The beginning of May is Golden Week Holiday in Japan, and many people enjoy the perfect weather in the outdoors among family and friends at this time
Yesterday, Tuesday - April 29, was an awesome day. We spent the day with Kayoko, Miku, Ryoko, Shuta, Ryota, Mama and Papa Kashiwagi, Risa, and Karen in Momoyama cho ("Peach Mountain Town"). The name sounds very cute in English I think! It's a beautiful, peaceful, mountainous area with very very few residents. My kind of town.Mama & Papa Kashiwagi (Kayoko & Risa's mother
& father have a lovely home on the mountainside. There they keep a vegetable garden and flowers of all kinds. The showcase at the moment is the vibrant magenta Azalea (Tsutsuji) in front of the house. It looks like a giant pink ball!
Mama & Papa Kashiwagi took us through the mountains gathering takenoko (bamboo shoots) and other edible wild mountain spring vegetables. Miku (in pink) and her great mom Kayoko help to find some takenoko.
There are so many wonderful plants and creatures to be seen and enjoyed here. On the left is a Fiddle head. It's a young fern frond sprouting up. Before they unfurl to become the recognizable fern frond that we're familiar with, the sprouts resemble fiddle, or violin heads! Hence the name "Fiddle head".
Miku is a beautiful girl with an equally adorable personality. She's real smart too. Her favorite English words/phrases are; "yes", "thank you", and "bye", but don't let her fool ya - she knows a whole lot more than that! Of course she does - she's an Aire student! Miku is 11 and dreams of attending Harvard University one day. Miku and her cousins Shuta and Ryota, carry cardboard box tops which they will slide down the hillside on! I gave it a go myself - couldn't resist. Sure enough, it is a blast!
& father have a lovely home on the mountainside. There they keep a vegetable garden and flowers of all kinds. The showcase at the moment is the vibrant magenta Azalea (Tsutsuji) in front of the house. It looks like a giant pink ball!Mama & Papa Kashiwagi took us through the mountains gathering takenoko (bamboo shoots) and other edible wild mountain spring vegetables. Miku (in pink) and her great mom Kayoko help to find some takenoko.
There are so many wonderful plants and creatures to be seen and enjoyed here. On the left is a Fiddle head. It's a young fern frond sprouting up. Before they unfurl to become the recognizable fern frond that we're familiar with, the sprouts resemble fiddle, or violin heads! Hence the name "Fiddle head".
Miku is a beautiful girl with an equally adorable personality. She's real smart too. Her favorite English words/phrases are; "yes", "thank you", and "bye", but don't let her fool ya - she knows a whole lot more than that! Of course she does - she's an Aire student! Miku is 11 and dreams of attending Harvard University one day. Miku and her cousins Shuta and Ryota, carry cardboard box tops which they will slide down the hillside on! I gave it a go myself - couldn't resist. Sure enough, it is a blast!
Before venturing out to find our share in edible flora, we enjoyed a picnic in the warmth of the early summer sun!
Papa Kashiwagi digs up bamboo shoots with his pick axe. This is how it's done.
Shuta's slip slidin' away!
Ryota searches for bugs. I like it, I like it a lot!
Trekking through the bamboo forest we go. I'm hoping to find a snake really bad at this point.
Kayoko san creates an orchestra with a dandelion
Apple blossom
Green apple orchard, and just look at the mountains!!!
Between Atsuko and Kayoko, 3 four-leafed clovers were found!
It's confirmed! This is our lucky day
4 comments:
Hi Bill&Atsuko
I was very happy yesterday.
またいつでもあそびにきてね。
kayoko&miku
Thank you Kayoko sama! We had a wonderful time too.
Wild Bill & Atsuko
I'd be happy in Japan! What a beautiful country. Even more than I expected. Thank you for your tales and photos and letting me see it through your eyes!
Maria San
I think you'd be happy anywhere Maria, based on your possitive outlook on things. The fact is, there is beauty to be found all over this great big world. Thanks for checking this blog out Maria. It warms my heart to know so many great friends and family are seeing Atsuko and I in our current habitat, going about our life from day to day!
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