Food for thought...

Asian Pears.

Being from the inland part of the U.S., and being unadventurous when purchasing fruit,

 I haven't had much contact with unusual fruits.

Until now.

And I've discovered that there are quite a few different kinds of asian pears.

Some are very sweet.  Others, crunchy and dense--almost like an apple. 

Round, light yellow, brown, green--all pears.

 Then a week ago, our driver bought us some new ones while we were in Tianjin.

About the same size as a clementine (or mandarin (!) orange),

and kind of looks like a big crab apple.

But it's a pear.  With a pineapple-like flavor.

 And--changing the subject--I finally finished the Easter 

cross-stitch I began back in late winter.   When I started it, I didn't think I'd get it done

until next spring, but I've had more time than I knew I'd have back then.

 And I've found out that the Chinese are BIG on cross-stitch.

There are shops with huge kits (the size of big screens TVS!)

of art work.  Now those WOULD take years to do.

But I learned something.

They use a special marking pen (washable ink),

and draw in all the grid marks.
 Revelation!

That means you could start anywhere,
and check accuracy quickly and easily!

I didn't want to go find the special pen (1. call the driver, 2. go to the walking street,

3. find the shop, 4. try to communicate that I only wanted to buy the pen,

5. end up having to buy a kit or be told they are not allowed to sell the pens 

before 6. coming home--no wonder

sometimes it is easier to just "make do"),

so I did the markings with a pencil.

I'm already loving it!