AZ Grandchildren

Cody & Kelly

Heather & Cody -- Thanks, Heather. These are great!

Big Snow in Kingman, AZ!

Heather sent pictures of their big snow last week -- thanks! This is looking out toward the street.


Great snowball, Kelly!


House with snow-covered mountain behind.

Look at that left arm -- no cast! Hooray!

Kelly in front of garage.

Beautiful scenes around their yard.

Deadly Peanuts!

I know you’ve all heard about the deadly peanut scare & recalls from products produced at Peanut Corp of America – http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRtlqh6MwBHT4xkLVqJw6yMSqFfgD966EVFO0 It just keeps getting worse & worse, and it’s scary to know what to buy. I did hear an interview this morning with someone from Lance Peanuts -- so if you must have peanut butter products, theirs are processed in their own constantly inspected factories and have a perfect record of safety & cleanliness. I thought this was good info: http://admin.peanutsusa.com/documents/Document_Library/Lance%20Statement_1%2019%2009.%20FINAL.pdf

Sunday Drive to Hikari

Driving beside the golf course on base. No, it's not flea market Sunday today, but we saw an ad for plum viewing at Kanmuriyama Park near Hikari, so that's where we're going. Stan & I have been there once before but it was a different season, so we're looking forward to seeing the plum trees in bloom. They look a lot like cherry blossoms, but each cherry petal is shaped like a heart, where the plum is not. They're both very fragrant though.

There's MC Perry Elementary, and the HS is right behind. We're going to pick up Nancy & Eldon. They live in the building right next to the high school. How convenient . . .

Outside the back gate, lotus fields are flooded and being prepared for spring planting.

Driving along Hwy 188 in Iwakuni as we head south toward Yanai & Hikari beyond.

Look how pretty the sea is today!

There goes the local.


A ferry out in the Seto Inland Sea.


Canola flowers in bloom along the highway.

Oh, the tide is really low as we drive along the seawall!

Kanmuriyama Park, Hikari City

Although we didn't remember exactly where the park was, we drove right to it. Here are some beautiful early spring flowers arranged in bamboo. Read more about ikibana here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikebana


Ume -- plum bonsai trees.


Many plants & trees for sale here.


Here's a map of the entire garden, showing what's planted where.

This is the big pond shown on the map. People are feeding the koi.

Children sliding down the dead grass on pieces of cardboard. They were having a wonderful time!


Beautifully-shaped pine with plum on the hillside behind.

One perfect plum blossom.

Camellia tree.

Beautiful camellias have been blooming all winter.


What a beautiful view!


Stan's showing a little plant that is blooming out of the rock.

Of course, he's climbed up behind the waterfall. He said there were stepping stones strategically placed to make it easier. No "stay off the rocks" signs here!

Closeup of the waterfall, which made the prettiest sound.


Koi swimming in the pond.


Children picking up fallen camellias from this tree.


Margie in front of a white plum tree.

White plum blossoms. They're very fragrant, so this whole area smelled very sweet.

Japanese sculpture at the top.


Varigated camellia.

Looking down from the top of the garden. There were many little arched bridges over the stream that wound down to the big pond at the bottom.

Margie in front of a perfectly-trimmed pine tree.

Nancy & Eldon at Kanmuriyama Park, Hikari City.

Now, this is the height of recycling! This father has fashioned a kite from an ordinary plastic shopping bag with string.


And off the little girl runs with her kite in the air!


Margie & Stan enjoying this beautiful early spring day at Kanmuriyama Park in Hikari City. Those are plum trees blooming behind us on the hillside.

Cute children with their mom.

This little boy was blowing bubbles. All the small trees in pots are plum.