almost

as my last night is approaching, i almost forgot about my first night (not including the night i arrived). here a some images from the Inagawa Hanabi Taikai in Ikeda.

lazy days and starry starry nights

after a lazy sunday (except for cleaning the ofuro including the ceiling) and a lazy early afternoon (which included a quick visit to the Grand Opening party of the Go2English school) we visited Noriko`s Father again in the hospital. i wish we could bring him home. soon. after saying "see you soon" we left the hospital and stopped by Lawson for obento for our dinner. (Noriko`s Father always wants us to join him for dinner but...). we drove along Shin-Midosuji to Ryokuchi Park to hear the Osaka Century Orchestra. it was their annual free Family Concert under the stars. tonite`s theme was "hoshi" (stars) and the opening number was Star Wars. one of the highlights was when three people from the audience were chosen to be a "guest conductor" of the orchestra. later, i will try to add the

video of 7 year old Shunsuke as he took the baton.

Misa and Daigo

another fun but long but interesting but tiring day. more tomorrow but here are a few highlights from our trip to Suma which included some time at the beach and curry-nabe.

arriving at Suma Beach



Misa and Daigo on the sand at Suma Beach after picking up seashells



Daigo and his Shinkansen puzzle... yoku dekita



Misa the model taking the photographer`s photo

Takechi-san and Friends

today was another easy day of running a few errands here and there. and then by chance we met Takechi-san as we were driving back home. this was my first time to see this dapper man and his delightful dogs on this trip to Minoo. if you remember i have met him several times, taken his and the dogs photos and spoke to him briefly. i had not seen him since May and today he said "hello Kevin, how are you today?" we were surprised him remembered my name. and he seems to speak English with a French accent. he might have even said a word or two in French. you can find another short video of him as well as more photos somewhere on my blog. today he was walking his dogs on a road which i have never seen him walking. usually i see him on the trail to the waterfall or near Minoo train station. he walks his dogs about 10 km each day and always seem to be wearing a nice suit and tie. and he also takes his hat off for the ladies. today i introduced him to my friends, Noriko and her Mother, and he used very very polite language (it`s a Japanese thing) in saying hello and wishing them well. interesting person. as he turned and walked away we could see the back of his jacket was soaked in sweat. i have worn shorts, t-shirt and flip flops every day i have been here.

Mr. Takechi and Look, Danny and Popo --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

more from yesterday`s walk thru the neighborhood to the takimichi (waterfall trail)

how much is that inu in the mado?

i think this is one of the cutest dancing dogs i have ever seen. and i believe he was on sale for about ￥140,000 at the Pet Station in the MyCal shopping mall in Ibaraki.

--------------------------------------11:59pm

guess where tony and i went today? and why were we a little late for another delicious dinner?

Yamato

before and after (not the tv show but i really do like that show)

looks like we might get some rain this afternoon . . . it`s a good thing i watered the garden today. and a good thing we washed and cleaned Noriko`s car yesterday. i am sure the new flowers i planted will like the rain.

before

after

and a little later after

these two flowers were lost in the transition

today`s nice sunset after going to MyCal (big shopping center in Ibaraki) to find Misa-chan a belated-birthday present. tomorrow i will add a very cute little video of a very cute little dog at the Pet Shop in the mall.

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a few more images from the summer festival in Ikeda on monday

it`s an ECO-thing (i was told by someone in the Osaka Prefectural Office)

ahhh, kakigori in a yukata at a matsuri...that means summer

which way to the kakigori?

ahhh, cotton candy

candied apple yukata girl

yosakoi dancers whirling and twirling thru the night. this was one of the "dance teams" i saw at Carre Four back in May

my, oh my this was a great Shishi-mai!