Anniversary photos

Silk scroll

Such delicious anniversary treat!

Close up of the picture

12th Anniversary

Mark and I had a very nice anniversary yesterday. In the morning I had a hair appointment (one must keep the grey away).  Once I was home Mark and I headed out to a shopping area that is very near Canal City. We had previously been to that area, and we remembered seeing an art shop. We were shopping for silk. A silk painting to hang on our wall. We found a beautiful silk scroll that has an area for a picture. The best part is that we can switch the picture. The colors are soft and it helps the picture become the focal point.

We looked around at the shops and then decided we were ready to eat. We both were looking forward to eating at Mr. Kebab, but one never knows if it will be open or not. We decided to take the gamble. As luck would have it, the restaurant was open. The owner knows us and always remembers that I am a vegetarian. He let us know that in two weeks he will be having a new dinner menu with even more vegetarian selections. Now we will have to go back in two weeks.

After our late lunch we headed back to Meinohama. Mark and I treated ourselves to a few small, but yet decadent desserts. They always look so beautiful, but we never really need to have them just for the fun of it. I have to say that they were so much better than I had expected. Normally, the sweets in Japan are not nearly as sweet as the ones in the states. To many people this is a good thing. I unfortunately love the "sweet" sweets. These were rich and creamy and sooooo satisfying. Delicious to say the least!

Once home we did a few things around the apartments and then watched To Rome with Love. It is a Woody Allen movie. Very different, but with great scenery since it is shot in Rome. It was nice seeing places that Mark and I have been.


It was a great day celebrating the couple that we are. Bring on anniversary 13.

Ciao for now.

I will post the photos in a moment. My blog is having some difficulties this evening.

Real snow and updates

There have been many things happening here in Japan over the past couple weeks. I have not been very good about keeping my blog up to date. Often it is because I am just going to work and not having many other adventures on a day to day basis.

Today Corina (my ELL coworker)  and I presented a story and an activity at the community center for a group of children. Corina read a book in her native language, Romanian. I read a book in Spanish. I know what you are all thinking. You want to know how we got ourselves into that situation. We both take Japanese classes at the community center on Saturdays. The lessons are free and they run for two hours. We have our lessons one to one with a teacher. It is a great program so we thought we should give back. I read the story Abuela and taught the kids how to make Gods eyes. I think it went well all things considering. Our next presentations will be on March 2nd. We will be explaining the election process from our country.

This past Thursday evening it snowed. It was the big, beautiful snowflakes. I have some photos below that show the snow. I didn't think it would stick to the ground let alone last until morning. I was pleasantly surprised. All of the rooftops were white. The mountains around us were covered in snow. Even Nokoshima Island had snow on it. It looked beautiful. It was much more than I thought we would get. I have to say it was a very slushy walk to school. I took photos on the way to work, and from the rooftop of the school. I know that for many of you snow is not big deal. It was just the first "real" snow in Fukuoka since I have been here. In the past we did have some snow coming down, but it never stayed on the ground or houses. Usually it just melted upon contact.

Tomorrow, January 20th is Mark and my 12th wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe it has been 12 years. The good news is that I love him even more now than I did when I married him. We are going to head out tomorrow to look for a painting on silk. I looked up what the 12th anniversary was and it said silk. That went over well since we are in Japan and there are a lot of different silk items here. We would like to find a picture painted on silk that we can hang for artwork, and for us to look back and remember celebrating this anniversary in Japan.

I will update more tomorrow if we get a piece of art.

Atago Shrine taken from my school's roof top.

Close up of a snowy Atago Shrine.

Snowy slide

Looking out my apartment window after the snow.

Old tree in the temple area.

People lined up to go into the shrine for the new year.

My school FIS. My room is on the top right where you see the vertical white lines.

Our beautiful snow storm.

Looking down at the school's playground from the roof top.

Snow covered Noko Island in the background.

Snowy seats.

Japan's subway diet. (It is because we have to walk up so many stairs each day.)

Triangles in the river.

Snowy view from my apartment.

Snow slide

Cold, gray morning walking to work.

Sunrise

My little table area.

Temple area.

Temple area

Temple area

View from the roof top at school looking down the river.

That is all for now. Please look at the photos for a taste of life in Japan.

Ciao until later.

Temple

Snow capped trees.