Sunday, July 03, 2011

Sunday.....

This Sunday got off to a strange twist. I took Stacia to the UCC. Michael went in to make sure things were ready for service. I dropped the rest of the kids off and headed for the Urgent Care Clinic. I'd thought I'd be done before the service was over. I headed over there 40 minutes BEFORE the service started. I got back as they finished communion. 


She had an ear ache - and we typically let those run their course. This time she had no symptoms other than pain.....and then last night got a fever. She has a bacterial ear infection. She's in quite a bit of pain tonight...but they say in a few days she'll be better. I'm still praying she's better by tomorrow. 


She wasn't very impressed at having got all dressed up for church and having to spend it in the doctor's listening to Mom answer questions about HOMESCHOOLING! ::snort:: Dr. is moving to Korea and family will not be command sponsored, so they will homeschool. Hmm....more possibilities for staying in Asia.

 They got all the drainage out of her ear and we have nifty drops......I also have more of these little wicks. 


We hung around home, took walks, played games...brainstormed about our "must see" trip tomorrow. I think we're going to try to find the grave of the mayor of Fudai who insisted they build a TALL sea wall; this saved their town when all around were destroyed in the tsunami.....


This is Bre's first 4th of July without Krista.....we miss her. 


Fireworks were cancelled again due to fog. This is not stopping the neighbors from lighting things off around the cars...we could have a big fire display before this is over.  I have left over stuff from New Years and I'm dying to go join them...but we're purists....we'll wait for July 4th or Labor Day. ::snort:: 


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Directions to Lake Towada (Yasumiya)

Geo Coordinates to the parking lot area where the Towada Snow Festival is held...general parking area. 
N 40* 25.747  E 140* 53.678

Yasumiya is the community which sits right on the shores of Lake Towada. There are many festivals here, ferry boat rides, bikes to rent, paths to hike....and the drive the Oiriase Gorge is PRICESLESS. This is a must do trip in all seasons.  The following directions have got women to a retreat in Yasumiya without a single lost traveler.


  • Take Route 10 to Towada, train tracks will be on your left
  • Where the road forks, veer towards the Mazda sign.  Homac/Hard Off is on your right
  • Turn left at the light and go over the bridge
  • Pass Tori gate on right.  
  • Turn right at 3rd light.  You’ll see a blue sign that says Route 102 to Towada Lake.

 *Oirase Roman Park is a great place to take a restroom break.  It is about half-way to our destination.

  • Continue on Route 102 until you get to a blinking light with a Shell gas station on right.  Turn left. 
  • Route 102 will come to a T intersection with a sign for the Bronze Statue of Maidens and Lake Towada straight ahead.  
  • Turn left at this light.  You will continue on this road around the lake and go through a tunnel.
  • You will eventually come to a Y intersection in which you will veer right and pass the Towadaso Hotel on your right. 
  • Continue on to the next Y intersection in which you will veer left. 
  • Continue straight to a T-intersection and turn R at the JR House (on your right).  
  • From here - drive to the spot of town where you want to park. 


Map to Lake Towada can be printed here





Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Directions to Hirosaki Castle

These coordinates are to the parking lot we park in....walking to the castle park will take you directly in front of the best Senbei Shop in Aomori Prefecture.  N40*  36.728    E140* 28.102



Directions: 
  • Get on Route 8
  • Proceed to Michinoku Toll Road  (Y830)
  • Proceed to Route 123 and turn LEFT at the sign that says AOMORI HIGASHI IC
  • Get on the toll road (AomoriExpressway - TohokuExpressway). 
  • Get off at  KUROISHI IC (Y1,200) and take Rte 102 toward Hirosaki City.  You will corss a bridge over railroad tracks and follow sings to Hirosaki Park (Castle)....
  • At this point we saw the park and drove around until we found the lot at the coordinates above. (approx Y200 an hour).
You can do this without tolls...but this took us just under 2 hours and was easy. We've not done it the other way yet. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hirosaki Castle

BreAnne wanted photos of herself with pagodas....wanted to see something uniquely Japanese. Michael had never seen Hirosaki Castle. I was craving the senbei made outside of the castle grounds.....We took off. 


We were blessed with another gorgeous day! It simply doesn't get better than the last couple of days. We laughed as we came through a tunnel on our way home and saw the fog on this side of the mountain. Amazing. We came home in time for the 4th of July Fireworks, but they were cancelled due to fog. They start trying on the 2nd to hopefully catch the 4th - the norm here is not to be able to have our fireworks display until Labor Day. 


We had a great day, didn't get lost, enjoyed the sights and company. We should have had someone snap a photo of all of us....












A unique thing about restaurants here in Northern Japan is they don't bring all your food out at once. They bring it out as it is ready....and with a family our size....well....it takes a long time. We are used to never finishing at the same time.....today we got our meat before the rice....and the appetizers after the rest of the meal was over....Anyway....it took time....but we had a nice discussion and it was nice to be out of the sun....

I ordered vanilla ice cream....um with dried apples and apple cider vinegar.....wasn't too bad really.

The senbei is as good as I remember. LOL Zander enjoyed watching them make them and wondered if we can make them at home.....

My favorite is pistachio, but I think of others. 

Bre likes them....she likes almond best. I'm thinking we should have bought more.....

They really are so much better than any other senbei I've had. 

These coordinates are to the parking lot we park in....walking to the castle park will take you directly in front of the best Senbei Shop in Aomori Prefecture.  N40*  36.728    E140* 28.102


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...