Anniversary Gifts

This past week, we celebrated our anniversary (if you read the blog, you may have heard...)

Here's the rundown on the loot we scored:

Aaron:

Stacy surprised me with an incredible gift - a painting. Not just any painting, one that I've had my eye on since my first time up here, in 2007. It is an oil-based painting of some mountains with sunlight highlighting one of the faces, and fog shrouding the bottom.

I'm not much for the arts (or very "cultured," for that matter) but I am in love with this painting. It reminds me of great times I've had hiking and the mountains that currently surround me on a daily basis, plus the Almighty Father who created the mountains (Psalm 65:6) and all creation. Incredible.

Stacy:

Before moving up here I had been eyeing copper tea pots that they sell up here.  So I was so happy when Aaron surprised me with one for our anniversary.

Also there is an artisan guild here in the city that sells really quality goods, using local patterns and colors.  Their bags are made of a really soft  leather.  When Aaron biked to the fishing village a couple of weeks back, he found the factory where they actually make the bags, and picked one up for me.  

I'm not as descriptive as Aaron is - but trust me, I love them.  In fact I love them so much, I was worried that Aaron wasn't going to like his gift nearly as much as I love mine.

Gentiana Update

Just over a month-and-a-half after trying to transplant some mountain flowers called Gentiana Phyllocalyx, it's time for an update.

As you can see, something is growing. However, I think that for the most part it's just the grass that was in the clods I dug up - I haven't seen any evidence that the flowers took hold.

However, according to a friend familiar with the Gentiana flower, I dug mine up right at the end of flowering season, so there is somewhat of a chance that the roots have taken hold (the other plants certainly have...) and that the flowers will bloom next year. That's what I'm hoping for.

PS - does anyone have a lawnmower that will fit inside a Coke can?

An Early End to No-Shave November

As is customary for gentlemen in the month of November, I participate in "No-Shave November." When December comes, there is usually the much anticipated* unveiling of the Post-No-Shave-November Facial Art.

This year, Thanksgiving and our wedding anniversary fell on the same day, and a few days prior to the glorious coincidence of these two ever-important jamborees, my wife lamented to me that I always have a beard in our anniversary pictures. Not one to quickly break tradition, I nevertheless saw this as an opportunity to bless my wife. So, I decided to do something uncharacteristic and bring an early end to "No-Shave November," so as to bless my wife.

Instead of a beard in this year's anniversary pictures, I will be sporting a look I have christened "The 4-Point Buck" - a mustache the descends on either side to downward-facing forked prongs of glorious facial hair, creating a strong resemblance to the rack of a 4-point buck.

I'm not sure this is what Stacy had in mind when she requested "no beard this year," but I guess we could quibble over the semantics all day...  Ah, the things I do out of love.

(* Stacy waits eagerly to see what sort of artistic rendition I will come up with. I think it is probably her favorite surprise of the year.)

Celebrating 4 Years Together

We went out for as nice a dinner as they have here - $7 steaks at the "steak house" in town.

Despite the rather humble setting, it was nice to once again reflect on how great this year of marriage, and all four years in total, has been.

Linen & Silk, you were a great year. Wood, I know you'll be even better!

My Groomsmen

Since yesterday was our 4 year anniversary, I was looking through our wedding pictures for yesterday's blog. While I was at it, I came across this gem:

Man, I love all these guys - Flan, Tanner, Chris, (myself), Micah, Isaac, A-rizzle, and Will.

Cuatro Años

Four year ago today rose forth the genesis of the O'Hares (aka. the Asia O'Hares). It was a glorious occasion and there was much rejoicing.

Since that day, I have done much rejoicing.

I love sleeping in on Saturdays

And I love college football games

I love not acting my age

And good barbecue

...but I want you to know

Honey, I love your love the most

- Eric Church

carolina style, all the way

Aaron and I celebrate things with hot dogs.  When we got engaged we ate hot dogs.  When Carolina won the national championship we ate hot dogs.  To celebrate vacation in Thailand, we ate hot dogs.

I love this face.

Our fourth anniversary, however falls on Thanksgiving....so this time we'll celebrate with sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

I love life with this hot dog loving guy.  These four years have been my favorite four years of life (including college - which was pretty fun).  Aaron adds fun, challenge, growth, patience, grace, laughs, adventure, and a new understanding of Jesus to my life.

He and our four years of marriage is what I'll be saying I'm thankful for, when asked at the thanksgiving table today.

Papa-san (祝你生日快乐!)

Happy birthday to the best dad in the world!

Turns out...

... I like to fix things.

Most recently - the electrical wiring on our friend's radiator heater. 

And with only one *minor* sparking incident.

Tacky move, supermarket

You should have splurged on the more expensive translator...

Clouds and Mountains

Are all I see when I fly home.

Bedside manner

This is my bedside table.

A camping stool. 

That's how I roll.

Himalaya Honda

Just another run-of-the-mill Honda dealership, I suppose...  

The face of pure bliss

Waffles anyone? Yes, please!

Sunday brunch. She couldn't be happier!

Marinate on this for a bit

For the wonder of each hour, 

Of the day and of the night; 

Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,

Sun and moon, and stars of light;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

 - "For the Beauty of the Earth"

Sweet tea

My tea always tastes a little sweeter in this mug...

Junba Fishing Village

The other day, I was reading online and I stumbled across a little write-up about a fishing village not too far from here.

The presence of a village in this area where anyone fishes, let alone the whole village, is incredibly strange because the prevailing cultural and religious belief is that eating fish is a sin, so no one does it.

Intrigued, I decided that I had to visit, and that biking would be a great way to get there.

Gearing up. 

It gets pretty remote and lonely once you leave town, always good to be prepared.

Ducks on the river. Pretty spectacular.

30 miles down, almost there.

Sweet success - "Welcome to Junba Village"

I snuck a picture through the tea house window of the village kids, who were enamored with my bike.

A few of the local men were playing dice, a very popular pastime around these parts.

The lonely walk that some call home.

Overall, the ride was about 75 miles round-trip, the village folk were incredibly warm and hospitable, and the views along the river were incredible, especially the ducks on the water. 

A great way to spend a Saturday.

The view from the village. I wouldn't mind waking up to this every day...

the other dorm room - a video tour

Here is the long awaited tour of the other room:

Thanks for letting me know, I guess?

Or better yet, just don't snoop through my mail?

Disconcerting.