Week of April 19th and Retro

April 24 2010: Ok, ok, I know, I missed a week. I'll lay the blame on Shane. He's taking 3 college courses at the moment. I have been turned into a research assistant. I'm tired....I don't know how he is doing it. Of course at the moment he is sawing logs out in the living room after putting in a full 12 hours of watch.
Not that there is a lot to do. The above is from last weekend. Wet and gray. Like the whole week has been. Ah well, it's spring time. Soon wet and gray will give way to wet and green.

Did go to one of the farmers markets. I love the local strawberries. So neatly arranged in their container, and cleaned to a shine, and just at the peak of ripeness. Perfect with blueberries and whipped cream! Thank goodness for greenhouses! That's how we get locally grown strawberries at this time of year. Well worth it, about 250 Yen (around $2.50) at the market. On base, same container, same grower is a little over $3. I like the farmers market. When your done, there are vendors that are serving freshly cooked food as well. My friend, Jenell, and I refer to it as "food on a stick" it covers everything, and, obviously, it's portable.

Out behind our housing area fields are being plowed and prepped for carrots and whatever else. Rice will come later.

Below: One of the locals out tending his burn barrel.

Not real sure what the ladies are digging up. The tractor goes through first and plows. They follow behind and are digging up some kind of root that has been laying underground all winter. They are dressed in ample clothing as one: it was cold out and rainy (did I mention it's been a wet, cold and gray week) plus to protect their skin from whatever bugs, and suns rays that might be lurking.

Below: A newly plowed field. Not one of the fields behind our housing. Over in another neighborhood. We went for a walk, and actually remembered the camera. Of course, it was cold and gray and.....can you guess it? YES! it was rainy! (no, I'm not tired of the rain at all. Actually I do enjoy it, but I like a little sun now and then. Should be better this week, sun, then rain)

So this walk, Shane, Andi and I saw some different houses....all ranges, from the more traditional (above)...

to the more modern (below).....

to stand alone apartments (I guess) (below) There were about 6-8 of these little houses on this lot. They looked as small in real life as they do in the picture. I wonder what they look like on the inside.

As always, weird signs seem to have a way of finding me, or me of them (not sure which or witch). Now, not sure if the above is an actual store. We came out of a side road and saw it a little ways down the street. Will have to find it again on another day and investigate. Though from our view point it didn't look open.

Below: Not real sure what the sign should say....."sb" perhaps "somebody"? (I had a different theory on "sb" but the 'o' was missing....put it together in the right order.....I'll wait......got it? ok, but Japanese people are to polite, so I don't think it's that)

And amidst the rain and gloom, spring has sprung! Little flowers are popping up. I love to see what has come out every day. Does make the drizzly days worth while.....that's why I really don't mind the rain.

Now we move on to something a little different. Something a little retro. Since my mom is in Northern California to visit family....and I know there is a family gathering going on this weekend, I thought I would put up some old photos from years LONG past for the benefit of those folks, and of course for everyone else's amusement!

Family reunion out at Bear River. Nope, my mom is not in that one (we missed a lot of these when I was growing up....the one I do remember I can't find a photo of) Not sure what year this is, not on the photo....feel free to fill me in.


Below: My Grandmother and my sisters and myself. Must have been around 1974 since I am missing my two front teeth.

Below: Cousin Lorna! Holding me and that's Tova next to her. Oh, by the way, if you need perspective on how long ago.....I'm 40 now, and I'm sure Lorna must still be around the 20 year mark. I won't tell you Tova's age....though she is 5 years older than me (oops)

Below: My mother will kill me for this. But I didn't want her left out of the retro fun. She's the one in the purple sweater (we'll just go with that) Don't know the year, as it's not listed on the photo, but must be the 1980's.

Below: And one more. I didn't want May to be left out. That's May on the left (3years) with Tova and Cousin Eric. 1969 at Grandmother's Piegon Point house.

To the clan gathering this weekend. Take pictures and send them on! And yes, someday you too might find yourself in a "retro look back".....depends on how many more slow weeks I have!

