Two New Year things (Birds and Calligraphy at the Dentist) ;

*Birds at Natural Park part 1 *

On 6th, my husband suggested me to visit Kirara Natural Park.  Happily, we could find this gorgeous Osprey from observation center. He was looking for fish on the wooden perch.  Let me make this post part 1 from this place :-)  

This picture of flying Osprey taken by my husband (^_^)ｖ

Saunders's gull with crab;  So happy to be able to catch the moment♪

Great Egret  with long face and beak:-)  at the edge of the park's tideland.

And these birds shots are for  "Friday’s Hunt", (my Week's Favorite)

*My next neighbor's kids made Wooden Bird at the park*

The day before we went to the park, from my next neighbor I happened to know that Wooden Bird (bird is this year's zodiac sign) making event were going on there. Their kids made these works.  The clock behind them were an ornament I borrowed p:-)  

* "First Calligraphy of the Year "  at the Dentist  *

Since at the end of the last year, I started to go to the dentist. I was surprised that they posted the works written by the patients and others on the ceiling of the treatment room.  And the local Cable TV covered about it on 13th. 

The patients can see the works while the treatment as the works are on the ceiling. I thought it a "nice idea".  The lovely young lady from the cable TV with the character.

She also was asked to write;

*Signboard at the Dentist*

The red part of the long one on the left shows the name of the dentist.  In Japanese, we call dentist "歯科・ Shika" and deer is also called "鹿・ shika".  We don't see deers around the area so the sign is just "play on words" with homophenes p:-)

ps; I wrote about the reason why the Calligraphy in the dentist in my next post;

Although I posted mine, I haven't been able to visit you all.  We still have a couple of inquiries for my late late parents house, not finalized, etc (^^;)   Hope your new week will be a wonderful one ♪    I'll start Visiting You Soon ☆☆☆

Linking this post to; 
"MosaicMonday",  "Our World Tuesday", "Nature Notes", "Outdoor Wednesday", 

"WATW", "Flower Wednesday", "Thankful Thursday",  "signs, signs", 

Good Fences, "Floral Friday Fotos",  "Flower Friday",  "Friday’s Hunt", 

"Scenic Weekends", "Saturday's critters", "id-rather-b birdin",

Seven Herbs Rice Porridge(Nanakusa-Gayu) and birds etc;

*Seven Herbs Rice Porridge (Nanakusa-gayu.七草粥) *

Nanakusa-Gayu with side dishes (Spring Roll)

Jan.7th, is the Seven Herbs Rice Porridge eating Day. This is a New Year's Tradition of eating a rice porridge with seven-medicinal herbs to pray for good health and longevity.  After enjoying New Year food (osechi), this simple vegetarian rice porridge Okayu (お粥) is very refreshing and help digestive system that is stuffed and exhausted.   It is the traditional meal to eat when you’re sick;  Can be the Japanese equivalent of chicken soup for eastern people:-)

*Seven Herbs*
My husband's acquaintance who works at the agricultural high school kindly gave us 
this package of seven herbs which were grown by the students of the school.

Please enlarge the graph below to know what herbs are used :-)

I remember my late mother memorized the names and saying them like a song.

We can buy the seven traditional greens conveniently packaged together at supermarket.

I found the one we are given sold at the store we regularly use like last year. (left side)

*Dusky thrush and Pale thrush *

I was happy that some kinds of birds came to the tree in front of my ｈouse.  I took pictures of them last year while there were tree nuts for them to have.  Both birdies and nuts are all gone now :-)   I LOVE these Creatures (for  Friday’s Hunt)

*White Camellia Sasanqua* 

Taken last year from the road side. Wished to see them more as I haven't 

seen them as many as the most year.

Thank you SO much for your kind visits, 

Start Visiting you from tomorrow ♡♡♡  

Wishing you all had a wonderful start of New Year.

Linking this post to, "Our World Tuesday","NatNotes","Outdoor Wednesday", 

"WATW", "Flower Wednesday",  "Thankful Thursday", "Floral Friday Fotos",  

"Flower Friday",  "Friday’s Hunt", "Scenic Weekends", 

"Saturday's critters", "id-rather-b birdin",

New Year's Visit to a Shrine (Hatumoude) etc;

*New Year’s Visit to a Shrine (hatumoude）& Omikuji*
          A Happy new Year to Everyone!

Visiting shrine on the Jan. first, second, or third to wish for the peaceful and healthy year is the very important first of the year event. New omamori (charms or amulets) are bought,  and the old ones are returned to the shrine so they can be burned. I bought some for us. Long queue to the Main Shrine.

According to the Chinese Zodiac sign, this year is the year of Bird. I was born in the sheep year. If you are interested in what year you were born, you can check yours and your character from this page.

There were three types of Omikuji (おみくじ）, I chose English version :-)  

Happy that my year is going to be a fairly good one.

People are buying Omamori and you can see lovely shrine maiden. 

*Two Birds I found on our way back from  visiting shrine*

Male Redstart   While we stopped our car, this one Came and Perched on the near by electric wire and the other one on the block fence.

Eastern Buzzard    my husband found perching on the tree very far place while he kindly making detour.

I found this flower this Oct.  Sorry that I couldn't identify its name.

Year-end and and new-year is definitely we need our family member to enjoy togather!!!  I DO hope everyone is having happy new year with your family.

I'll see you next week and try visiting you until then.

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

"Nature Notes","Outdoor Wednesday", "WATW", "Flower Wednesday",  

"Thankful Thursday", "Floral Friday Fotos",  "Flower Friday", "Friday’s Hunt", 

"Scenic Weekends", Good Fences,"Saturday's critters", "id-rather-b birdin",

My First Bird and first kind of Cookie;

* Bull-headed Shrike  百舌鳥・ モズ mozu * 

While we were checking our river-side tree for birds, a little cute one perched nearby electric wire.  I've heard the name of this bird and just from the sound of the name, I've had an imagination that it would be a bit big Birds of Prey. Its sweet face was a pleasant surprise for me♪  

 

 The chinese character of its name also was surprising for me.

  PC taught me "百舌鳥.  hundred tongue bird" derived from their varieties of singing sounds. I might as well check them with You-tube (♡^.^♡)

*Field Flower Cookie 野の花クッキー* 

This Cookie was a souvenir from my husband's band member to Kyushu where is famous for hot-spa.  My first Cookie with  lovely flower♪ 

*Pink Camellia Sasanqua* 

This Sasanqua is from our tiny garden, pictures were taken late Nov. 

After the rain and under the bluer sky. It's still the season for this flower♪

   May Your Year 20017 will be filled with happiness!!!

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

"Nature Notes","Outdoor Wednesday", "WATW", "Flower Wednesday",  

"Thankful Thursday", "Floral Friday Fotos",  "Flower Friday",  

"Friday’s Hunt", "Scenic Weekends", 

ps; If you have read my post before I've changed the name of the bird for correct one, so sorry for my mistake.  I've written its name for my next post bird's.