Together We Can Help One Another

 

Shinkyo Bridge (Sacred Bridge)

The Shinkyo Bridge stands at the entrance to Nikko’s Shrines and Temples. It belongs to Futarasan Shrine. It is ranked as one of Japan’s three finest bridges, together with Iwakuni’s Kintai and Saruhashi in Yamanashi’s Prefecture. The current Shinkyo Bridge was constructed in 1636, but there had been some kind of bridge much longer.

This statue near the bridge is Itagaki Taiske (1837-1910), a prominent Meiji era politician and leader of the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement. During the Boshin War in 1868, he persuaded pro-shogunate troops to move their battle away from Nikko, saving the areas shrines and temples from destruction.

Friday Finish - Tape Measure Cover

This is our current stitch group project. I’m pleased with how mine turned out.

Misashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Omiya Park

This shrine is about a 20 minute walk from Omiya Station. The park and shrine are serene and just gorgeous. I visited mid-morning and there were very few people around.

This was lunch that day - cold soba and tempura. Perfect!

Work In Progress Wednesday

Beady Fob progress - top stitching done, beads next

Sneek Sampler progress

The Pineapple Zipper Pouch - quilting progress

Renkei-ji

Renkei-ji is a Buddhist temple built in 1549. It was dedicated to Fukurikuji, one of the Seven Gods of Fortune. The temple makes up part of the Koedo Kawagoe Seven Gods of Fortune Pilgrimage.

It is a quiet tranquil place to visit.

National Parks Quilt-a-Long - Block 6

I read about this interesting quilt-a-long on this Piecework magazine website. This article directs participants to the Park’s Website for instructions for blocks 1-6. 

The sixth block is the Virginia Reel. I am using small scrappy pieces of fabric that I have and am hand sewing the blocks. 

Kawagoe Kumano Shrine

There is a lot packed into a small space at this shrine in Kawagoe. I visited this place in 2021, but entered from another street.  

The shrine was established in 1590 and is believed to bring good luck to visitors, ward off evil spirits, and help in finding love. The shrine’s main symbol is a Yatagarasu, a three legged crow known for being a divine spiritual guide.

You can see from the photos that it was not crowded when I was there.