Monday, March 21, 2011

We love our cows!

We took another trip out to the dairy farm last weekend. The farm is located in the town of Shigaraki, renown across Japan for its pottery artisans. We headed to Shigaraki to visit our friends, but also to meet with an artist to learn more about his trade.

We missed our train, but made the best of it by picnicking at the station!



It was a beautiful spring day- so we opened the windows and enjoyed the warm breeze!!


Ahhh, so nice to be back at the farm again!!


Before dinner, we met with some friends of the family at their small house on the property. The babes, as always, were the center of attention...

...and Ray had fun teaching the big basketball fans a trick or two...

Yamada san with his little Sophie...


Their style of doing ceramics is so primitive compared to what I've experienced in the States, and thus I feel a true identity erupts from their work. All of the kilns are dug into the ground, and the pottery is fired by building a very hot fire and tending to it for about a week...


The entire family takes part in the factory to get milk and yogurt and other products bottled...

We loved walking on the property...


Our little calves...






Tani san is the farm baker, and had ordered a pound of lavender from Purple Haze to create new lavender baked goods. He gave us a cheesecake that knocked our socks off!

He packages them for sale so lovely...


4 comments:

Judy said...

You make my heart sing! Such wonderful/beautiful/fun pictures. And your videos!! I love feeling that I'm close. And I love how you are living so fully. These little beings have so much to explore. They lead the way, don't they. ;) Thank you all for your brilliant spirit and love.

Always Angie said...

What a fun weekend for you all! And you are so lucky to have those Looooong arms for those out of the train window shots. Great!!

Anonymous said...

the duck foto with sol passed out is hysterical!

Hollie said...

that photo in the hat is sooo cute! and I love how those cows are giving the peace signs too you see so often :) I can not wait either to get together this summer!! Thanks for your sweet comment friend!