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Message - from my email account
Journal Post - from the journal our oldest son Shai is keeping |
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April 1, 2025 -
Journal Post - Loads of trash and dirt, and moving the dog
After breakfast, mom and I went to take out the trash. The reason I had to help
was because we have tons of fertilizer bags filled with trash. We brought twelve
bags, including the regular trash.
Then, dad and I went out. First we moved the barrels next to the chicken shed,
and then moved the huge black roof tile things to the front.
Next, dad and I started working on the parking area, taking out the dirt. Sadly,
the tire of the wheel barrow was flat, so dad had to struggle to move the dirt
to the garden. We got a few loads of the best soil to use for the pots.
He continued working on the parking, while I moved all the bags of manure in
front of the garden.
Once the manure was there, dad started to spread it out across the garden. While
he was doing that, I moved all the bags of chicken droppings next to the bags of
manure. Once dad finished spreading the manure, he then began to spread the
chicken droppings. While he was spreading the poop, I worked on loosening the
soil in the front.
Once dad did that, he began to take out some more rocks out of the parking.
There was one rock, deep in the ground that we couldn't get out. Even after
using multiple tool ends and even a crowbar, it wouldn't budge.
While we were doing that, Mr Kuyama drove up. We chatted for a bit, and then we
showed him the flat tire on the wheel barrow, and he offered to go fill it with
air. We gladly accepted, and within ten minutes, we had a working wheel barrow.
After he left, I continued to work on the parking area, moving the dirt to the
garden, while dad went to pot the plants we had brought from Tanegashima.
After lunch, I continued working on the front, while dad finished up potting the
plants.
While we were working, a worker came to give us the estimate for the sewer
system. The estimate came in at around ¥2,000,000. Which was...expected, but
still made us all groan. After chatting to the worker for a bit, we decided to
get estimates for both a septic system, and an upgraded pit toilet.
We kept working on the parking lot most of the afternoon.
The last thing we did today was move the dog. However, we didn't move him to
where we originally planned, we instead moved him to where the possible chicken
shed is. Now he has a fun area to explore, and a good roof over his head. While
I was cleaning the dog area and moving the tiles, dad was raking and smoothing
the dirt we had moved that day.
It was...a really hard day, but we got a lot done.
April 2, 2025 -
Journal Post - Happy Birthday Dad!
It was dad's 65th birthday!
We didn't do any work today.
Dad chilled out and hung out with the kids, while I got the complete day off.
At night, he had a strawberry chocolate cake, and some printed and hand drawn
cards!
It was a relaxing day, and I think dad enjoyed it.
April 3, 2025 -
Journal Post - A day spent in the front
After a relaxing day, we were back to work.
The first thing we did was get out the huge rock in the corner. After a few
minutes of struggling, it finally popped out.
Next, while I continued to dig out the parking, dad brought over all the tiles
and chunks of concrete to the front. He piled it next to the wall.
Once dad finished moving the tiles and such, he began to work on the rock wall
facing the road. While he did that, I started to move the soil into the front.
While we were working, an old lady whom I had previously chatted to before said
hi. Dad and I started chatting, but he eventually called out mom.
The tire on the wheel barrow seems to have a leak. So dad and I used some old
pumps we found to fill it up.
After lunch, it was more of the same. I continued to dig the parking out,
leveling it out more instead of a slope, and dad continued to work on the wall.
Mr Kuyama pulled up in the passenger seat of a farm truck, and he told us he
could've used his rototiller instead of buying one. We kindly declined, and he
drove off.
He pulled out tons of rocks, and basically all the vines. I went to sweep the
road and wall near the end of the day.
By the end of the day, we had a huge chunk of the parking done, a cleaner wall,
more rocks exposed, and a garden full of dirt.
April 4, 2025 -
Journal Post - Getting the car repaired
Today was a chill day at home. All we did today was take the bus to get
inspected.
April 5, 2025 -
Journal Post - More work in the front and connecting with the neighbors in
some interesting ways
We got out quite early today. So we got a lot done before lunch.
The first thing I did was move all the manure and chicken droppings we had
purchased into the front. While I did that, dad moved some more of the broken up
chunks of concrete. And he also got a fire going to burn some stuff, including
the large woven baskets we had found.
Next, dad and I started to work on the front. We began to carve out an area that
we would function as drainage for the parking.
Eventually dad left me to work on it, while he went to go rake the rocks out of
the potash.
Once I had a decent amount of dirt, I began moving it with the wheel barrow. The
issue was that the tire had constantly been losing air. So we replaced it with a
spare tire we had found when cleaning out the shed.
While I continued working on the parking and moving the dirt, dad began to
loosen up the soil where the potash had previously been.
Mr Kuyama came to chat for a bit. He offered to till the soil in the farm we
were gonna use with his tractor, dad gladly accepted.
By lunch, dad had loosened up all the soil in that area, and I had moved a
considerable amount of dirt out of the parking into the farm.
After lunch we went back out in the front. While I started to dig the sides of
the parking lot out, dad took out all of the rocks in the front within about
thirty minutes.
While we were working, Mr Hamada came over and we chatted for a bit. Talking
about the parking and just some random community stuff.
After he left, Mr Takahara was going back and forth with his forklift, bringing
tons of wood for burning. One time when he was turning the corner, we heard a
loud crash. His entire load had spilled into the street and yard of Mrs Budo. We
rushed over and helped him load it all back, which took two loads, and we
chatted while we were loading the wood.
Then, dad and I went back to work. By the end of the day we had basically
finished the main section of the parking area.
April 6, 2025 -
Journal Post - Work in the morning, and fun in the afternoon
Today we planned to go to the park after lunch to see the blooming cherry
blossoms.
In the morning, dad and I did a bunch of work in the parking lot, and a little
in the back.
The first thing we did was move all the loose rocks we had pulled out to the
rock pile.
Next, we moved the giant mochi pot from the back into the front.
While we were planning to work on the back, we decided to work on the parking.
While I started cleaning up the corner, dad began taking out more rocks along
the side. This project took us till lunch.
