Our Photo Gallery

Nagajuban

This is the under kimono that I made with some silk I got from www.ichiroya.com

Nagajuban

As with all my kimono projects, I did all the sewing by hand since a machine might not make the silk lay right when finished.

Nagajuban

Here I am about to put on the Kimono I made using fabric I bought from www.yamatoku.jp/classic/

Tsukesage Kimono

The fabric is 100% silk with a weave that has these little highlighted spots of silk throughout which give it a look of snow or frost when the light hits it right.

Tsukesage Kimono

about an hour and half later....I finally managed to get the whole thing on. It was a struggle, but I'm very pleased with the outcome.

Tsukesage Kimono

The entire garment is also fully lined in silk which fades to this nice coral color to pick up the colors in the leaves on the kimono.

Tsukesage Kimono

The purple obi was fabric also purchased from www.yamatoku.jp/classic/ . I found fabric for a hand painted black silk obi in a thrift store and decided to put them together to make a double sided obi. The black side has bamboo, pine boughs and cherry blossoms painted on it.

Tsukesage Kimono

At last! A kimono that fits me :)

Tsukesage Kimono

A close up view of the front.

Tsukesage Kimono

This is a different obi. I wanted to try tieing it in a different style, but I need to work on my tecnique.

Tsukesage Kimono

Getting undressed is half the fun of wearing kimono after being bound up so tightly. I can't get over that it looks like I'm sinking into the floor though :)

My Garden

FINAL STAGE! We actually have patio furniture now to enjoy the view.

My Garden

The pond at dusk. The plants are doing really well and all of the fish are really healthy.

My Garden

"Devil Boy" posing in our new patio area. Now people can go in the back yeard without getting their shoes!

My Garden

This is the "before" picture. Hopefully there will be an "after" picture, but it's a lot of work. I've gotten started on it already. Definitely check back for progress reports. I'm thinking of digging a little fish pond.

My Garden

Stage 2

My Garden

future pond for fishies.

My Garden

Stage 3. I've started adding crushed rock to my pathway.

My Garden

Stage 4. I lined the pond with plastic. The rain came and tested it out for me. I had to empty it so we could put a layer of cement inside.

My Garden

Stage 5. With the help of some locals, I got the cement in and decorated the bottom to give it a somewhat natural feel.

My Garden

Full pond view. Still no water yet. Might have to wait for the rain to fill it up. Long story...

My Garden

If you can believe it! It's under there somewhere :)

My Garden

Trev, deminstrating the depth of the snow...

My Garden

Ooops...

My Garden

It was the shoes, Officer.

Our House

Entryway.

Our House

Front hallway. Bedroom is to the left and up the stairs. Guest room is to the left and left again. Barely visible in the photo on the left is the toilet. straight ahead is the living room.

Our House

Looking in on the guest room.

Our House

View from inside the guest room looking into the hallway.

Our House

Toilet. Yes, there are actually separate slippers for the bathroom and the toilet seat is heated. I think that will be a very nice thing to have come winter time.

Our House

Bathroom sink with the washer and dryer in the background.

Our House

Bathroom washing station (You can stand or sit) for cleansing before relaxing in the tub. Bathtub is for relaxation only, not cleansing.

Our House

Not much to look at, but the whole bathroom is waterproofed so you can overfill the tub and fully disappear under the water. Trust me. It's VERY cool :)