Birthday ♪

It was Canaan's Birthday on July 16th. He became 12 years old.

The school will finish the first term, start the summer holiday soon.

He is getting use to the new school, made some friends.

But it takes a time to make good friends like he made in the other school.
You don't have to rush it, you can make a good friend.


after the earthquake and nuclear power plant's accident, his life changed very much, also his school and his friends,  he has to live apart from Dad who is making pots in Nagano on weekdays, we can't build the studio yet, he has to squeeze in and share space in his uncle's house, it is not easy...... 
But don't give up and do our best together, it is a turning point, we can make a good life and future from here.  We can do it together.  And you can.


Happy birthday Canaan.

Surprise!

It was my birthday on June 29th.

Euan gave me a phone call from Nagano on the 28th, and while we were talking,

he suddenly said,"I've just done teleportation."
Ha?? What did he mean??, I thought....
Then Euan's face appeared from the window!

The kids and I all screamed (with joy, of course).

He came home for my birthday from Nagano.
Thank you, Euan. I was very glad and surprised.

It  reminded me of the day I saw a stranger's shadow.

At that time I couldn't say a word.

Everyone celebrated for my birthday on 29th.

I was very happy.

When I looked at the east sky, it was a beautiful clouds in the sunset. It might be a present from God....

Before dinner, we started to talk about the day on March 11th from the conversation about Sora's speech she just wrote the other day.

Euan and I cared about our children's feelings after the earthquake, we tried to help them to speak, listen, write and draw. But I find out they still kept many things in their minds.

They must have pushed their feelings into their heart to survive and protect themselves from the big change.

I think that they are used to living this life in Minakami now, so they might be able to start sharing their thoughts at last. 

We can share laughing, crying and talking in this family.

I think I am very happy. 

This is the family I always wanted.

It is the best birthday present.

Thank you all.

Carrying bricks

On 20th and 21st June, Friends helped to carry the bricks of Euan's kiln from Ichikai, Tochigi to Minakami.
They are teachers at an American school in Japan, they borrowed trucks and
came to help us.  It is about 7 tons for just the kiln itself. They
and Euan drove three times between Ichikai and Minakami in two days.

Sean also helped us, even though he had bronchitis....
When they arrived with the last load of bricks at evening, the other
kids, Sora, Canaan and Rohan, helped carry the bricks, too.
Thank you.

Euan is making pots at a friends studio in Nagano recently, so we could not move pottery things from the studio in Ichikai. We still have to bring many things from there, but it is a big step forward.

Is that a soot monster ?!

Thank you very much, Debi and Julie!

Double Fathers Day ♪

It was Fathers Day on Sunday June 19th.

Our kids gave Dad lots of hugs and chocolate.
And our youngest son, Sean, gave him a special dice which he made at the preschool.
There are pictures on each surface, so when Daddy rolls the dice, if it's Daddy's face up, he can get a hug from his son,  if it's a tankard, he pours Daddy a beer.

We also gave a present to my father, too.


We all had Fathers Day Dinner together.
I cooked Tekka-don with guacamole, Mushroom Miso soup, Octopus and cucumber marinade and steamed vegetables. Plus pumpkin croquette which my father bought.
It was all delicious.


To all Dads all over the world,
Happy Fathers Day !!

and thank you for everything.

Making pots in Nagano.....

Euan is away from home to make pots at his friends studio in Nagano on weekdays, and comes home on weekends. After the earthquake our friend, Laura Inoue, kindly offered Euan to lend her studio and kiln. She had built the kiln which Euan designed a couple of years ago.

He is still struggling to build a studio and kiln here in Minakami, so he is borrowing her studio with great appreciation.

Some people said to Euan, he has skills and knowledge so he should to help building kilns in Mashiko.

What is most important, though,  is that he can make a living from his pottery sales, so he is making pots for orders and his exhibition for his family.



We talk by Skype or telephone each night.

We all are looking forward to seeing him

on weekend.