February 10, 015
February 9, 2015
I've been spending my days packing, posting and recycling .... as well as cleaning, polishing and staging. Here's how the apaato looks now that I've lived in it 23 months.
It's beautiful when the sun pours through the east and south windows. It's quiet and cozy, up above the street level with a view of the shinkansen, the shrine TREE, the cemetery, and the neighbor's garden. The location could not be more superb: the temple, the koen, the combini, the bank, grocery store, second hand store, bike store, 100 yen store and, of course, the school. I love everything there is to love about my Japanese mansion.
38 days more days.
February 8
Moomin Cafe Day
We went on a day trip to Tokyo, destination Moomin Cafe near Tokyo Dome Stadium. Little My sat with us and we loved her. She had her little green eyes on the pancakes being devoured by the lady at the table next to us. We sipped our Moomin lattes and warmed up on a chilly winter day in Tokyo.
Okadaya
Okadaya is a crafter paradise. Six floors of buttons and ribbons and yarn and fabric and felt and needles and thread and hooks and hoops and hot glue guns. We were absolutely NOT surprised to find Moomin amigurumi, craft book and yarn.
Eat More Greens
All good day trips to Tokyo end at Eat More Greens restaurant in Azabu-juban neighborhood. I would show you a pix of the chocolate cake but, whoops, we ate it.
February 1
My days living under the Japanese flag are rapidly coming to a close, only about 50 or so left.
What is a typical Japanese breakfast, you may ask? I was out at a family restaurant the other day and took this photo of the breakfast set.
The additional 180 yen on the right hand side is for the 'drink bar'. The drink bar is an all-you-can-drink buffet of coffee, teas, and fruit juices.
What is bento, or box lunch, you may ask? Any grocery or combini store offers a selection of prepackaged lunches.
I may miss the perfect/proper proportion, healthiness, convenience and yumminess of the box of sushi rolls. Yum
January 31
I went to espot to get the cleaning cloth you put on the end of the Swifer hand mop.
Okay, step one, put the cloth on the end of the mop.
Step two, push it around. Seems like a lot of work, ne?
Step three, stand back with a book and a cup of coffee and admire how great your apaato looks now that the floor is clean.
Step four, my personal favorite instruction, invite your friend over to lay down on your newly cleaned floor and read a book.
Who knew Japanese instructions could be so easy to follow, and awesome?
January 30
you learned in kindergarten.
My kiddos are working hard on learning how to write their first and last names, and verbally spell it out loud.
January 21
you learn in kindergarten.
I love the one where you can see that the piece of cake is as big as his face.
January 1, 2015
~ 9 photos / month ~
December 27, 2014
We woke to find that we were in paradise!
We went to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium where there are three whale sharks. Amazing!
The next day we hung out at the hotel and kicked back on the beach. A couple got married while we beach combed.
We got back late and had to stay in the capsule hotel in Narita airport parking lot. It was awesome!
December 24, 2014
Flying!
Adrianna and I went to Okinawa!!
We took the local bus from the airport to the hotel.
Oh, goodness! Here's the sign above the priority seats.
Let's see. You may sit in the priority seat if you are: with a cane, pregnant, carrying a baby, have crutches, ..... oh my, so many emotions, my heart is so full of feelings, it may burst. Please, please, if your heart is this big and full of feelings, please, sit down.
At the hotel reading material is provided. Take your pick.
It was a long day of travel, but, it was worth it.