Before we went in for lunch, I pleaded to go ask Mrs Budo if we could open her
building. The previous day we had heard a cat crying in the building, and we had
to do something. So we went over and asked if we could open it, and she said
yes. After we opened it, we chatted for a bit, and then Mr Irie came over and
started chatting too. While we were talking the cat walked out, which was a big
relief. We had told Mr Takahara the previous day, but he didn't seem to worry.
After lunch, we drove the truck to the park. We had a bit of trouble getting out
of the parking area, but we made it by a slim ten centimeters.
At the park, Lael and Ethan immediately began playing, while I went off numerous
times to take pictures and to go for a run.
While we were there, Ethan began playing with a kid. Mom started to chat with
the parents, who turned out to be really friendly and talkative. I even chatted
to them for a bit. Mom and the other mom exchanged Line...and yeah.
Overall, it was a really nice day! I apologize for this lackluster entry...I'm
exhausted.
April 7, 2025 -
Journal Post - Work in the back, a lot to do with poop
After a quick rake in the parking area, we started on our project of the day:
working on the back.
The first thing we did was take off the top layer of rocks, trash, and organic
matter. While dad raked it off, I sorted through it.
We did that until the truck came to suck out the contents of the toilet (ah yes,
the fun of having a pit toilet...). We expected it to go smoothly...however we
were informed that there wasn't enough liquid in our poop...so he couldn't suck
it. So I had to bring out a bucket of water, while mom dumped tons of water into
our toilet. Eventually he was finished sucking. He then proceeded to chat to mom
for a long time about various companies he knows that could help us with septic,
and even getting rid of our trash.
Once he left, dad and I continued to work on the back until lunch.
After lunch, once we got most of the rocks and loose organic material out, I
started on taking out the tree.
I spent the entire afternoon on that. While I was doing that, dad hoed and raked
the back even more, making it look even better.
While we were working, a worker from the company was waiting on our sewer
estimate to come over. He needed to take some more precise measurements. So we
all waited in the house until he left.
Dad and I went back out. I continued trying to get the tree out, while dad went
to go "trim" the かき tree. By trim, I mean he cut all the branches off.
Near the end of the day, mom came out with trash bags to pack all the fertilizer
bags for trash on Tuesday. After shoving and pushing all the bags in, we had
about twenty bags full to the brim.
The last thing we did that day was take out the tree. It took some combined
effort from dad and I, but in the end, we got it out.
April 8, 2025 -
Journal Post - A lot to do with machines and humans
Before starting our usual day, mom and I went out to take the trash out after
breakfast. It was a total of around twenty bags, and took three trips, but we
got rid of all the trash.
Alright, so today was a super busy/chaotic/fun day. The first thing we did, as
usual, was go outside to work.
While I continued smoothing out the back, dad began processing the かき tree he
had cut the previous day.
At some point, mom came out to tell dad that the septic guy who had come the
previous day, had sent out a worker from his/a company to take a look at our
trash. A few minutes later he arrived. He inspected our huge amount of trash,
and then said he would come back sometime with an estimate.
When he left, mom had also told dad that the rototiller had arrived. We planned
to pick it up that morning.
The previous day, I had been eyeing one of the cabinets we put outside. So today
we decided to bring them out, to decide whether or not to use them or burn them,
while we were working, our neighbor, Mrs Budo was getting some help from her
grandson. They came over, and we chatted to them for a while. After they left, I
decided we could burn the cabinets.
After chatting, we went off to pick up the rototiller. But since it was late, we
decided to go pick up lunch and some other groceries. This was the first time we
went to the grocery store in our farm clothes...a tiny bit embarrassing.
Once we picked up lunch, we drove to the place the rototiller had been
delivered. We decided to open the box to load the rototiller...and oh boy it's a
beauty. It had a glossy orange and white finish, shiny steel, and some new
levers.
So we headed back home for lunch. After lunch, we got a call saying the bus had
been fully inspected! So we decided to go pick it up that day. Along the walk we
met a mom and her two kids, who also live in the neighborhood. We talked for a
tiny bit, and then continued walking. Once we got there, we were met with a bus
that looked brand new. They had done a total cleanup of the exterior and
interior of the bus, and we finally had some new Okayama licence plates! We
talked to the owner and his mom a bit about the bus, and Okayama, and then we
got in our freshly inspected bus, and drove back home. While we were driving
home, a car blinked its lights at us. At first, dad couldn't figure out what
that meant, but driving a little further, we realized the driver of that car was
warning us that there were cops with radar up ahead. We had never witnessed that
on Tanegashima, so we all thought that was really cool.
When we got home, we saw our neighbor, Mrs Budo, weeding her shed. She explained
that she wanted to do some cleaning because of how clean we made our property.
We all felt really nice...and a tad bit guilty about that.
The mechanic had given the kids some snacks. And while we were eating them at
home, Mr Irie showed up at our house with vegetables! He gave us some onion
things, lettuce, and broccoli!
We all couldn't wait, so we decided to set up the rototiller that day. Upon
setting it up and reading the manual we discovered some useful new features,
such as reverse, high-speed, turning mode, and a bed maker. We all tried it out
on the farm, and it made the soil as soft as cake. As we were setting it up, we
met Mr Takahara's wife. We then talked to Mr Takahara for a few minutes.
So for the afternoon we ditched the project in the back, and decided to get our
farm ready. While dad rototilled around and around, I began taking the roots out
of the last area of the farm. After I finished taking the roots out, dad
rototilled it, and once he had rototilled it, I raked the huge mound of soil
across the area.
While we were working, an employee from an English school who had set up a new
office around here showed up at our house. He was one of the most hyper and
politest young men I had ever met. He was super kind and polite when explaining
who he was and what the school was for. Even though we all laughed a bit at his
behavior, I have never wanted to be friends with a guy as much as I have with
him.
While he was here, the post showed up with a package. The package was from Mr
Mihara! He had sent us some rice and sugar! So that was lovely.
