First week of Christmas break

We are blessed to have three weeks off for Christmas break this year.  It doesn't happen all the time, but it has this year.  I have been looking forward to this time off to do some bicycling but also some resting and relaxing.  The last couple of days I only did some short bicycle rides around the area, many going through places I used to always walk or bicycle around when I lived in those areas.  Here are some of the pictures I took on these rides.
My first trip was along the Yanesegawa River, but I had a stop in Niiza at Cainz and the Starbucks nearby.  

 There was a construction on the river, rebuilding to protect from erosion. 

 They had blocked off part of the path along the river. 

I stopped by the house I lived in with the Vander Haak's and for a time on my own.  They cleared all the grass, bushes and trees except one try.  The house looks very exposed now.  

This morning I was making breakfast when I hear sirens, sounding like they were going along the Himawari dori.  I was waiting for the sirens to fade away, however they didn't fade, they came close and stopped.  I looked out my living room window and there was a firetruck and an ambulance with lights on.  Ironically, sometimes the streets are quite narrow and firetrucks, because they are a little larger, cannot go down all streets.  They have little what looks like an ATV in the back, which can be driven off and down the narrower streets.  It wasn't long before they were gone again.  I have been praying for this family. 

If you look at the back of the firetruck, you should see a little square which is the ATV looking vehicle they would drive out to go down the narrower roads.

The second bicycle ride was along Yanesegawa but starting farther west and heading upstream.  The Karaborigawa and the Yanesegawa join and at that point I continued along the Karaborigawa upstream. 

Harvesting carrots.

Rototilling the soil. 

Near the Kiyose train station.

I ended this bicycle trip with a stop at Starbucks in Kiyose.  Both trips were considered short, less than 20 km, but they did allow me to stop and look for the beauty in this country.  I am blessed to be living in Japan. 

My days in Maryland

I left on a Monday to fly across the continent to Maryland.  It took me through Minneapolis for a quick change in planes.

My first night was in a hotel in Crystal City, near the Ronald Reagan Airport.  The next day I went over to the Bratt's.  I took a few walks in the nearby Sligo Creek Park.

There were a lot of deer there, but I heard they did some culling the last few months.  I was always amazed at the wildlife that live so near a city.
I chose one day to take a trip down to The Mall.  My goal was to visit one of the new museums.

 I was able to get into the African American Museum.  It was my first time, a very interesting place to visit.

We even had a Cake Walk at CAJ this past spring.

 Being downtown I had to walk down the mall to see some of the monuments. 

 To my surprise, I found a memorial to the Japanese Americans during World War 2.

I am really grateful to God that I am able to pop back to Maryland every other year to catch up with friends. It was a very good visit and I enjoyed walking through the African American Museum.  Looking forward to my next visit.  

Lavender fields forever...

I am now just catching up with what I did this summer.  During the last days, in Abbotsford, before heading to Maryland, I went to visit a farm where they grow lavender and other flowers as well.  It is free, open to the public.  They have created a great place to wander with places where you can sit.  There is also a store that sells various lavender products. 

 I caught this bee being busy about getting pollen for its honey. 

 I tried the lavender ice cream, but I would say it was not my favorite, I probably wouldn't recommend it, maybe one scoop or so.  It was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.  I give credit to Joyce for letting me know about this place.