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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. |
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 Beach
Camping
October 2016 - We went on a fantastic camping
trip to our favorite beach, and enjoyed an unbelievable sunrise. The month
finished off with another crazy Halloween party.
Picture - Our campsite
at beautiful Hamada Beach. |
 First
Fish
October 2, 2016 - Today we sent fishing at
Shimama Port, which is about a ten minute drive from the house. We caught an
oyabitcha, AKA bingu on Tanegashima. This was actually the first fish caught
while fishing with the little guy.
Picture - The first
fish ever caught while fishing with little Lael.
Picture - Home - Us ready to do some fishing.
Picture - Home - Us with the famous fish. |
Rosh Hashana and New Spoon
October 3, 2016 - We spent another Jewish New
Year, Rosh Hashana, on Tanegashima. Tonight was even more wonderful because Lael
got to eat with his new spoon.
Picture - Home - Spending Rosh Hashana
together.
Picture - Home - This was also the first
Rosh Hashana for Lael.
Picture - Home - Lael eating with his new
spoon 1.
Picture - Home - Lael eating with his new
spoon 2.
Picture - Home - Lael eating with his new
spoon 3.
Picture - Home - Lael eating with his new
spoon 4. |
Toxic Chemicals
October 3, 2016 - This time of year these bags of
fertilizer can be seen all over the farms.
Picture - Minamitane Town - Close up of a
pile of fertilizer bags. |
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 Camping
Trip
October 6, 2016 - We went camping for the first
time with little Lael. This was also the first time to go camping at Hamada
Beach. As usual, there were no other people and we could really enjoy and relax.
We made a nice barbecue and a campfire at night. Then the stars came out for a
beautiful evening with cool breezes and, of course, a glass of our favorite
wine, cabernet.
Picture - Hanging out
in the afternoon.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Hanging out together at our
campsite 1.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Hanging out together at our
campsite 2.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Hanging out together at our
campsite 3.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Hanging out together at our
campsite 4.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Us with a nice view of the
coast 1.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Us with a nice view of the
coast 2.
Picture - Hamada Beach - A beautiful view of only
the coastline 1.
Picture - Hamada Beach - A beautiful view of only
the coastline 2.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Now heading towards night
and getting ready to eat.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Getting ready to sleep in
the tent. |
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October 6, 2016 -
Facebook Post -
Really nice night. Spent some time talking with my older son at the campfire.
Then kids sleeping and me and wifey got some quality moments together. If this
was San Diego then we violated pretty much every beach rule and regulation....lol.
Now thunderstorms off in the distance....oh no. Crazy. |
 Beautiful
Sunrise
October 7, 2016 - We were already up and waiting
for this beautiful sunrise, and as it turned out, in the wrong place. We looked
at the glow off in the distance and continued to wait, when an older man began
yelling for us to come where he was standing. He was the owner of a local bed
and breakfast and, when he saw us, brought us over to the best position on the
beach to see the sunrise. What a really nice thing to do.
Picture - A beautiful
sunrise between the rock formations.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Us waiting for the
sunrise to come.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Beautiful sunrise
between the rock formations 1.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Beautiful sunrise
between the rock formations 2.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Beautiful sunrise
between the rock formations 3.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Beautiful sunrise
between the rock formations 4.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Beautiful sunrise
between the rock formations 5.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Beautiful sunrise
between the rock formations 6.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Akiko playing at
the beach 1.
Picture - Hamada Beach - Akiko playing at
the beach 2. |
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 Friends
Visit
October 8, 2016 - Our friends came to stay at our
home for a night. Although we already met Atsumi, this was the first time for us
to meet her husband Dennis.
Picture - All of us
hanging out in the front yard.
After they stayed, Dennis posted this on my Facebook page.
"Hi Howie and family
Now we are back to reality here in Seattle but wanted to just thank you for your
hospitality a couple of weeks ago, letting us stay at your place, eating good
food, drinking good beverages, listening to good tunes, visiting with good
people! Never thought i would be playing poker in Tanegashima while listening to
Alice in Chains! Say hi to Shai and tell him i really enjoyed playing all those
games with him,,,,,,well, we probably will be back in Tanegashima again next
year so if your still there...we will stay in touch
Take care
Dennis and Atsumi"
Picture - Home - All of us hanging outside
together. |
Anno Imo Potatoes
October 14, 2016 - The yield was incredible this
year for anno imo potatoes, with over 800 produced, and without the use of
chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Picture - Home - A wheelbarrow full of anno
imo potatoes from our farms.
Picture - Home - Shai holding a nice bunch
of potatoes 1.
Picture - Home - Shai holding a nice bunch
of potatoes 2. |
 Going Bananas and Fun Game
October 18, 2016 - The banana trees were put in only last year. The trees, technically herbs, are now about 8 feet
tall and producing these delicious bunches of fruit. We also made a fun outside
game.
Picture - A huge bunch
of bananas picked from the farms, totaling over a hundred individual fruits.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 1.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 2.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 3.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 4.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 5.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 6.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 7.
Picture - Home - Beautiful bunch of
delicious bananas 8.
Picture - Home - Fun game made from old wood
1.
Picture - Home - Fun game made from old wood
2.
Picture - Home - Fun game made from old wood
3.
Picture - Home - Fun game made from old wood
4.
Picture - Home - Fun game made from old wood
5. |
Nasty Words
October 19, 2016 - This is the same game as in
the previous post but with a bunch of nasty words written on the wood gate.
Picture - Home - Nasty words written on the
wood gate. |
Shelly
October 25, 2016 - This is a picture of Shelly,
the small turtle we found at the rock beach. We let her go at the same beach
since we thought we were returning home to America in January 2017.
Picture - Home - A nice picture of Shelly. |
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 Crazy
Party
October 26, 2016 - Another crazy party with our
good friends, Oyabing, Yocci, and their kids.
Picture - Hanging out
all together.
Picture - Home - The dude with a bug.
Picture - Home - The dude with a cupcake
holder.
Picture - Home - All of us together 1.
Picture - Home - All of us together 2. |
 Getting
Ready
October 29, 2016 - We are getting ready for
another crazy Halloween party at our home. The return of our same costumes as
last year and same decorations. Hey difficult to get stuff on this small island.
lol.
Picture - Whoa the
return of Sly and the Family Stone.
Picture - Home - All of us wearing our
costumes 1.
Picture - Home - All of us wearing our
costumes 2.
Picture - Home - All of us wearing our
costumes 3.
Picture - Home - All of us wearing our
costumes 4.
Picture - Home - The living room is a bit
scary now.
Picture - Home - The return of the
incredible Mr. A. Lee En.
Picture - Home - The decorated dog gate. |
 Halloween
Party
October 29, 2016 - Another fun but kinda small
Halloween party this year. Basically some folks from the neighborhood showed up.
Picture - A few of the
friends who came throughout the night.
Picture - Home - The first group of friends
to show up.
Picture - Home - And more friends showed up
1.
Picture - Home - And more friends showed up
2.
Picture - Home - A picture of the kids with
the perfect human.
Picture - Home - A picture of the kids.
Picture - Home - The kids with Miyukisan and
the perfect human.
Picture - Home - A crazy guy with a funny
shirt.
Picture - Home - A crazy guy with a funny
shirt and the perfect human.
Picture - Home - A present for the party. |
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