By the end of the day, dad and I had made our farm look silky smooth. This was a
pretty crazy day, but I honestly enjoyed...pretty much every minute of it.
April 9, 2025 -
Journal Post - Preparation for installing our sink, and growing our
vegetables.
Today is the last day to prepare before the workers came to install our new
sink, so we had a lot to do.
Immediately after breakfast, I started working on the back. The goal was to get
all the roots and rocks out, and make it as smooth as possible.
While I was doing that, dad got the burn pile going in the corner (something he
had trouble doing), and finished processing the fallen かき tree.
Once he was done, he called me over to help with some stuff. I tossed the かき
logs onto the burn pile, I moved some large rocks, and then we did a little work
on the rock wall. However, while working we realized that there was a layer of
completely unnecessary rock, we tried to pull them out, but we just felt it
would be a waste of time...for now. Instead, we filled the gap where a root used
to grow in the wall, with a large, flat rock. While we were working, Mr Kuyama
drove up, and in Japanese told him "You can do anything, huh?". Dad was
annoyingly smug about the compliment...
Anyway, we finally got the rock in place, and that was that.
After lunch, we did a little more work on the parking, and then I went back...in
the back. It took around two hours, but eventually I had finished the back. When
I came out from the back, I was greeted with a large pile of dirt, and about a
dozen heavy stones. Dad had taken out the rocks.
I was quite surprised he had gotten them out, but happy nonetheless-except for
all the stuff I had to move now-and the wall looked way better.
While I was moving all the dirt, dad opened all the bags of manure and chicken
droppings.
So, the next thing we did was while dad was rototilling, I spread out all eighty
bags of chicken droppings and manure. Once it was spread out, dad went over it
again with the rototiller.
Dad continued to rototill, while I went out to the parking lot to get out some
stumps and roots that were sticking out.
By the end of the day, we had a nearly ready to use farm, a clean back, and a
parking lot...with one stump sticking up. It was a busy day, but super
productive.
April 10, 2025 -
Journal Post - A slow day and a wacky sink job
The workers were coming today to put in our new sink, and set up the washing
machine.
Dad and I were outside, before we barely started working, they showed up. When
they showed up, we asked if they could take out the urinal, and they agreed!
Anyway, today was a pretty slow day, we both weren't feeling that great, nor did
we have our "mojo".
I spent a lot of the morning taking the loose layer of rocks off the rock wall
next to the stream. While I was doing that, dad began making the trail from the
house to the dog area.
Dad and I also worked on dredging out the stream. We're still debating whether
we should keep it or not.
By then it was lunch. After lunch, the worker came in and gave us the estimates
for the septic. And without the city's money, it would cost around ¥2,200,000.
We now really don't know what to do.
After lunch it was pretty much more of the same.
Around 4 pm, the workers finished installing the sink, laundry, and taking out
the urinal.
We went in for a timeout, and to check out their work. While the sink itself
looked great, and the urinal was properly removed...the finish work, especially
on the sink, wasn't great...almost to the point of complaining to the company.
The last thing dad and I did that day was finish the trail to the dog area. We
finished it just as we were told it was 5:30 pm.
April 11, 2025 -
Journal Post - A lot of dirt, and more people than expected...
The first thing dad and I did was work on the parking. We dug it out to make it
lower, making a huge pile of dirt.
Mom had to go shopping, and go to get money out of the bank for a deposit she
had to make today. While she was shopping, dad went in to watch the kids.
While he was in the house, I moved the entire dirt pile back, and smoothed out
nearly all of the parking.
I finished when mom came home, and for lunch we had sushi.
After lunch, I began to move all the dirt into the farm, while dad began raking
the rocks and roots out of the muck we had pulled out of the stream.
Around two p.m, the real estate agent, and his wife came over. They were here to
discuss the property we were buying near the beach.
While they were here, dad went inside to talk and watch the kids. I stayed
outside to move the dirt.
While I was working, Mrs Budo came over with two packs of strawberries. That's
it. She literally came over, just to give me strawberries. After that, I was
super motivated, and I moved all the dirt, and smoothed out the spot where the
dirt had been.
While the agent was still here, the worker from Marui Gas came to take the pipe
out of the wall. When I told mom and dad that he was here, the agent and his
wife left. Mom had to phone the worker to make sure the pipe didn't start
spewing water, and it didn't. So we had the pipe removed!
After they left, dad and I finished raking the stuff out of the muck.
The last thing we did was do a quick clean on the street and the rock wall where
the parking was.
April 12, 2025 -
Journal Post - The front is done! For now...
The first thing we did today was move all the huge rocks onto the rock pile. Dad
got them closer, and I finished the job.
The project we did...literally all morning was take out dirt, and smooth out the
parking. Dad and I worked on smoothing it out, and I transported it all to the
farm.
Mom also came out in the morning to sort some of the rocks out of a huge pile of
rocks, roots, trash, and dirt.
By lunch the parking was basically complete, at least until we got the huge
amount of trash taken away.
After lunch, I began sorting a pile of rocks, roots, trash, and dirt in front of
the bus. While I was doing that, dad began to smooth out the dirt I had moved to
the farm.
Eventually, dad called mom out to bag the trash. There was a trash day coming up
where we could throw out things like styrofoam and plastic. So while I sorted
the pile, mom and dad bagged most of the trash into the yellow bags.
When they were done, mom went back inside. By then I had nearly finished sorting
the pile.
Dad began moving some of the trash and wood into the back. We then made an
unplanned decision: clean up the entire front.
So for the next hour or so, dad and I moved nearly all the trash out of the
front and into the back. We moved some more wood around, swept it up, and the
front was looking great!
The last thing we did that day was completely smooth out the dirt I had moved to
the farm.
April 13, 2025 -
Journal Post - Making a huge mess in the house
It was raining, so it was time to do the dreaded project of...taking out the
attic in mom's possible room.
First, we moved all the stuff we might now use, or not use for a while, outside.
