Tuesday, May 29, 2018

A Drive up the Coast ~Another Highlight of my Trip to Okinawa ~Meeting our Grandson

It was another beautiful day on the tropical island...
a good day to go out and about.

Amy planned a little trip for us,
 a drive along the coast.

Not only does one need to learn to drive on the left side of the road,
but there are the street signs in Japanese.
Thankfully, there is some English in smaller print.

The view was spectacular.

The plants are so lush and green.





There are lots of activities on the beach.
One can book a vacation in one of the large resorts there.

We enjoyed a little sweet treat...


That is not just any purple ice cream...
it is Purple Yam ice cream,
One of Okinawa's specialties.

Amy ordered the lemon ice, as she has given up dairy.
(Jack tummy does not tolerate it very well.)



An awesome setting to take wedding photos!

Recognize the Easter Lilies?
They grow along the pathways here.


See the red arrow? That's where we were!




We found a little shade in a picnic shelter
so Jack could have his afternoon snack, too.

Baby Jack only has eyes for his Mama!

She takes such good care of him.

Thank you for the delightful day at the Zanpa Beach!

Take care,
~Natalie

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Okinawa's Southeast Botanical Gardens ~A Lovely Outing ~One of the Highlights of my Trip

Okinawa is a tropical island, so it rains frequently in the spring.
You all know the saying "Make hay while the sun shines"?
So this morning was a perfect day for an outing.

Everywhere you go, you will be greeted by a couple of Shisa Dogs.
It is actually a cross between a lion and a dog,
from Okinawan mythology.

Homes and businesses display them in pairs,
the left shisa with a closed mouth, and the right one an open mouth.
The open mouth shisa wards off evil spirits, 
and the closed mouth shisa keeps good spirits in.

I considered bringing a pair home,
but they were breakable and heavy.
The dogs would have put the weight of my luggage over the limit.


The Botanical Gardens were lush and beautiful.


Sometimes it felt like we were in a rain forest.

And then, there was this guy.
He is a capybara, the largest living rodent in the world.
He seemed very friendly, and was quite agile,
as I watched him leap over a very large tortoise!


I thought the chickens looked skinny, by midwest standards.



Goat Island.
Need I say more?




There is something for everyone at the
Southeast Botanical Gardens.

I so enjoyed this day.
Thank you.

Take care,
~Natalie

Most of you know that I have 
been home for a couple of weeks now.
Since there isn't much blog-worthy going on here, 
I hope it is okay to show more photos from my trip.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

A Little Pampering for Jack’s Momma and Nana

Jack’s Daddy had gone to work early this day, 
so was able to come home to hang out by mid-afternoon.

Jack’s momma made an appointment for us to get pedicures.

Amy and her friends discovered this place near base.

The massage was perhaps our favorite part!

The artwork on our toenails was a close second!

As you may have guessed, we were back on the seawall.


This Dakota girl never gets tired of looking at the ocean.

Don't you just love the detailed artwork,
even on the smallest nails.
Thank you for the relaxing afternoon.

Be sure to pamper your mom 
and grandma this weekend!

Take care,
~Natalie

p.s. Local friends, you know that I am now home.
There isn't much that is blog-worthy going on around here,
so I will continue to tell you about my
once-in-a-lifetime trip to meet our grandson.

Road Trip ~Day Three ~Burger Battle ~Sweet Shopping Highlights

Our last full travel day took us through four states… Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Including some Big Bridges over some Big ...