Japanese White Eye;

I happened to see about 10 white-eyes were resting in our small apricot tree. 

"Wow" I rushed to get camera!  

I was inside the house and the curtains were closed. 

When I opened the curtain slowly and gently, they started to fly off.

Unfortunately, the shot below was the only decent picture I could take.  Well, I decided not to take the rare chance wasted and to post this pic for Saturday's critters with introduction of one Japanese idiom derived from their habit.      
                 We call them   Mejiro, 目白（メジロ)　"eye white"

*We have an idiom "目白押し、mejirooshi"; "jostling of mejiro" *

Big events are packed, aren't they?  

Big events are "mejirooshi", aren't they? 

The phrase above is an example of the Japanese idiom "mejirooshi". From the scene of a flock of white-eye nestle up like that, which I've never seen(^^;) 

      I'll be busy this weekend; but try catching up with you, till next week my friends.

I'm linking this post to Saturday's critters; 

Yojijukugo (四字熟語);

(posted; Etymology page) 

Feb. 26th is the anniversary of my mother's death. I remember she felt proud of and happy for me when I passed a certain English proficiency test and started teaching at home. Especially she had seen me so down after giving up the fertility treatment. 

I thought I should post some topic in memory of her. 
I seem to run out of topic;  but I could find one I haven't posted.

*Yojijukugo (四字熟語)*

The idiomatic phrases are composed of 4 Chinese Characters; and in the sense, they have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of the component words.  

       I'll just introduce some examples here;

The ones which may be easy for English speaking people;

          一石二鳥　(one/stone/two/bird） [isseki'nichou]
                 killing two birds with one stone 

          試行錯誤 （try/conduct/mistake/error） [shikousakugo]　 

                 trial and error

The ones I like;

          十人十色 （ten/people/ten/color） [juunintoiro]　
              So many people, so many minds; everyone has his own ideas and tastes;

          無理難題 （impossible/challenge）　[murinandai] 

                unreasonable [impossible] demand; asking the impossible; tall order 

          
          馬耳東風 （horse/ear/east/wind）　[bajitoufuu]
             turning a deaf ear (to); not paying attention to someone's opinions or criticism; 
                in one ear and out the other; praying to deaf ears 

      When my husband asks me 無理難題, I am like 馬耳東風  p;)

          順風満帆 （order/wind/fully/sail） [junpuumanpan]　
                smooth sailing with all sails set; 
               everything going smoothly [like a boat carried by favorable winds] 

*I DO hope everyone's life is and will be 順風満帆*

            ps;  You'll know more Yojijukugo from this page and this is Wikipedia page

                   And may surprise to see there are so many of them, not that we use many of them nor often.

Thank you very much for reading this lengthy topic 

and hope you could get what explained;

           

Mountain-Burning Event;

I've been to the "Mountain-Burning Event" to the "Akiyoshi-Dai (plateau)",
where is one and half an hour drive from my house. 
link page  (the event has more than 600 year's history)

Mine City in Yamaguchi-pref. is home to Akiyoshidai (秋吉台), the plateau with the highest concentration of karst formations in Japan, and Akiyoshido 

(秋芳洞, Akiyoshidō), the nation's largest and longest limestone cave.

    *It was my first experience to see the event*  

At 9:30, firing started with the big siren. Gradually the huge area was surrounded by flame and smoke. I hope you can enjoy my humble pictures :-)  

firing started and helicopters must be taking video (maybe tv-crew)

precaution (fire engine) and Japanese Shiba-Inu with its master

dangerous job it must be and the professional looking man must have had good shots!

lucky that I could get close to the fire

lots of people with cameras

*extra*

   
 (This photo is from this page) 

As you can see, we're able to enjoy 

the burning at night time as well. 

The Chinese Character means "fire". 

   The unburnt place from my last 

panoramic pic is for the night show. 

Maybe next time p;)

PS; The purpose of this burning of grass is extermination of the pest and to make the 
       ash manure. Promoting the growth of a bud coming out in spring.

I'll link this post to "Our World Tuesday".

Thank you very much for stopping by;

Duck family so many;

The pictures below were taken at the river near my house. 

Many ducks were there and having lunch or enjoying their river lives.

what a different shade of color (^^;)

The birds below are called "Little Grebe" ;

I learned that they are not in duck family.  Not like ducks, they dive under the water for a while to eat fish etc 'flesh-eating' bird.  I've missed the perfect shot which one of them had 
a little fish in its mouth.

     *I checked the word "duck"*

OMG, what a varieties of them! This pic-page really surprised me. Until I became blog friends with who features birds, duck only meant white one like from this page. Yes, image of 'Donald Duck' and we call them "ahiru アヒル".  
And for me, other colorful ones were "カモ･鴨；kamo". 
    I've thought these were in the different family p;)  
          Oh, Duck family are so many;

    I'm linking this post to Wild Bird Wednesday and Saturday's critters.  

