

The one thing that bother's me though , is like the last Picture shows .. I miss Shanghai/China ( sure my better half does too ) .. all the People / the Cars / the Noise and most of all the Food . It wont be too long though .. I wish ?

Hope you enjoyed a Trip back in the year 2011 and looking forward for the "New" year around the corner . Another one for the Honeymooner's , may it come with much Health/Joy/Good Fortune/Luck and many more Adventures to write about in my Blog .

A Year in Pictures ( 2011 ) ... Part 3 !

 Janet's arrival at LAX in September .

 Second ( after her Cousin ) Visitor from Qing's Family . Brother's Wife .

First nights Dinner , Pork Roast - Mashed Pototo's - Broccoli .. Delish !

Trip down to Hollywood Blvd and surrounding Area's .

Famous " Hollywood Sign " .

 A lenghty/nice walk in Venice Beach and up to Santa Monica .

 On the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel .

 A California Sunset with the Pier in centre .

 A Trip to good ole San Diego .

 A day spend with two lovely Ladies , can I ask for more ?

 They don't call me Birdman for nothing .

 Downtown San Diego from the National Monument at Dana Point .

 Makes you want to give your LaoPo a big Kiss also .

Dinner by the Water/Bay before heading Home again .

Entrance to the Japanese Garden in Pasadena .

What would a Chinese Garden by without beautiful Chinese Ladies ?


to be continued ....

A Year in Pictures ( 2011 ) ... Part 2 !

 The begin of our Patio Cover .

 Moving along nicely ...

 Need to have an opening for Sunlight for our inside Plant's .

 Water-proofing the Cover . Looks great , but nobody will see it ?

 Light's and Fan ( without light , but to be added later ) in place .

 Hard working Man needs a Tea break .

 A different and oriental look on the Post's .

 Taking out the Loan Officer ( third from right ) for getting us a super Modification on our House .

 Time for Dumplings in Monterey Park CA.

 "America" in Palmdale under the Stars ,. Wonderful Concert ( fortyone years together that Group ) .

 Starting on Qing's Buddha Shelf on Patio .

 The finish of Qing's Buddha Shelf , which she loves .

Dragonboat Races in Long Beach . No Sweetheart .. your NOT number two !

 Common you lazy Bum's .. Row Row Row .

A cloudy day in Ventura at the German Soccer Club annual Picnic .


to be continued ...

A Year in Pictures ... ( 2011 ) !

 Chinese New Year of course is the start of 2011 for Qing and I .

 This means , our Home is starting to look more and more Chinese .

 Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library&Gardens

 For my Birthday .. a little Treat that is always welcomed .

Qings ( mine too ) first Casino Trip in California .

First Trip to Downtown for my LaoPo and where better to start off .. then Olevera St.

 Union Station LA .

 Downtown from the Union Station .

 Famous Railroad up Bunker Hill Downtown .

 One of many Parties , mostly Birthday's of Friends .

 Shopping for Sno... I mean Food . First Snowfall since Qing is here in Palmdale .

 Our Ping Pong match Table .

 My Charater engraved Rock ( Garden of Lilies ) .

 Our finished Cacti Garden next to Red Apple Tree .

Qing's first Achievement for her Job .

This is Part 1 ... to be continued .