It could almost have been Iowa...

On a recent Saturday we attended a John Deere Family Day, to celebrate the opening of the new factory and allow family members their one opportunity to tour the facilities and see where their parent or spouse works.                                     The day was clear and not too hot, a perfect day for the fun. The sky looked like it could have been in Iowa...

However, I don't think I've ever seen the blow-up celebratory arches anywhere but here in good ole' China.

To greet us, there were several gold-painted figures from American history (I think). Still not sureexactly who they were representing, but they were good at standing motionless!

There were also life-sized cartoon characters, including the beloved lamb (I do not know it's name) that

has adventures outsmarting a wolf--akin to the Roadrunner and Wile E Coyote.  About this time, I was beginning to wonder if this was a John Deere factory or Disneyland.

Kevin explained that the local managers didn't do all the planning, they just hired a

celebrations company.  So, I guess we got the generic party. 

 I have to admit it was pretty nice seeing the facilities, though I would have been just as happy after seeing one engine, one tractor, and one transmission (instead of touring the 3 different factories)

 Still, it was an almost patriotic feeling that came upon me as we saw the rows of John Deere-green tractors and equipment lined up.  

As one of the main managers, Kevin was one of four to give a welcoming speech (which he did in Chinese!), and they also cut a ribbon.  It didn't actually go anywhere--just symbolic, I suppose.

 The big backdrop showed a rural setting with a happy family (with THREE children) and a windmill--probably to show the Chinese how environmentally-conscious the company is.  I don't recall John Deere being involved with windmills, but the sign must have been approved.  And the Chinese ARE becoming concerned about air pollution. 

We ended with an interesting sack lunch--chicken nuggets and two different sandwiches on hamburger buns:  one was a shrimp patty and the other was a very spicy chicken.  Way too much food for me!

We keep reminding Alice that events like this show just how fun it is

to still be part of our family here in China!

Where there's smoke...

Drought.  Heat.  Dry lightning storms.  Fire.  

It's been a bad year for wildfires.  They are fascinating events of nature--in just a short time,

the work of decades can be destroyed, drifting away in ash and smoke.

 The range fire near Blackfoot only lasted a few days,

 but cast a pall over the area.

 The forest fire out by Salmon (over a hundred miles away), left heavy smoke in the area.

At least it made me feel right at home--often does Tianjin look just like this?  Clear on top, yellow

grunge down below where we get to breath it.

 Other fun:  rides on the 4-wheeler with Grandpa...

 Nightly games of Rook--and despite the tipped-over glasses, all the hilarity was achieved

with only good Idaho well water.  (It tastes the best of any water I've had ANYWHERE).

And somehow, there were lots of times when it was an all-female experience.  The husbands all had to go back to their homes for work and once the grandsons went to bed at night, it was a girl party!

 And so it was in Colorado, as well.  Once Ryan was at work each day, 

the girls partied--picnics, playgrounds, splash pads, popsicles, etc.

 And even an outdoor learning experience where we learned about earthworms

and then had a little hike.

 This grandma certainly had a great time!

And Almost at the End...

I know.  I'm slow getting things posted.  Sometimes it's an internet problem.  Some times I just forget that I'm not finished. 

In America, we got to celebrate Nathan's first birthday.

 I love 1-year-olds.  They haven't figured out that they are the reason for the party.

 But a cupcake is about the perfect amount of sugary goodness.

 We also gathered with several of my siblings (and their families), at 

a 24th of July celebration (commemorating the day the Mormon pioneers first entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847), complete with fried chicken and a blue grass band.  

 That music makes little feet happy!

 Then it came time to leave Alice at BYU-Idaho for her week-long "Especially for Youth" camp.

It was good it was a fun thing to look forward to, since she also had to say goodbye

to her sister (until Christmas).  And thus commenced her being an only-child at home

as Ellie went to Colorado to finish out the summer.

 I just love the crazy things you randomly find in the West!  

 This spot on the Hoback River is one of my favorite places on earth.  Peaceful. 

Cool, shallow water for wading.  Pine tree smell on the breeze.  Why did we not go camping???

At least we waded for a few minutes, then my wet chacos kept my feet cool 

for the next hour's drive on our way to Colorado.

Four granddaughters and a dad, with the daily bedtime story ritual.

Yup!  It was nice being able to stay six weeks in the U.S.

Roadshow in a Day...

The youth of our church in the Beijing area got together recently to do a "roadshow" in a day.

Alice was wondering, what exactly is a roadshow?  In decades past, (and maybe still in some units of the church), each unit in an area would put together a 15-minute one-act play, complete with singing, dancing and props, and literally take the show on the road, and present it at different chapels.

In areas where great distances are involved, the idea got started to just bring everyone together,

spend one day learning and rehearsing, then present at the end of the day.

Of course, this takes a LOT of preliminary preparation (script, music, choreography, costuming, etc. have to be ready.)

 We arrived at 9 a.m., and immediately set about rehearsing the song/dance numbers.

 And the choreography wasn't simple or especially easy.  

***

When it came time for lunch, I walked to a Seven/Eleven and ate from the Chinese deli there.  Who knew 7-11's had take-out food? 

 (And it was good!)  This building (half of the 4th floor) is where the Beijing LDS members meet.

 Alice played the mother of Elder Hercules, and with minimal costuming that meant wearing an apron to distinguish her from the others.  Church members will all recognize what an "8-Cow Wife" is (taken from a short movie called "Johnny Lingo"--a classic!).

 

At 3 pm, parents and others gathered to watch the final performance. 

The cast and crew

The day was productive and fun.  The youth had a great time, particularly since the

directors knew what they were doing and knew how to get the best

in the shortest amount of time.  It was obvious they had worked on real

musicals at some point in their lives.  

It was a joy to observe!