This is a story about an international couple raising and home educating three young boys on a small island in Japan, half living in buses, engaged in organic, self-sufficient farming in the middle of a mountain forest while dealing with climate, cultural, and personal challenges. These pages are about pretty much anything and everything all guided by our family motto, Taking Chances, Making Changes, Being Happy. Thank you very much for joining us on our ongoing crazy adventure.

Comments or questions about this blog?....message me at Facebook.
 
AGROFOREST        STORY        THOUGHTS        ABOUT US
Home - Story - July 2010
July 4, 2010 - Independence Day party at our house, Ando Town, Nara, Japan.Hanging out before the party.
Hanging out with the neighbors.
Really fun party.
Getting ready to do fireworks.
Fireworks.
July 12, 2010 - Happy Anniversary. Yup, today is the seven month anniversary since we purchased this piece of crap property. With the exception of a few flooring projects scheduled for after Summer when temperatures are cooler, much of the work is now finished. All the rooms are usable and looking pretty good. I plan to post tons of pictures showing the progress over the last few months. It might take some time to set this all up so hang in there.
July 21, 2010 - Earthquake. Rock and roll. The quake, which occurred at 6:19 in the morning local time, measured 5.0 and was enough to wake us up and throw the Einstein coffee cups off the shelves in the second floor classroom. The roof of the newly constructed outside laundry room was shaking pretty good.
July 23, 2010 - Shai's Birthday at our house. This party was for only us.Shai became a year old today.
Happy Birthday to you.
Yeah cake.
Go ahead and make a mess.
July 24, 2010 - Shai's Birthday party at our house. Akiko made two cakes. An American style cake and a Japanese style cake representing both cultures. Pretty much all the neighbors showed up. It was a really nice party.Shai playing with new toys before the party.
Shai playing again.
Shai playing again.
Shai playing again.
My family was with us in spirit.
Party room.
Akiko made two cakes. An American style cake and a Japanese style cake representing both cultures.
Us with family.
Us.
Us with family.
Pretty much all the neighbors showed up.
It was a really nice party.
Onbara Festival and Fireworks

July 31, 2010 - Onbara Festival and Fireworks at Mimoro Mountain, Miwa, Sakurai, Nara, Japan.
Shai on the train.
Shai thinks he is driving the train.
Us on the train.
Heading to the small town on a one line track.
Train was packed with people.
Small town train station.
Walking in the small town on the way to the fireworks.
Yup we bought beer from this vending machine.
Packed with people.
A few girls trying to hit on Shai.
Yatai (food stand) selling octopus balls, um not what you think. These are little batter balls with a chunk of octopus inside. Pretty much a standard sale item at these events. You can see the octopus in the foreground.
Sun setting in the background.
Some food we bought.
Shai getting ready to watch the fireworks.
We found our watching spot.
Us.
Me and the little dude.
Me and the little dude.
Akiko and the little dude.
Akiko and the little dude.
Us.
Us.
Grand finale.
Shai on the train ride home.
Shai on the train ride home.
Some people we met on the train.
Shai really enjoyed himself.
July 31, 2010 - Nara Park Light Up Event (Tokae). This is the fifth time to stay in Japan but the first time to go to this event. Called Tokae, this nighttime event features the lighting of 10,000 candles throughout Nara Park with a stage at one end of the park where a jazz band performed. As usual many yatai (food stalls) were set up selling anything from takoyaki (fried octopus) to French fries. Nice event, but while eating, spent half of the time pushing away a few of the estimated 1,200 deer roaming the park looking for an easy meal.