Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO500 “Desserts” Cedar Park, 2026
We had a few friends over for dinner tonight. I always enjoy having them over, but it felt a little soon since we just got back and I’m not acclimated to Texas yet, physically from the jet lag and mentally from the post-Japan blues. I’m afraid I wasn’t the most lively host, though I tried to stay awake and keep smiling. After 30 to 45 minutes I was pretty much ready to check out. Oh well, that’s just how it goes sometimes.
The food was delicious of course, and I definitely had more than my share of the desserts. 🍮
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E5, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/20 sec, ISO800 “Daily Timeline” Cedar Park, 2026
I’ve been using the Hobonichi Cousin Avec for a couple of weeks now, and I’m really enjoying the bigger size. My little A6 techo is compact and cute, but the A5 is just a better writing experience overall. The pages lie flatter, so I can use my Clampy, and I get to write at my normal size instead of concentrating on keeping my letters tiny. There are still spots where small writing is a must, like the daily timeline in the photo, but even there I’ve got twice the space to work with. And on the free-writing pages, I can just write without worrying about size at all. As a bonus, I’ve got more room to print bigger photos too. Overall, I’m happy with the mid-year switch to the Avec ✏️
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/3800 sec, ISO80 “Through the Window” Kansai 2026
I enjoy the window seat since I’m fascinated by clouds and the dynamic views you get from above. I don’t travel enough to ever get tired of these views. I love them. ✈️
Anyway, we’re back in Texas and I’m a bit sad. 😔 Please be patient as I catch up on the blog posts.
For our last dinner in Japan, we went to Sushiro. This was my third time going this trip, though Mariko insists it was four (I still disagree 😅). Either way, it was satisfying and cheap, exactly what we wanted. Bonus points for spotting a cute Dokinchan in a car in the parking lot. 🍣
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO125 “Peach Chuhai and Vino” Himeji, 2026
Today we went to Himeji for lunch, shopping, and a light dinner. We started at a small izakaya for drinks and kushiage, and it was all so yummy. The place was full of people enjoying lunch and drinking quite a bit! There was only one guy running the whole restaurant, and he was busy pouring bubbly for everyone. Amazing.
After that we did some shopping at Loft, Hands, and Junkudo bookstore. I picked up a couple of books, including volume 2 of Hirayasumi. I really love that manga. 📚
Later we had a special Himeji style white miso oden before catching the train back home. What a fun day in the city! We really like visiting Himeji. It’s a medium sized city with lots of the same stores as Tokyo or Osaka, but without the overwhelming crowds. And the food is cheap with fresh seafood. Love it! 🍢
Today we visited some friends in their town of Aboshi. It’s about a 25 minute drive from our home, and this was my second time visiting the town. We enjoyed a delicious crepe and iced coffee at their shop, then took a short walk to an old bookshop. It was fun to spend the afternoon hanging out with new friends! ☕
