A few weeks ago we were invited to a Japanese paper making factory by our good friends the Shionome sans. It was a fun filled day....I had no idea we would have so many wonderful experiences that day. Both of their girls are in Liam and Colleen's class. They love to spend time over there playing whenever they can.
First we had to mix the material well....it was really goopy and fun to play in....it had an antiseptic property to it and smelled "sterile" to me.
We were able to pick out the decorations we wanted to put on our paper.
Next we had to immerse the frame into the material several times in a special direction to capture the paper material in the liquid.
After a few times we places our decorations where we wanted them in the frame.
Then we gently removed them as instructed.
After we left, they put them out to dry....We were able to make 2 decorated post cards and a plain post card....beautiful. Two days later we received them.
The finished product......
Next we went to an old Shrine in the same area....it was back in the woods and beautiful.
Next we went to Shionome san's parents home......I believe it is just shy of 100 years old. This was the entrance....it was impressive. Shionome san told me we would barbeque afterwards but I thought it would be at a restaurant and was thrilled to be able to go to their family's house for the barbeque. They were all so kind and generous to invite us. It was the first time we were able to go into a older Japanese home and my first Japanese barbeque. It was delicious!
Part of their Japanese garden.....
This was the next door neighbor's well....the kid's thought it was really cool.
Here is Liam enjoying Shionome san and Mirica chan's company....
Some of the many delicious vegetables.....
The kids played both inside and out...in this picture they are playing a Japanese game that is the same game I grew up playing in the U.S.. We called it " Red Light Green Light". I'll have to ask the Liam and Colleen the name of the game later...
Next we went to the school that Shionome san went to...It is now closed but was really cool to see....there were some HUGE spiders there. I wish I had some pictures. To finish the day off we went to the paper shop and purchased some beautiful items. It was one of the most memorable days here in Japan....We are lucky they have invited us back so Larry can share the experience with us.
This week Yagishita san invited me to make miso! I had a great time with everyone....it was a lot of fun.
We put all of the ingredients in and mixed them together thoroughly in a certain order of course....bean paste, some type of rice yeast, protein powder first and then prune extract with some water I believe. It was great on my hands....they are still soft. :)
First, mixing the paste, the yeast and protein powder.
Then with the prune extract...
Next we had to make balls with the mixture...We had to get all of the air out by batting it in our hands. We pushed the balls into the container being careful not to have air in the container. We completed the process by pouring prune extract over the product and then saran wrap over that.....now we wait for 3 months. Then enjoy.
Last night I was able to go out with some of my friends here in Japan. They are all neighbors here. I had the best time....friends and food were both great. It's amazing how you can still communicate not speaking the same language thoroughly. Their English was much better than my Japanese. My cheeks were hurting from laughing so hard. At the end of the night someone realized that the time was after midnight and apparently we were suppose to be long gone....oops :)
Today is the day the kids and I arrived last year....it has flown by. It will be hard to leave when the time comes. I don't have any pictures but I want to mention that last week I was able to go to my first onsen (hot spring) with June san and loved it....this week she showed me how to make Okonomiyaki... it was delicious! June san and I will have a new adventure this week.
Nobuko san :) The dish in front of us is called Nabe...it is a very popular Japanese dish. It seems to be a perfect dish for the winter.
Mayumi san and Sachiyo san :) This pizza crust was made from soba flour. Soba flour is used to make the soba noodle...it was really good.
We heard about the Sake (rice wine) drink box from Annie, but had never seen them until last week. We picked this one up at the local Lawson convenient store. You definitely don't want to get this one mixed and put it in the children's lunch box. An interesting concept....
That finishes this post.....have a good week.
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