Getting my feet on the ground in China.

I'm getting my feet back on the ground in China, unfortunately it's very wet ground.  After David picked me up at the Shanghai airport we drove into Suzhou in the first thunderstorm of the season.  Our driver was really sweating it and heaved a great sigh of relief when it stopped pouring.  The next evening we went out to eat and when we stepped out of the restaurant it was pouring again.  So we slopped home about three blocks in three inch deep puddles.  My jeans and socks hung on the balcony for two days and were still wet.  Very still, very humid, very cool.  I've been chilled to the bone since arriving.

But it is fun to get back to the incredible Chinese/Japanese food.

I love these deep fried lotus roots.

I've been craving a bunch of fresh flowers for months and finally gave in to it 

at a little flower shop in our neighborhood.

I do believe these are the tallest pussy willows I've ever seen.