A very short get-together in the hot summer

Pauline maybe comes to Canada once a year only since she moved her focus back to South Africa. So whenever the time that she passing by Toronto, becomes the once a year get-together thing for this group. 

Guys met again on the date of June 24. I guess food is no longer the focus, but the other things, such as vegetable gardening, children's love life, and TV dramas. 

One very funny thing with this group is the geographic distribution. Imagine that we have families from China, HongKong, Singapore, and South Africa. It's been 8 to 9 years since the first get-together. We no longer involve the topic about work, we only want to hear children's boyfriend or girlfriends, which Asian drama that you are tracing right now, is that a sad story finally? What green vegetables you are growing recently, how do you deal with your in-law?

Each time we eat, we chat and we laugh, like the teenage hanging out with friends and don't wanna go home until one of us first announce that we should go, then we dismiss. 

When is the next gathering, I don't know, let's keep it at least once a year!

Purple, purple and purple

Not able to recall since when we fall in love with this colour. We began to plan them 4 to 5 years ago, from 1 small pot plant. The first and oldest is still growing in the backyard, we moved those following to the front yard. Because we realized that they enjoy the full sun and afraid of the damp surface.

Our front yard is a sloped surface slowly down to the walking path. Water drys out quickly so the grass is kind of struggling every summer. But this environment is perfect for our lavender. They grow extremely well. 

This year, the continuous high-temperature last week has made them even happier. See, I've harvested over several bunches already~

Black Coffee ~ From blossom to Fruit ~ 47 days

This golden cherry tree has been with us for 10 years. As the symbolic meaning, we planted it in the same year that we moved into this house. It experienced wind, thunderstorms, snow and sunshine days like us. 

Usually, blossom in early May, the flower is white with a yellow heart. We ever confused too in the past, but it is not Sakura. This is one kind of them but this produces fruit, cherry. Not the normal bloody red cherry, but the golden cherry. 

It takes about 47 days, flowers become fruit now. They were "taken care of" by our natural neighbours, yellow birds, red birds, squirrels, etc. Every year, the time we realized they are matured, it was almost gone. Oh right, we get along well with each other, we never fight for the "food".

Before all beautiful fruits disappear before our eyes, let me took their photos, and picked two bigger ones for a taste. Surprise it is a little sweet already! 

Lemon Tea ~ Thank you for the connecting

That was an excellent morning. When I logged into the LinkedIn account, I saw the name, I was no longer remain calm, actually, the whole day I was excited about. I told my friend, "You made my day!"

As Jing said, It's been 15 years since we last met in ShangHai. I would still like to call him Jing, even he already changed his name, maybe all I am familiar with is the life that he called Jing. Of course, I remember, what a sunshine boy! Three years younger than me. I remember his laughs sound,  very special, don't know why I just can tell it was him. 

At that time, we were in the same class. I was not good at IT coding, actually not good at logical things, that was a drawback for my IT program. I always asked help from friends and classmates, Jing was one of them.  Thanks, that made my study life a little easier. I don't mad if he says now that he thought I was stupid enough at that time. 

Thanks for connecting, I am really happy to know that you are living well with your families in the city of Shanghai. I do wish we have a chance to meet again somewhere in the world.  I wish you all the best!