Last weekend we had a big snow storm. We cleaned the snow off the driveway and sidewalks and the next morning we saw a rabbit had dug a little cave in the snow and was sitting in it next to the sidewalk. He was right next to the driveway. We would drive in and out and he just sat there. Finally after three days he left - or was eaten by a wolf.

I am working on a headboard for your mother. This week I glued the slats to the headboard. First, I had to cut the slats to the correct length and width. Then cut the tendons. They had to be glued all at once. I'd put one in and one would fall out. Glue was all over the place. Finally they were all in and clamped. They seemed a little squiwampus (i.e., not square). You'll note the square in the picture and the sledge hammer. I got everything aligned;)

Love, Dad

We received our first major snowstorm of the year - about 9 inches and then the temperature dropped to -10. Lucinda, Hannah, Craig and I still had to go to work. We don't have anyone who gets snow days anymore. Anyway, it wasn't that bad - the wind was calm. Craig made a pile of snow in the back yard for an igloo but hasn't hollowed it out yet. Maybe he needs some older nephews to help. Owen is a bit too young.




I started my next project. I am making a bed for our room. The plans come from a book. Craig and I picked up the lumber this week from Wintrop. I am a little concerned as it calls for boards that I can barely lift and has all kinds of mortises and other Fancy joints. If we ever have a tornado, we'll have a place to hide.

We are having Dave Mixdorf over for dinner tonight. His wife is in India on a business trip. I'm sure that we will have stories to swap.

We love and miss all of you.

Love,
Dad

I haven't written in the blog for a long time. It's not that we weren't doing anything. We had a great Christmas. Brice and Breann, Hannah and Andrew came for Christmas. Emily and her family came after Christmas and filled the house with excitment.

I finished two projects recently. We brought back some granite table tops from India. I thought that I would put them in the living room, but Lucinda asked for night stands in the bed room. So, after 32 years, she finally has night stands.
 
We put up a wall in the basement to try and keep the saw dust under control. This week I wired the room. The electricity comes straight from the fuse box, so the lights wouldn't dim each time I turn on the saw anymore. It wasn't too tough to run the wires. There were some objections in the house, however, when I started early Saturday morning. Nothing like waking up to the sound of hammers. . .

This Sunday morning I was giving Craig grief because he was sewing on a button on his church suit. I told him that he would have to pick all the stiches out in the millenium that he put in on Sunday. Then as I was preparing a primary lesson on the brass plates, I remembered that we had a sword on Leban that we made for seminary. Wouldn't that be a fun prop for the lesson! It took some digging, but I finally found it. Low and behold it was missing its handle. Should I or should I not make a new handle for it on Sunday? By this time I just had to have it, so I fixed it. So, I guess I'll be sitting next to Craig in the millenium - he'll be pulling out stiches and I'll be gluing wood chips back on my handle.

Love, Dad

Our vacation is over and we'll be on our way home in another 12 hours. By the way, Misawa is home of the 35th fighter wing. I caught this picture of one of the fighters flying low over the trees;)

Saturday, December 17, 2011 -- They had a fun Christmas party at the elementary school for all the younger children on base. We took Helen, Jane, and Alice (in the pouch on Amber's front) and made ornaments, candy cane reindeer, colored, waited patiently in line for a balloon animal, threw snowballs in Santa's mouth, ate pizza and treats, and generally had a good time. The base has all kinds of fun activities for everyone of every age.

Sunday, December 18, 2011 -- We went to church again and though the floor was cold again, the spirit there was very warm. Amber got to play the piano for Relief Society. Jane wasn't feeling very well and we kept her with us the whole meeting.

We also went to a Buddahist temple. They were just ready to close for the evening when we got there. They did let us in, and we promptly took off our shoes and walked around and took some interesting pictures. The smell of incense hung in the air -- lots of prayers went up to heaven that day!



Monday, December 19, 2011 -- The 9th day market -- An outdoor market that is held on the days of the month with a 9 -- 9th, 19th, and 29th. We were told we could find a shop with used kimonos. We found some obi fabric (12 inches wide and yards and yards long) that we can use for some various craft projects -- possibly curtain toppers or Christmas tree skirts? The rest of the market was fruit/vegetable stands, fish stands, flower/garden stands. It was snowing so hard when we were there we couldn't even see across the walkway! This would be a really fun market in the summer with more venders and better weather!

