Little discoveries

Lilica finds a bird design on the Yoshii manhole cover

Today, Sunday, Lily and I went for an early afternoon walk by the Yoshii River. It was partly cloudy and breezy today as we watched herons feed near the one of the streams of the river, small hawks circle above our heads and little swallows swoop this way and that in the rice fields.

Spring is coming and as we spend our best moments here, Lilica is making new discoveries about birds, words and chilli beans (without the chile, of course). She calls me "Otou" and Katsumi "Ahh-chan," based on our nicknames of "otouchan" or "daddy" and "okaachan" or "mommy." Yet, she can perfectly pronounce the nicknames of "Obaachan" and "Nana" with ease, those of her two grandmothers. I guess she feels very loved and close to us and she makes us smile and laugh every day.

Our little runner