September(1)

                           


                                                       Higan flowers. I saw them last year near my house. They must have been planted by nearby residents.

                                                       They looked colorful especially on that rainy day.

               These flowers were taken in 2018 near my house.

                                 Higan flowers are usually seen in the footpaths between rice fields in countryside, to protect growing rice from wild rats as their bulbs are toxic.

                                          The other day, I was walking around an area, once with full of Higan flowers, and noticed the flowers had been completely pulled out.

                                           From this autumn, Higan flowers there will no longer be in bloom. I will miss them forever.

                                                 　　　　　　　　　　　                           昨年 近所で見かけた彼岸花。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　         　   先日、すべて抜き取られてるのに気が付きました。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　                                     　   ストリートに咲く彼岸花もいいものと思ってたので残念でした。



                                                                                                               Tomoko


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August(2)

                                            Himeji Castle, which is called Shirasagi (White Heron) Castle because of the beautiful figure spreading its wings

                                            This photo was taken when I visited the castle with our son and granddaughter in mid-August.

                               　　　　　　　　　　　　 One of the annual events in our area is a fireworks festival held at a nearby temple.

                                  　　　　　　　　　　　Usually my neighbors and I stand watching the fireworks along the street in front of our houses; 
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　this time, though, I went to the temple garden to watch the fireworks at close range.

                                    　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    In front of a goldfish scooping stand

                                                                                                                                        Tomoko 
                                                                              



       Thank you for visit.                                 　　　　　　　　 

August(1)

                                   During the unusual muggy days continuing here in Japan, let me send you cool wind from the sky: it is on the 60th observation floor 
                                  of the Harukas building in Osaka. For a moment, you can feel yourself soaring into the sky, getting away from the noise of the big city.

These photos were taken when I went to the Harukas building for some erands.

                                                                                                                         Tomoko



Thank you for visit.

July(2)

                                                                        

    
                                                                                          Finally the rainy season in Japan has finished.  

                                                    Although the rainy season is full of muggy days, we find that we still have beautiful things to see around us.

                                            
                                                                                                 Raindrops on lotus petals.

                                                                                             At the temple garden near my house

      

                                                I met a priest in the garden. He was willing to allow taking photos of him, saying welcome visitors.                

                                                                                             Tomoko



                                                                                  

July (1)

                                                                                                                            Random photos              　       
                                                                              from everyday chatter in July




                                                                                                                 　　     under my vinyl umbrella

                                                                     　　　　　         　 　　　   My mother-in-law's talisman, staying longer than me.　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　              　　　　　   　お前はいつまでここにいるんだい？

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　




                                                                                        　　　　　　　　　  Forgotten playground overgrown with grass　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　                           　　  　　　　　　　　　　すっかり草で覆われた近くの公園

                                                                                                  　　 　　 　　　Daily practice
                                                                        　   my piano student, reflection on the piano lid.　ピアノの蓋に映りこんだ生徒さん。

                                                                               　　　                                                Tomoko

Thank you for visit.
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June(2)

These photos  were taken at  the southern part of Awaji island,Anaga.

My husband and I took one night trip to the island  this month.

It was a beautiful day.

The sunset was glorious.

                                                                         　　　　　　a local man taking a dog for a walk　　    陽が沈んだ後、地元の方が犬を散歩に連れてきたところです。

                                                                                                                      　　　        Anaga fishing port

　　　　　　on the way back home by car.

                               Our home is soon.

                                                                                                                            Tomoko


Thank you fir visit.
comment closed

June(1)

                     The roses at my local temple flowered this year too. On May 18th, local children and temple workers carried a big  basket of roses to the main hall on the hillside

                                                                      This is a ritual event held every spring, here at this temple.

                                                                                                                                               in the garden of the temple

                                                                         The roses were beautiful under the sunlight, and the water spray of the fountain in the garden was also bright.

                                                                                                                                                      Tomoko

May(2)

                                    One day in May, I walked around the Nara Park. Many tourists visit this ancient Nara to enjoy the lots of temples, buildings and atmosphere.
                                    Some local people sitting by the Sarusawa pond in the Park, and painting the image of the day is a familiar sight there.
                                   

