December 21 2009: Well, it finally happened....we got a decent amount of snow! I know, I feel as though we have been living in paradise compared to the amounts of snow falling in the states. In talking to some of the locals, getting snow this late in December is more normal....last year it started at Thanksgiving. All I know is that when we got here Jan 4, there was lots of snow and it didn't stop til April.
So today a walk in the snow, followed up by some pictures from a couple of weeks ago. We are over our illness...not sure if it was an oinking flu, or really bad colds, either way, it's done. Andi is on winter break. No mercy was shown however, as I dragged her out of bed to join my friend Carol and I on our daily walk.
Above is one of the roads I walk down to get to Carol's house. They don't plow in Misawa, so this is what the roads will look like on a good day. Then melting, freezing and yuckiness will take over.
Above, the road into our subdivision. It's paved now, but the snow pack will be a fixture til Spring (unless the sun gets to it)
Andi taking a break from all the walking! Actually, we hadn't gone to far...well, about quarter of a mile, but really, just the beginning of my daily walk.
While we waited for our friend to finish "layering" Andi made snow angels. It was perfect snow for angel making.
Took some little side dirt roads that border the now frozen rice fields. Pretty peaceful. Did hear one "flying pig". Not sure why it was by itself...but I'm still not good at tracking geese. We thought this one was in the shrubs somewhere, so when the noise disappeared overhead, we were all a little surprised. "There went a flying pig" I said....I'm not sure anyone really heard me but the woods. (Flying pigs....I'll have to digress a bit here. When we first moved to Michigan I had to wait for the school bus. Out in the bitter cold (first winter there, didn't know what cold was) anyway, out in the bitter cold, lots of cloud cover. I could hear pigs. I asked Pop where the pig farm was. He looked puzzled and said no pig farm around....(by the way we were living out in the country). Next day, same thing....really, I said there are pigs around somewhere. Finally on the third day, yet again I heard the things. This time I happened to look up (there was a break in the clouds and the sun broke through, unusual at that time of year to see the sun). And lo and behold, there went some Canada Geese......those darn flying pigs. Perhaps I should mention as was about 15 at the time...one would think I knew what pigs sound like.)
Just some scenic shots of what was around this morning.
OK, so a bit of backtracking here. On Dec 6 we went to a "festibal" of sorts. A new "mall" opened. Sort of a mall, kind of like a market/bizarre indoor retail area. And use the word "open" loosely as well. It was actually outdoors, as the indoors wasn't finished. But here in Misawa, if they say a grand opening is happening on a certain day, and the contractor hasn't finished....to bad, the event happens anyway.
But first, to get there we had to have a little walk. Just a short one, from the main gates, out to "American Park", which is right outside. Along the way, I noticed things hadn't seen on previous jaunts. I'm sure the plant is the only thing that could comfortable sit in this chair...
The elephant above and the dog below were both doing duty at the same entry way for one of the massage parlors. Andi liked that the dog had a "collar" on.
American Park is decorated with various shapes of Christmas trees. They are all built using plastic water bottles of different shapes and sizes. I'll have to come back up some evening and get pictures of them all lit up. But hey, now you know, another use for all those bottles sitting around at home waiting for the recycles to be picked up.
It was a nice day (way back at the beginning of December) The festival went way up "White Pole Way" (lots of poles once painted white....though I think it is supposed to be Main street now) Anyway, as always, mostly food. But we decided to "eat our way through" this time. But once I have food in my hands, I can't take pictures....so no pictures of the delicious "rice on a stick" I had (soooo goooood!) or Shane's potato. Just trust me...some of this food is great...ok, the sort of tempura sardine left a little to be desired....just not a cold fish person...ok, not a fish person...
Did indulge Andi at the "bounce house". I was intrigued as the attendant, after the kids were all in and bouncing around, carefully paired and lined up there shoes. He had hand puppets as well, that he stuck through the door to entertain the kids with. Andi was the only American, but had a good time....bounce has no language barrier.
Above: I guess every mini pincher dreams of being a Tiger....
Andi's favorite thing to eat at any festival.....chocolate covered banana's. It's my favorite too, but usually she won't share....unless I pull the "but I gave birth to you" card.
One of the food tents. I would have to say that there was only about 10 food tents this time. But that would probably be due to the fact that it is December. Usually at some of these festival there'll be about 30-40......all smelling oh so good. Even the things that stare back at you, smell good, just not sure about eating something that is staring back at me....that'll be for another festival.
