Closeup of petunias.


Beautiful fresh arrangement in front of someone's house.


Looking down the street that leads to the Kintai Bridge.


Another autumn arrangement outside.


Trolley bus along Hwy 2.

Store front with flowers.


Pom-pom mums always remind me of football Homecoming.


Coming back under the train tunnel.


The sun is setting over the mountains as we cross the final bridge on our way home.


Looking toward the sea side of the bridge. Nice ride today. Stan said his odometer showed we rode over 14 km -- nearly 9 miles! Not bad for us "oldies but goodies!"

Dam Trip 10/25

Driving back from Otake to buy Sachi some cat grass, we decided to take the "long way home." Going into a tunnel in Hiroshima Prefecture. Although we live in Yamaguchi Prefecture (kinda like a state), we're very close to the border of Hiroshima.


Light at the end of the tunnel.


We've arrived at Yasaka Dam. Hey Steph -- another dam story!


Red bridge going over the river. Still pretty green, but a few trees are beginning to turn color.

The water is still way down. This rope keeps anyone from getting too close to the dam.


Oh wow! That's a helicopter dipping water out of the lake!


Don't know if it's a practice or the real thing -- can't see any smoke anywhere.


Walking on the dam -- this is the dam logo.


Dam sign.

"You are here" - map of Yasaka Lake & dam area.


Looking over the dam.


Stan climbed up this steep stairway, but I decided to pass.


There he is at the top!


There's our car.

Goldenrod in bloom near our car.


And a huge spider in his web.


Driving away from the dam, we get one last look at the helicopter dipping water from the lake.


On the bridge over Yasaka Lake near the golf course.


Looking down at the remote-controlled race car course.

Bright red flowers alongside the road.


Driving past the lake, we saw the same helicopter in a field below the road with other emergency vehicles.


Sign with the name of the field.





Stan's asking if we can get closer, but he was told no, because they're refueling the helicopter. One of the lifeguards from the indoor pool, who is also a volunteer fireman, saw us & came over to tell us there was a fire on top of the mountain & that's why all the emergency vehicles were all there today.

Continuing our drive up a mountain. Oh, it's not a good sign when the road gets more and more narrow . . . time to go back?


Rolled bales


Torii gate & stone lanterns


I love this little tunnel on our way home. Nice day's drive. Autumn is here!

Halloween 2009

Bob's relaxing in the hallway -- waiting for the trick-or-treaters. No party for us this year - Ingrid & Jim are out of the country & since Halloween's on Saturday, we stayed in to see the kids!


Next door neighbor kids giving out candy. They've already been out trick-or-treating, but told me the candy they're giving away is NOT the candy they got.


Looking around the corner where our neighbors made a fabulous Haunted House . . .

Bob with new friend, Snow White


Trick or Treaters in the hallway . . . We gave away 8 giant bags of candy this year (one piece at a time!) between 4:45 & 7:15 - yikes!


This little neighbor boy wanted to come in & relax for a while. But when I reminded him that there was more candy waiting for him, he joined his mother in the hallway!


Neighbor Andrea & her beautiful daughter, who is a snail . . .

Meanwhile back in the US . . . daughter Holly as Madonna in AL




and Grandchildren Kelly & Cody in AZ. Mask off; mask on.