Family Life in Tajimi

There is nothing like Sunday mornings and it is no different in Japan. I was so comfortable in my snug little bed and I was quite happy to wake up and realize that I could go back to sleep! We all got up around 8:00. Soon we sat down to breakfast. We began with salad with a hard boiled egg in it, followed by toasted, thick bread with jam accompanied by starbucks coffee and hot foamed milk...delicious. We went for a walk along a small brook. On the other side of the path were the backyards of people's homes. We passed many gardens, rice paddies and a community flowerbed. We happened upon a pile of discarded things including a statue of woman. Ai and Akana thought it was scarey. I found her to be mysteriously beautiful. If only she could reveal her secrets...
When we returned to the house we had a great treat, sweet potatoes roasted in a dutch oven. They were so satisfying and filled us up. Soon we were ready to go for the day and we piled into the family minivan, a Toyota of course. The navigation system directed us to the pottery outlets (good car). It was fun to browse the rows and rows of pottery that was made in Tajimi. I really, really hope I don't exceed my weight limit going home!
We rode up to the mountains through winding roads. The air was noticably cooler as we climbed to new elevations. Our destination was a provincial tea house nestled in a garden. The smell of lavendar was heavenly and mingled with the scent of freshly burning woods. If I could bottle the fragrance I would.
Inside, we enjoyed selecting French pastries, this was not easy. Each of us had a favorite, well actually, we had lots of favorites but we had to narrow it down to one. The girls and I walked around the gardens while we waited for our tea. The teahouse overlooked a hillside of persimmon trees, ripe with orange fruit. In the far distance tall mountains completed the landscape. It was a special way to share time with my family.
On the ride back into town the girls and I sang many familiar childhood songs, they were well versed in their repitoire. I even taught them a few new ones. It was wonderful to think back on times past when I shared similar experiences with my own daughters. One thing that is very common with the Japanese children is to make decisions very diplomatically...rock, paper, scissors! I often found myself throwing out my fingers to decide important things, like who goes first.
Our time was running out however we were fortunate enough to be able to squeeze in one more shopping trip to the book store and the 100 yen store. This was really fun because my family was able to help me pick out books. I had been at the store before but it was to no avail. This trip was much more productive because I had assistance from someone who could read Japanese!
Sadly our day was coming to an end. We arrived back to the hotel and had to say good-bye. It was very difficult. These people instantly worked their way into my heart. Everything we did together was so much fun, my weekend was perfect. The girls were especiallysad to part. It is wonderful to think that we will meet again. I will miss them. Goodbye Atsushi, Kana, Ai and Akana...I love you all!