WE had a nice Corgi Hollows History Day on Saturday. Several auspicious characters showed up, among them Martin and Kitty Luther.
Helen Keller, Mother Theresa, Pretty Boy Floyd, JRR Tolkien, Sacagawea showed up also, with a few other notables.
We roasted hot dogs and ate chips. The rain came, though not harshly, and Martin and Kitty’s Skit was brought indoors. They told their story, and brought history to life.
Rain and chill literally dampened the event, but I am still happy we had such sweet fellowship around the campfire. S’mores didn’t happen YET.
Let’s have a campfire night and make S’mores. The marshmallows don’t last long.
I have started attending a Chinese/International fellowship that meets in our neck of the woods. It has been sweet to meet these lovely people and try to understand more Chinese language for me.
Chinese is hard.
It’s fun to learn it, though. I’m not tied down to making a grade (although Duolingo puts in some pressure innately) so I really go at my own 60 year old pace. After studying for over a year I can definitely see my progress.
But along with the language I have been studying the trends in East Asia. This part fascinates me.
Billions of people are pretty conformist, yet there are stark delineations and human concerns, political waves and economic trends.
Everything affects everything.
And God watches.
I am in awe.
This is a road ahead for me, I’m already on it.
I am also in awe of October beauty today. The rain has left a shining golden world that must be a bit heaven-like today.
I live in a paradise of earthly beauty. There aren’t mountains or oceans here in the middle of North America, but there is everything else. The beauty is gentle and touches the heart.
Blue skies and golden paths. The stuff of the old “Ideals” magazines. Remember those? I grab them up at thrift stores.
That era was so ostensibly innocent.
I have an interesting week ahead: a concert with my new friends, more sorting of books, (because of rain my book sale didn’t happen) business junk (I still HATE opening up my email in the morning—-Number One Dread around here) and more preparation for our upcoming trip to Japan.
Apples. It’s apple season, and I found an orchard west of Corgi Hollows that grows Fireside apples. They are my favorite. I bought a bag of a new variety called “Triumph” there, too. It’s very good.
There is a golden apple tree across the road in the ditch from the house. I think I threw an apple core there from my bike decades ago. The fruit is mottled, but there were no worms and the flesh is delicious! I tried one on Saturday, and I couldn’t believe how perfect the flavor was. What a blessing!
In Japan one of my goals to find and try one of the largest apples that is grown in the world. Japan holds the record for largest apple.
I mentioned that our goal is gardens, Japanese gardens, (Ha ha!) and along with that a visit to a historical/cultural museum, perhaps a bit of daily life in Tokyo, and connecting with a few people.
I know absolutely NADA about Japanese food. I don’t eat Sushi, which is the only thing I do know about, but surely they eat more than that.
I have heard they have nice desserts, so I can eat dessert for a week. OH, yes, ramen. I can eat ramen.
Our hotel is in downtown Koto Tokyo, so I am happy with just a few walks around Koto. I’m easy to please.
The yen is weak right now, so a great advantage to us Americans. I don’t intend to do much shopping, however.
I’m excited to travel again. I’ve always had a wandering foot, as you know. Life has dealt me some tying-down circumstances and I am crawling out of those bonds little by little. I have been rebuilding my engine, so to speak.
The fireplace feels good this morning. I’m actually drinking pumpkin spice coffee and writing here. I feel so fall-ish.
Yukichan and Corwyn don’t know whether to be in or out. Thank the Lord someone came forward to watch them for the week we go to Japan, a nice young married couple. The dogs can be demanding when the weather is turning. It’s like they have expectation of change, too.
School and my shifts at the hotel keep my schedule in check. I have been lazy with my CrossFit and swimming. Our YMCA is having trouble finding life guards again, so the pool is rarely open. One must really make an effort to get swimming time.
My mom’s 90th birthday approaches, and all who can will gather. She attended an old friend’s 90th birthday celebration this fall and just loved seeing everyone there, including some she had babysat back in her teenage days! (They were older than I, of course)
Nice things ahead, and my engines have been checked. They’ve started smoothly, and I am looking forward to the road before me.
One day at a time.