pressed flower art and my apt

so i went to the awa agricultural high school today because i had no classes today so it was perfect opportunity to try pressed flower art. they gave me a little tour when i got there.
here's a baby melon. it will grow up to cost about $25-30 bucks.
cactus!
flowers!

flower time!
the set up...
and the pitch! this was another one i made. it's a shame the picture was so shiny.

and next; my apt! i'm not sure if i've ever posted pictures of the whole thing since i've lived here.

the front door area... the kitchen. small but it gets the job done.
my bedroom with my chair and desk.
futon closet
fridge and the toaster/microwave/range that i talked the boe into buying.

open space with the living room on the right and the bedroom on the left.
toliet...
with little shelf behind it.
the sink, hmm, a little cluttered. and that's my washing machine. shower door.
yay! bath tv!
the extra room with the bookcase and wardrobe.
books, books, and more books
living room.
and the view from the back; that's my laundry hanging up on the sides rights there. hehe.

Impromptu trip to ikeda.

ange and i waiting for the train after a good walk/jog, dinner, then onsen. what the heck is.... oh, it's a microphone! ahh, this must be the karaoke place! ;)
there was a ddr machine in our booth!
ange is singing "I was born in the USA". :P that's just silly!
go brian and julie!

good times hanging out.

and one quick group picture before getting kicked out at midnight.

after we dropped our stuff at smitha's and ash's we went to this really fancy (expensive) bar down the street from their place, and each had a fabulous drink (i forgot my camera). it ended up being $16 each! eekk! it was a nice indulgence though. :) went to bed around 2am fri night.

the next morning! doesn't ash look cheerful with her coffee and flowers?
an interesting view out her window. a lady beating futon.
and another lady doing some serious garden work! it's way too hot to be wearing so much! put on that sunscreen, it's time to go for a walk!
apparently this is their (smitha and ash live in the same building) landlady.
they live in a cute neighborhood with little shops. we walked to the river, and headed for this walking bridge.
group photo!
a cute dog. he's ready to go across the bridge...
but wait! i can't go with out my daddy!that's more like it! :) cute, huh? about halfway across the swaying, see-through, walking bridge. smitha is scared of heights so she's hanging back.
nice view!
and then smitha decides to go for it!
go, smitha, go!!
horray! that took courage!
someone left their bike behind and wandered into the woods to become a wood nymph; at least that's my theory.
random, and shady looking love hotel. then we came to the damn to go back across the river.
eww! look at all this crap that's washed up! and they say that japan is a clean country! :(
then it was off to mikamo, to the lovely little coffee shop that we always like to go to whenever we're in the area.
italian soda with grapefruit and something else... i don't know, but it was tasty!

and so ended our little adventure! ange and i took the train back, and now sat is nearly over! but it was a good time!

here's a couple of pics from my dad, who's getting settled into the Teton National Park again for this summer. this is suppose to be the famous cabin from some movie called "Shane" which i've never seen.

i love the tetons, they look so primative and stately!