We got here about 10 a.m. on 10/19 which was about an hour ahead of schedule due to the tail wind. The flight was a bit rocky at times, but we got here safely. We were in row 45 of 46 so had a l o n g walk off the plane. We flew United and again, as with previous flights on United, the cabin crew was older. This time there were at least four men both looking their ages (50's probably) with balding/white hair and overweight. The women were up there in years also. And this time they got fussy at the passengers who needed to use the lav during the frequent turbulance, sending everyone back to their seats saying, "the seat belt sign is on, you need to return!" Contrast this with the All Nippon Airlines personnel who were all young, slim, stylish and smiling. Even Sara noticed the difference. Anyway...
After renting a Ford Focus, we drove out to Adelanto to the East in the high desert. The desert is rather deserted, at least the mountains/hills are--rather brown and plain. There's plenty of housing all over the place and lots of communities and roadside strip malls. It was a 100 plus mile trip and took about 1/3 tank of gas. We noticed gas prices were higher in LA than outside the city, but really, it's still less than the nearly $7 we pay in Japan. However, the prices are still high.
We will be at the Adelanto Baptist Church all day and stay here through Tuesday morning probably, then head back to LA for another meeting in Long Beach.
BTW, we are not thrilled with the Ford Focus--front leg room is not that roomy and the trunk space is lacking; the front seats do not recline fully (Henry has slept in the car at least three times already, mostly waiting for me while I visited some favorite stores.)
We have eaten at Mimi's Cafe--wonderful chicken and zucchini fingers and turkey dinner, and at Carl Jr.'s. The new BBQ beef burger melts in your mouth! Gotta try it if you are close enough to a restaurant.
Remarkable Rainbow
About 5:15 pm today, 10/18/12, the sky changed to a glowing red, just before sunset. Upon going outside, the sky was gorgeous in color and dark clouds were racing from North to South, an unusual wind flow.
When I turned East, there was the brightest rainbow peeking through the clouds. It was nearly a full bow and here are the photos that do not do this justice.
This last about 5-10 minutes. These photos do not does this justice.
On that note, we head to California on Friday for about 18 days. West Coast 90 degrees, East Coast 60 degrees. How to pack?
Thank you, Lord, for your promise!
On that note, we head to California on Friday for about 18 days. West Coast 90 degrees, East Coast 60 degrees. How to pack?
The Cats
Here are hand-painted rocks that are really remarkable. This is my kind of cat. These are done by a Japanese Christian lady. The eyes are amazing.
This happy snail landed outside the front door (actually I picked it off the ground).
Passing typhoon
Over the weekend a very slow-moving typhoon passed by Japan on the Pacific side. There was lots of wind and heavy rain, but it was not a direct hit on Kobe. Okinawa on the other hand, was hit yet again this year. Anyway, Sunday, September 30, I took these photos of the yard and all that water.
Looking out our front door, this is our vege garden and steps to the back deck. Those cosmos plants were taller than me and all fell over. I was hoping to get seed from them, but ended pulling most of them up early and reworking the soil for next year.
The little creek at the back of the property, swollen with water. The land on the right is farmed by another person.
By our monooki (shed) is a small space which will become a blackberry area, now flooded a bit. New plants are in small black pots waiting for me to put up a frame they can grow on. Columbine on the left and blueberry next to it are also seen here.
This is a most frustrating place. This was taken outside our church sliding door on the east-south-east side of the building. This used to be a turtle pond, but was changed into a flower bed. Whenever it rains heavily, water flows from the upper field on the left and settles in this area. I had just added more dirt to this bed and rearranged the grass there. Not sure what to do about this flooding, but it does not happen that often.
This is the driveway area. Notice the water running down the slope. The lower field is not ours and lots of sand and gravel end up there. The three little ducks I bought the day before and one already fell over :-(
Another shot of the creek out back. Those are fruit trees Matthew planted during our construction period, plus a few day lillies.
October 24-27, 2012
Long Beach, California.
We have been at the First Baptist Church of Long Beach for a Missions Conference. There are several other missionaries here
from all over the world. We are staying
with a family from the Philippines who are the sweetest people. The wife’s parents also live in the house;
they have two children. Such a sweet,
Christian family.
Thursday night we went to the Hispanic service where one
of the missionaries spoke in Spanish.
His main point was that it was time for the Hispanic Christians to take
the light of the gospel to the world; there are few Hispanic missionaries
serving around the world. The Hispanic
Pastor then said that he is a first-generation Christian, not like the
missionaries here whose parents and grandparents were missionaries. He did not have that personal family
history. The invitation time came and
literally everyone went forward to pray and ask God to use them to spread the
gospel message. It was amazing; I’ve
never seen anything like it.
