Hiking, Part 1

Did anyone else notice the excess commas in the previous post? I do like commas, add them in whenever I feel like it, and overuse them. My friend, the comma. I should go back and fix that post ... but I probably won't.

That confession aside, it is time to finally post our hiking trips. In one month we went hiking three times: up Bizan twice and once out to Kakurinji, Temple Number 20. I don't have photos of our second trip up Bizan, but not much changed anyway. In fact, the photos of Bizan look a lot like the photos I took when David and I hiked it last summer. Fewer leaves on the trees perhaps, but all-in-all not very different.

Of course the group photo is different : )

We hiked Bizan on Hina Matsuri, the Doll Festival, also known as Girl's Day. At the foot of Bizan is a large building containing a tourist shop, a small theatre, art exhibition space, and the terminal for the rope way. When we arrived back down the mountain, we saw the posters for the Hina Matsuri exhibit. I am glad we decided to go in.

Displays can be several tiers, such as these, or smaller ones for the home containing only the top tier with the prince and princess. Each of the lower tiers represents a member of the royal court: musicians, sake distillers, soldiers, etc.

I can't find the official name for the hanging decorations. I think they might be called Tsurushi Bina and represent prayers of health for daughters. The dolls in the photos below were handmade by community members. The blue fabric is dyed using Tokushima indigo plants (also known as Awa indigo).

Whew! One hiking post finished. One more to go!

Debajima

Before life became crazy earlier this week, David and I spent Monday wandering around Debajima (Deba Island) with my boss and a UI student. The day was cool and grey, but not cold, and not raining. It was pleasant, although my photos are all a little colourless or blurry. Sigh. 

Debajima is a very small island - we walked across it and back in only a couple hours, and it is only accessible by boat. It is a very pretty place, and we had a great day.

The houses are still mostly old-fashioned style buildings. Above, is a fold-out bench which nestles up next to the door when not in use.

Also on the island is Ohike Pond, filled with algae from the Cretaceous period (about 140 million years ago). There are only four places in the world where this type of algae still grows.

 Art on the shore.

 I really love watching the water crash on the rocks.

One Year in the Life of a Field: March

I hear the gasps of surprise across the ocean. I can still hear you. Just because it's March, you think I wouldn't be posting about March? What's that? Is the Mayan calendar three months off? Does the end actually happen in March?

Oh, ye, of little faith! You need not worry from where tomorrow's blog post will come. I am so far behind in posting our adventures. I have at least three trips up two mountains, a visit to a tanuki shrine, getting a new visa, and - if the weather co-operates today - a trip to an island.

So, settle down. It's just a fluke.

And, rather like a fluke, this post will be small and flat (although I don't believe my blog is in the habit of sucking .... just what is it that flukes eat?).

My camera was running out of battery, so I only have two photos this month.

First, a newly harvested field. Earlier this week, I watched the farmers out harvesting the green leafy vegetables.

And, second, a close-up of the carrots. I have never watched a garden this closely before. It's rather neat to note its development.

Well, that's it for today. Soon, though, I'll post pictures of something less flat. Perhaps (for example), the mountains we've been climbing.

One Year in the Life of a Field: February

In January, I began a year-long project to document a field as it changes throughout the year. You might think that nothing happens in the winter, but several rows of carrots well on their way and green-leafy things are currently in season.

To see January's pictures, click here.

In February the field looks a lot like January, but the green stuff really is bigger. And the weather was better this time - look at the blue sky!

Last month I couldn't tell - but yes, it looks like a million carrots are growing in there!

The other fields are being readied for the coming spring planting.

I wanted an overall view of the field, but this one is hampered by so many billboards and poles. Next time, I think I will choose a different field!

What happened to February (and January)??

I didn't blog in January and February, but that doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about it. Throughout the month I cooked and well ... I just cooked and went to work. It was winter, after all, and I don't go out much in the winter (I love hibernation). However, I took a lot of photos. 

Here are the highlights of January: I made a lot of cake. Delicious cake, actually. My successes include:

A double chocolate layer cake for my boss' birthday.

It was very dense and fudge-like; I was quite pleased.

An apple pecan spice cake for the woman who 

brings us so many yummy vegetables.

It was good, but I am not a fan of cream cheese frosting, so I won't make it for myself.

And not just cake, but bread, too.

The first loaf from my new bread machine was well-documented.

Baking was going so well until then this happened ....

A spate of bread disasters began with this one.

But, as the good Sir Terry says, "There's always dwarf bread."

First was the above "no-yeast" Dwarf Bread.

Then the "I-forgot-to-put-the-paddle-in-the-machine" Half-Bread.

Then the "why-is-my-bread-liquid?" Not-At-All-A-Bread

(I still don't know what happened to that one - I remember measuring everything carefully)

I was so angry and frustrated that I don't have pictures of those delightful mishaps.

Instead, how about a few pictures of gratuitous chocolate?

I received a fondue pot for my birthday. I don't use it all that often, 

but it is quite a fun little gadget. 

And now, Happy March, everyone!