Just an average Saturday in Hokkaido

After breakfast, we dressed, gathered up skis and poles and gloves and gaiters and cameras and headed for Higashiyama Park.  It’s a little bit of a walk, carrying skis and all, but it was worth it.  In the snowless season this place is a track & field area.  In the snow season, they maintain a cross country ski area.  On the left is a ski track for classic skiers.  On the right is the area for skate skiers.  There’s a 1000 meter course that joins the 500 meter course. It snowed off and on while we were out and the blue sky showed through the clouds.  It was fun, but I was tired by the time we got home.

After lunch, Ted left to meet his aikido friends at the train station to go to Sapporo to the Yuki Matsuri.  I opted for staying home.  Aikido is Ted’s “circle”.  This outing is a chance for them to get to know each other better.  When they are throwing each other down on the mats in practice, they don’t get to talk much.  On top of that they all speak Japanese and I don’t. He said they had a good time and ate well.

After catching up on the laundry and cleaning, I got back to work on the beaded box. I’m almost finished with the bottom.  I hope to finish the bottom today, then I’ll work on the top.

It’s snowing blowing hard today. From the looks of the snow on the balcony, I think it snowed about six inches overnight.  I’m glad it’s not our day to shovel.