                                         This is one of the painters I meet and speak sometimes at the same spot. His painting is a bit special, which is called pointillism with black ink.
                                His one set of 3 paper painting work is going to complete soon in October. It took him 2 years. He said with smile.

                                                                                                         Thank you for allowing me to take your art!   
                                                                                             I look forward to seeing you by the pond in the Park  again.

                                                                                                                               Here, life is passing very slowly...I like it.

                                  　　　　　　　　　　　 お天気の良い日に出かけると、同じ場所でよく出会う絵かきさん。お会いする度に絵が出来上がっていきます。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　コツコツと月日をかけて描く姿に心うたれます。写真も快く撮らせてくださいます。
                                                                                

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tomoko

May(1)

  Our sons and a daughter-in-law sent me this beautiful flowers on Mother's day.

   This is not a composite photo....yes, the reflection on the lid of my piano.

                                                                                                Finding the beautiful reflection on the lid, I tried to take the device of  piano too.

                                               

                                                                                                                                                very photogenic!

                                                                                                                I am so happy to find that there are so many beauties in my room.

                               

   


                                                                       

                                                                                               Driving Miss Daisy, I watched countless times 20 years ago is unforgettable film.

                                    

                                                          The main players are Miss Daisy, 72, a proud old wealthy Southern lady, and her chauffeur Hoke, he is a black man.

                                                          The story explores their relationship over 25 years. No special event happens; the days just pass quietly.
                                                                         Over the years, they are going to realize that their existence is important.The story looks at humans getting old and dying, 
                                                         mentions racism, and touches my heart with their exquisite words.
                                                                
                                                          I started reading the dialog of the film 5 monthes ago. With my English teacher's great help, the reading is going to the end soon.
                                                          It was fun but very difficult!!!
                                                          

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　長く使っていたピアノですが、色々な角度から見ると中々面白いと発見しました。身近に撮影出来る物があるのは楽しいですね。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　一枚目の写真はピアノのふたに映ってるのを斜めから撮りました。

                                             　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    
                                                                                                           いつも訪問して頂き有難うございます。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  中々パソコンを開く時間がありません。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　まだしばらくコメント閉じさせて頂きます。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

                                                                                                      Tomoko

                                                                       

                                                                           

                                                                             

Diary.....April(2)

                                     　　　　  I feel that while cherry blossoms were making Japanese people festive, the days in April were flying so fast.

                                       I missed enjoying the cherry blossoms this spring, but I found this lovely weeping peach tree quietly blooming at a nearby shrine.

                                   　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　  See? Single tree has white and pink flowers on it.

                                                                                                                                    源平しだれ桃(genpei weeping peach)

                                                                     This is my piano student who has been studying with me for over 13 years.

                                                                   She had dreamed since childhood of playing the piano, but  she never had a chance to try.

                                                                   When she retired, she came to my piano studio and started learning piano from the basics

                                                                                                        　　　　Here ,she plays Chopin's Nocturne Op.9.No.2.   

                                                Many students age from 4 to 80 were playing with me for more than 30years.Now she is my only student.

                                                I think, when she stops learning piano, it will also be my time to retire as a piano teacher.

                                                Then I will enjoy playing the piano for my own pleasure in everyday life.

                                                Until then we will continue practicing piano, encouraging each other as friends rather than as a teacher and student.

                                                      　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  　　　　 　 This is her favorite piano song.
                                         　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　For Elise ...Beethoven Op.173
                                  

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   最後のピアノの生徒さん。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　彼女の頑張る姿に励まされています。


                                              　　　　　　　　　　　　         Tomoko   

                               
                        

Diary......April(1)

It is fun .

Let's take a look at how to prepare mochi by pounding in the traditional way.

 April 2,I had lovely guests from Hawaii,Sandy and her partner Bert.

Sandy was my first teacher at an English converstaion class.

20 years ago, she moved back to Hawaii after living in Japan for 4 years as a teacher

and then we have been keeping in touch with each other by e-mail.

I took them out around Nara Park with my camera, but totally  forgot to take pictures!

too much fun being with them and the time was passing so fast.

This video was taken by Bert at a mochi shop near the Nara Park.

Tomoko