Fourteen Taste Treats

Every grocery store has a really cool bakery in this part of Japan. Yummy breads and such. Most things are way less sugary than in the states...cakes without frostings etc....but this bakery obviously gets a lot of American traffic. It's on the "right start tours" and so new Americans are toured through it.....

This cracked me up in the middle of all the delicacies....

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Takko Town Beef & Garlic Festival

Did you know that Takko Town is Japan's Garlic capitol?  Last night at the football game, the DJ family invited us to follow them out to Takko for a beef and garlic festival. I'll be belching garlic for a week. ::snort:: 


We knew we were getting close when we began to see Garlic people. 

The drive was beautiful. The weather was perfect. The memories are sweet. Takko beef is famous. These cows are pampered - spring water, massages etc. A big feature of this festival is the raw beef that you can purchase before hand and grill yakiniku style on grills. We didn't buy advance tickets....but this COW was slowly roasted over a spit....and we bought six containers worth for lunch. 

Jared was happy to run into several friends. Here he is with two other football players. ::snort:: 

The youngers made a new friend. 

New Taste Adventures - fried Oreos

Arielle wasn't so sure, but Nolan loved them. 

Cultural Dance Exchange

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fifteen Jets

Fifteen jets of what? Water? Pesticide? The farmer in the field on the other side of our fence.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Vending Machines

One quickly notices that there are an awful lot of vending machines in Japan. We discovered on our first "adventure"  that lit up vending machines at night do a fair job at replacing street lights.  

At most public spots, you buy your entrance ticket from a vending machine before you reach the cashier. 

Zoos

Onsens

Museums

You can find desserts in the machines

Drinks at parks (stores, neighborhoods, hiking trails etc)

Even soups, hot dogs, noodles and fries

and...Farm Fresh EGGS. 

Sometimes they are simply out in the middle of  fields.....so kids walking home from school, or farm workers can grab refreshment. 

We've come to love the vending machines. 

Choosing Joy!

©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sixteen....Sweet!

Jared David entered our life 16 years ago.... He and I are similar in many quirky ways. This can be good and can cause a lot of flat foreheads (you know - knocking heads)....but I'm thrilled as I observe the godly man he has become. His passion for God will carry him far....16 is a very nice number. 

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"These farmers are CRAZY!"

The above is Zander's conclusion.  It appears that the crows have been bothering the farmer's crops. So....

This led us to contemplate how terrible it would be if this farmer had caught Peter Rabbit....or if the kids had been bothering the field....can you imagine a field with baby dolls hung by their toes? ::snort:: 


Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Kaihinkoen (Momoishi Beach)

{From the base - out POL gate, turn left at the Lawsons toward 338....at 338 turn right.....go PAST the Veedol swim beach (with Marlin on the sign), keep going until you see a hwy sign over the road that says "Kaihinkoen" on it....turn left.... basketball hoops, camping spots, beach, picnic areas. }

We had an unexpectedly beautiful day.....warm weather, no rain.

We fed the ponies and walked around the surrounding neighborhood. Zander got bit last time and was a bit nervous today.

It was too cold to swim...but perfect to go Kaihinkoen,  the beach closest to our home. I thought it would be a great day to look for sea glass. We've not gone to this beach since discovered the swimming beach in July. This renews my perspective and refreshes my spirit....both of which needed a little pick me up today. The younger three were game.

Stacia informs me, "DADDY should help you find sea glass!"

It was a practically perfect afternoon. God's still on the throne and displaying His handiwork in Misawa, Japan. Have I said lately how blessed we are by this assignment? ::snort::


Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...