this is a small taste of the amount of snow we've gotten...

The 'Magical Melting Sidewalks'... this picture is from way back in the beginning of December. This was just the beginning of all the snow we've gotten. And these sidewalks, where they're located, are quite amazing. They actually work pretty well. And when they end... well, you step up 2 feet and start walking on the hard-packed snow sidewalks. Sometimes people cut steps into the snow. grins



The chore of every house owner in Northern Japan. The unfortunate thing is that most house owners are elderly people. The problem is is that it is these elderly people that are climbing up on top of their rooves shoveling off the snow. And it's people in their 50s and 60s helping people in their 70s and 80s. And this guy is probably wondering why in the world I'm taking a picture of him. :)



Bush snow shelters. This fall I was kind of amused at the lengths they were going to to care for their bushes... now I understand.



and all of this is after a week of "warmer" weather and melting snow...





grins Shimashyou! Come play! ;)