Trip to Zao

Sister Konoko, a single adult of the Izumi Ward and a good friend works at her family restaurant in Zao, a rural area about 30 Kilometers from our house.  She invited us to come out to eat and see her family farm.  We took a day and drove there and loved the quiet beauty of that little community.  It reminded us of Idaho where we grew up.

We sat outside to eat.

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 Inside the small restaurant, her grandma displayed these quilts she made by hand.  They were spectacular works of art.

 Konoko Shimai and Gary by the cheese factory next door to her restaurant. 

 On our walk to the cheese factory we passed this beautiful rose garden.  Pictures don't show how beautiful it was.  Every kind and color imaginable was represented in this garden.

 Gary and I have commented many times that we never have seen a cow on our mission even though we  live in a rural part of Japan.  Behind the cheese factory, we saw these cows and got kind of excited about it. 

A typical drive through Zao.  Beautiful place!