After that, it was just taking out the wood boards. Using the hammer and crowbar
we found outside, dad banged and pried the wood boards off. It took all morning,
but he got it done. I just kinda stood and watched... occasionally taking the
larger wood pieces and setting them on the floor.
After lunch, dad went out to begin in the garage. While he did that, I tooks
(nearly) all the nails out of the wood, and did a sweep of the entire room. It
wasn't a great sweep, but better than nothing.
Once I finished doing that, I got the day off. Dad continued working in the
garage until about 5:30 pm.
We're definitely reconsidering what to do with the room, due to how old it is,
the mud walls, the gaps in the roof, and the bullet-like crack in the window.
It wasn't a super fun day, but we got a lot done.
April 14, 2025 -
Journal Post - The garage, putting in tumeric, and helping out the neighbor.
Before we went out, dad put up brackets around the house to hang up bee traps.
Once we went out, dad started on planting the tumeric, while I began working on
the pile dad made in the garage yesterday.
While we were working, Mr Kuyama came over with his son (whom we had only said
hi to until now) and gave us baby bamboo shoots! So we planned to eat those that
night.
That day, workers from another company were to come over to take measurements
for another sewer and septic estimate. And so they did while we were talking to
Mr Kuyama. They did the usual stuff, and also took a look at the estimate that
we were given, and they kinda laughed, saying that the price was too high.
After they left, dad continued planting tumeric, while I cleaned the pile in the
garage until lunch.
After lunch, we went back out. After about two hours of working, we saw that our
neighbor, Mr Takahara, was trying to cut some branches off one of his trees that
were hitting the power line. We hesitated wondering if we should go help, but
ultimately we decided to go help him. So dad held the ladder, while I went up to
cut. When we were done, Mr Takahara then began cutting a branch that was hitting
his house, and just from the sound, we could tell his blade was dull, so I went
over and cut it for him. Both times he thanked us profusely.
Dad and I went back to work. By around 4:00 pm, the rain was picking up. But by
then, I had finished cleaning the pile of trash in the garage, and dad was
satisfied with the amount of turmeric he planted.
It wasn't exactly the most fun day, but we felt really good helping the
neighbor, and we got a lot done.
At night, Mr Takahara came over and gave us eggs and a bottle of CocaCola for
helping him.
April 15, 2025 -
Journal Post - Pond Cleaning
The first thing we did was mom and I went out to take out the trash we had
recently bagged.
Today's project was to start cleaning the pond.
Basically the entire morning was taking out rocks and roots, raking, and taking
the muck out of the pond.
In the morning, we also got a quick visit from the lady who talked to us when we
had previously taken out the trash on a different day.
Mrs Budo and her grandson also came over to talk, and to give us the community
schedule. The next person to get it is Mr Takahara.
We went in a bit early due to the spots of rain.
After lunch, it was more of the same, taking out roots and rocks, and raking.
Most of the day, dad spent cleaning the upper area of the pond, while I did the
lower area.
The rock pile is getting huge with the amount of rocks we're getting.
While we were working, we were joking around and I wasn't focusing, so I got my
fingers caught between two rocks...which didn't feel great.
We kept doing the work until 5:30 pm, and then headed in.
April 16, 2025 -
Journal Post - A lot to do with outdoor cleaning
Before I went out, mom and dad moved all the wood from her room outside, and dad
hung the bee bottles outside the second floor windows.
In the morning, the main project for dad was to burn all the wood from the house
and garage, and the cardboard from the house.
While he did that, I moved the giant chest to the back, cut up the tree we cut
on Mr Takahara's house, and got some more work done around the pond.
While we were working, mom went shopping.
Eventually, dad began to work on the pond, while I raked the rocks and roots out
of the soil in the farm.
After lunch, the first thing I did was move all the trash out of the garage into
the back, and moved out the cardboard for dad to burn.
Then, Lael, Ethan, and mom came out to help sort the pile of rocks, roots, and
dirt we got. While we did that, dad worked around the orange tree, cleaning it
up, and placing the pots around it. While we were sorting, dad got a sieve out
of the garage, which was really useful
The last thing we did after mom went in was dad rototilled the farm, while I
cleaned up from the sorting we did. When dad was rototilling, the rototiller ran
out of fuel, and for some reason, the lid was super hard to unscrew.
It was a really productive day, and it was super nice to have the whole family
working outside!
April 17, 2025 -
Journal Post - A lot of work done, and...dad falling through the roof?!
That morning was super productive. I worked on sifting all the soil that was
piled in the garden, while dad worked on the "hiking trail" and the upper area.
While Lael and Ethan were playing outside, I was walking past the pond and
noticed something, inside the pond was a crayfish! After poking around with a
stick for a while, we realized there was a lot more than just one.
After lunch, I first moved the barrels off the upper area.
Then, while I continued sifting the soil, dad took the rototiller through the
farm.
The next project was to clean the roof of the building the truck was parked
in...but that went a bit wrong.
We set up the ladder, and I was to go up and work on it. Dad went up first
though to show what he wanted, and to check if it was safe. He climbed up, and
the roof seemed to hold his weight just fine. While he was up there, I went to
go get a broom. As I was getting it, I heard a large crash and dad yelling "The
roof isn't stable!". I look over to see only the top half of dad's body. The
roof had given way, but somehow he had caught himself before he fell all the way
through. He then pulled himself out and shakily climbed down the ladder. We went
in to check his injuries, and luckily, all he had was some bad scraping on his
thigh, chest, and thumb. After recovering for a few minutes, we went out to move
the vehicles and trailer out of the garage to assess the damage. The damage is
now that we have a huge hole in the roof. So now, dad is gonna take out the
whole roof. The issue is, the roof is probably made of asbestos.
After that, I continued to sift the pile until it was done, and dad planted some
tumeric and the potatoes we found in the garage.
After that, we needed to water the pots and farm. So dad Jerry rigged a hose to
the outdoor faucet.
The last thing we did was dad rototilled the farm, while I smoothed it out with
the rake, and then did the final raking for the day.
It was a pretty crazy day, but super productive.
