Nagasaki

We went to see the Nagasaki peace park on Saturday. Beautiful grounds, waterfall and thousands of paper cranes.

Aquarium visit

We visited the aquarium at Sasebo on Friday. It is a very nice place, but nothing unusual. The dolphin show got everyone wet. However, it was more interesting to watch the heron and black kite over in the background. Giant crab, loggerhead turtle, purple lobster, divers feeding the rays and jelly fish We got to play catch with the dolphins after the show.

Sasebo

We took a trip to Kyushu and the city of Sasebo over the weekend. It was a pleasant drive of about 7 hours including stops. Here is one of the multitude of tunnels we went through. There's also some unusual sights on the road like the boat here. Sasebo has some colorful trash trucks and is famous for its Sasebo burger. These things are h u g e. Here is a photo of the one three of us ate...yummy!

Sakura

 Sakura trees were in full bloom on April 5 where these photos were taken in
Kamiyamaguchi  上山口　near the Arima river. 

 Many families were having picnics under the trees; it was very beautiful.

On Saturday the 6th, high winds were whipping through the area so many of the petals were being blown away; heavy rains contributed to the short life of the cherry blossoms.

Spring has come to Hata cho

A daffodil patch nearby

 Forsythia bushes

 Sakura tree in bloom near us--wish we had one in our yard.

The sign here is right under an overpass about 1/4 mile from our home.  The thing is, gun ownership here in Japan is practically non-existent.   It is posted in someone's veggie garden--who would want to hunt there?!?

A baptism 2013

Mrs. Matsuda got baptized today, March 24.  She is 89 years on this earth, but is a new child in Christ!  Praise the Lord for His goodness.

The little bird friend

This is another picture of the bird that was perched on our front rail a few days ago.  It is a Daurian Redstart and apparently winters here from October to early April, so we may not see this little guy too much longer.   Its head is actually white, but the lighting here makes it look more black.  It is similar to a Mugiwaki Flycatcher, but because of the white head instead of a white streak, it is a Redstart.  I'm learning about birds here....

 We were given a box of these h u g e  sea scallops.  One was enough for anyone. I pan seared them with olive oil and garlic--yummy.  The shells are now lining one of the flower beds.  :-)

Himeji Castle revisit

In July of 2011 we visited Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site, with some friends.  The castle is under renovation until 2015.  The Roof tiles and walls are being replaced where needed, but also being put on with new bonding material.  They use the same methods as when the castle was first built about 400 years ago.

You can't go inside the castle itself.  An elevator observation building has been constructed so visitors can see the progress of the renovation on the topmost roof.  Here is a shot from 2011:

All the roof tiles have been removed and the underlying wood structure has been reinforced/replaced with new wood.

Here is what we saw on March 7 this year  of this same roof:

Gorgeous, isn't it?  You could not see this from standing on the ground.  Two clay fish ornaments were made for the roof.  There's a video showing how they were formed and molded and then placed on the roof ends.  Here is a photo of one of the big fish:

Simply amazing. 

This is a tile with a Cross on it and an explanation of what it is:

Countless hours and money have been spent in this project which will not be completed until sometime in 2014, then all the scaffolding will be taken down and it will reopen to the public sometime in 2015--a five-year project.  It will be well-worth the wait. 

This and That

 It has been a while since I updated, so here goes.  This quilt I made for a doctor friend of one of our church members.  She gave me the material which was six half-meter pieces.   This is what I came up with and I used all the material she gave me.  Makes a nice lap quilt. 

 We made an apple pie since apples are fairly cheap this time of year--lovely smiley face.

These twin brothers visit our church with mom and dad sometimes.  Here they are sitting  near the church.  I asked them "How old are you?" and the one on the right has two fingers (his correct age) and brother has four fingers (not)--but must be 2 kids times 2 years equals four, right?

I don't know if you can see this bird or not as it was sunny on that side of the house.   This bird flies around here frequently and this day it was perched on our handicap ramp railing out front.  It has an orange breast and black head with a white streak.  It tweets just once and flits its tail every time it moves and hops from branch to branch.  It seems rather friendly.   Spring is coming soon!

Some current projects

One of my projects this spring.  It is just a one block pattern in about 35 different blues.  The white is a white-on-white prints you can't really see, but it does add to the texture.

I made this iPad cover for a friend.  The outer fabric is birds in a field and the inner fabric is ladybugs.  It's held on with inch-wide black elastic on the corners and the black one here holds it shut.

February update 2013

Here in Kobe there have been more snow days than usual.  However, typically, just a dusting which is melted within an hour of the sun coming out.

Sometime between breakfast and lunch on the 13th hundreds of baby mantis emerged from their cocoons.  I had found two last fall and put them in a small jar in the kitchen window, thinking they would hatch in April like the butterfly did last year or the year before.  It must have been warm enough inside with our heater going 24/7  so they came out two months early.   It is difficult to see, but you can get the idea, I hope.

Aren't they so cute!  They look just like their mom.  :-)   Since we could not keep them inside we placed them under one of the bushes and covered them with cut leaves/branches.  I suspect most will die in the cold and for lack of sufficient bugs to eat.  Next fall we shall not collect these little sacs and keep them inside.

Sara had her first babysitting job for friends of ours in Akashi.  They went out for a couple of hours without their two little ones--a new experience--remember those days?  Little Karen is so adorable and looks just like big brother.  She is generally a happy kid.

 That is the update until mid-February.  More news to come.  Thanks for reading.