Melting Snow

It's supposed to snow again tonight. It hasn't snown for weeks here (although it snowed a bit in Akiyama a few days ago), and it is hard to believe that the snow on the side of the roads used to be over our heads. The photo above is from Tomoe and I trying to clear our field off so we can get plantin' as soon as possible. Once the snow is gone we also have to wait for the soil to dry a bit.

The photos were taken about a week ago. There is no where near as much snow now, but we are far rom "snow-free". The neighbor was out this morning with a tractor plowing snow off of their rice field. In addition to plowing, people still use the traditional method of spreading dark ash or soil over the snow to aid in the melting process. Still, judging from the current melting rate, the last snow will melt in the end of April.

These photos are from the top of the village ski-hill. They want a panorama shot to make a sign with the names of all the mountains in the background. Ihappened to be up there on a clear day so I took some shots. Unfortunately , it is my first attempt at a professional level panorama, and only one portion of the skyline turned out. I plan to get up there again on the next clear day.