Progress on the Christmas Assissi, slow but progress.
I finish-finished the first of the 12 pears. They've been stitched for quite a while. They are one of my 6 & 6 in 2018 projects so I would really like to finish all of them.
I worked on the afghan, then realized the section I stitched in pink should have been white. At first I thought "how did I do that?", then looked at the symbols. The symbol for white was a little heart and the symbol for pink was a little white square. Doesn't it seem like the heart would be the pink? I put it aside until sometime when I feel like unstitching.
The dorset buttons were more fun. The one on top is the one I showed last Friday. The next three were also made with #5 perle cotton. The two with red and yellow are made with #8 perle. These are really fun - if you haven't tried making dorset buttons, you really need to!
SMUG hosted a cozy picnic at Sumpu Castle Park and I was happy to join in with this international group. Interesting people, good weather, and delicious snacks.
Every morning all over Japan, you can see and hear rajio taiso, or radio calisthenics. When I'm out walking in the morning I can hear the loud speakers from my company and other companies in the area and see workers outside bending and stretching. If you are at home, you can turn on your television and follow along with NHK. I thought it was an interesting exercise idea and was curious about how it got started.
I found out it was started in the United States in 1925! An insurance company started the health and fitness broadcast in the US, but it didn't really catch on. Too bad, because if it had maybe Americans would be healthier today.
It began in Japan about 1928 and has been popular ever since. Fitness experts claim its longevity is due to the completeness of the routines. There are two routines, each lasting around three minutes that include over a dozen different whole body exercises that improve balance, build core strength, and stretch muscles.
School children and company employees do the routine every day and NHK broadcasts the routine several times a day.
In Japan, small spaces are put to good use and this little park near where I live is a good example. From the road and the sidewalk, there is this little wooden path down to the creek area.
I often see children playing, but the day I took these pictures, there was only a bird in the water.
You can walk in the creek without getting your feet wet.
There are many pretty flowers and even a drinking fountain.
This little park is one more reason to love where I live.
I've been admiring the Dorset Buttons that Queenie is making and adding to her crazy quilt project. You can see the block she is working on this week here. Last night I decided to give it a try. Using a one inch plastic ring and varigated DMC perle #5 in color 4060, I made this.
It's a beginner's button, but I think I will make more and try to get better. You can find many interesting images of dorset buttons on the internet.
For the first time, a portrait of the Emperor and Empress was created with their approval. The oil painting was produced by 81 year old Hiroshi Noda, a leading artist of realism. It was completed in January, delivered to the Imperial Palace in March, and unveiled on May 21st. The canvas is two meters high and two meters wide. The Emperor stands on the left with the Empress half a step behind him on the right. It is so real that it looks to me like it could be a photograph. What a wonderful portrait!
Every year in early June the company where I work joins other groups for a clean up at Miho Beach. I was happy to join in last year and posted about it here. The environmental group invited me again this year and I was glad to say yes. I couldn't see Mt. Fuji, unfortunately.
As with most Japanese events, there was a little kick off speech and welcome.
We were all given gloves, a set of pick up tongs, and a bag. I picked up a lot of plastic and styrofoam what had washed in on the waves. How sad to think how much plastic is out in the ocean.
At the end of the event, there was picture taking and a bottle of special green tea.
This Tendai Buddhist temple is dedicated to Fudo Myoo and the home of many festivals throughout the year. I thought it was interesting because there were so many nooks and crannies with statues and incense burners. I don't understand their meaning, but I can still appreciate the history and beauty.
It seems like there are always many stairs to climb at temples.
This was the only English sign I saw, but I was glad to read this information.
