" HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY"

Wishing you all a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

WISTERIA FESTIVAL

May is  a time to celebrate the beauty of nature and friendship  in the Buddhist Temple and the Wisteria Gardens. My beautiful Russian friend Larissa and baby Diana  are caught by surprise under the  flowing cascades of the blooming wisteria. It's a time of rebirth and joy  in Japan, as new buds blossom and new life flourishes to greet the floral extravaganza to come... " All things are  bright and beautiful."

"HAPPY EASTER"

HAPPY EASTER  to you all from Japan . I thought you might like to see what's blooming in my garden and all around the countryside... Beautiful Cherry and Plum Blossoms .ENJOY !!!!

Blessings to you and your family for a most joyous Easter !!!

" HOPE"

My prayers and thoughts are with the families and individuals who are suffering under the terrible devastation of  the  recent earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. Already it's terrifying effects have saturated our lives ...

It is a time to reflect on the fragile state of life and our existence in this world... It is a time to love and support one another  in the face of an awesome yet sometimes cruel mother nature and listen to the messages.

We are but a small planet  that is in need of tender loving care to survive. Please light a candle of love, healing  and HOPE for our childrens' future..... and pray for those less fortunate people, in Japan and  around the world. May God Bless us all !!!!

"CHERRY BLOSSOM"

The BLOSSOMS are a' coming and I'm soooooo excited.... The  Festival of Cherry Blossoms will soon line the streets of Japan in a glorious cascade of pink and white blossoms cascading  like fairies onto the streets... March and April mark the beginning and end  of the festivities. Couldn't help creating afew Cherry Blossom ATC's in celebration ... Naturally it's called 'Cherry Blossom' ( ha ha)

I will arrive in Kitakyushu, Japan  just in time to snap a few hundred picture with my camera and  join into the celebration in and around the bustling communities ... To people in North America it's just a bunch of trees blooming .

In Japan, it's  beauty and harmony  and  a time to bask in the glory of nature... This is a picture of my friend, Mikio under a double flowering Cherry Blossom tree. .. It takes your breath away , doesn't it !!!!

Experiencing  the  thousands  of  Cherry trees, dotting the countryside  in full bloom  is  literally a vision of pink heaven. I will send pictures !!!!

'"PAPER ART"

Japan is famous for their use and creation of paper ....  Want to see something amazing... check out this site.... WOW !!!!http://tokyobling.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/a-paper-craft-castle-on-the-ocean/

Tell me what you think ...about paper art from Japan. after you view the above  site.... AMAZING !!!!

" NO JOKE "

In Japan, February the 14th is a special day for men not for women . So it's Hiroko's  supper treat  for her husband  Mikio . Needless to say ,  he loves the attention... We went to the " Red Door Restaurant "  in downtown Kokura, Japan... for  you'll never guess ...Chinese Food   ( Ha Ha)