Seishin and Tenjin

After my dad left for Finland, we spent time doing the things I've mentioned in the last two posts of Yurigahara koen (work and plan). 

We had a heat wave pass through, which was amazing and horrible at the same time (lol). 

The lilacs and wisteria began to fade, the dandelions were puffballs and everywhere was covered in willow.

Beautiful to watch it fall from the trees like snow. Hard to capture though!

Seishin riverside park has really grown in and become so lush!

 

After Seishin, we decided to eat lunch at Tenjin-yama koen. Another favorite park. 

The red maple and the orange and red rhododendrons are so intense it's hard to even describe. Or take photos of!

Elisabeth entertained us as we ate. :)

 

...and then she fell asleep and we meandered around the park looking for quiet spots to shit and chat and give her a chance to snooze in peace... harder said than done!

We went and explored a quiet shrine tucked away in a corner of Tenjin-yama. 

The road was lined with blooming lily of valley. 

 

Also, this little variety of iris. 

 

I love how she was sleeping...

The little prayers at the shrine.

 

We sure ended up missing that weather! (it was followed by about 10days of rain!) ick.

Tuesday's arrival

On Tuesday, Elisabeth and I caught the 13.10 JR line train from Sapporo station to New Chitose airport to pick up a special arrival, Paappa! :)

After getting back to our apartment and drinking a cup of coffee and settling in, Kevin came home from school and we decided to head out for an evening walk to show my dad our new favorite view. 

We enjoyed an onigiri and the guys drank Sapporo beer. :) 

 

The weather the whole day wasn't too great, but as we were up there in the park, the clouds parted enough for a gorgeous golden sunset! :)

 

We walked home and took the route through Seishin riverside park. The sun was setting further and we were enjoying the trees in the pink light. 

 

What a great first evening for Paappa! :)

Seishin riverside park

HA! Finally found out the name of our local park that Elisabeth and I frequent almost daily. Yesterday, we went there to spend some time in the afternoon sun and bask in the glory of the cherry blossoms!

Seriously, the whole time we were outside, I kept saying to myself (and I guess Elisabeth, too!), "Too beautiful, I can't handle it!".
Seriously. Gorgeous.
I'm sure it goes without saying that pictures don't do any of it justice. Although, I think they're a pretty good representation! ;)

If I could freeze moments in time, this walk would have been one of them! Elisabeth and I stopped on a favorite bench with views of a few trees and the babbling brook. It was heaven and the definition of perfect afternoon. I crocheted a little and drank some coffee while Elisabeth ate some crackers and made me laugh with her CHEEEEEESE face! It's a new thing she started doing all on her own and it's hilarious. She is totally fake smiling and doing it for the attention. I love that she totally has a sense of humor! :D
We watched like 200 school kids pass by with their teachers, most of them all saying "kawaii" (cute) when they passed. I love the looks I get from young kids too, they look at me like I'm an alien. :D
We also saw an old mini schnauzer who stopped and said hello and let me pet him and sniffed Elisabeth's feet to her delight. :) We really miss our doggies!

If I were a bird, this would be my nest! 

Everything is so lush and green, so many shades of spring colors! 

 

Elisabeth and I talked dear old Daddy into going there for an evening snack of onigiri and I took more pictures in the golden evening sun. Swoon!

When you're married to me, there's a lot of waiting around like this when there are flowers in abundance.

Ah, perfect start to our long weekend!

Tomorrow we are going to enjoy a hanami picnic with some of our Japanese friends and neighbors! Yay! :) 

We are going to what is supposed to be the place for cherry blossoms here in Sapporo, Maruyama park.

Ummmm....pictures to follow!