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.

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Home - Story - July 2011
July 2,  2011 - Independence Day Party. This was now our second year for this party making it an annual event. We had a good turnout and of course lit fireworks which are still legal in Japan....you can purchase them at the local Walmart, AKA Seiyu. Still plenty of Summer within the next few months for more fun in the sun.

July 2, 2011 - Facebook Event - American Independence Day Pot Luck Party - Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 1:00 PM

July 2, 2011 - Facebook Event - HAFLA Bellydance Party - Dessy School,Mochidono Center,Nara-shi,Nara,Japan - Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 9 PM UTC+09 – 12 AM UTC+09
July 3,  2011 - Impromptu BBQ Party. Hey best way to get rid of all the food from a party....make another. Invited family and a few friends to join us for a feast of basically old food from the day before.

July 5, 2011 - Facebook Post - ANOTHER AFTER PARTY. Plenty of extra food in the refrigerator from the Independence Day party turned into another get together on Sunday. Nice to hang out with the neighbors again. Next event is in a few weeks. See you then.

July 7, 2011 - Facebook Post - GARDEN OUT OF CONTROL. With all the warm temperatures and rain the front yard is a total jungle. Now the grapes, cucumbers and Japanese kabocha pretty much took over what used to be the carport. Sunflowers are at least 8 feet tall. Take a look at this album if you want to see more. Thanks.

July 9, 2011 - Facebook Event - Small BBQ Party - Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM
July 11, 2011 - Facebook Comment - Yup and a pretty good yield this year for sure. Planning to make wine. Actually put in more in another section of the property.

July 11, 2011 - Facebook Post - It was 105 in Osaka yesterday. Rainy season is over. Can expect these temperatures for the next couple months. Crap.
July 17,  2011 - Kyoto - Gion Matsuri. Woke up at 4:00 am and was out of the house at 5:15 am in order to get a good spot on the street to watch the parade of yamaboko (floats) which begin at 9:00 am. Found a nice spot on the shaded side of the street in front of a jazz themed coffee shop. Watched the entire four hour event. We walked around Kyoto for hours then went to Osaka for dinner and shopping.

July 19, 2011 - Facebook Post - Typhoon Coming. Put away all of the yard stuff in anticipation of the arrival of Typhoon Ma-On which is scheduled to hit this location almost directly sometime tomorrow morning Japan time. Gion Festival. Taking it easy after spending 18 hours out and about on Sunday. Went to Kyoto for the Gion Festival and then shopping and out for dinner in Osaka. This is the oldest and most famous festival in Japan. Planning to post pictures soon.

July 20, 2011 - Facebook Post - Heading to Suma Beach in Kobe, Japan this weekend. Any information, suggestions, and recommendations from friends in Japan would be appreciated. Thanks.

July 21, 2011 - Facebook Post - Lake Biwa and World Record Bass. Planning a fishing trip to Lake Biwa in a few weeks. Located about 40 miles from the house. This is the largest lake in Japan and the site of the world record largemouth bass. Japanese government considers the bass to be an invasive species. It is actually illegal to catch and release any bass caught. You need to keep them. This translates into quite a fish BBQ upon returning home.
July 23,  2011 - Kobe - Suma Beach. Today was a special day. Shai turned 2 years old and it was the first time for all of us to visit Kobe and a beach in Japan. This place was really cool and reminded me of Ocean Beach back in San Diego, California. The sand was pretty course compared to California beaches but it was still nice. Really nice to be able to drink on the beach. Shai was really getting a lot of attention from all the young pretty girls on the beach. He seemed very happy to make a lot of new friends. He spent the entire day playing in the ocean and on the sand.

July 23, 2011 - Facebook Post - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAI. Hey. Shai is celebrating his birthday today. Little guy is turning two years old. He will spend the day in Kobe and play at the beach. Then at night go out to eat. Should be fun.
July 24,  2011 - BBQ Party With Family. Another BBQ Party, this time with family to celebrate Shai turning 2 years old. We finished barbecuing minutes before a mega thunderstorm. Thanks to the new patio cover we were able to hang outside during the storm before coming in the house. Shai really liked the thunder and lightning. Seems like he is on the road to becoming a little science geek.

July 25, 2011 - Facebook Post - Spent last weekend at the beach. Shai really enjoyed his birthday and played in the sand for hours. Suma Beach really seemed like Ocean Beach in San Diego except in Japan you can still drink on the beach. Pretty quiet during the day but early evening was another story. Made a few new friends. Thinking about going back again in a few weeks.
July 28, 2011 - Facebook Comment - Hey no problem. Many friends will not be coming until after 6 pm and some late in the evening. Usually parties go until the next day anyway. Your friend Dessy is planning to come. Should be a lot of fun. See you then.
July 30,  2011 - Summer BBQ Party. Another monthly party....um this month. The theme this time was Summer BBQ which got off to a rough beginning. It was pouring rain for hours. Because of the rain, a train accident, and a few friends working, the turnout was a bit less than expected but still managed about 25 people including those who went home before the customary group picture.

July 30, 2011 - Facebook Event - Summer BBQ Party - Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 1:00 PM
July 31,  2011 - Sakurai - Onbara Fireworks Festival. Today the three of us went to a fireworks festival which is pretty famous in Nara, Japan. We ate a lot of food, drank a lot of beer, and met many cool people.

July 31, 2011 - Facebook Post - Another Fun Party. Thanks to everyone for coming last night. It was a lot of fun and went until 1:30 am. Some new friends came who will probably become party regulars. Next month planning to do it all again. Enjoy the pictures.