Snippets

In between the rain:

an afternoon at Nakajima koen

 

An example of how they "prune" trees here... they just lop off the top?

 

Enjoying the times I get to spend with Elisabeth and her chunky thighs and crazy antics.

 

A quick walk before the rain to seishin park on Elisabeth's FIRST birthday. 

 

What becomes of the cherry trees. No cherries!

 

Always making me laugh with her silly expressions. :) 

Gotta love those teeth!

I'd share photos of Elisabeth's little birthday party downstairs (what a debacle baking cakes were! Ack!), but they're on Kevin's phone... yeah, too busy to take "real" photos. Either way, it was a lovely little party with some of our neighbors and we had pizza, chips and cake. :)

So nice that they wanted to celebrate with us. :)

Nakajima and Odori revisited

For my dad's first full day in Sapporo, we decided to head to Nakajima koen with some store-bought sushi for a park lunch, then walk to Sapporo station via Susukino district. 

It's a walk Kevin and I have done before, and I chose it since I think it is quite scenic and gives you an idea of the what the downtown area is like. 

We stopped at Horohira bridge along the way and my dad did the walk up the arch and admired the views like I did in this post here. 

When we got to Nakajima koen, we were in for a treat! At one of the "squares" there, there was a plant market! YAAAY! So my type of thing. It was a shame though that I couldn't buy anything since I can't really take anything home to Finland. :( It was still a cool thing to see and I totally could have spent a lot of money there! 

Someone was selling perfect teeny weeny bonsai.

 

Someone had rose bushes for sale.

 

Someone was selling succulents in every color.

 

A pretty rose.

 

Someone had veggie garden stuff for sale. 

 

Lots of flowers.

 

Primroses.

 

Pansies.

Someone was selling bushes and small trees. This large pine in the picture could be yours for only about $2000! 

 

Pretty dusty red rose.

 

I think these are for a rock garden maybe?

 

And these?

 

Such fun! :)

 

We walked on to the little lake in the park.

 

And found the weeping cherry tree still had some blossoms left. (I took a picture of this on Sunday)

 

Ah, perfect. ♥

My favorite part: the Japanese garden.

It was extra serene this time, the perfect place to stop and snack. It being a Wednesday early afternoon, not many people were out, especially since the weather wasn't great. So peaceful.

 

Perfect reflections. 

 On our way out of the park, we had to stop so I could take MORE FLOWER PICTURES! 

I know, it's kind of ridiculous, but the heart wants what the heart wants. ♥♥♥

We walked through a rather quiet Susukino to Odori park. 

Obligatory tourist photo below:

 

Lots of pretty flowers all through the blocks of Odori. (more about that later)

 

After walking around Daimaru, Esta and Apia, we took the subway home to meet Kevin. 

Then we went to Seiyu to do some grocery shopping and made another yummy meal. 

What a fun day! :)

Mother's Day

Sunday was my very FIRST Mother's Day! 

We spent the beaaaaaauuuuutiful day outside doing what I like doing best: visiting parks, taking pictures, and walking around. :)

Warning: Cherry blossom pictures ahead 

(I can't get enough!)

After a lazy morning breakfast of toast and eggs, we finally got out the door and headed to Tenjin-yama park. It looks a lot further on the map, but it's shockingly close to the Seishin park that Elisabeth and I frequent. Now that we've been to Tenjin-yama koen, I'm kicking myself that it took us this long to get there. The views were AMAZING as the park is up on a hill!

 

Elisabeth was napping at this point so we found a quiet and shady spot under a birch tree and laid out our picnic blanket and enjoyed coffee from our thermoses. 

It was the perfect spot viewing the mountains south of us, my favorite view.

One of the big crows woke her up so we decided to head further up the hill since we saw a lot of people coming and going from that direction. We were not disappointed with the views! 

 

Further up the hill, is a Japanese garden with pond and waterfall (lots of people there and not stroller friendly), as well as probably 50 yaezakura trees in various shades. 

 

 Yet to bloom. :)

After much oohing and aahing, we headed back down the hill.

More maple admiration...

The shade of red when the sun is shining through the leaves is truly indescribable.

After seeing what Tenjin had to offer, we decided to catch the subway from Sumikawa station to Nakajima koen, my second favorite park. Before we did that, Kevin ran to take some photos of a shrine we passed.

On the walk to the station, we passed a little side street with a row of tulips in every color. I had to whip out the camera for it!

 

Some of the later stations on the Namboku line we use are above ground. I love this tunnel look. The stations downtown look nothing like it. 

 

At Nakajima koen, we enjoyed a break with some onigiri at the Japanese garden part, which is my absolute favorite section of this large park.

 

From Nakajima koen, we walked downtown to Sapporo station. We wanted to check Bic Camera's used camera section (I've been hoping to see a heavily discounted Canon 5D mk iii in good condition) and then to Lavi soup curry in Esta on the 10th floor. 

  

We saw a group of people dressed as Mario characters driving around in carts. :D I love it!

People were taking pictures of them like crazy and snapping photos. Fun!

 

After the soup curry, a Sapporo only dish, we took the subway home and walked the long way home, passing by our playground park. 

 

Kevin did some stroller tricks which make Elisabeth laugh, and that makes me laugh. 

How can you not smile at a face like that?!

 

Ooooh and chunky legs in tights! Cute!

 

It was a really wonderful first mother's day. :)