Last year just before we returned to the states, we visited the Yamada's dairy farm and had a wonderful time with the family. This year, we had the honor of joining them for 4 days over the New Years holiday; the PERFECT start to what looks to be a wonderful year...
They settled us into our own warm tatami room...
The first night the Yamadas threw a New Years Eve party.
We had delicious nabe and sukiyaki and enjoyed the good company.
Ray with Mrs. Yamada.
NEW YEARS DAY!!!
1/1/2011
The farm staff, warming up with a hot cuppa before heading out to milk...
Sophie is introduced to the "nekos" or cats...
Relaxing with his boy and a warm cup of cocoa... Why do I have the feeling I'm being watched?
Their first walk in the snow!!
Ostriches!!
Help meh, I cant see!!
New Years Day is notorious for it's mail delivery system. Like Christmas in America, people send cards to everyone they know. But on New Years Day, NOTHING stops those cards from getting delivered, and it takes a huge force of delivery staff and volunteers to make it happen. Despite the snow, this high schooler is out on his bicycle, in the blizzard, delivering New Years cheer to the country folk!!
Hanging out while Papa's helping with the milking...
We're BOTH crawling now!!
Climbing on ANYTHING and everything...
At the Yamadas for breakfast. They have 4 lovely daughters, all of whom live at home currently, and one son who lives in Tokyo. Rinko Yamada is one of the Lakestars team trainers (seen holding Sol).
Both helping out- such FUN work!!- while the babes sleep...
New Years Day lunch: all foods eaten have meaning, traditionally. Some are eaten to purpose longevity, others for health and prosperity. The shrimp for example is eaten so that you will have long life, and not a bent back like the shrimp has...
Family...
This photo melts my heart. This is Yamada san with Sol. Mr. Yamada is one of those men you just honor and respect upon meeting him. He is very quiet, and an incredibly hard worker, operating the dairy nearly by himself. Sol was playing next to him and Mr. Yamada picked him up and began playing with him. You can see this man's incredible love by the way he interacted with all the living creatures around him, including our children...
The babes really took to the sheets of nori. They were devouring them like candy! No denying they were born in Japan!
While the babes took their afternoon snooze, Ray and I got out in the snow to frolic in the wonderful sunshine...
Handsome man...
Entrance to Yamada Boka Ju...
The wild boars that they trapped and plan to eat. I think the little fellas are rather cute...
One of my favorite things about snowfalls comes from my childhood. Mom would take us walking and help us study the tracks of different animals in the snow. I still love doing this to this day...
Maybe a squirrel?
Birdie tracks...
Baby calves... I love the white diamonds on their foreheads...
Our goat friend...
Little bird...
FOOD!!!
Another meal with the family, New Years Day 2011...
Box of cats... LOVE these hilarious barn cats! They huddle together to keep warm...
This is the first birth I have witnessed (aside from my own two babes). So many of the mother cows are calving right now. When we had first arrived the farm, we stepped right into a mother trying to give birth, but after an hour of pulling on the baby, it wouldnt come out. They had to call a vet to come perform a c-section, but all said and done, they lost both mom and calf. After seeing that, I didn't know what to expect. But this delivery didn't take more than 5 minutes! A healthy baby calf!! (sorry if any of the photos are too much to look at- I find it all fascinating!!)
The bag of liquid hanging out is the sac full of amniotic fluid. They tie a rope around the calf's front legs and pull to help the calf come out.
Saying goodbye to our dear friend Kazuko. She is an incredible person and a very strong woman. She is the farm manager and astonishes me with her phenomenal work ethic and love for what she does...
Such an INCREDIBLE family!!! (so sad, missing Rinko from this photo...). Thank you Yamadas for your kindness and incredible hospitality. It speaks such love...
2 comments:
what an incredible experience you guys had!...too bad the munchkins probably won't remember it but you have your wonderful photos to show them...felize ano nuevo, kiddos!
I finally got to sit and finish reading your blog!.. That trip looked like so much fun, and I am glad you got ot take a lot of pics!
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