Visitors from Japan

We've spent the last two days with a lovely couple from Japan.  Aiko (on the right) was a homestay student with us about eight years ago, when she came to Canada at age 20 to study English.  Now she is married to a sweet guy, Munehito (Mune for short) and they came on a whirlwind trip to Canada for their honeymoon.

We were so happy to be able to put them up for a couple of days and to see Aiko again.  I think the high point for Aiko was seeing Geordie and Maggie again.  When Aiko lived with us they were young dogs, aged four and seven, and they bonded so strongly to her.  For years whenever Geordie would see a young Japanese woman on the sidewalk he'd want to run up to see if it was Aiko.  Can you imagine the reunion? It was really special. 

Here's Aiko with Geordie on the pillow in the kitchen, and with Maggie in the back yard.

Aiko and Mune experienced some Canadian weather while they were here. Yesterday we walked across the road in the frost to Haliburton Farm to see the vegetables. (And here's the kale photo I promised. It's very healthy in spite of -- or because of -- the cold weather).

But this is what we woke up to this morning -- about three inches of snow. Aiko and Mune had so much fun taking the dogs out to the park for a playtime.   Mune loves dogs just as much as Aiko.  In fact they are planning to get a Border Collie puppy in the spring.  And they will be wonderful dog owners too. 

Even Maggie perked up and became puppyish with this young couple staying in our home. Here she is walking the the park with Mune.  You can see how the dogs are racing around in the snow.

And look at this! Maggie's actually leaping in the air with her Frisbee.

It was wonderful to welcome Aiko back to Canada and to meet Mune, but we're sad to see them go so soon. They are off to Vancouver for a couple of days and will then fly back to Japan.  We will miss them and so will our dogs.