Checking out the Shrine

 My friend lives off base, just down from a shrine.  I went to check it out when we stopped by her house one chilly afternoon.  Wow!  It was interesting!  I have no clue what any of it meant, but it sure was neat. I thought a shrine would be one thing, but this was more a series of stuff.  Statues, then a building or 2, an area where you could write your wishes/prayers and hang them, and then a line of statues.  Not what I expected at all.

Yep, here I am!

 Awesome horse statue.

Shrine-y stuff? 

 This was cool!  A dragon fountain spout! Water comes out of his mouth.  

The buiding and the place where you could write your wishes/prayers and hang them up.

These were the statues of each year.  You know, the year of the rooster, the year of the dragon.... those years.  One statue to represent each year.

The year of the horse!

Well, this one was unexpected!  I did not know the year of the monkey was also the "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" monkey as well.

I thought the year of the rooster was cute.  

Mini shrines?  I don't know and the photo does not do it justice.  They were very pretty.

Walking Levi

Sunday evenings Dan and I take Levi on a leisurely walk down the sea wall.  He likes it a lot.  I usually do.  This day was not a day I was enthusiastic though.  I was grumpy from a groggy wake up from my nap and it was raining.  Dan was certain the rain would stop.  It was chilly too.  But Levi likes the rain, and we have some excellent umbrellas, and it was still post Thanksgiving enough that a walk was fairly necessary.  So I bundled up, grabbed the giant umbrella and we took Levi out to frolic in the rain.

The ducks don't mind the drizzle.

The rain didn't bother Levi either.

He thought it was great fun.

So many exciting smells out here.

Hmmmm.... he doesn't even look wet!  But I know he was.  He just has that water-repellant coat that rejects the rain.

A blurry me, in the sprinkling rain at dusk. Yippee.

This here is why I love the sea wall.  There are street lights so it is always lit and ready for a walk or run.

Tree Lighting

 The base had its big tree lighting ceremony last Saturday.  It was a big event with lots and lots and lots of people.  It offered free cocoa and cider and cookies, and the Thrift store provided free hot dogs and burgers.  Considering it was held down the block from the house, we definitely went!  Joshua was required to be there.  He was playing with the school Band, and I have to say, they sounded great.  The choirs of both schools sang and it was a nice event.  But SO crowded!  I was really glad we lived so close and all the kids could find their way home if they got lost.  No one did though and everyone had a good time.

The band.  Can you see Joshua?

Yep, there is my trumpeter! 

Delaney was excited about the raffle and was really hoping to win.  We didn't win anything.  (The tickets were free.) 

Rylee really was pleased to see her best friend From Yochien there.   That's Milly.

And finally.... finally, they lit the tree!

Trimmin' the Tree

 I see I have neglected to mention Thanksgiving at all.  Sigh.  It was lovely and delicious.  We went to the church with 70 or so others and had lots of yummy food.  It was a good way to spend the day.  I only had to bring pies, and most were made well ahead of time, so it was a relaxing day.  It was nice to not have to cook and stress.  I had been sad over the lack of leftovers, but there was sufficient for us to bring some home!  I even managed to snag a slice of Pecan Pie (I did not make it) to take home for later.  The report is:  Thanksgiving was good.

And the day after, we put up the tree.  The girls were thrilled and did all the ornaments themselves.  There was a bit of argument and a fight may have broken out over what went where and who got to put which ornament in a special spot.  But it was up and looked perfect!  Some of the girl were more excited to pose for pictures than others......

Utterly random photos

Delaney built this snowman out of bags of leaves.  She was adorable and named him "Oleaf". 

When language doesn't quite translate right!  If this shirt had fit me, I so would have bought it! 

My friend Laura and I went out to lunch.  We had gyoza, fried rice, soup, and a little chicken with a cabbage salad.  Delish! 

Do they have Orange Coke in the US too?  I did not try it, just noted it for my friends who like this stuff. 

This sign was interesting.  "Hair a-Boo"?  Is that a play on Caribou?  Is it really a hair cutting place?  So many questions, so little knowledge!

Here is Rylee, wearing a crown.

And here is one very patient and sweet little dog, also wearing a crown.

This eager face is begging for some love.  Levi is a good doggie.

 Our branch had an Open House and I snuck a photo of the girls cruising the refreshment line.