Tomorrow is D-Day! D as in done or as done as we can be. We will be running around for 10 more hours trying to get everything looking just right or at least put back together before the President of ELIC, otherwise known as Tim & Lynn our good friends, arrive around 5pm. We spent today hanging more pictures and new artwork that we have purchased at some of the markets and local artist streets. It's been very fun looking but once again hard to find just what I'm looking for. I've looked for weeks for just the right art for over the mantel that would hopefully fit into a door, that I want to use as a frame, that I found at Gaobeidian. Sounds confusing but if it all comes together it will be great. It ends up that the picture we found was in one of the staff apartments on the 3rd floor. Our gain but their loss. Actually it belonged to the Mac and they were more than glad to give it up for the 'cause'. Huang Shan and I did go to the framing factory today to pick up and drop off pieces. Last time it took 3 hours and we were hoping to get in and out of their quickly. The factory is 'not far' and when we got there it was 11:45am, apparently lunch time, so we had to wait for them to finish eating (half hour) and then wash their dishes (15 minutes). Nothing is quick here. Bob, in the meantime was finishing the mailbox which he has been thinking about, planning for and working on for 6 1/2 weeks. It almost got the best of him but in the end he triumphed. He tore apart the old one and completely rebuilt a new one out of the reclaimed wood. He built it in an open space within the entry hall cabinet. Pretty impressive if I don't say so myself. I finally started on making florals for the entry way, dining room, great room, conference room, apartments and if I have anything left it will go into the lounge. Silk flowers are also hard to find here unless you really like bright pink, bright red and bright yellow. I ended up washing and reusing the silks that were already here just to get enough. Did you know you can wash silk flowers?
Saturday night we were invited to Huang Shan's home for dinner. We took the bus there and her husband Soloman met us at the bus stop to walk to their home. Pretty much everyone here lives in apartments. I've never seen so many apartment buildings. It certainly makes sense because where else would 20 million people live? We had a wonderful time and had the best meal we've had yet. We ate a lot of it as she kept putting more and more food on our little bowls (they don't use plates). Huang Shan is a very special friend.
We finally have some pictures to show of some completed apartments. Here's the first two that are done. We painted, rearranged furniture, moved furniture and pictures from one apartment to another depending on what worked and where. Some apartments got new bedding and some we tried to make sense of what was already there. Each apartment got window treatments and we took out the vinyl mini blinds. Ultimately we tried to make each space cozy and homey. The apartments are used by teachers around China, family and friends who belong to ELIC, staff from the states, and people like us who are volunteering time and services.
Some before and after pictures:
Apartment #22 before
Before
Before
New paint, curtains and arrangement
New arrangement and curtains but florals not done yet
New lamp, dining light, paint,
and furniture arrangement.
Apartment #23 Before
New paint, furniture and arrangement
New bedding - too bad the camera doesn't show it's lime green
We had a great time with Huang Shan's family.
Art shopping with Kristina
This is the shop owner
Framing factory
I finally finished the mail boxes.
Putting together the floral arrangements.
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