                      Yes, I'm not posting until this weekend 

                      and concentrate on visiting you from tomorrow (^_^;) 

Japanese Witch Hazel (Mansaku, 万作）

        *Today, I went to see the witch hazel (←link) to the next city's park* 

     My friend taught me about the rare (for me) tree called witch hazel. 
Among the varieties of them; The majority of vernal , Chinese and Japanese witch hazels typically flower sometime from January into March.
The Japanese name for witch hazel is mansaku.  When it is written in Chinese character like this "万作" they literally mean “rich crop” ; in reference to folklore that posited that, when flowers appeared in great number, abundant crop harvests would follow. The name has also been translated as “earliest flowering”. It came from the dialect of northern part in Japan "mannzusakuru まんずさくる,　firstly come"

the tree located a bit far from the camera angel,  sorry for my bad pics with zoom

After passing the gate, we needed to go down the path, and deep inside the park. We were lucky that running into the staff and being guided to the right direction.

It would be nice if we could get more closer and enjoy the unusually lovely flower better. They look tiny from where we stand.  As you can see, my husband used bicycle from the parking lot. 

Besides seeing the tree, it was a marvelous day for taking a walk and forest bathing whch I cannot usually have.

I'll link this post to "Our World Tuesday".  

I wished to write this in time before I sleep and to the link.
Thanks for stopping by. Visiting you soon, my friends.

Night Night from Japan;

Today's Flowers;

Seeing my dear friend's "Sallie" post, I was motivated to take pictures of  flowers on Japanese apricot tree in my tiny garden♡♡♡

I wish to have a single-lens reflex camera  to make the back of the picture blurry:-) 

     
Thank you very much for stopping by:
Linking this post to "Today's Flowers"

First Bird Post ;

  *I've heard that 2 kinds of migrating birds are visiting the lake in our city park* 
                         They are coot and pewit gull. 
             Oh, surprising that I start remembering the names of birds a little. 
       I'm happy that I can post for "Saturday's Critters" link (Thanks to Eileen).  
                      I appreciate my husband taking me places and wait p;) 

They were the ones waiting for me saying; "what can we do for you?" 

lots of pigeons and the young couple with a baby girl
were feeding the sweet guests in our city park

            My pictures got really bluish; I needed to put some effects (^_^;)
                           Thank you very much for stopping by;

      Linking this post to "Saturday'sCritters"

Happy Valentine with Rewarding Feeling♪

Normally, I help junior high or high school students with their preparation of their English textbook.  Now I have a sweet third grade elementary school girl. 

     The girl looked happy learning about Valentines Day with me♡♡♡

"Do you eat chocolate on Feb. 14th; Valentines Day?"   "nod"

"You don't know what that day means, do you?"           "nod"

            She is nodding the fact that she doesn't know; that's Japanese style.

She looked surprised to know about St. Valentine. And also the message he sent to the blind girl "from your Valentine" before he was executed, seemed touched her. Smiled a bit to know that the custom about chocolate (usually girls give boys) is nothing to do with him and was started by chocolate company in 1958 only in Japan.

She must be too early to learn about a persecuted martyr (hope I'm using the proper word). But at least she took my message that he was the St. who tried to spread the LOVE of God.  It was a class with rewarding feeling.

Not many Japanese people know about the story behind this day. I think it pity that we don't see the introduction behind this day much through tv or English textbook.

    *Decoration at my favorite cake shop and 2 chocolates my husband got*

Thank you very much for stopping by and my next post won't be so soon p;)

And Happy Valentines Day to you all filled with love; 

Bit Early Hina-Maturi post;

 (posted; Japanese culture page)

Early Feb. means Hina-maturi (雛祭り, girl's festival on March 3rd) is just around the corner in Japan. The traditional Japanese festival held to wish girls both health and growth. Hina means doll and matsuri means festival. here's the link of my other "hinamaturi-posts".

Yeterday, my dear friend and I went to "old Japanese (igura style) house" to see the beautiful decoration of Hina-maturi. I've already introduced the house here. It is the 130 year old house with 2 layered tiled roof and plastered wall owned by transportation business people. 

              As I pasted 2 links, I'll skip more lengthy explanation p;)

        Instead, I wish you to enjoy the pictures, (if possible,enlarged ones)

when we went into the house,
this cute girl with kimono was posing her father's camera

this is how innermost of the main room was look like

to our surprise, there was koto and shakuhachi play, many people were already listening

       *many hina-dolls and decoration*

    outside of the main room

     *Decorated items at another exhibiting places*

Thanks to my friend, I got a chance to see this event. And I also appreciate my friends to visit me despite of my ungratefulness. Finally, I'll be free and no plan after I have finished my late father's 100th day service today...

     Linking this post to "Our World Tuesday".