Saturday, April 30, 2016

Official Day 1 - Narai - juku

We were up for 26 hours getting here, going to Ramen, staying at Maki's parents one night. They are so sweet. Also met up with Maki's cousin who was in her wedding, and her aunt. (The kids are staying with grandparents while Maki and I walk)






 This morning we did 3 different trains, and were able to actually start our real journey. We asked Maki's dad to take our picture to commemorate the beginning of this adventure: (he needs lessons)




First stop: Train station - coffee


Stop in Shioriji for Buckwheat Soba and wine tasting


I feel tall here

3 kinds of buckwheat noodles


We chose wine tasting over archaeological findings of 5,000 years ago

beautiful vineyards - built in 1911

self serve wine tasting


Another train ride to being our walk into Narai - so beautiful!










Narai

fresh drinking water for weary travelers

Narai is known for lacquerware



Walking into town was everything I imagined


Our Minshuku is AMAZING! Dinner and breakfast included.
The garden
Our private room, but shared bath

Walk to rooms

To meal time

Delicious dinner

YUM




MORE soba


Bath time


Robe Ready

G'night!




Wednesday, April 27, 2016

JAPAN: Nakasendo Way

SO, my Mocha Maki (as I affectionately named her when she came to live with us from Japan as an exchange student some 20 years ago) has been wanting me to come to Japan with her for since then. For those of you who don't know - she ended up marrying my nephew and lives 2 blocks from me.

Well this year, there was a HUGE one day sale on air tickets, so we got them for half price!

Our plan that we started talking about 4 years ago is to explore (with backpacks only) the Nakasendo Way - through the Kiso Valley.  There will be only 40 miles of hiking in 9 days. Beginning in Tokyo, we will be staying in ancient Japanese villages between Tokyo and Kyoto:Narai,Yabuhara, Tsumago, Nara, Miwa, Yoshino, Koshigaya and Kyoto.  Lots of trains, bus, and even cable car to mountain top.


The Nakasendo trail linked Kyoto to Tokyo during Japan’s feudal period. It was the ‘road through the mountains’ (as opposed to the Tokaido route which traveled the Pacific coast) travelled by feudal lords and their retinues, samurai, merchants, and travelers. Along the route were 69 ‘post towns’, where weary travelers could rest before continuing on the next leg. Our journey will start in Tokyo, known as Edo during Japan’s period of rule by the Shoguns. We will then spend four days walking along the Nakasendo. By day we will walk along the ancient route as it passes through beautifully-preserved villages along an easy path, and by evening we will stay in traditional country inns enjoying exquisite regional cuisine prepared from the freshest ingredients, soak in natural hot springs, and enjoy the warm hospitality of our hosts. 

Our Route and plan: (We begin the real journey April 30, Japan time)



We have worked many hours researching and planning - me in English and Maki in Japanese. Maki had to arrange all our lodging and train passes by phone. We are traveling with Maki's 4 children, who will stay with their grandparents near Tokyo while we do our trip.

One thing we didn't know - there are lots of bears there! Who would have guessed.

We will be blogging - (wifi everywhere we stay).

My sweet daughter in law and grand daughter brought me a goodbye goodie bag - how adorable. They thought of everything!

Saturday, April 26, 2014

GOALS VS. ACTUALITY

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny!!!!

2011 - Spring*

GOALS; Started running (COUCH TO 5k) to do a 5K - accomplished (fall) Began training for 10K
ACTUALITY: Severed head off femur in my moms hospital room - total hip replacement, end runs

2012 - Spring*

GOALS; After 6 months of despondency, daughter in law suggest walking 200 miles in Spain. Training began in April for the booked October trip. READY!
ACTUALITY: 12 hours before leaving, daughter in law sees her passport expired - I go alone! (fall)

GOALS: I know I can walk, so I begin training to WALK a half marathon
ACTUALITY: Car accident, break my knee cap, in brace for 8 weeks (fall)

2013 - Spring*

GOALS: Decided to try goal of walking half marathon, register for one and begin walking
ACTUALITY: Stepped onto dock wrong, and broke my foot! Walking cast for 6 weeks. (summer)

2014 - Spring*

GOALS: See an ad on TV for hip replacement and decide to try running again. Sign up for a half
ACTUALITY: In Canada on Julz's spring break, while jogging I trip, fell down and break my wrist and elbow! (I am still running)

I see a pattern here - stop making goals in ***SPRING***

Testing has commenced with endocrinologist to find out why I keep breaking myself. Suspected parathyroid tumor (non cancerous)

Sunday, April 13, 2014

I Have the BESTEST Daughter!

So at Julz's school, they have a sweet mother student tea where students write speeches to honor their moms. I was out of town on business and had to miss it. It was sad and horrible timing. WELL, Julz decided to put together her own special time to do this for me - and invited some close friends and family to share in it. She arranged all the food, picked some flowers from the neighbors yard (they weren't home) and set adorable tables. This was her speech that she wrote and presented to me in our backyard:
Build A Bestie
By Julz Tolentino
I have often wondered what if I could build my own best friend?
I’d make someone honest, on whom I could depend.
Someone crazy, funny, and sensitive too.
Someone to make me smile when I’m feeling blue.
A Person to laugh with at the end of the day
And when I’m lost they’d help find the way.
I’d make them a friend to care and understand.
To Lend me an ear and a helping hand.
This combination is rare and in most cases,
It’s found in the most unlikely of places.
You are all these things and so so much more.
So if you get one thing from this poem, get this I implore:
See the point that I’m making is simple but true,
I could not build a best friend that’s better than you.
Now When I was little these words would like vinegar taste
When you would make brush my teeth with that awful toothpaste.
I never thought these words I would ever say
Not when I was fussing and yelling cause you wouldn’t let me play.
But now that I’m older I see that I’ve found,
A best friend to count on to always be around.
I hope and I pray that someday I’ll be,
As great a mother as you are to me.
As mothers and daughters do we will argue and fight.
But through dark times and hard times we always find light.
I thank God each day for a mother like thee
Because when He made you he must have been thinking of me.
We are family first and foremost and that’s all good and fine,
But you’re also my very best friend, dear mother of mine. 
 
 
 
 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Blonde Self-Photo-Bomb

So I made up a joke - a blonde selfie - she bunny ears herself. This picture is a blonde self-photo-bomb.
 
 

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Last Child to Finish High School


Senior dinner with parents and senior. A lovely dinner with beautiful words spoken by over 100 parents throughout the meal.

Each parent had to do a 1 minute speech -ONE MINUTE! I did it! 

"Julz, you always asked us where you came from and we told you Denney’s restaurant. Well it is time you know the truth.

After having 3 sons, we prayed to be able to adopt a daughter. There 
were several opportunities that failed because God knew He had chosen you for us. When you were 6 months old, we saw your picture in an adoption catalogue and instantly fell in love with you and applied. After 2 long months of waiting for a response, we got the phone call “congratulations – it’s a girl!

Our whole family went to Oregon to bring our new member home. When we arrived at your home, the foster mom opened the door, and pointed us to the living room floor, where you were propped up just waiting for us.
With big tears in his eyes, your then 15 year old brother Jason sat down on the floor next to you followed by your other 2 brothers.


The ride home was filled with “Oh! She yawned!” and “Look! She sucks her thumb!” The boys fought over who would get to feed you next.


You are strong willed, outgoing, and bring many smiles to others. 


We have been so blessed to be your parents and family and cherish every moment we have had together. The future is bright because God chose you, and will be faithful to finish what He began in you. "