Mountain Thunder Rooster Pomodoro #binaural Soundscape (Patreon)

Hey hey, Everyone~, (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))♡

Two-night getaway completed and somewhat rested, definitely rejuvenated and terribly excited to have some of my mind back. To be able to focus on more than one thing is exciting...and confusing. What to concentrate on? 

I did a bunch of recording while on the mountain and had Richard listen to them after we got back. The attached mp3, he so kindly made loop-able and Pomodoro length. In case you want to study to what we affectionately call: Thunder Rooster! 

Last time we went to Hotsumura it was winter and was utterly silent and the weather steady and cold. This time it was an absolute joy to watch the mists rise off the river below and fill the valley, in seconds obscuring everything, and then blowing back away. I think I took some snaps. I'll post them below. 

Anyway, about the audio, before dawn a storm crept up so I hurried and put out the microphones. But roosters crow before dawn. I honestly didn't know that. So you're going to have a lovely mix of rain, rolling thunder and .... rooster. If you listen closely you can hear when the sun comes up, too. The birds start to chitter. There was a hinky frog. I'm not sure if I got him or not.

Richard was kind enough to take a crap ton of photos, so now I have a couple new author photos, as well. Thank goodness, and thank Richard! 

I did get attacked by a leech though. I totally forgot they are everywhere in the wild here after a good rain. At least they aren't ticks, though.

I'm looking forward to spending more time on the podcast, the Bedtime Story, and the postcards. I want to put some recipes and things up here, too. I do believe the heaviest lifting regarding the Folklore Book is done. *fingers crossed*

Below are some radom photos in some random order.

The front of the old house. That's Richard blowing through a tube to start the BBQ. 

Compared to the above photo this would be to the left a little in front of the roof structure you barely see on your left. The owner is making a special BBQ room overlooking the mountains. 

He also made a swing. You walk carefully along those tree stumps and can sit and enjoy the view. It's quite precarious and he put seatbelts on both sides just in case. 

He has got all kinds of lovely statues everywhere. I was reading this book while there. I bought it while studying for the Folklore Book but didn't have time to open it until now. Essays on Idleness translated by Donald Keene.

Here's the view from the tubs. Terraced tea field and mountains. I think we recorded those wind chimes to use later. They were so lovely.

There's Buddy the Shiba inu. Quite a wise little pup. Peed on Richard's camera bag because he would share his hot pot-nabe with him. Ouch. 

The inside. Behind me is the kitchen and bathroom. 

About $50 a person...hang on. I have no idea what the exchange rate is. 

Woah! $34.64 US dollars per person a night (5,000 yen)!! The bath is 600 yen per person/day.  

You can hike/walk higher up. There are a handful of houses. I only saw one incredibly old woman bringing in her laundry. I really don't think anyone but the owner, her and the dog live up there. 

Although there was this place that looked totally abandoned, but the electricity meter was running. It was scary. We had to pass it to get to the shrine up top. Which I forgot to take a photo of. 

Here's even farther above. That's the whole place. The fact they have a flush toilet and WiFi is just incredible. 

Wild boar nabe. The vegetables are so good. I'm not a gobo (burdock root) fan. Somehow got turned off it when I was pregnant with Julyan. But the burdock root he uses is so good. 

The morning mist coming in. This L-shaped sofa is the best place in the entire house. 

This might have been taken a different day (my crap is all off the table). But in seconds it all went white. 

On the way home I stopped by some old dam and found this. SLIME MOLD, friends on Discord told me. It looks small, but was quite big. And mushy.

And here I'll leave you with one of the author photos* There are so many. I'm still going through them. 

*sorry about feet. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, you are all incredible and I love you all. XO,

t