Yoko and the Kamikura's

Last night we attended a concert featuring the "Sakura Singers". Yoko, on the left, Weily's mom, had invited us to the concert at which she was a participant in the ladies chorus. Also in the chorus was Joyce Kamikura. Joyce and her husband Roger lived in the old neighbourhood where our kids and their kids first went to school....about 30 years ago. We were good friends in those early days but had drifted a little over the years. Last night was another one of those "small world" instances. The concert, all in Japanese, included mens and ladies mixed chorus, womens chorus, soprano soloists, piano solo,and a violin duet. It was quite enjoyable and as I said to Yoko and Joyce, it brought my cultural side up a little bit. 

Future Ball Player?

I could tell tell you Teo is sitting here on the players bench but you can probably see that he is in his stroller and just watching the goings on all around him. But he sure looks like he's ready to play! 

Ambidextrous?

This is one of Jacob's favourite toys.....nothing like a ball that you can get a grip on. Here he has it in his mouth while holding it with both hands and both feet. I guess that would be "penti-dextrous". 

The Soo is Sold

Off the Soo goes into the wild blue yonder. New owners set out to take their new boat home to Vancouver. They say that the two happiest days of a boat owner are the day you buy a boat and the day you sell a boat. Hopefully we have two happy boaters here today. (I'm on the dock taking pictures, not sure whether I'm happy or not.) Hope they remember to put the antennas up.

An Eagle Up Close and Personal

Today we visited the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society centre here in Delta, BC. (Better known as OWL). This group takes on the responsibility of rehabing sick and injured birds of prey from all over BC .....mostly hawks, owls, and eagles. (200 to 300 per year). The society also performs very important educational sessions at schools and other events throughout the lower mainland. This juvenile Bald Eagle, named "Sonsie" is a permanent resident as when he came to the centre he had already had too much human contact and would not be able to survive in the wild. Lucky for us, and school children all over the region, we get a chance to see an eagle up real close. He is four years old. His head feathers will turn pure white over the next few years. Check out the Society web site at www.owlcanada.ca 

Easter Dinner

Guess what? The boys are starting to eat! Pretty soon they'll want to sit at the table and get their share of all the good stuff grandma makes for dinner. Any guesses on what their eating? Would anyone like to try the recipe? It looks real tastey!!! 

Karen's Birthday (April 17, 1969)

Hard to imagine that this little baby girl now has her own little baby to watch over and take thousands of pictures of. Centre picture is Karen with her great-grandmother, "Maggie Elizabeth Brown", we called her Nana. (my maternal grandmother). Karen also carries the middle name "Elizabeth". 

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

I Did So Graduate!

Heare is mye graid eiht clas pictoore jus too profe it. Cann yuo pique mee oot? 

Friday Night Happy Hour and Steaks!!!

Are we having a good time.... I think so!!! These are our good boating buddies from Sidney.....Peggy, Brian, Gail, Marcia, Jim, Sharon, and Del. You can put the names to the people?....first one to get everyone properly identified wins the prize. Those named above can not enter the contest as they may embarrass themselves by getting somebodies name wrong. 

Spring has Sprung

This is no April Fools!!! One of these photos is from Japan...the rest are local Ladner shots. The Cherry Blossoms were not out in Japan, but the Plum Blossoms were. Do you know which photo is from Japan? 

Porpoise in Motion

There are really only two photos here but they are in a tight sequence. The two porpoises are jumping together but one is just a fraction of a second ahead of the other. There were actually over 25 porpoises in this pod and they came right to us....playing in the boats bow wave, racing along side of us, and diving back and forth under the boat as we moved along. We maintained a speed of about 7 knots and they 'played' with us for about 15 minutes. This is something these guys like to do....they actually seem to look at you when they are alongside and some would even believe they let out a little smile. 

Love Those Bears

Our middle right bear is a grizzly.....don't want to get too close to those guys!!! On the middle left is a mom and two cubs....don't want to mess with mom!!! The others are black bears.....you just plain don't want to mess with bears, but we sure love spotting them!!! 

This Could Develop into Something

 

Grand Babies!!!

Just to keep updated with the babes.....Jacob is now 6 months old and Teo is, and always will be, 6 weeks younger. Both are thriving and learning new expressions and movements everyday. (I was going to say "new tricks" but I didn't want to upset the parents.) Won't be long before they are both fully mobile little rug rats. 

Pictographs on the Coast

These pictographs are found in many areas along the BC coast and form part of the history of the Native people. The one in the bottom right hand corner is in Kingcome Inlet and is a modern day "experiment" in an effort to determine how and what the original paintings were made of. Some at the top depict European carts and ships which would suggest they were painted sometime after the European settlers/explorers arrived. 

"Soo Valley" Grand Banks For Sale

"Soo Valley", our 1972, classic 36' yacht, is for sale. The "Soo" has afforded us many hours, and many miles, of beautiful upcoast BC cruising. She has twin diesel engines and is well equiped for extended coastal cruising or gunkholing in the local waters.

Juvenile Eagle at Boundary Bay

Caught this young eagle just spotting his next meal. Seconds after this shot he flew off and I missed the perfect shot!!! 

Me and Mom (1911 - 1994)

Mom's Birthday was 27 March 1911.

This picture was taken some years back at a News Year Party for the folks at Lions Manor. I think she had started to shrink then because I was never that tall. 

Queen of the North

Hard to believe that the 'Queen' is now resting in 1400' of water. Our rugged BC Coast has claimed another victim. We took this picture while at anchor in one of BC's beautiful little coves. I remember the 'Queen' created quite a wave throughout the anchorage quite awhile after she passed by. 

Family and Friends in Japan

While in Japan we visited Weily's family and friends and some of Karen's friends. (Karen spent tree years in Japan teaching English, about ten years ago). Weily was born in Canada, spent a couple of years in Japan with his grandmother as a youngster, and again later in life he taught English in Japan and worked at Disneyland Tokyo. Weily's mother lives here in Richmond where Weily grew up but she has two sisters and their families living in Japan. We visited with and stayed at the houses of the two aunts....one near Tokyo and the other 450km north of Tokyo near Kitakami. I really enjoyed the living in a Japanese home/family enviroment we experienced while there. 

Family History

While in Japan we were able to visit Weily's family plot and memorial site in the city of Kitakami, 450km north of Tokyo. Weily's grandmother and his aunt and her family live in the family home in Kitakami. We visited the family plot and nearby a statue of Weily's grandfather. The grandfather was once mayor of Kitakami and very involved in bringing some important industries to the region...thus the statue. The statue is near a shrine where family celebrations including his aunt's wedding have taken place. We rang the bells at the shrine entrance and thus made our presence known before offering our thoughts for the family. 

Houses in Japan

These are the houses of Weily's aunts where we stayed. The top house is a country/family home, 450km north of Tokyo, (Kitakami). The middle pics are of Weily's other aunt's home near Tokyo, (Chiba prefecture). 

Eating in Japan

We had no shortages of food while we were in Japan. Weily's families treated us royally and once we got a little comfortable with the chopsticks we were able to experience a wide variety of foods. Weily's aunt took us through a traditional tea ceremony. The middle left and bottom middle pics show us at a standup "fast food"....quick and tasty! We mostly ate in the family homes....note the extended tables. 

Sites in Japan

These are just a few of the typical sites one sees when visiting Japan. Restaurants display their dishes outside in front of the restaurant. Vending machines are everywhere. The bullit trains are fantastic and you can set your watch to the subway and train times. The temples here are in the town of Narita, close to the airport but much older.