April 18, 2025 -
Journal Post - Draining the pond, and getting ready for the BIG trash day
The first thing we did today was mom and I went out to throw out the trash I had
sorted from the garage. We also threw out the trash we hadn't been able to fit
the last time. While we were taking out the trash, we realized the next day was
the day to throw out the BIG trash, so that changed the plan a little.
Then dad and I went out. My project for the day was to drain the pond, dad's
project was to get the big trash out of the garage, that included shelves,
carpets, and the mattress.
I first drained the pond of all the liquid. I started out with dumping buckets
of it into the farm, but it began to flood. So I finished it off by shopping it
into the drain near the pond.
While I was doing that, dad was sorting out all the big stuff in the garage.
Once the pond was nearly drained, it was time to collect the crayfish. There
were tons of them, I caught most of them and I put them in a bucket to clean,
and then into the main area to keep them. Lael and Ethan loved playing with
them, and over the course of the day we had around fifty.
By lunch, dad had sorted a lot of the garage, and I had begun to scoop the muck
out of the pond.
After lunch, I continued to scoop the muck out of the pond. Since we had nowhere
to put it, I put it in the farm, despite my boots getting stuck in the mud.
By the late afternoon, dad and mom had a large pile of trash in the parking
area.
We were wondering if we could actually get the mattress to the trash area, so I
tried and was able to lift it. However, it was fraying and falling to pieces, so
we had to wrap it in a large bag, but to keep the bag from falling apart, we had
to wrap the mattress and bag in rope.
While we were packing the mattress, the lady we met took out the trash and her
granddaughter came over walking their dog. We chatted for a bit, and then off
they went.
We finished gathering all the trash, and then mom went into the house.
Dad and I did a bit more work on the pond, and then we headed in.
While today was super tiring, it was also super productive.
April 19, 2025 -
Journal Post - Taking out the BIG trash, deciding what to do with the pond,
and work on the upper area
The first project for the day was to take out all the big trash. Mom and I went
out right after breakfast to move the trash. When we were moving the trash, the
lady who we met taking out the trash, daughter and granddaughter said hi While
we were taking it out. We learned that their names are also Irie. They offered
us their wheel barrow while we were taking the trash out, but we kindly declined
saying we had our own. After about ten loads, we moved all the trash. While we
knew they would take most of it, we were concerned whether the mattress would be
taken or not.
Once we were done, mom and I headed in. We sat talking a little bit, and the
conversation of the pond was brought up. After a lot of thinking and reasoning,
I decided it was the best choice to fill in the pond. While I'm not entirely
happy with the decision, it's probably for the best.
After that, dad and I headed out.
The first thing I did was carefully skim the top of the pond water, to not stir
up dirt, and then pour it in the drain.
While I did that, dad started on filling in the stream. He took out rocks and
dirt from the hill above, and raked it into the pond.
Once I was done skimming the pond, I started to move the muck. I started doing
it randomly, but to give myself a little motivation, I soon began taking only
the muddy water, so I could see actual progress.
By lunch, dad had nearly finished filling in the pond, and I had nearly taken
out all the water.
After lunch it was more of the same, for me at least. I finished taking out the
water, and then started taking buckets full of pond muck and scum.
While I was doing that, dad finished filling in the stream, and then began to
work on the upper area of the farm. He's turning it into a place to grow vine
fruits, and a place for Lael and Ethan to play. He raked, cut, and hoed a bunch
of the upper area.
He also helped me get the muck out of the pond by raking it to one side.
By the end of the day, I had taken out a ton of the pond muck, forming a giant
pile in the farm, and dad had filled in the stream, and done a ton of work on
the upper area. Another tiring, yet productive day.
April 20, 2025 -
Journal Post - Moving rocks and the beginning of the end of the pond
Today, dad and I had separate projects. While I would continue to work on the
pond, he would start making a wall along the nonexistent stream with the rocks.
I first dumped more water in the drain which had flowed back in throughout the
night. After that, I started hauling buckets of muck into the farm.
While I did that, dad made a border of rocks along the stream, and started to
pile the smaller rocks in the gap between the new wall and the old wall.
While we were working, Mrs Irie came over to give us bean rice! She made it for
the shrine cleaning tomorrow, and gave some of it to us!
After a few hours of hauling muck, I had finally reached the bottom of the pond.
However, what we thought was concrete, turned out to be hardened clay. This made
us realize that we didn't need to take out all the muck.
Once we realized that, we decided to finally begin filling up the pond. Dad and
I went over to the pile of concrete and rooftiles, and we decided to start by
putting in the large, black, roof tiles. But before we put that, I dumped in the
large chunk of concrete that was in the garage. And that was it for the morning.
After lunch, I started on moving all the chunks of concrete into the pond, while
dad continued working on the rock pile.
While I was moving the concrete, I saw Mrs Irie come over and start to clean the
shrine. I hesitated, but then went over to ask dad if I should offer help, and
he said yes. So I went over to help, I didn't really do much, but I learned
about the shrine! And she gave me the extra food to eat.
Anyway, once I had moved all the concrete, dad and I went through the tiles and
decided to dump nearly all of them in the pond, except for the nice orange ones.
We took our usual break and ate the snacks. When we came out, dad decided to
hang up the other two bee bottles.
By the time I had finished dumping everything into the pond, dad had begun to
rake the dirt from the corner into the pond. I went over to help, and that was
the final project for the day.
It was a long day, but we got a ton of work done.
April 21, 2025 -
Journal Post - Half a day out, and half a day in
Today was planned to be a full day off, and it was...mostly.
We headed out of the house around 9:00 am. The first thing we did was we took
the truck to the car mechanic to repair the brake lights and the air
conditioner. However, since our truck is an old model, finding the parts may be
hard or impossible. We then drove back towards the house in the bus.
