Boy's Day Celebration, 2016 etc;

(posted; Japanese culture page)

*Coming May 5th is Children's Day "子供の日"or Boy's Day celebration *

Boy's Day Festival exhibition held by local Handicraft Association

I've explained about this day here;  On this day, we celebrate Tango no Sekku (端午の節句) and wish that our sons will grow up healthy and strong.    'タンポポの会 tampopo no kai' which is the same association held Girl's day exhibition (I posted here) had Children’s Day exhibition in collaboration with the Ceramics Federation.

Happy to see dolls for this day made of "Cocoon Filament" like the girl's day ♪

 The bottles (earthen ware) below used as vases are sulfuric acid bottle container.  Next city where is my husband's birth city used to have thriving ceramic engineering  (pottery industry).  "sulfuric acid, is for refining gold and silver" for coins. 

Here is my post about it.

*Works by Indigo Dying*

I'm surprised that the Matsutake-mushrooms look so real and even they put fragrance on the Hard Tip of them (hope the right word).  We call the part 'ishizuki  石づき'

I really LOVED this work which expresses the old scenery with the lovely old couple.

I really felt heartwarming to see this sweet old couple; we'll be soon p:-)

*The Ceramics Federation side*

I've visited the exhibition yesterday, wished to post early for the association.  

Have a great new week; See You Soon, friends♪

Linking this post to "MosaicMonday" and "Our World Tuesday"

Amazing Birds etc;

*Osprey from last Dec.*

"At Kirara-Hama Nature Observation Park"

We visited this park last Dec. (detail post here), and found osprey again :-) 

Very far from inside of the observatory but kind of fascinated by being able to see eating his food (prey?).  Loved to see this dignified looking bird.　Let me introduce other birdies from this park later gradually.

      (posting this part to Japanese culture page)
* My first "Varied Tit" and their "Oracle Tricks"*

So sorry for my blurry image,  really felt discouraged by missing the chance to take good photo.  When I found she/he, I was SO happy and thankful this colorful bird appearing in front of me.  As I couldn't identify the name, I contacted to the Nature Park. The lady staff who answered my call mailed me detail about this bird. So amazed to know that with the high learning ability this bird has, they are known to show us "Oracle Tricks".   Through PC, I learned this bird's tick dates back to 700 years or so; which no longer seen due to wildlife protection act etc. 

I wished to introduce this bird's talent I didn't know; Happy if you can enjoy the videos.  

 For your clear idea of this bird, I found this picture above here  in the "Bird Fun" site.

This first "Varied Tit" for me was walking in the little park close to my house.
This is one of the scenery from up on the hill of the park .
Viewing the  coastal industrial zone and there are "Fence" :-)

Linking this post to, "id-rather-b birdin" , "Nature Notes", 
"Our World Tuesday", "WATW", 

"Wild Bird Wednesday", "Outdoor Wednesday", "GoodFences" 

Learning about the Varied Tit was a fresh surprise (like opening the new knowledge box) for me. 
Please forgive me about my manner...  Catching up soon!




ps; The first bird in my Jan. 2nd's post was NOT 'African Stonechat' but they were Brambling'.   Thanks to the lady staff, she taught me about it through mail ♪

Our Jan.1st and 2nd;

 (posted; Japanese culture page)

Hi, I DO hope you are having wonderful start of 2016☆☆☆

*New Year's visit to a shrine, Hatumoude "初詣”*

Yesterday, on 1st. we had a sudden guests and had unexpected busy day with them.  So this morning on 2nd, we visited a shrine. We pray for the peace and health for the year.  I hope you can see an atmosphere through my picture for our new year custom♪

Long queue to wait during  "the first three days" of the year.

We have special way to call these 3 days "三が日. sannga-nichi"

    This year happens to be "the year of monkey" according to Chinese Zodiac Sign.

おみくじ. Omikuji (also referred to as Mikuji) are Sacred Lots drawn at temples or shrines to tell our fortune.  If your written oracle "fortune" said that you would have unlucky year, you'll tie it like the picture below.

Mine was a middle luck :-)

♡ First two kinds of Birds for me on New Year♡

After finished visiting a place with our guests on 1st, I found these 'African Stonechat (hope so)　Brambling' 　when we were coming back home. With poor nature in our area, these so many birds even on the electric wire really surprised us and made me happy feeling as if lucky year ahead for us p:-)   Normally these flock of birds fly away as soon as they sense me getting close. Even all together at an instant.  They looked So cold that my husband said 'they look like dumpling' which means 'roll up a ball'.

And these 'Japanese Grosbeak' were waiting for me when we came back from shrine, on the tree of close to my house ♫♫♫

I was busy arranging this post this afternoon (^^;)   

My next post will be a week later, Visiting You Soon ♡♡♡

Linking this post to, "Saturday's critters", "id-rather-b birdin" ,"Scenic Weekends", 

"MosaicMonday", "WATW",  "Our World Tuesday", "Wild Bird Wednesday",

"Nature Notes","Outdoor Wednesday", "GoodFences" 

Celebrating New House;

(posted; Japanese culture page)

*Introducing New House to Friends and Neighbors*

My husband's lady-keyboard player asked members to play some music for her sister's '家見せ・ie-mise' which means to show and introduce ones new house to friends and neighbors. And also the Shinto Ritual was conducted. My first time to see this ritual. Sure is depends on regional customs.  Normally, we throw celebrating mochi at the time of house-raising. 

     People were carrying 'Mikoshi', or 'divine palanquin'.  It was held early Oct. 

     People were enjoying music in front of the band and offered some drink and etc.

     Pasting part from my old post about 'mochi throwing';

           *Throwing cerebrating red and white mochi at house-raising

At the time of house-raising, people cerebrate the occasion by throwing small red and white mochi.  Different from showing already built house but happy time to share the joy of having a new house. I was happy to know about Housewarming from friends' comment for my post.

Hoping for the Happy life with New House;

These pictures were gifted from the keybord player growing at her garden.

First 'Dracaena' is called '幸せの木. tree of happiness '

Thank you so much for your Kind Visits;

My cold and runny nose getting better(^^;)

I hope you are having wonderful new week, See You Soon;

Linking this post to, "MosaicMonday", "Our World Tuesday", 

"Outdoor Wednesday",