Jalapeno tree

Can you see the jalapenos?  The basil plant is still growing too.  Not as fast as it did outside.  I wish they could get more sun.  
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Happy 32nd Birthday, Gilberto!

This was at the mall.  :)

Berto wanted to make shrimp boil instead of going out.  It was delicious!  he gets his own sauce that has no horseradish.  

I made him a coconut chocolate pie with real whipped cream and Ibarra shavings.  The crust is coconut!  Yum!

Thanks M-O-M for his new outfit!  And Ana for the Bears sweatshirt, he loves it all!  =)

Military life and saying goodbye

 Gilberto has been in the military for 13 years.  In that time, we've been stationed in San Diego-Naval Base San Diego, Oklahoma City-Tinker Air Force Base, Virginia Beach-Little Creek NAB.  And Japan, Misawa Air Base.

While in the Navy, Gilberto has been to Australia, Israel, Guam, Spain, Greece, Thailand, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Seychelles, Madagascar, Gibraltar, Canada, Mexico, and Singapore.  (There's some more countries, but I couldn't spell them easily, HA).  And Hawaii many times!

Special thanks to Adia for taking an interest in her Tio and his military career.  =)


With all these military moves, we say goodbye to friends all the time.  That's the hard part...


Arsenio and Miguel w/Berto

At the airport saying goodbye to the Pabons. They'll be missed.

Trying to keep record of the boxes I send out since I've lost track of most.  Sending this out to an old friend, Bebe.  And her two kids.  Sorry Aaron, it's harder to find a gift for a grown man.  In the wrapped box on top there is a kokeshi with umbrella, (Japanese like to wrap) what Bebe requested.  Hello Kitty specialty bag, egg molds, gyoza shaper, (that could be for Aaron since he loves gyoza!)   HK and dinosaur stickers, origami paper and CANDY!  

Stray cat that has made her way into our hearts...

She's blind in one eye.  Berto and I are completely at her mercy.  But she hasn't realized this yet.

Osorezan-The Entrance to Hell

I WILL add descriptions and info.  Got behind on this post....check back later!  Berto and I are making tamales on Friday!!  Any advice?

Takayama Inari Shrine

On Saturday we traveled to a Shinto Shrine in Tsugaru City.  It has the "Thousand Torii's" like in Kyoto.  But not really a thousand.  There was 201 lined up, we counted.  The Shrine pays homage to the Inari god, thought to preside over the harvest and wealth.  It was a great drive there, we left really early.  I'm not exactly a morning person but got a great nights sleep!  :)  On the way there, there was a stretch of road that Berto was FLYING down.  It didn't feel like he was going 110, but sure enough, he was!  GASP!  But we were getting passed by many other cars.  We must have been on Japan's version of the Autobahn, at least that's what it felt like.  After that, I kept a close eye on my Mario Andretti driving husband!!  

The grounds were pretty big and had quite a few different shrine areas.  I'm sure there was meaning behind each one.  We brought a huge pocket full of "Yennies" the Japanese penny to offer at some of the shrines and alters.  Berto kept asking me to keep it down.  I guess I was being too loud?  And I may have said a swear word or two.  There were 2 different areas with a ton of steps!  And they were wet from the rain and I was scared I was going to fall.  We were the only ones there, I guess he just didn't want to disturb the statues and shrines.

The trees in the area were beautiful Fall colors and it was so pretty.  And lucky for us the rain stopped while we were there.  I especially love the red bridges I've come across.  This one might have been my favorite.  

This is to give an idea of where we were on the map.  It was about a 3 hour drive.

Huge Torii

Another huge one!

Beer, sake and bananas offering

I loved this bridge!

Tons of statues, Berto leaving some Yennies.

Couldn't believe this Superstore!  It truly WAS great!  I was overwhelmed.  We're not used to big stores here.  And this one was as big as a Super Walmart.     

Hope the Japanese Spitz is NOT an ingredient in this people food!

Spot near the water in Aomori by the Bay Bridge

Aomori Bay Bridge

Parking near Tony Roma's.  It's one of those car stackers, revolves the cars around for optimal space.

We're planning on going to Mount Osore, (Mount Fear) to The Gateway to Hell next weekend!  =)