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Kamogawa library
I finally have a library card in Kamogawa. It’s taken four years but today we visited, partly to check on their WiFi and outlet situation, and we got our cards. I feel like a proper citizen of the city. We spent 90 minutes exploring the space. Tod figured out the online catalog while I browsed…
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During and after the typhoon
Charging our stuff at City Hall. Power has been out since Saturday at 4:30 pm. Zan and her cats stayed with us through the storm. She and I did yoga in the living room. No cats allowed. Our cats got cozy in the bed with us. They would like to be housecats permanently! During the…
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Pre-typhoon
Typhoon 19 is on its way, on a course to hit us on Saturday into Sunday. Today, Tod and I prepared by stockng up on food, filling Tilly’ tank, cleaning up outside, and getting all the storm shutters cleaned and ready. The cats do not like the change in weather. They have been extra vocal…
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In the paper
As Tod, Zan, and I were leaving the “refugee room” at City Hall, a reporter from the Asahi Shimbun introduced himself. He was working on collecting stories from foreign residents affected by the typhoon. He was very interested (of course) in Zan’s damaged house and after talking with us for half an hour or so,…
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Typh0on #19, Hagibis
Social media sources and the news are loudly warning about Super Typhoon 19, which looks like it might make landfall in Japan over the weekend. But where it will hit, and at what intensity, is a matter of speculation at this point. Tod & I are scheduled to go to Mie-ken to celebrate our 30th…
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Spicy
Jalapeños, habaneros and jalokia (ghost) peppers, locally grown, are a highlight of our late summer farmer’s market shopping This year, we got our chilis right before the typhoon and power outage so we couldn’t freeze them. Instead I sun-dried half of them and put the other half into vinegar. After ten days, I bottled the…
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Brave or stupid?
Futatsuyama models his mamushi (pit viper) bite. Futatsuyama fears nothing. He is an unstoppable force, facing down raccoons and playing with snakes. This swollen foot is likely the first of many. A couple of days ago discovered a pair of abcessed wounds on his flank. He isn’t the kind of cat who learns lessons. Does…
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Rice straw
The cats are about to get a new winter shelter and it will be padded with the lovely wara (rice straw) from my neighbors’ organic farm. All four cats were very curious about the straw, and soon curled up on top of it for a nap. I think they will enjoy it this winter.
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Bedcats
I spent this cold, rainy morning catnapping with four lucky cats who got a special treat of Bed Time. They were surprisingly well behaved.
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Warm bath for cats
The boys have decided that the cover of the bath is a nice place to relax when the bath is full of warm water.
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