Monday evening we went to a Japanese restaurant - Aburi an. We went in, took our shoes off, put them in lockers, then sat down at our table which was on the floor level, because we are wimpy Americans, we put our feet in a pit where the grill was sitting. It looked like we were eating real Japanese style, but we were just faking it. There were heating coils down on the floor that kept our feet nice and toasty. We ordered lots of different meats, vegetables, rice, salads, onion rings, cheese sticks, and just gobbled it up because it was so good! We cooked our own meats and vegetables on our own little grill.

Yesterday there was much more snow that we've had the whole time we've been here. Michelle says she feels like she lives in a snow globe with it snowing nearly all the time. The kids in the neighborhood all came out to play and sled yesterday afternoon (I suspect that their mothers kicked them out of the house to have a good time). Michelle and Ryan have a great sledding hill in their backyard, so they don't have to go far. Unfortunately, they don't have a sled yet! Helen had fun on the neighbor girl's sled.

We only have a couple of days left on this wild adventure and we're beginning to feel bad about leaving, but excited to come home and party with a new group of party animals.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 -- We had a catch-up day this day. We got our laundry done, went to the grocery store, and did a bit more Christmas shopping.

Thursday, December 15, 2011 -- Ryan's Birthday! We partied all day! We started with cinnamon rolls that Amber made for breakfast. When Michelle took us to Shimoda Mall to go to the fabric store and the 100 Yen store and the food court for lunch. All were superb experiences. At the food court, we decided to get sizzlers. You put your yen in the slot of the vending machine, then choose the type of food you want and the size, then it gives you a ticket and your change. Then you give the ticket to the nice Japanese lady behind the counter and in a few minutes, voila, you get a sizzler with raw everything on it. The nice lady pointed to the sign for me so I could read/figure out how to deal with my lunch. Then you take it to your table then stir it up so that it can all cook right there. I think she knew we were inexperienced Americans, because she gave us a spoon along with our chopsticks. It was a yummy lunch!

Dad had a bowl of noodles for his lunch. Then he decided he wanted to have a crepe for dessert. They made the crepes, filled them with a choice of fruit/cake, added some chocolate sauce and lots of whipped cream, then rolled the whole thing up and made a cone with the crepe inside.



We got home in time to make Ryan's birthday cake and lasagna for his dinner. It was really tasty! We all enjoyed his birthday! The special sparkler candle was really fun and very exciting!

Friday, December 16, 2011 -- Today was the day I've been waiting for. We had appointments for lomilomi Hawaiian massages! We found the place without any trouble, it was nice and toasty warm inside, the Japanese ladies were very nice, and it was all so relaxing and wonderful.

Doug was taking care of Helen and Jane -- they were going to the Weasel's Den (indoor playground and exercise place). Michelle forgot to leave the front door open for them, so when they got back they were locked out. Dad, ever resourceful, took the girls over to the BX to the food court for lunch. Michelle was nearly panicked at them being out in the cold, lost, frozen by the side of the road, and starved. She went out in the car looking for them, and they were there at the food court eating french fries at the very first place she looked. They were safe, happy, full, and exhausted.

Tuesday was a big day! We had haircuts in the morning, went shopping just outside the gates the the base. We went to a couple of interesting stores -- mostly looking for Japanese gifts. We are finding some very interesting things!

After lunch Ryan took us to a Samari house and museum. The Samari that lived in this house decided he wanted to be a farmer, so he quit the Samari business and started farming. There was lots of farmland around and we saw lots of tractors, but no John Deere tractors :(

We did stop at the egg vending machine on the way home. For 200 yen, you can get 8 eggs right out of the machine. I had visions of the eggs falling to the bottom where you'd have to have scrambled eggs immediately, but Doug just opened the door and pulled out the little bag. There was a choice -- white eggs or brown eggs!

Our big outing of the day was our sushi making class. Ryan signed us up for the class taught here on base. The nice Japanese ladies were very kind to us and had us helping make the sushi right away. She especially liked to have Doug come and roll and cut and be involved. Michelle was taking notes, I was taking pictures, except when we switched roles. Then after making all the sushi, it was time to eat it. I have to say Michelle and Amber and I were a little dubious about eating the raw salmon and other fish. Amber decided to make some veg sushi since she knew she'd have to eat it later. Michelle and Amber were very brave and ate their sushi. Doug just gobbled it down. I was having travelers distress so I decided I'd better not indulge.



We laughed a lot during our class and after, and decided that maybe a Burger King milkshake would help cut the fishy flavor from the mouth. We had to drive thru on the backwards, upside-down, right side driving on the left side of the road kind of drive-thru. We made it though and the milkshakes were really a treat!