And finally, what all the well dressed bottles are wearing. They actually sell these fancy little cozy's now and then. I've seen them a couple of times...but never have the "mad money" to spend do dress my bottles up. Some day....
All right then. Hopefully with school out for the week we get some adventuring in. Will depend on Shane's work schedule and just how much adventuring I feel up to. Andi and I are supposed to bake some Christmas cookies today (as long as we don't eat too much batter) and take them to neighbors....again, as long as we don't eat to much of the finished product either. Otherwise our morning walks are going to have to get a lot longer.
December 28 2009: All righty....out of the house we go! Shane had the evening off, so we decided to drive up to the Tonami Clan House to see the lights. Ok, so I meant to go on the 20th when there was a festival in relation to turning on the lights. But other commitments had been made. We went tonight...had to wait for it to get dark. Which really isn't all that late here, around 4:30pm (no midnight sun here) (and in case you care, the sun is rising around 6:15am - at least we are starting to get longer!) Still, we didn't get there til around 5:30 as we like to dilly dally in getting ready. Got there just in time, as when we left, the inbound gate was closed.
Above: the center island.
scraggly trees in the field.
Electric horses! Now where are the cowboys? get it???? Electric Horseman....get it???? (am I dating myself here? really it's a movie....go look it up)
Above: this tunnel is also all plastic bottles lined up end to end. The clear lights actually do a quick rotation to make it seem like you are walking in a spiral of sorts.
Those are the Christmas lights. I'm not sure if there are others around. Perhaps. But right now it is too cold and icy to go look. No snow. It did rain today, so the roads are a bit slick. Should be an interesting walk in the morning....stay tuned.
December 24-25 2009: Ahhhh, Christmas finally arrived. I say this as I was getting tired of "just 3 more days Mom" "just 2 more days Mom" "Mom? Can you believe it.....IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!" Good heavens! I know I was never like that....no, never (really, you can't see the sarcasm dripping from the words?)
So, we were up at midnight opening gifts. We were doing it this way impart because Shane had to go to work Friday night, late...so the theory was open gifts Christmas eve play all night, sleep all day.....note, it was a theory.
Above: having opened my new camera....I had to start testing out the zoom lens. It's got a pretty good zoom, I refrained from putting up the picture of nostril hairs...
The aftermath...Lots of great gifts this year. All of them deeply appreciated. It made being so far from home a little easier.
Andi, finally down and out...
Santa couldn't find any Tinker Toys in Japan...and didn't have time for American elves to go on a search...so instead found K'nex at a Toy R Us in Hachinohe. Let me just say, these are much more confusing then Mrs Claus that they would be. It took Shane and I the better part of an hour, and only one argument to complete the Ferris wheel. It took Andi just 3 hours to ask if she could take it down. We made her keep it up for one day. She wants more....I'm hoping she'll figure out how to put it together herself.
December 23 2009: (The Emperor's Birthday....in case you wondered) Anyhow, had to take a drive down to Hachinohe for some last minute errands. Saw the fabulous sign for the Rog House! Not sure how they get the "L" for "low", but not for log.
But let me just point out, since it can't be seen clearly....this shed is stacked all the way through, and all layers looked just as precise as the outside. I'm so glad my father didn't expect us girls to stack to this rate of perfection....we would still be out there.
December 21 2009: Well, it finally happened....we got a decent amount of snow! I know, I feel as though we have been living in paradise compared to the amounts of snow falling in the states. In talking to some of the locals, getting snow this late in December is more normal....last year it started at Thanksgiving. All I know is that when we got here Jan 4, there was lots of snow and it didn't stop til April.
Above, the road into our subdivision. It's paved now, but the snow pack will be a fixture til Spring (unless the sun gets to it)
Took some little side dirt roads that border the now frozen rice fields. Pretty peaceful. Did hear one "flying pig". Not sure why it was by itself...but I'm still not good at tracking geese. We thought this one was in the shrubs somewhere, so when the noise disappeared overhead, we were all a little surprised. "There went a flying pig" I said....I'm not sure anyone really heard me but the woods. (Flying pigs....I'll have to digress a bit here. When we first moved to Michigan I had to wait for the school bus. Out in the bitter cold (first winter there, didn't know what cold was) anyway, out in the bitter cold, lots of cloud cover. I could hear pigs. I asked Pop where the pig farm was. He looked puzzled and said no pig farm around....(by the way we were living out in the country). Next day, same thing....really, I said there are pigs around somewhere. Finally on the third day, yet again I heard the things. This time I happened to look up (there was a break in the clouds and the sun broke through, unusual at that time of year to see the sun). And lo and behold, there went some Canada Geese......those darn flying pigs. Perhaps I should mention as was about 15 at the time...one would think I knew what pigs sound like.)
