a young woman in her prime
full lips and bosoms -almost too beautiful to touch
for fear her delicate nature wither
even a thought could stir this motion beyond what it is
a moment in time
with the blink of an eye
she's gone
sakura
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sakura Blessings
The arrival of sakura (cherry blossoms) is a national celebration in Japan. Newscasts follow the blooming of the sakura trees which begin in mid-January in southern Japan (Okinawa).
It was Tokyo's turn in April. I was lucky enough to be there at that time strolling in a park while listening to the laughter of university students as they picnicked under the white and pink floral boughs. These picnics are an annual event enjoyed by all ages.
The sakura not only canopy picnics, the flowers are used to make sake and sweets...their precious petals can even be found in rice balls (onigiri).
Songs and poetry are sung, read, and written some more about the cherry blossoms.
A word used to describe the love for the sakura is "hakanasa" which loosely means - the feeling you have about the beauty of things that don't last forever.
Well, the sakura have finally blessed us in Hokkaido. Just in time for Mother's Day.
On a drive in the country today I couldn't help but smile with delight every time I spotted one of these wonders.
Around the bend, in the middle of nowhere...was the largest blossoming cherry tree I have ever seen.... or climbed for that matter.
t
It was Tokyo's turn in April. I was lucky enough to be there at that time strolling in a park while listening to the laughter of university students as they picnicked under the white and pink floral boughs. These picnics are an annual event enjoyed by all ages.
The sakura not only canopy picnics, the flowers are used to make sake and sweets...their precious petals can even be found in rice balls (onigiri).
Songs and poetry are sung, read, and written some more about the cherry blossoms.
A word used to describe the love for the sakura is "hakanasa" which loosely means - the feeling you have about the beauty of things that don't last forever.
Well, the sakura have finally blessed us in Hokkaido. Just in time for Mother's Day.
On a drive in the country today I couldn't help but smile with delight every time I spotted one of these wonders.
Around the bend, in the middle of nowhere...was the largest blossoming cherry tree I have ever seen.... or climbed for that matter.
t
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
April Update
There is even more life on the horse farm. Seven more babes have been born -Would you believe only one male in the bunch!
Yesterday on a hike in the hills I saw my first wild-flower of the season. It is yellow and the Japanese name for it is hukujusou.
I started teaching English at a cute little school house in Kushiro. Days have been busy remembering names and planning lessons.
There was a night of song at the opening of the Hickory Wind Cafe last Saturday. It was great belting out a few tunes with Makoto and the band again.
Easter greetings all.
t
Yesterday on a hike in the hills I saw my first wild-flower of the season. It is yellow and the Japanese name for it is hukujusou.
I started teaching English at a cute little school house in Kushiro. Days have been busy remembering names and planning lessons.
There was a night of song at the opening of the Hickory Wind Cafe last Saturday. It was great belting out a few tunes with Makoto and the band again.
Easter greetings all.
t
Saturday, March 7, 2009
The New Addition
She was born yesterday morning. As we were away all day in the city, we did not find out about her arrival until today. There was a rain storm last night so I call her Ame -the Japanese word for rain (pronounced ah-may).
She is the youngest horse I have ever seen.
Ame is the first of 15 foals expected to arrive this spring!!
t
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Signs of Spring
We still have a tonne of snow on the ground. Some actually fell from the sky today. No photo could capture the way the snow clouds slowly covered the sunny sky and then how peacefully the big flakes fell upon the spruce trees. A very special fairy tale moment indeed - especially when signs of spring are about.
The days are getting longer, some snow is melting, the cranes are returning to the marsh, and a few pussy willow buds have showed themselves on the willow trees. Yesterday the sky was so blue and the sun was so warm - I didn't even have to wear snow pants or a warm jacket while cross-country skiing.
Nothing like taking a nose-dive in the cold stuff!
t
The days are getting longer, some snow is melting, the cranes are returning to the marsh, and a few pussy willow buds have showed themselves on the willow trees. Yesterday the sky was so blue and the sun was so warm - I didn't even have to wear snow pants or a warm jacket while cross-country skiing.
Nothing like taking a nose-dive in the cold stuff!
t
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Meeting Ali
It was a very cold day and getting even colder as the sun started to descend at around 4:00 pm when we arrived at the Akan Crane Center.
Ali from Florida had been at the center since 8:00 that morning and he was still enthusiastically taking photos and oohing and ahhing at the sight of the Japanese cranes landing and taking off again.
Ali is a photographer. You know...the kind of photographer who takes shots of the Obama inauguration and the Summer Games in Beijing.
He was wearing an Iditerod jacket (the famous Alaskan dog-sled race). Ali explained that he had taken photos for the Iditerod for a few years and when photographing last year's race, he had quite an unexpected experience.
Ali was a passenger in a small plane that was flying near the Brooks Range when due to bad weather, the plane went down and crashed into the Yukon River.
Ali said that he had enough time to think about three things before they hit...
1. He was okay with God -for the most part he tried to do the right thing
2. He was okay with others -he walked away from confrontation and did not feel
the need to apologize to anyone
3. He loved being a photographer and was happy with his life's work
If this was it...he was ready to go. He was at peace.
Thankfully it was not Ali's time and we had the privilege of meeting him and listening to his story.
Thanks Ali.
t
Ali from Florida had been at the center since 8:00 that morning and he was still enthusiastically taking photos and oohing and ahhing at the sight of the Japanese cranes landing and taking off again.
Ali is a photographer. You know...the kind of photographer who takes shots of the Obama inauguration and the Summer Games in Beijing.
He was wearing an Iditerod jacket (the famous Alaskan dog-sled race). Ali explained that he had taken photos for the Iditerod for a few years and when photographing last year's race, he had quite an unexpected experience.
Ali was a passenger in a small plane that was flying near the Brooks Range when due to bad weather, the plane went down and crashed into the Yukon River.
Ali said that he had enough time to think about three things before they hit...
1. He was okay with God -for the most part he tried to do the right thing
2. He was okay with others -he walked away from confrontation and did not feel
the need to apologize to anyone
3. He loved being a photographer and was happy with his life's work
If this was it...he was ready to go. He was at peace.
Thankfully it was not Ali's time and we had the privilege of meeting him and listening to his story.
Thanks Ali.
t
Shall We Dance?
It is wonderful to watch the Japanese cranes pair up then curtsy, jump, bow, twirl, turn...
And after the dance they raise their long necks to the sky, open their beaks and cry out in song- The male one melody, and the female another -sounding like a harmonious trumpet tune.
It really is difficult describing these elegant mating dance performances.
Typing these words makes me feel like I have 'two left hands'!
Enjoy the photos!
t
And after the dance they raise their long necks to the sky, open their beaks and cry out in song- The male one melody, and the female another -sounding like a harmonious trumpet tune.
It really is difficult describing these elegant mating dance performances.
Typing these words makes me feel like I have 'two left hands'!
Enjoy the photos!
t
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