But, we didn't go back home, instead we drove up Mt Katsura. The plan was to
drive along each road in the mountain. We took the first three with ease, and
the first one we stopped and got out to walk along a trail we found...that had a
bunch of graves along it. However, while on the trail, we found these nuts (I
have no idea why they're important for I have never tasted them), mom freaked
out when we saw the outside, so we looked around for about 15 minutes and found
a few actual seeds to plant. We then drove down the last road, this one was a
bit crazy. It was a long, winding road made out of gravel. It took us all the
way to the other side of the mountain. The vegetation along that road was really
interesting because it didn't look tropical, at all. We then stopped at an area
of grass and pine trees, and we hung around there for a little bit before
heading home.
After a quick bathroom trip, we headed out in the bus again to the store to buy
lunch.
After lunch, I finally got my haircut! While mom was cutting my hair, dad was
working outside. He watered the garden, turned the pond muck in the soil, and
began taking out the final area of dirt in the parking area.
Once my hair was cut, I went out to help dad. I moved the dirt he had piled in
the area between the new rock wall and the turmeric beds. While I did that, dad
took out some more dirt, and then piled the last roof tiles away from the
parking. He then began cleaning the asbestos roof tiles, and some random trash
there.
When I was done moving the pile of dirt, dad and I thought for a while if we
should keep the tiles for a project, but ultimately we decided it was best if we
tossed them in the pond. So I threw them in the pond, shattering them.
When I was done with that, mom came out to bag trash to take out the next day. I
worked on tearing up some cardboard, while mom bagged the trash that was in the
garage. We also put asphalt in the bags, despite mom's protest... By the end, we
had about twenty bags ready for the next day.
Once we were done, it was 5:30 pm, so dad and I headed in. Despite it being a
day off, we got quite a bit done.
April 22, 2025 -
Journal Post - A lot of rocks and dirt moved, and more social interaction
than expected
The first thing we did that day was mom and I went to take out more trash we had
collected from the garage. We took about twenty bags, and it took three trips.
Then, before I went out. Mom and dad had a conversation with Mr Takahara. They
even went over to where he stores his wood, and he offered to give us a piece
for a table, and even some of the cut driftwood. Dad gladly accepted. He also
told us that the "graves" we found while hiking the previous day were made
around the Nara Period, about 1,500 years ago.
Once they were done talking, I came out to work with dad. The first project I
did was rake the dirt in the pond around, while dad kept working on the rock
wall.
Once I was done with that, it was time to start working on the parking. Dad took
out some more rocks along the parking wall facing the house, so I moved them to
the rock pile. And then I moved all the dirt that dad had dug up the previous
day to the rock wall. While I did that, dad smoothed out the dirt I brought, and
kept working on the rock wall.
Once the dirt was moved, I worked on smoothing out the last section of the
parking area, while dad kept working on the wall and rock pile.
Around 10:30 am, the workers who were giving us the estimate for the septic came
over. We thought they were going to bring the estimate, but it turned out they
just needed to take some more measurements.
Dad and I continued on the work we were doing, and then we headed in for lunch.
After lunch, I moved the dirt pile I made in the morning, and dad once again
smoothed out the dirt, and kept working on the rock wall.
Once the parking was done for the day, dad and I started to work on the upper
section. I started by sorting out the large rocks, and concrete chunks. I then
put the concrete chunks in the pit.
Then, dad and I moved some large rocks and chunks of concrete out of the ground,
and then began debating how much more we should extend the wall. Dad decided to
end it where the chunk of concrete was.
Once we were done doing that, dad kept refining and working on the rock wall,
while I went to sort out the last of the rocks from the concrete.
While we were working, Mr Irie came over to talk. We chatted for a while, and
learned some more history about the mountain and the "graves". He also gave us
two chunks of 竹の子, which one of was huge! He then drove off as drops of rain
started to fall.
Dad and I worked for a few more minutes, we then headed in, and by the time we
took pictures, rain was steadily falling outside. It was another super
productive day.
April 23, 2025 -
Journal Post - Rocks, the upper area, getting the truck back, and AHH! THE
POND IS BACK
It had poured rain the previous night, so when we went out, we were greeted with
quite a surprise. The pond was full again. All the rain had flowed towards the
lowest point in the yard, the pond. It had filled up to its previous height
despite the amount of dirt, concrete, and roof tiles were in there. This was a
huge disappointment for us, because not only had the pond filled up, we also
lost our area to burn roots and cardboard.
Apart from the pond, the morning was fairly uneventful. While I worked on
cleaning the upper area of the yard, dad dredged out the well, and then
continued working on the rock pile and wall. While we were working mom went
shopping, and when she came back, we went in for lunch.
After lunch, before we went out, mom called back the mechanic fixing the truck.
He had apparently fixed the truck! All that happened to the brakes was that a
fuse had blown, though we're not sure why, and he also sorta fixed the AC.
After that we went and switched projects. While dad began working on the rocky
area of the upper area, I began to make an extension for the wall. While we had
planned to not build it any further, we decided it was best to extend it out.
Dad also made some really cool looking steps up to the upper area using the flat
rocks.
Around 3:00 pm, a worker from Marui Gas came to do something with mom related to
her credit card.
We worked for a bit more after he left, and though we planned to pick up the car
the next day, dad wanted the next day completely open, so we decided to go pick
up the truck. Mom and dad talked to the mechanic for a while about the truck,
and then we headed home.
Once we got home, dad and I continued doing what we had been doing. While we
were working, mom came out asking if it was okay that the mushrooms were
delivered the next day. Dad, slightly reluctantly, agreed.
Overall a really busy day, but very productive.
April 24, 2025 -
Journal Post - The second floor of the garage and two tons of mushroom dirt
This morning was pretty simple. Dad went up to clean the second floor of the
garage, while I turned the muck in the farm, and then I continued working on the
rock mountain next to the wall facing Mr Takahara's house. While I was working,
I caught another Japanese keelback.
By lunch, dad had gotten everything off the second floor of the garage, except
for the desk, and found a dead bird... and I had gotten a considerable amount of
rocks out.
After lunch is when things got busy. The first thing we did is mom, dad, and I
began to pack up and sort all the trash dad had taken out into trash bags.