The highlight was the Friday night meeting. We had an international dinner with nine
different cuisines.
International Dinner above, children and adult choirs below
During the service, numerous ethnic groups sang in their
native language and dressed in their native outfits: Korean, Philippino,
Cambodian, Hispanic, Thai, and the children’s choir and a hand choir which was
amazing in black light.
After all the
music and before the offering was taken, all the missionary families were asked
to stand in an aisle around the auditorium.
A young man with our name on a sign stood next to us. Then Pastor said it was time to give the
offering. All the people (it was a f u l
l auditorium) stood and made their ways to the aisle and walked passed every
missionary and gave us hugs and envelopes and money. I hugged numerous people who said they were
praying for us and thanking us for going to Japan. I started crying. It was so overwhelming. For at least 20 minutes people came by and
gave us their offering. It was so
amazing; we do not deserve what these people sacrificed to give to us.
Sunset
We looked out the back door just before 7:00 pm tonight and saw this beautiful creation:
The color turned the sky a beautiful orange/pink shade and made the deck look aglow.
These are all facing West from the back deck. The sky was an azure blue, very vivid.
There is the sliver of a moon up there to the West. Isn't God good to give us such gorgeous colors to enjoy?
My latest creations
I used summer yukata fabrics I had collected some 10 years ago and never used for even a quilt. These were perfect for showcasing the floral designs on this style handbag. It took two weeks for me to figure out sewing the pattern in all the proper steps, but the final product is really cute.
I also made a Porta Pocket insert from the same company. This is made from two fabrics I received from Noseh-san when she visited Senegal last year. It has plenty of pockets, space for pens, a zipper pouch and can be lifted out and placed intact into another handbag. Saves all kinds of time and not forgetting something.
These next projects I made in about 2-3 hours apiece over four days. I was on a roll and just used the yukata fabric for the liner. Very simple tote bags with handles and sometimes a button enclosure and pockets inside.
Simple tote in nine patch both sides in patriotic colors.
These are two different bags using the same yukata material.
I think that's enough for handbags for a few days. What do you think of these?
July 25, 2012
It has been hot and humid, per usual, here in Kobe since last week. Rainy season is over. The garden is blooming with color, the frogs abound, as well as the spiders. Remember that nest we had a few weeks back? It seems now those residents have fanned out across the decks and house. Webs are everywhere.
I found this little critter in a fading calla lily this week: Isn't it cute?
Here are some other flowers in the front side of the house.
Roses are so nice, they keep blooming after
bugs have eaten the leaves.
The gladiola were colorful this year as I purchased a variety bag or two. For some reason the purple ones each had a slanting stem. Makes for an interesting cut vase of flowers.
I found this little critter in a fading calla lily this week: Isn't it cute?
Roses are so nice, they keep blooming after
bugs have eaten the leaves.
Miscellaneous stuff
These ants were crawling up the hose and going into the mailbox.
Henry put a little frog in there hoping it would eat the ants, but it really just ignored them. I think they came into the mailbox because of all the rain we had the previous two days. They escaped with the eggs to higher ground. However, they did meet their end shortly after this photo. Blooming flowers
Here are some photos from the garden this year.
Pinkish calla lilly
The first gladiola; this one was white/pinkish.
Red rose, left, next to campion
This dark pink lily is about 4 feet tall. Beautiful dark red stamen.
Not sure what this is, perhaps an aster or a carnation. I know this flower is also a quilt pattern, but I can't recall right now.
Campion
The above lily with three blooms, one to go and one that is probably a dud.
Pinkish calla lilly
Thunderstorm
Father's Day 2012
This amaryllis was a gift from a near neighbor.
We did thin sliced beef, hot dogs and salmon smoked in the smoker. Also, edamame, rice and whole wheat rolls and clam chowder made by Mrs. Miura (sitting in blue under the window). Nothing was leftover.
Spiders
Outside on our front porch I spotted a cluster of things caught in a web. Thinking it might be an egg sac, I poked it gently and it started to scatter. It is hundreds of just-hatched baby spider--soo cute! They moved in unison outward. I do not recall ever seeing one in my life. Sara loved it. Henry was not so impressed.
The yard
When we returned to Japan, the yard was a mess. Two tress had died, no doubt attacked by a bug; they will need to be removed. The weeds were 3-4 feet tall. Henry took two days to cut it all down and rake it up. A few days after that it was all burned. We can do that here without a permit.
One of the maples we grew from seed starting in 1999--no life on it now.
One of the Japanese pear trees--dead wood.
This is the back slope next to the creek. That's a sakurenbo cherry tree.
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