a lot of hugs

All the hug rings lined up for a photo.

There are so many hug rings now, it makes me smile when I look at them. 

It is weird to think that if I had never gone and lived in California, I might not have be accustomed to giving hugs, or letting someone hug me.

Now there are more people in Japan who knows and gives hugs, but it is just not the way things are here.

Sometimes I miss the small differences. But it would be very different if I start to see all theses Japanese people hugging each other instead of the little bow, or the wave....

Fall

The one great thing about chestnuts are that they have a distinct, not so great, smell earlier in the year. So, I knew where the tree was before they even had the fruit in fall. 

So here is the floating green very prickly chestnut.

I picked one that had dropped from the tree that grows in a neighbors' back yard.

So I took it home to see if it's going to hatch..... but I think these young ones that fall from the tree are the ones that you can't eat?

A few days has passed and still not much of a difference for this guy.

I went by the tree again and saw that the ones on the trees have turned brown now. 

So I think I need to open this guy up by force, if I want to see what is inside..... well I know what's in there.....

And meanwhile if I do want to eat chestnuts, I just have to go buy them!  One wasn't going to satisfy me anyway~

tangled.

It just happens sometimes. 

I try to un-tangle my thoughts. 

But I can usually untangle necklaces that have been in the cleaner faster than my own thoughts.

Here we have the fish necklace, the open star and tiny star dangle necklace, medium water necklace with moonstone, small melted candy, small and medium water necklace, small water and fish necklace, the water lariat.

I got the mess straightened out, no problem!

green~

When you head west a little ways in Tokyo, you reach a part that has still a lot of nature and trees less houses and apartments.

It's really nice to come here sometimes. It's nice there are place like this just an hour away.

This river that we like to set up our gear and invite friends to come, is a big river by the time it is closer to Tokyo Bay and around the city.

The water is clear, and to hear the noise out there is refreshing.

you can click to see the whole photo

In this photo, we had all set up the tents (because it was drizzling) and Georges had just started on the slow roasted beef~! so good! 

we are waiting for the other hungry guests to arrive~

Next time when it's sunny I know everyone is going to be in the water.

The thing about silver

The other day I wanted to wear these pair of earrings. It had been awhile, but didn't expect it to be this tarnished!!

oops. and no the humidity probably doesn't help.

So, I got my polishing cloth and polished it!

The great thing about silver is that when you do clean it, it really comes back to life.

But I will be better at keeping them in a jewelry box to avoid it from tarnishing.

purple sky

It was one of those days when I was up and out of the house by 4 a.m.


The sky is really pretty early in the morning.

Another amazing view of Tokyo.

too much

iced coffee.

I think it was hurting my stomach. 

So instead I had mint tea today.  

Our mints hasbeen doing good this summer. Growing very well and fast!

We have three different kinds and sometimes I like to try and blend them all and sometimes I  like to just choose one.

I think the best way to make the tea is to put it directly in a pan with water and let it boil.

I've tried pouring hot water in to a pot with mint leaves but I think boiling it directly would give you the most flavor.

Its very easy and simple. the mint taste is really refreshing too. 

I think my stomach feels better today.