RiverHouse

In the Fall

YiYuan Lu, Shuangzhong village, Shuangshan DaoJingang Port Dstrict, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province

18963692115molly@riverhousechina.com

We’re at out best on a misty day, when the world exists no farther than the ponds.In the Fall, however, the typical day is crystal clear. At this time it seems we are barely across the street (instead of all the way

across the Yangtse River from the shipyards busily producing vessels that carry Chinese commerce to the world.

The shipyards seem so close in the Fall you could toss a pebble over to them.

We can even watch the new vessels’ first dip in the deceptively calm river water.

Even in the evening, the great birds of the sky settle over the busy shipyards and they seem to be creating small waves in the river with a waft of that emensly long tail.

The autumn blossoms cluster around the guest house

The lotus is finishing its Summer-time visit to the ponds.

The swimming pool that brought such joy in Summer, for children, laps swimmers and even for the staff,

Has grown empty except for a few remaining frogs .

Outside on the dyke the annual bike races have been run

The house herself is calmly waiting for the day when visitors cluster over her geothermally warmed floors and gaze into the open fire and tell their stories.

The north door to the living room reflects the trees and even the river and its colorful traffic outside.

The south terrace is a favorite spot for the evening meal or a barbeque.

Though sometimes the dining room with its view of the river trumps even the charms of the terrace.

Though persuading the kids to come in from the pond

is not always easy. The allure of water lilies,

The fun of hunting down lingjiao, and the romance of just floating in the pool