Since we were driving nearby, we just had to stop in Ruman Bakery for dessert & coffee. After all, it IS teatime . . .


We are greeted by the lovely & friendly proprietor, Utae Nakamura.



This was my choice--creamy chocolate mousse, inside a black chocolate shell, decorated with a white chocolate curl & 1 raspberry, with all the fresh fruit in season on the plate. The red designs this time represent the cherry petals, just starting to bloom in Japan. Yum! It was as good as it looked!

Ingrid, Nakamura-san, Margie & Nancy at Ruman Bakery.


Interesting little alley between houses.


It's Spring!

Catahoula Leopard?

Larry & Lisa have adopted a dog, Callie (for calico). Since she was rescued, they're not sure of her exact breed, but they're told she's mostly a Catahoula Leopard. This was new to me . . . They've only had her a week, but she's already become Lisa's constant companion -- & she's very gentle with the children. Lisa says she acts just like her beloved Svejk, reincarnated. If Larry throws her a frisbee, she brings it back to Lisa . . . Meanwhile, cat Belle is NOT happy, so hopefully she will adjust soon. Never a dull moment at the Croney's!

Bigger is Better . . . ?

Check out the Fertility Festival & parade held every year on March 15, near Nagoya, Japan. We've never been, but I'm hoping we can go next year. Curious about what's 1-1/2 meters long & is carried from one shrine to another during the parade? Check it out here, but be warned -- it's NOT appropriate for children or those who blush easily: http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/aichi/tagata_jinja.html

Into The Woods 3/7-16

Holly's performing in another theater production in Birmingham this month. Sounds like a really good one & I sure hate to miss it! Maybe I can see the video soon . . . ? For those of you who live in or near Birmingham, think about going, 'cause this weekend is the final weekend. Here's the link: http://www.centerstage-productions.org/ Take a look at "Current Show" listed on the left, and then check out "Cast Bios" down below the cast names . . . Break a leg, Holly!

Cody Has His Cake & Eats It Too . . .

Cody's first birthday cake!


Hmm . . . what's this? All for me?


Kelly: "Yeah, like anyone else would want to eat it now!"


"Well, this is interesting. When can we do it again?"

Happy First Birthday Cody!

Wow -- Cody -- our #5 grandchild (& second grandson) is one year old today! Cody ~ Wish we could be there to give you a big hug & kiss, but Mommy, Daddy & Kelly will have to give you some from us. Hope you have a great day! Love, Grandma & Grampa in Japan

Here's some pictures Kipp took today. Big sister Kelly helps him open his presents from us.

Kelly played Old Glory 2 in a play at her school on Wed. the 5th of March. When we talked to her recently, she recited her part in the play -- it was very long and she knew it perfectly! We're so proud of you, Kelly!

Flat Stanley Visits Stan's School -- M C Perry HS 3/4/08

Flat Stanley poses with this beautiful geisha doll and a good luck crane, that's made with many pieces of origami (say "oar-ree-gah-mee") which is the ancient art of folding paper. Read about making your own origami here: http://www.paperfolding.com/


FS poses inside this Samurai (say, "sam-oord-eye") costume. Does he look scary? Perry School mascot is the Samurai Warrior. Read more about Samurai Warriors here: http://www.indiana.edu/~ealc100/Group13/culture.html

FS joins these students in the library.

Flat Stanley at Akiyama (sushi-go-round!) 3/4/08

Flat Stanley FINALLY joins us at our favorite sushsi restaurant. This was the night of the day civilians were ungrounded. There were LOTS of Americans here tonight and our sushi chefs were very glad to see us . . . He's pointing to Stan's salmon with onion (on the left) as he enjoys a cup of hot green tea. Behind him is the translated menu with the American flag.



Behind FS you can see the rotating conveyer that takes sushi around to customers. Be careful, Flat Stanley! Those are packages of wasabi (hot horseradish sauce) near your feet!

FS wants "soft cream" that is on display at the checkout counter.

Great Birthday . . . 3/6/08

This birthday's going to be hard to beat! Sue's granddaughter Lanie was born in Alabama; I was remembered by Stan, good friends & all our kids; it was a beautiful sunny day so I got to bike to the pool; Ingrid & I had cake & coffee at Ruman bakery; we ate steak dinner & saw a movie (National Treasure sequel) on base with Nancy & Eldon (who also was celebrating HIS birthday! ! !) and THE PLASTIC WAS REMOVED FROM OUR WINDOWS A DAY EARLY!

Looking toward the flight line through the scaffold. This is the first time we've been able to see our view in over two weeks! Hooray!

Then on Friday (still celebrating), I had lunch at Bluebird with friends. From left, Nancy, Ingrid, me, & Betsy. They all gave me some very cool presents . . .

Flat Stanley Visits the Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni! 3/5

Flat Stanley is very excited. We're in our car, stopped at a train track for a bright pink local train to pass. It is painted to represent cherry blossoms, which will be soon blooming all over Japan.


Flat Stanley likes this very small backhoe.


On our way to the Kintai Bridge area, we pass this steep set of stairs that lead to a shrine. FS did not want to walk up all those stairs, so we kept going. Can you see all the trimmed trees along the street? We call them "Dr Seuss trees."

Margie & FS wanted to climb this very big, very old cherry tree. That's the famous bridge behind them.

