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Category: Personal Reflections
  • Why not embrace it?

    Why not embrace it?

    I turned the defrosted fruit into breakfast crepes this morning and the remainder of he fruit is macerating with rum and sugar to go atop a cake later. This is probably more fun than my original plan for these fruits, which was to use them in smoothies. We had lunch in town – many plates

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  • Kamogawa library

    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

    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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  • In the paper

    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

    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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  • Brave or stupid?

    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

    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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  • Warm bath for cats

    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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  • マザー牧場 (Mother Farm)

    マザー牧場 (Mother Farm)

    Today we took a day off from everything and went on an adventure to Mother’s Bokujo, a farm-theme attraction about a half hour north of us. It exceeded my expectations. For those who like wholesome fun, it’s a great day out. I thought it was nicely designed so that the experience was light and energetic

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  • Happy at harvest

    I didn’t take any photos today. The view from Hatanaka’s rice fields was beautiful and it always makes me happy to see the Hiratsuka valley nestled into the mountains. The images are etched in my mind: the red torii in the distance; the mined-flat top of the mountain to the west; the nearby trees and

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