First Birth

I saw this little gal come into the world last night.
It is the first birth I have ever witnessed.
This photo was taken about fifteen minutes after she was born.
The babe was standing after forty minutes. Ten minutes later she was making her first sounds and feeding.

Truly amazing.
t

Spring Equinox

Yesterday was spring equinox (Shubun-no-hi) and a national holiday in Japan. I read that some Japanese people visit the graves of their ancestors on this day.

The other day I went for a walk and found these hare tracks in the snow. You can imagine the size of the hare by comparing them to my boot print.



There are no egg carrying bunnies here in Japan. I have yet to see any Easter chocolates, cards, or decorated eggs in any of the stores. The reason for this... Easter is not celebrated here.

But ancestors are remembered and really...isn't that the true meaning of Easter. A reminder that new life awaits us even after we are gone?

Happy Spring.

t

Abundance

The stars are abundantly clear tonight.
I just went to check on the first baby of 2010.
She was born just after midnight last night.
Isn't she adorable.

t

A Walk in the Snow

It's much easier to get our three year old students down to the river in this fun red sled. We listened to the water flow and the birds sing...'It's almost spring.'

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Hard to Believe

The pussy willows are budding and there are a few ladybugs running around our classroom. There is still a tonne of snow on the ground here in the village, but with the light of longer days and festivals to celebrate...come hints that spring really is on its way.

We celebrated Setsubun (phase/dividing), on February 3. The adult male of the house dresses up as an oni (ogre) and the children throw soy beans (or peanuts here in Hokkaido) at him to force him out of the house. The song they sing is:

"oniwa soto." (evil get out)
"fukuwa uchi. (happiness or luck come in)

All of this happens about ten days before the lunar New Year marking the darkness of winter leaving and the longer days of spring beginning.

Hinamasturi (small dolls festival) was just celebrated on March 3. At this time every year, families display dolls to give thanks for their daughters' good health. Special sweets called sakura-mochi (cherry blossom-pounded rice) are also eaten. A friend visited us on March 3 and brought along some handmade sakura-mochi... sticky pink rice balls filled with sweet azuki bean paste all wrapped in cherry tree leaves. They were delicious!

If it wasn't for the nekoyanagi (cat willows), the ladybugs, and these special festivals, I would have a hard time believing that spring is around the corner. Look at the photo we took today on the ranch to see why!

An old car on the ranch

t