April 9 - 11 2010

April 12 2010- It's spring break! So you'd think we would be off on great adventures....well, not really. Minding our budget for when family comes to visit this summer. Andi took a night at a friends house, so Shane and I went out to dinner on Friday. We ate at a little Indian restaurant. Really nice and clean. But since we are also trying to watch our waists, we walked. About a mile each way.
Along the way I finally got to get a picture of my favorite conbini's (a convenience store) sign. Sun-Kus....or as we call it "the happy K". Think about it....it looks like a happy little man.....

Sunday we went to the mall for lunch. Yeah, that was it, just lunch. Andi had a hankering for McDonalds, and Shane and I for something other....so the food court was perfect. After we stopped by swan lake to see what was going on there. Some ducks as usual. Just what kind of duck this is, I have no idea....anyone know? drop me an email if you do.

On the trail around the lake there is some logging going on. Clearing out the dead/diseased trees and replacing them with new. The square log box in the background seems to be some kind of composting piles. We saw many of them with logs and tree debris thrown in. The new trees are supported by their recently fallen comrades.

And a new resting place was also put up using the recently fallen. We were most impressed with the re-purposing of onsite material.

And on our way home....did I find a car for YOU! Come on down and get your used car....it'll fit all your needs! Well, hopefully, it'll fit you!

Onsen!

April 4 2010
It finally happened. Knew it would at some point. Went to an Onsen with a group of friends. Thankfully, two had been before, so they could lead the sheep to slaughter. Actually, it was a wonderful time.
An onsen in the most basic of terms a bath house centered around a hot spring. Here in Japan, well there are a LOT of hot springs. They are very clean, as one must shower thoroughly and rinse before going in.
The water is about where I like my bath water....what I call "weak kneed" - which is where it is hot enough that when you get out, you must lie down on the bed for awhile. Well, now of course there are no beds to lie down at the onsen, so every now and then I had to pop my upper body out of the water for a bit of cool air.
This onsen that we went to is at the Komaki Grand Hotel. It has indoor and outdoor. We went at night, and it was just gorgeous sitting out under the stars. The Japanese sit very quietly. The gaggle of white women tend to chat.
The link shows some pictures of the onsen and gives you an idea of what our view was like. Oddly, I didn't feel that I should bring my camera....I do have limits to where I'll take it, after all.
(the above pictures are taken from the website)

http://www.komaki-onsen.co.jp/iyasu/ukiyu.html

Japan Day 2010

April 3, 2010: We went to Japan Day last year and had a great time. So off we went again. Thinking we would do better at it this year, since we knew what to expect. Somehow we always forget there'll be other people there! It was crowded! Held in a different location in an effort to give more room...we decided it was just more people shoved in. Got a quick look at the bonsai as we entered. Really, a quick look.

Found the mask maker. I never get there to watch them make one. Oh well, the finished product is much more fun anyway.

Oddly, the female demon mask did capture some of what I felt crowded in with so many people. I wish it were warm enough to hold this outside. But it's Misawa, 3rd day of April was only in the 30's.

Not sure what this fellow represents, but he's cute.

There were many booths set up where the Japanese do a quick lesson to introduce us to different aspects of the culture. Here Andi was learning about flower arranging. They have a little pedestal in the water with little spikes, the flower stems are set on them. Of course it is done with precision that I would never be able to master.


Below: Andi with her finished product. Unfortunately we didn't get to bring home the whole stand. We did get to take the flowers home though. They just don't look the same in my Tupperware plastic drinking cup.

There were demonstrations of some traditional instruments. This is the sheet music (above) for the "Koto" a Japanese Harp

Now, of course we must have a definition....."Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument derived from China. Is about 71 inches long and made from Kiri wood. They have 13 strings that are strung over 13 movable bridges along the width of the instrument. Players can adjust the string p[itches by moving these bridges before playing and use three finger picks (thumb, indes and middle fingers) to pluck strings. Those strings were made by silk threads back in the day but today most of them are made by polyester. Koto was played by Emperor's family at the palace as their entertainment."


Below: Andi getting a lesson in how to play.

The following videos.....Andi learning to play Koto

and two cuts from the Thunder Drum Music