春に準備した薪がぶどうの葉っぱでかぶらされて、こんな良い風性になりました。そろそろロビーの薪ストーブを使うかな？The firewood I stacked in the spring has been covered by grape leaves, creating this relaxing scene.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.
Andy and Kenny in front of the science dome
今日は我が子供を連れて佐久市巡りしました。まずは昆虫天国の佐久パラダでした。ちょっと寂しかったけど、子ども達が森の中でいっぱい走れて、気持ちよかったです。その後、佐久市子ども未来館に行きました。東京はもっと凄い設備の科学センターがあるでしょうが、それぞれのディスプレイが上手に出来ていたし、スタッフがとっても積極的に明るくて、頑張っているなと思いました。
Today we took the kids for a trip to Saku, about 45 minutes towards Tokyo from here. First stop was the Parada beetle and insect world. A little dilapidated, but the kids enjoyed running around the woods. Next was the Saku Children's Science Dome for the Future. There are probably more sophisticated science centers in Tokyo, but the displays here were all done really well, and I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging the staff was.
亀清旅館のｈｐはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan's website
First time bamboo harvester
この夏のプロジェクト、露天風呂作り、が段々と完成に近付いています。今度はお風呂の周りの竹の塀を作るので、そのために今日は竹を収穫しました。知り合いの竹畑で。又初体験！
Next step in my big outdoor bath project for is a bamboo fence. Today I harvested the bamboo for it at a friend's forest. I had to chase away all the panda bears to get to the bamboo. Just kidding! But there were all kinds of spiders and beetles and geckoes. My kids had a blast.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan's website
亀清旅館のロビーに写真のように蚕様が登場しました！Silk worms on display in Kamesei Ryokan lobby.
この夏に作っている露天風呂にプライバシーの為にこの塀を作っています。今日は取り敢えず形が出来て、明日は仕上がりを。材料はログホームを作る知り合いから頂いた杉皮です。Our big project this summer has been making an outdoor bath. Today I put together this privacy fence. Tomorrow I'll add the finishing touches to it. The fence is made of cedar bark that I got from a log house builder acquaintance.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.
朝、亀清旅館の裏の公園に散歩したら、発破が既に落ち始まっているのを見て、落ち葉とうちの美咲ちゃんのこのツーショットを撮りました。
During my morning walk, at the park behind Kamesei Ryokan I saw that the leaves have started to fall, and took this picture with our little girl, Misaki.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.
'Tsugaru' variety
週末に来てくれた地元のお客様から採れたてのりんごを頂きました。子のりんごが「津軽」と言う種類です。私の一番好きな種類の尼すっぱい「紅玉」もそろそろ出るかな？
Last weekend we had some guests from the local area, and they brought us a treat: some apples they had just picked. That means apple season has officially started. Nagano is the #2 prefecture in Japan for apple production. My favorite variety is the sour 'kougyoku' one, perfect for baking apple pies.
Gomi guard
私の生まれたところは日曜日の朝が教会へ行く時です。日本に来て、驚いたのは教会へ行く方が少ないし、代わりに皆がごみ・リサイクルをする。今日が当番でした。朝５時半から起きて、布団は３４枚も上げて、そしてごみ当番。旅館の若旦那の生活です。
Back on my home planet, Sunday mornings are for going to church. Here in Japan, Sunday mornings are for gathering your recyclable garbage. Today was our turn to man the garbage station. Wake up at 5:30am, flip 34 futons, and be the neighborhood garbage man.
'Tis the life of an innkeeper in Japan.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらへClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website
チャリ乗り二人
Jimenezの兄弟がＭｅｘｉｃｏから来ています。温泉のレンタルサイクルを楽しみ。The Jimenez brothers from Mexico, enjoying riding around town on rental bicycles.
Looks good on paper!
露天風呂の庭の為にガーデンデザイナーと今日打ち合わせしました。図面が段々とそろってきましたので９月末上記する予定です。それまでに露天風呂の完成が出来るかな？
Today I met with our garden designer to finalize the plans for our outdoor bath's garden. The last week of September is our target for installation.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick her for Kamesei Ryokan website.
