Stream of Consciousness Week in Review

Over the past week I visited two beautiful Japanese sites that are particularly noteworthy in autumn.  Last Saturday was Mino Falls.  It was pouring rain, but our Relief Society had been planning this excursion for weeks, so we went anyway.  We all got soaked, but it really was a lovely little hike and we had a good time.  We also got to try momiji tempura - battered and fried maple leaves.  They tasted like - fried batter.

Wednesday was a holiday, so Bear didn't have school and Mr. Mike took the day off work.  We went with some friends to an arboretum up Rokko Mountain.  It was very crowded, but as we kept hiking up some trails farther out in the park the crowds thinned considerably.  I thoroughly enjoyed the hike, and it is certainly a place I would like to go back to.

Another awesome Japanese climbing structure. 

I couldn't resist giving this one a try.

Bear on the zipline

The kids and Mr. Mike - Bear is resisting having his picture taken.  Resisting in vain!

Handsome kid

Japanese maple in all its autumn glory - and our friends' little boy.

I started to make jam this week, but realized that I didn't have enough sugar.  Beaver was at preschool, I didn't feel like getting in my car, and I figured the exercise would do me good, so I walked down the hill to a little grocery store near the train station to buy some.  I located some bags of what looked like sugar, bought two, and headed home.  I was pretty sure it was sugar, but there must have been a tiny bit of doubt in the back of my mind, because when I got home I tasted it before dumping it in with my strawberries.  Salt!  Can you imagine if I had made my jam with 4 cups of salt?

Yesterday morning Beaver and I were out riding our bikes near our house.  Beaver was quite interested in a patch of pretty flowers.  He wanted to pick one, but was a little daunted by the many insects buzzing around the flowers.  He told me, "Those bugs are eating connector.  'Cause that's what butterflies eat.  They eat connector."

Yesterday evening we enjoyed an excellent Thanksgiving feast with friends.  I missed the Thanksgiving dinner at the clubhouse the week before because Luke came down with a one-evening illness, so I was glad to have another chance.  It was a great time with great friends.  I was having a weird relationship with Thanksgiving this year.  In my mind, Thanksgiving is a harvest celebration, and since I didn't have a garden, I had no harvest.  So, I didn't feel like I had any business having a Thanksgiving.  I'm glad our friends didn't feel the same way.

Lately if Beaver wakes up during the night, he doesn't get up - he just yells from his bed, "Mommy!  Mommy!"  Mike is often not home when the kids go to bed, but I always tell Beaver that when Daddy gets home, he will come and check on him.  So, a few nights ago he awoke at 2:30 in the morning, called for me, asked if Daddy was home, and requested that Daddy come check on him.  His other bedtime ritual is to have me tell him the "story about his day", and sing bedtime songs.  If Mike is home and puts him to bed, he always asks for me to come check on him to sing and tell him about his day.  A couple of nights ago I was surprised when Mike put him to bed and he just went to sleep without asking for me.  3:30 in the morning:  "Mommy!  Mommy!"  I stumbled sleepily to his bedside.  "I want you to sing songs and tell me the story about my day."  Um, a little too late, Sweetie.

Leaf pile!

This shrub in our backyard in blooming - for the second time this year!  Have I mentioned that I love the extended autumn here?  It totally makes up for the hot, miserable month of July.

Tonight we got out our Christmas decorations.  Without the presence of a big Christmas tree, I feel like we have pitifully few Christmas decorations.