THE CONVERGENCE OF COLOR AND CULTURE

The Niponga School of Painting uses only colors from minerals and precious stones (jade, ivory, gold, etc) while the Hakone Outdoor Art Museum is filled with a "Noah's Arc" of over 100 sculptures (Henry Moore, Maillol, Rodin, Noguchi, Klee, Jim Dine and PICASSO) are made of bronze, stone, plastic, wool and - of course - yarn.
All this at the base of Mt.Fuji.
Last eruption was 100 years ago - just yesterday in Geologist time.

God is in the Details

There are 800 million Shinto gods that surround us. How else could people create such beauty? These are ordinary MANHOLE COVERS in a village -population 500 and falling.

Rainy Day Laundry

Drying clothes and drying daikon.
On our way to Hakone, we stopped at a village to learn how to make noodles for lunch and got drenched in the rain. During our hike down the mountain road, my cell phone fell out of my pocket and slipped down through the grates in a storm drain. Could have been a disaster, but the long, slender fingers of Chucksan saved the phone, the trip , this blog and our marriage.

Not Everything is Manicured

Here in the Imperial Gardens of Tokyo not every blade of grass is clipped, there are actually non-Bonsai trees and, in fact, our little intrepid traveler has found CRAB GRASS. We are, however, inspired to do some major landscaping when we get back home!

SMOKERS AND GROPERS

In the finer hotels and most public places in Tokyo, Smokers are ostracized and Gropers are arrested. In fact, during crowded commute hours, there are separate cars for women so they can avoid any small, but wandering, hands.

First Supper

We passed on the skewered chicken cartilage and chicken tails.

Loosing it in translation

YOU figure this one out

Hot Tubs’ Hot Competition

Thank heavens I brought a bathing suit.

Politeness Pays

While nothing is cheap, coffee is far less expensive for those who are proper, patient and ever so polite.

Bowing, yes. Tipping, no.

Packing is complete!!

No, this is NOT a skyscraper in Tokyo. It's our checked luggage.

We have friends that suggest "Travel Light. Borrow Heavy." We, on the other hand, were encouraged to bring gifts. In the spirit of improving international relations, we are soooo ready to invade the archipelago with love. As you know, if you say "Isle of Japan" fast, it sounds like "I love Japan".

The formality of it all

EveryONE gives and takes with BOTH hands and with great ceremony, patience and humility. EveryTHING has a reverse side.
So good to know BEFORE we get to Japan. I learned so much about etiquette from Kiyo Okazaki right here at Santa Rosa Junior College. Arigato!

Eda-mommy

From the Red Carpet to Rashomonland. Getting ready to go to Japan. It will be the trip of a lifetime. This variation of the Garden Gnome is so excited to venture into the land of Seven Samurai and (more relevant) seven ways to say "thank you."

Re: T-day 400 years ago

Love it!

On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 11:14 PM Tina Hittenberger <freckle469@comcast.net> wrote:

It's a BIT easier nowadays with Safeway, microwaves, refrigerators, paper plates and Bev Mo! It's all about gratitude.
Enjoy every minute!
Tina and Chuck

Micro T-day

Dinner for two: Petite, mini or pearl sized everything.

T-day 400 years ago

It's a BIT easier nowadays with Safeway, microwaves, refrigerators, paper plates and Bev Mo! It's all about gratitude.
Enjoy every minute!
Tina and Chuck

WHAAAT!? No way!!!

What five word phrase could almost ruin a traditional Thanksgiving?
"Let's do it on Saturday"

Martha Stewart would be appalled!!! However, we awarded each one of us PERSONAL GROWTH POINTS for flexibility as we gathered together, took a great hike, warmed up a cabin in the tallest of redwoods, ate a perfect picnic, sang a few songs, told stories and enjoyed all the glorious colors of Fall.
Our friend in the center of the photo is a wine-maker; his red-headed wife a chef, so they will be family forever.
Drew (in Peruvian hat) is doing well, Taj is now living in our downstairs apartment, Lauren is so happy with her boyfriend, Ben, and Clarke and Lisa (her Mom, Pat, to the far right of the "Smokin' Sisters") are as solid as ever. We are soooo fortunate and enormously grateful.
The invite is open for next year's "ThanksSaturday" if you want to join us.
Love,
Tina and Chuck

Path of Totality

In the path just outside Sublimity, Oregon

And then upstairs...

Rodin (and all the subtext of HIS behavior) meets a British "modern invader" Sarah Lucas. Makes a person laugh, think and look at panty hose differently from now on.

Degas, Impressionism and the Paris Millinery Trade

Confections of feathers, ribbons, straw, velvet and lace surrounded by marvelous paintings, drawings and posters will remain at the Legion of Honor through the summer. It will transport you to another age of elegance.