Japan

We had the opportunity to visit family in Japan for two weeks over the new year.  We had a very busy 13 days there; we experienced many parts of Japanese culture and the beauty there.  Over the next few days/weeks we will be posting pictures from our journeys across Kanto (the region of Japan we were in).  We were largely in the Kanagawa prefecture.  Kanto is where Tokyo and Fuji are located as well as many temples, shrines and other fun things.

A few general comments:

•  Their train system is amazing. You can get just  about anywhere by train and a few minutes walk.  Sometimes you have to hop on a short bus ride too, but their main mode of transportation is public and they seem to have it down pat.
• We were surprised at how little English was spoken there, particularly considering the United States' presence since the end of WWII
• Fuji is absolutely breathtaking, I kept calling it the lonely mountain
• Even through the language barrier we found that almost all people were extremely polite
• Cemeteries were everywhere - but they are not like western cemeteries (we saw 1 of those and about 100 Japanese ones), more to come about them later
• Tokyo Disney/Tokyo Sea capture the magic and childhood that is Disneyland

Here are some select pictures from the trip

 

4th of July Part II

After our waterfall adventures we finally arrived in Poipu.  Elise and I went immediately to the "Spouting Horn".  The Spouting Horn is a little tourist rocky beach; the incoming waves crash into the rocks and have carved their way under.  The water then spouts up from holes a few feet in from the water line creating blowhole like springs.  They also have a place for boutique shops there but these were already closed.  And as any good American's Independence Day should, our 4th of July ended with fireworks that we lit off from the beach.  First the ones from the Spouting Horn

This was the biggest blowhole there.  Our timing was impeccable;
we got there a little before high tide when the spouts are highest.

A more dispersed spout generated a good sized rainbow.

In the lower middle is a junior spout.

Besides the spouting, the beach had a great view.

Apparently it became to risky to actually go on the rocks so
they (those un-liked powers to be) put a fence in.

These next few are from our back lawn.

Looking northwards.

The sun setting behind a building.

Some surfers savoring a sunset surf.

Some family fun before fireworks.

I found some games in a closet.  I decided to bust out twister while
we waited for the dusk to fade before lighting fireworks.

Alex Pfotenhauer: Twister Champion Extraordinaire.

Finally to the fireworks.  Since I was show master, most of these were taken by Elise's sister.  As fire master, I managed to walk away with only three small burns despite the severe wind.

Elise doing a local, time-honored dance with fireworks.

Backing away after lighting one off.

Lorrie dancing with sparklers.

The Grand Finale.

Mother's Day Saturday

We spent this past Saturday with my family (the Pfotenhauer's) for Mother's Day.  My mother has recently taken up miniature gardening as a hobby.  She has a few pots that are about a foot diameter that she has been working with.  I designed and built a 3' by 1.5' trough for her to do a larger mini-garden in (pictured below).  It sits on wheels and is about waist height.  Elise and I also used a wood burner to personalize the sides; Elise was able to etch floral patterns and I burned out "Pfotenhauer Gardens".  I have also included a picture of one of my mother's mini-gardens and a few other shots of the afternoon.

Blizzard in the real garden.

Toasting our Mint Julep's that my brother brewed.

An owl from us and some gnomes my brother gave to my mom to start decorating
with some of her other supplies.

One of my mother's current mini gardens.