tree sculpting

Today I helped a friend with her garden.  Some of her plants have gotten overgrown since the time has passed to trim them.  First I used the manual tree cutter on the bushes on the walls. Then it was time to use the power tool to trim and sculpt the trees inside the garden!

My friend and her husband were so kind to let me sculpt my own design.  Usually Japanese plants are sculpted simply into round shapes or whatever, but I joked about making a heart, but then I did it!  It came out pretty well. It was really fun using the power tool and very satisfying to watch a regular bush become something so cute and perfect! 

Then of course R-- Izakaya opens!  Today's menu was the most delicious saba shioyaki (grilled salted mackerel).  I was craving saba for a long time, it's one of my favorite Japanese foods I think. We also ate the plums I received.  I also ate hoya! It's not the first time I ate it, but it was still a little difficult to eat.  It's definitely an acquired taste--it's very bitter, but I see how it tastes really good with beer.  We also ate my friend's potato salad and she kind of randomly put raisins inside!  It might sound strange, and she also thought it was a little different, but it reminded me of the macaroni salad I eat in Hawaii! I don't know if it's Filipino style or Hawaii style, but they put raisins in there, too!  It was a good day!

yeah! power tools!

stacks of ¥500 coins (about $5 coins)
how much money do you think is in here?