While we were doing that, mom got a phone call that the mushroom dirt was about
to be delivered. And fifteen minutes later, we had two tons of mushroom dirt in
our driveway. Amazingly, it only cost ¥1,000! And if we would've gone to pick it
up, it would've been free.
After that, we went up to the second floor of the garage to get the desk down.
Once I finally got a good look at it, I realized it just wouldn't work for me.
It was way too childish, and the size was way too small in every dimension. So
we decided to throw it out in the BIG trash. It took some time, but with rope
and dad on the ladder, we got the desk and chairs down from the second floor.
Mom and I went back to bagging the trash, while dad went up on the second floor
to do a quick sweeping. After mom and I finished bagging the trash, we sorted
through all the books and notes that were left from the previous owner. In the
end we kept six books, and all the notes from the previous owner, the rest of
the books will be recycled.
When we were done, mom went back in, and dad and I took a break.
Once we went back out, dad hung the drying nets for the wild tumeric, while I
turned the muck in the farm again. Then mom came out to put the wild turmeric in
the nets.
By then it was pretty late, so we headed in for the day. Another busy and
productive day.
April 25, 2025 -
Journal Post - Moving two tons of mushroom dirt, and some cleaning in the
upper area
The first thing that happened that day was mom and I went and threw out twenty
more bags of trash.
After that, dad and I came out, and while it was a super busy morning, it's very
simple to explain. Dad and I moved nearly all the two tons of mushroom dirt. We
put a lot of it in the farm, but also around the orange tree, and in a pile off
to the side. Dad also went through the farm once with the rototiller so I could
put the next layer. And that was it for the morning.
After lunch, dad and I went back out and finished moving all the mushroom dirt.
Once we were done with that, I began to continue work on the upper area of the
farm, while dad set up the pots around the orange tree, spread the mushroom dirt
throughout the farm, and rototilled again. While he was still setting up the
pots, mom came out to tie up the book that we would throw out for recycling
tomorrow.
Once we were done with all that, dad and I took a timeout.
We came back out to work on the upper area. While we were working, Mr Kuyama
(the first one we met), came over to give us information about the community, he
talked for a tiny bit, and went off.
After that, dad and I worked on the drain in the upper area for a bit, but we
were both exhausted, so we didn't get a lot done with that.
While the work today was pretty simple, we got A LOT done.
April 26, 2025 -
Journal Post - Let this be known as...giving day
Alright so today was absolutely crazy, but in the best way possible.
The first thing we had to do was mom and I were going to throw out the books we
had gotten from the second floor of the garage. However, before we could even
get out of the house, Mrs Irie's granddaughter and her sister (whom we hadn't
met until today) came over to our house. They first let their dog play with
Copernicus, and then they came back and gave us a whole pack of oysters!
Once they left, mom and I threw out the books.
Next, mom and dad went out to move the truck and trailer so we could work on the
parking.
Then I went out. The first project I did was to use the liftable rocks to finish
the rock wall, and while I did that, dad took out some more dirt in the parking
area.
While we were working, Mr Kuyama came over and chatted for a bit. He noticed our
new rototiller, and sorta laughed at it. He said all it would do was turn the
soil, but not that deep. So he offered to bring his rototiller, and we accepted.
So, fifteen minutes later, he and his son, and grandson show up with his
rototiller. It didn't have any wheel, only tines, but that proved to be great
with how deep it went. What was really interesting is how it turns off, since
the button is gone, you have to press this wire onto a piece of metal to ground
the circuit. So he showed us how to use it, and then he was off.
Once I finished the rock wall, and dad was done using the new rototiller, I went
to go take the roots and stumps out of the parking lot, while dad did some work
in the garden, watering the plants, and taking some more muck out of the well.
By lunch dad had done a bunch of gardening, and I had taken out the huge stump
and had uncovered the large piece of granite. So before dad and I went, we at
least shifted the piece of granite.
After lunch, the first project was to move the piece of granite next to the
granite wall dad made in the garden. So we got two cypress logs, and a chunk,
and very slowly and carefully, rolled the piece over.
Just as we were about to get it in place, we noticed Mr Takahara was trying to
cut the tree that was hitting his lines. Like last time, we got super nervous,
so we went over and helped. And twenty minutes later, we had cut out two trees
that were gonna hit his power lines, and tossed the branches into our yard.
After that, dad and I got the piece of granite into position. We decided to put
one of the concrete drains into place to hold a bird feeder. While dad was gonna
make the hole, I was gonna rototill. However, right before we started, Mr
Takahara gave us a bag of snacks and Coca Cola as thanks. Then when he left, the
other Mr Takahara drove up and gave us three freshly caught fish that his friend
had caught, and finally, Mr Irie came over to chat for a it, and he gave us
onions and even more 竹に子.
Once we had gotten literally enough food to feed us for a day, dad made the hole
for the pipe, while rototilled.
Now, Ethan's teeth had been bothering him for a few days, so mom scheduled a
dentist appointment. So we headed in at around 4:00 pm, and left the house at
around 4:45 pm. We were at the dentist for about an hour (Ethan had to get a lot
of work done), and then we went shopping to buy some food that would go well
with the oysters.
Today was honestly amazing in so many ways. Not only because of what we
received, but the feeling behind the gifts.
April 27, 2025 -
Journal Post - A lot to do with the neighbors
The first thing planned today was to go to the pond and shrine cleaning, and so
we did.
Mom and I went out first to go clean the shrine, but then halfway through, dad,
Lael, and Ethan came over to help. It took about an hour, and by the end we had
done a good cleaning around the shrine, and the trail leading up to it.
Next was the pond. We headed down and met at the place where we took the trash.
After listening to an explanation of what to do, the men went to weed around the
pond, while the women went along the street to pick up trash. That also took
about an hour, and at the end, we got tea and bread as a reward for our work.
Once we got home, I had to return the photo books that Mr Budo had given me to
look at. So mom and I went out and looked for him, he was at the trash place
with his friend Mr Hamada. I gave him the books, and then he ran back to his
house and came back with flyers related to the photo contest. While we were
doing that, dad had gone out and filled up the rototillers with fuel, and had
done some more work on the parking.
