Sankeien Garden

(Sankeien G)arden was built by Hara Sankei and opened to the public in 1904. Among the historic buildings exhibited in the park are an elegant daimyo (feudal lord) residence, several tea houses and the main hall and three storied pagoda of Kyoto's old Tomyoji Temple.

 - from Japan Travel Guide

Yesterday I wrote about Carol, Gina and my adventure on the 'Ptomaine' Expressway.  I had promised pictures of Sankeien Garden (Sankei-en Garden), a silk merchant's home and garden, our first, and most direct stop of our "day off".

This is the oldest pagoda in the Kanto Region.  It was moved to the garden from Kyoto

The turtles would pile up like... puppies...

Come on Yurtle!  You can make it!  Stretch that neck a bit farther...

Ume in bloom...

The blossom's were beautiful against the pine trees...

The Camellia's were in bloom...

 

Beautiful to see the trees in bloom against the textures of the tiles and wood

 

Many of the buildings are National Cultural Property (think Historical Registry...) were moved here from elsewhere in Japan.  Tea House, a Hida House (traditional home from the mountainous region, roof shaped like praying hands...), a Pagoda, statuary, coffins... (OK, so I have pics of these two years ago - missed them this time around).

The landscaping is beautiful, attracting many that come to the garden to paint...

for a stroll...

a break...

snacking on Dango (grilled mocha balls - this one has black sesame on it)...

photo ops...

PHOTO OPS...

Many soon-to-be brides and grooms come to get their engagement photos taken...

 

And some just come for personal betterment...

You Can't Get THERE from HERE

I have said, "You can't get there from here."  And I have meant it.

Today, we embodied it.

Gina, Carol and I put the kids in Seika for the day and went to Sankeien Garden (will post pics later - very beautiful) for the morning.  Then to Grandberry Mall for lunch at Garlic Jo's

and the afternoon that started our "unforgettable sensual journey".

  

Then to...

The Tomei Expressway to Nagoya...

Atsugi for sunset...

Fuji-San was beautiful,

Then to the drive through for dinner...

Back to Yokohama City Ward...

Back to Fujisawa...

Then to a gas station so we did not have to walk home...

Four hours later, we arrived in Yokosuka.  It should have been about an hour.  The Tomei Expressway always reminded me of "Ptomaine Poisoning".  Now I know why...

Big shout out too Eric who went and got all five kids out of hawk from Seika.  Big shout out to Yuko and Seika who allowed the kids to all be released to Eric (perhaps they preferred to go home at 18:00, not 20:30?!?).  I do not think we will be allowed to all drop our kids on the same day unless we are walking to our destination... Big shout out to Caroline who kept Stefan and totally took it in stride when I told her I was on the Tomei and perhaps was never getting off.

If you get on the Tomei Expressway or the Fujisawa Bypass and it mysteriously turns into the Tokai-do road, just remember: 

YOU REALLY CAN NOT GET THERE FROM HERE!

Milestones.

I think back at when we debated about having a third baby. The first six months for me feel somewhat like wearing a straight-jacket lined with barbed-wire. Don't get me wrong here. I LOVE my babies. I have loved them from the moment of conception.  Probably even before that. It makes me nauseous to even imagine life without one of them.


However, we listed the pro's and the con's (other than the straight-jacket). Those first six, sleepless months, were a huge con. Another?  I was looking semi-independence right in the face. Dougie was getting to an age that I could feasibly see sending him to school in the "near-ish" future. A baby really puts a crimp in that style!


So we let God take the dice on the next roll. Knowledgable negligence didn't hurt either. Nine months later...


Well, I am back to looking at semi-independence in the face again. It is over three years later, but there it is.


Today I went to finish the enrollment and supply sale for Ian at Seika. He had a little interview and waited with me in the auditorium while I labeled all of he and Dougie's school supplies. He played with a train that came on a coffee can I bought. I labeled.

His name tag was easily 3/4 of his height.  It was hilar!  At one point, he popped it off, "Mummy, I rip it!"  Yup.  Sure did...

In the auditorium waiting for the label party to begin






Giving googlie-eyes






"Peace" "Victory" "I'm two!" "Hasami" (scissors).  Your guess is as good as mine...  Rocking the Mickey Mouse car.  Seriously, rockin' it!





Apparently we have made enough of an impression that I was asked to be on the Mothers' Association. Perhaps they need a sacrificial lamb or a scape goat for the growing number of American students. Perhaps it is because I already know one of the ladies on the association. I will go with that... It is the first time an American (or any non-Japanese) has been in the Association. I had best NOT screw this up!!!




After all that excitement, we headed out to talk to the Hayama principle for Stefan. On the way there, Ian lost his lunch (breakfast, really).


Always. Exciting!


But we love it.  Most importantly, Stefan loves it.  I see a change in the near future!

This is the view from the beach just below the school...

And on a sunny day... from the school yard...

Angie, the school's dog.  Talk about a great mascot!

So, today was filled with school enrollments. For all three boys.


A milestone has been reached. There will be days that everyone is in school and I will be alone. All alone! All. Alone. :/


And it makes me sad...






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