Thursday, April 26, 2007

Beautiful Japan
In my first post about Japan, I said we had taken over 2,000 pictures. Actually, between Katie, Ma, and me, the count is closer to 3000 - and Katie didn't even get to take pictures on our last day because she had to work! For starters, I have chosen some pictures of the beauty that greeted us just about everywhere we looked. I enjoyed the flowers and trees without knowing their names, so I hope you can do the same :-)

Flowers and trees were blooming in the city and in the country, in front of homes and shops.

A cherry tree in bloom? No way! Quick, take a picture!! The cherry blossoms were expected to be earlier than usual but the warm weather turned cold (and stayed that way the whole time we were there!) so the cherry trees pretty much decided to keep their pretty little buds to themselves.
I took this picture for Weldon near the Sea of Japan just to see if he could name that weed! Don't ask me if he could name it ... I don't think he's seen the picture yet :-)

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

SATURDAY
We interrupt the s-l-o-w-moving travelogue on Japan to tell you about the events of this past Saturday.

Right after morning chores and a quick breakfast, Weldon and I went to Indian Land, SC, to see my grandson Marshall's final soccer game of the season. He just started playing in February and Weldon had never seen a soccer game before, so we didn't want to miss it. The team, affectionately known as the Pink Panthers, is made up of girls and boys, ages 6-8, and Marshall is the goalie. The parents were well-behaved, yelling directions and encouragement to their kids. "RUN HARD! THAT WAY!!!" pointing towards the goal. We admired the coaches and refs for their patience and good cheer :-) The game appeared to be quite boring for Marshall - no kicks on goal - but once he got to throw the ball out onto the playing field.

Marshall's shirt is a different color (not pink like his teammates') because he's the goalie.
End of story: the Pink Panthers won 2/0. One of the two points was kicked into their goal by the opposing team, but Hey! they'll take it :-)

We had lunch with Anna and Marshall, I gave them some gifts from Japan, and then it was time to make the long trip home. It's a lot of driving in one day, but worth it when you want to see family!

Before we left the farm, I asked Weldon's sister Pat if she would look in on Jasmine once or twice because it was Jasmine's 10th birthday and I hated to leave her alone on her special day. Not only did she doggie-sit most of the day, she made Jasmine a birthday cake. Now that's a sister-in-law you can love!
Happy Birthday, Jazz!!


P.S. In response to the comment made by "anonymous" about not being able to see the description of the photo when they click on the picture: There are no descriptions on the photos except what you read in the blog.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

A d v e n t u r e !
Perhaps you've been wondering where I've been since Christmas. Well ... right here on the dairy farm! But I was busy busy busy making plans and preparations to go with my mom (Naomi) to see my daughter (Katie) in Japan. We spent bunches of hours online trying to figure out what we most wanted to see/do and how we could put it all together. It took hundreds of websites & emails, a blog, a spreadsheet, a few phone calls, and the advise & help of friends - and it was worth every effort. On March 19 I flew to Phoenix to meet up with my mom and begin our adventure.

Weldon was singing, "How ya gonna keep her down on the farm, after she's been to Japan?" but on April 2, I was back home after 11 wonderful days with my mom and Katie in the Land of the Rising Sun.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Had we not taken over 2000 pictures, we would have been obliged to write a book! As it is, I hope a few words and pictures over the next week or so will give you a little glimpse into the beauty and strangeness that is Japan.