The elephant above and the dog below were both doing duty at the same entry way for one of the massage parlors. Andi liked that the dog had a "collar" on.
American Park is decorated with various shapes of Christmas trees. They are all built using plastic water bottles of different shapes and sizes. I'll have to come back up some evening and get pictures of them all lit up. But hey, now you know, another use for all those bottles sitting around at home waiting for the recycles to be picked up.
Did indulge Andi at the "bounce house". I was intrigued as the attendant, after the kids were all in and bouncing around, carefully paired and lined up there shoes. He had hand puppets as well, that he stuck through the door to entertain the kids with. Andi was the only American, but had a good time....bounce has no language barrier.
Above: I guess every mini pincher dreams of being a Tiger....
Andi's favorite thing to eat at any festival.....chocolate covered banana's. It's my favorite too, but usually she won't share....unless I pull the "but I gave birth to you" card.
December 8 2009: Now, just because it's been awhile...let's take a look at signs that are found around. For the above...perhaps the persons name is Bar Ber and it's his shop.....just a thought.
The Koara bear is found on one of the local preschools. It's not really spelled wrong....spelled phonetically, the way it is pronounced here...it's perfectly correct. Though I find it harder to say now....but as my language skill progress it might be harder to say it with an "l". 
Now, when out walking where we live...it's always nice to know that gun hunting is prohibited. Though I don't know about arrows.... Still it is a rural area, so I'm glad to find the sign.
Above: DON'T ENTER HERE!!! Pretty much, that's what it says. It's all in Japanese, but a picture is worth a thousand words.
Above: ahhh there it is. The part about taking your garbage back with you. The great part is the beach is clean....except for what washes up in the ocean. But the parks have the same regulations as well....and they are clean to. Why is that so hard for us to do in the States? I don't know how other countries operate, but Japan does set a pretty good example of keeping areas clean. (burn barrels around the farming area are another issue....especially when they are burning plastics....putrid smell)
Above: We have seen this picture before. But those darn crows...one can never be to careful. They scope out garbage day as well. Gotta have your garbage secured in your can....anything outside the can had better be nothing but paper...the slightest hint of food and they rip the bags open 'til they find the goods. I can put a bag of nothing but plastic bottles out, and they'll leave it alone. But have one candy wrapper in there, and your picking up garbage for a week.
A common sign to see when out walking. Basically just a gentle reminder to clean up after your dog.
This one is in a park. Perhaps they need some of these in California. Nothing like a picture of an evil flame to remind you not to flick your butt or match stick.
Dec 15 2009: This shall be a bit of a short entry today. Andi and I have both been sick since Sunday. Well, she was actually starting on Saturday, but was still in the bouncy stage. Sunday she was quiet....and even took a nap! Kept her home from school Monday and again today. Though I'm not sure why, it's from there that she got this, and was kind enough to bring home and share. My fever seems to be gone finally. Just left with a sore throat from drainage (I'm sure this is just TMI for some folks....I shan't tell you the color however....we'll leave some things a mystery) 
So in exchange for a few sick days, I shall give you more houses from another walk last week. The only one of great mystery is the one above....It is just packed....well, the windows are, one can only assume the rest of the house is in the same shape. It is unfortunate that we also use it as a landmark...."you know, go past the messy blue house and take a left" We once saw a car packed to the ceiling with stuff, decided they must be from this house.
A funeral hearse. I don't know, I think it's a grand way for a send off. There are also some very ornate flower displays that happen outside the funeral home. This was outside a funeral home (I assume) but no other cars about, so assuming it's not in use at the moment....if it is, please forgive the photographer.....
The red house I like. It reminds me of my grandmother's red house. Of course hers was out in the country, nearest neighbor a good stones throw away, not right out the back stoop as this one is. But I could just picture it out away from everything else and all would be right.
