Sorry to take a few days off

The rest of this month will be silent on my blog. We are going over to Idaho to spend Thanksgiving with my father and my family. This is because I didn't go over for my step-mother's funeral I promised to come over to visit her grave and then celebrate a family Thanksgiving. See you in December.

luncheon continued

Typical Italian/French style of big plate and microscopic food. Delicious though.
J & K doing the drawing for prizes.
Me with my buddy K. The cap is to make it possible for her to go out and about without stares as she has just had brain surgery. Such a dear with such great fighting spirit. The green lei is to show I get the vegetarian meal.
Everyone at my table was envious of my salad. They didn't get the delicious olive, so here I am cutting mine in 4 pieces to share with them.

Kichijoji luncheon

70 foreign wives of Japanese having a luncheon together. This room holds a maximum of 70 and most of us are not tiny Japanese!
This is looking the other direction to the entrance. The four ladies standing are the ones who took our money and checked us in.
Here the MC is welcoming us.
2 more cute animals I saw in the park before the luncheon.

Kichijoji park

Sunday we had a AFWJ Kanto Luncheon in Kichijoji right near the park. I got their too early as did another member, so we took a stroll around the park. This side had local artists displaying their wares for sale. My friend bought a cute ear ring set. I wanted to take a close up of some gorgeous shell jewelry but the guy wouldn't let me.

This sweet dog made my memories of Echo and Heidi return. Those are the names of the two Saint Bernard dogs I've owned in my life. He said this dog is 9 years old so a rather old man by now kind of like his owner who was walking him!
These cut off stumps reminded me of the groundhog who comes up out of little holes to see the world.

BBQ at Gauland

My Saturday night class had a fun BBQ party at the pits in Gauland. We had delicious food and fun chatting time. And mostly the men did the cooking!
Here a member is taking out a baked apple for me. It as good but I told her it would be perfect with a scoop of ice cream!
Before leaving we all posed for a photo.

Around the house/Ema

Jack is watching his father trim the tree and then he will do most of the cutting.
These two fruit come from the same tree and they are not grafted! Neither are good to eat and totally sour, but they are used for Japanese traditional New Year's decoration.
This is another fruit/vegetable? This is Jack's favorite pickle when I add sugar,salt and Yuzu (lemon).
Shibui kaki or bitter persimmons peeled and drying.
Ema and friend. I just love the expression on both little girls faces.

Bathing or swimming?

This reminds me of being back inside! Sure feels good!
Hey, but I have so much space!
What is that dripping on the back of my head?
I'm kicking but I'm not going anywhere!???
Oh, this is so much better. Hey, I see my Daddy!

LT Luncheon/Ema

Favorite place for Ema to sleep.
Here I am with friends E.N, M.M. and S.W. at the Long Termer's luncheon in Yokohama. Anyone wanting to join our little group have to have lived in Japan over 20 years.
This is the group of us from Chiba. We have a large Chiba branch of foreign wives but not many of us that have lived here over 20 years. I think of this group I am the oldest, but since we don't ask ages, not sure! Below is a cross section of the tables. Almost 50 of us met together.

Ema's exercises

Here she is getting her legs strengthened. Funny but she can push and shoot herself forward this way.
Now it is time for the arms.
She doesn't really like to stretch them out like this.
This is better and she loves to grab on to a finger.