Stan (Round Stanley?) & Flat Stanley near the Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni. This is one of the most famous bridges in all of Japan & was originally built in 1673. It has washed away & been rebuilt many times, but always exactly like the original. It is very good luck to walk across it, but because it is arched, it has lots of steps. Read more here: http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/his18.html


FS wanted to pose alone in front of the bridge. All these bare cherry trees will be in full bloom in a few weeks!

Stan is helping Flat Stanley to see this statue better. High up on the hill behind him is the Iwakuni Castle. Read more here: http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/47-Iwakuni-Castle


Stan & FS stand in front of a Torii gate, which marks the entrance to a sacred place. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii


Margie & FS rest on a bridge with a small temple behind them.

Look at these beautiful blossoms. This tree gets full sun, so it's blooming a little earlier than the rest. Soon, all of Japan will be covered up with fragrant pink blossoms. This is a very special time in Japan.




Flat Stanley wanted to get a little closer to smell the blossoms.


Before we knew it, he had climbed up into this tree! Be careful FS!

Yikes! Watch out for that sword this Samurai is holding, FS!


On our way home, FS was trying to read this sign in Japanese!

Flat Stanley Visits our Favorite Bakery 3/6

Ingrid has taken me to Ruman Bakery for my birthday today. Flat Stanley is admiring our cake & coffee. When you order your dessert here, they take it back to the kitchen & decorate the plate with fruit in season & then bring it to you.


Be careful, Flat Stanley, that you don't get your foot in my cake!

Look at all the beautiful & yummy goodies! This display is for "White Day" in Japan coming up soon. It's when men give chocolate to women, the reverse of Valentine's Day, when women give men chocolate. (Read more here: http://www.tanutech.com/japan/valentine.html )


Look at this pretty Easter Basket.


Flat Stanley just couldn't help himself. He wanted to climb among the cookies! We thought it would be OK since everything was covered in plastic. . .

Ingrid helps FS stand outside Ruman Bakery.


Yep -- there he is among the yellow pansies.


This is a mailman. He delivers the mail on a motorcycle. I don't think they allow "junk mail" in Japan. All his mail is inside the red chest.

Sue's Granddaugter Finally Arrives on 3/5 (3/6 in Japan)

Lanie Elizabeth has made her appearance, so congratulations to parents, Meg & Jeff; brothers, Turner & Clay; and grandparents, Sue & Bill (and many others!) Although she was born on 3/5 in the US, it was already 3/6 (my birthday) in Japan, so I know she & I will have a special connection. Here's their family website & her first pic! http://the5richs.blogspot.com/ Welcome to the World Baby Girl!

Happy Birthday to Me! 3/6/08

Well, turning 60 last year was pretty cool, but I'm not sure being IN MY 60's sounds as much fun . . .

Christmas Box (and more!) Arrives 2/28

Thought we'd share these pictures with you. At this time, we were trapped on base & didn't have a whole lot going on in our lives . . .

Stan opens a box from Sherri.


Stan models his sweat band. (Actually, it's a luggage strap.)

I LOVE this cup! It shows all 5 grandchildren by name.

Oh, it's a record album! (actually, it was a very cute cat calendar . . . just what I needed!)

Our box contained not only Christmas, but Valentine's, Easter & my birthday! Thanks, Sherri.

Civilians are Released! 3/4/08

Well, obviously my brilliant editorial from yesterday worked! "Someone" took my words to heart and after two weeks' grounding, civilians were officially released today, with no restrictions.
Military are still restricted, with curfew & alcohol limitations. This decision sounds more reasonable to me, although it's still difficult for the majority of military, who have NOT misbehaved or broken laws. I became aware of how much I was generalizing about the "military being to blame" for our grounding, when I was shopping last week for Cody's birthday. There was a young man in fatigues who was shopping near me and somehow we started talking about "being trapped like rats" and I said I felt like a teenager who's been grounded for something she didn't do. His response was: "Welcome to my world. . ." Blanket punishment wasn't fair for any of us who were always good ambassadors in Japan.

So, I'm reminded of all those years when our children complained about unfair circumstances in their lives & we told them that "Life is not fair." It's still a very hard lesson for me to learn . . .

Hina Matsuri Day 3/3

Hinamatsuri (Doll's Festival) is held on March 3rd in Japan, a day to pray for young girl's growth and happiness. Read more & see pictures here:
http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=366&pID=391
and here:

http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/dolls/american/history/hina.htm

Trapped like rats in a cage . . . 3/3/08

AN EDITORIAL -- by Margie Stevens:

No sushi, no onsen, no oysters -- We heard last week that our "grounding" might end today -- or at least be "re-evaluated," but then I heard a little while ago, that because some folks in Okinawa are still breaking the rules & leaving the base without just cause, we're ALL grounded for another week! I don't understand why they don't just close the gates -- NO ONE LEAVES FOR ANY REASON . . . If they're going to allow people to leave, but then punish the rest of us because they did, it doesn't really make any sense. There now seems to be more focus on "catching" folks leaving without permission, than punishing the offenders, which is what this was originally all about. Most of us have NEVER been anything but good Ambassadors in Japan, and we have no control over those who break the rules. I'm not sure what this is accomplishing, other than to turn those on base against each other . . .
For those of you who might not be aware of what I'm talking about, here's a link provided by Sherri & David: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23409988/ or you can check the "Stars & Stripes" military news online. We're not getting much info locally -- mostly just rumors . . .