Then mom and I went back, and then we all went out in the truck to run some
errands. First, we went to Times, and picked up twenty bags of chicken
droppings, and then twenty bags of manure. We dropped those off at the farm that
Mrs Budo was letting us use. Then, we filled up the truck and gas tank with
fuel. And then finally, we went shopping for lunch and just to buy food in
general.
After lunch, the first thing we did was dad, Lael, Ethan, and I let the frog,
snakes, and crayfish go in and around the well.
Next, dad and I went over to the farm (I shall now call the farm Mrs Budo is
letting us use "the farm"), I moved the bags of fertilizer into the farm, and
dad cut them open. However, while we were doing so, we got visited by a bunch of
people. First, Mr Irie, then Mr Budo, and then Mr Hamada with Mr Budo. We also
talked to the lady who owns the neighboring farm. Then, dad went back to our
house to get the rototiller, however before he could, a bunch of people began
talking to him, including Mrs Irie and her granddaughter. While he talked, I
spread the fertilizer across the farm. Eventually he got out of the conversation
and went to get the rototiller. While he rototilled, I continued spreading the
fertilizer until the bags were empty. I then packed them up, and headed back
home.
At home, I began to rototiller the house farm using Mr Kuyama's rototiller,
however after a few minutes, it started to sputter and eventually turned off. I
tried to restart it, but I couldn't. Then dad came back, and got it going for a
couple of minutes, but it eventually turned off.
After that, dad decided to get mom, Lael, and Ethan to meet our neighboring
farmers. So they went over while I stayed to move the pile of dirt in the
parking lot.
However, I barely got any work done. The lady who walks down the road came over,
and we began talking, and then Mrs Budo came out, and began talking to us, and
that turned into a thirty minute conversation. Once they left, I was only able
to do a little work before dad, mom, Lael, and Ethan came back. Apparently they
had talked to the neighboring farmer, and also met the family with the three
kids, and they even played with them a little!
The last thing that happened was I moved the desk in the back.
It wasn't the most productive day, but I honestly don't care. The amount of
positive energy I feel from the neighbors is more than I felt in the seven years
of living in Tanegashima (except for Mr Mihara), I honestly love it here...and
I'm not sure I want to move.
April 28, 2025 -
Journal Post - Happy Birthday Mom!
Today is mom's birthday!
Not much happened today, I stayed in my room for the morning, while dad went out
and worked on the upper area of the garden (the kids play area).
Then after lunch, while dad was working, we got more 竹の子 from Mr Irie and Mrs
Irie granddaugthers. We also got fish from them! And they also came over with
their dog to play with Copernicus.
That was pretty much all the work for the day, nothing crazy.
And then we had a really nice meal and good time at night hanging out with mom.
April 29, 2025 -
Journal Post - Weeding the farm and more socializing
Today was all about working on the farm.
The first thing we did was head over to the farm to assess the work needed to be
done. Once we did that, we got to work.
Dad took the weedwhacker to the perimeter of the farm, while I began sorting and
moving the wood and trash around the farm and buildings at the farm.
Then, I helped out dad by raking all the weeds into piles along the perimeter.
While I was working, the man who lived next to the solar panels came out and
talked a lot, and then weeded his side of the farm.
We also talked a tiny bit to the mom of the kids who live in the house next to
the farm.
And that was it for the morning.
After lunch, the first thing we did (after asking permission) was weeded the
farm neighbors yard. Which took quite a while.
After that, dad and I did a little more work on the farm.
The mom gifted us soy sauce and 日本酒 from 秋田. And the people who owned the farm
next to use gifted us onions for weeding their side of the farm.
After all that, it was nearly 4:00pm, and dad had said the kids could come play
with the farm neighbors at 4:00 pm. So we headed home, took a quick break, and
then headed back with balls to the farm.
We played there for about thirty minutes, and then we all decided to head to our
house. While we were walking there, Mrs Irie and her granddaughters drove up the
road, and told us that they would be coming to our house.
So we got to our house, and let the mom and her kid in the house, and a few
minutes later the two granddaughters showed up.
They all stayed for around an hour, chatting about a lot of stuff. While they
were here, Mr Hamada also came to the house to talk with mom, though I'm not
sure why.
Eventually Mr Irie had come to the house telling her granddaughters to come
home.
One quick piece of important information is that day we got our estimate on two
septic toilets, and it comes in around 10,000!
It was a great day, I wish we would've gotten a bit more work done, but the
break was worth it.
April 30, 2025 -
Journal Post - The farm is done...and that's all we got done
Today was one of the only two days of the year where we could throw out
batteries and plates. So the first thing we did that day was mom and I went out
to throw out all the batteries and plates we had found across the property.
While we were taking out the trash, we saw Kana and Ayane, we talked to them for
a bit, and they said they would come over later with cookies.
After that, dad and I headed out. Before we went to the farm, dad wanted to burn
the kerosene filled cardboard. So we did, along with a bunch of tree branches.
Once that had settled, we headed over to the farm.
The first thing we did at the farm was to get a burn pile going. Once that was
started, we collected all the weeds we had cut the previous day and put them on
the pile. And then we continued cutting the rest of the weeds.
By noon, we had the farm completely weeded, and the burn pile small enough to be
left alone.
After lunch, before we got the chance to go out, Kana and Ayane came over with
the cookies. They came in, and stayed for a long time.
While they were here. Lael's friend came over to play, and he stayed as long as
the girls did.
While they were here, Mr Takahara came over with a question. One of his friend's
chicken farms had been attacked by a fox. And he was wondering if we wanted a
live chicken to kill and eat. Obviously, we kindly declined.
At around 5:00 pm, we all walked back to the farm. We hung out there for a
while, and then walked Kana and Ayane home. This was the last time we would see
Kana until June, for she was heading back to Osaka that day.
While it wasn't a super productive day...and we may need two extra days because
of all this social interaction, it was really fun. |
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