Snowfield Under Sunshine 意料不到的春雪

In the last Sunday morning, I woke up to find snows shining under the blue sky. I had not expected any snow in the previous night, so I was surprised and went out to see the unexpected sights. 

Snows on bamboo leaves is like a Chinese drawing in India ink. 快雪时晴佳想安善

 Rice fields were covered with a thin coat. 水稻田变成了一片雪原。

Young tea leaves are very tough even at a low temperature. 白雪把茶叶的绿色衬得更漂亮了。

Ume Blossoms 一枝之春

Ume blossoms have begun to open. By seeing them, we can feel the arrival of spring and even if it is still cold, we are sure we will have warm days soon.

New Year Fire Festival 新年火焰儀式

After the New Year Week, people in my community make this big tower every year, using tall bamboo trees and rice straws. I took part in this construction for the first time this year. The center is the tallest bamboo and four bamboos support it like a pyramid. We crowded quite a lot of straws in the frame. After finishing crowding, we covered the tower around with slender bamboos. New Year ornaments are put around it. 
从元旦开始的十五天是庆祝新年的期间。这个期间结束后，居民用毛竹和稻草建筑一座大塔。

After the sunset, children hold a torch and light the tower. It is said this fire finishes the New Year Week and assure residents of their health.

小朋友拿火把点火。这个火焰结束从元旦开始的一个神圣期间。

I was astonished at this giant fire and felt its power to purify the human world.

These colorful balls are made of steamed rice powder. Mothers stick them on the tips of a branch and give it to their children. This branch contains much water enough not to be burnt in fire. Children put the branch over this special fire and make balls softer and eat them. It is very rare for them to play with fire and what's more they can taste pretty balls. They really have a big fun! 

Happy New Year

I wish you good health and happiness in 2017.

This mountain (Mt. Tsukubasan) has the old Shinto shrine at its foot.

In the beginning of a new year, many people come here to pray for their family happiness and good health during the year.

A big bell is hung under the hall roof of worship.

This is a lion guarding the shrine.

Visiting A Zoo In Winter

The outer temperature is only 10 degrees C, or 50 F, animals from Africa do not mind the cold.

Visitors can buy a small bag of food for specific animals. A giraffe gets pieces of vegetables with its long tongue.

No penguins play in the pool. Or  they might be waiting for some special joy coming.

Lemurs are from Madagascar. They have a beautiful stripe tail. I wonder it can be used as a neck scarf. Be careful not to get chilblains on ears. 

 This long-armed ape really has long arms. He suddenly extended his arm and I was almost robbed my camera. It was a close shave. Doesn't he need a camera manual?

A black cow is enjoying the warm sunshine.　

Autumn Colors Presented by Frogs and Ducks

 I enjoyed red maple leaves at a Japanese garden.

In ancient days, this kind of maple was called "frog hand". I am sure you agree to this imaginative naming.

 Ginkgo leaves also changed to golden yellow.

 In old China, this was called "duck web".

An aromatic citron "yuzu"has a lot of big fruits. This is too sour to eat. Its tangy citrus flavor is indispensable for winter dinners.  People put some in the bath in the night of the winter solstice.

Field of Buckwheat

I love to eat buckwheat noodles called "soba".  New flour has nutty smell stimulating my appetite.Next month, I can use it to make soba noodles by hand.

Lots of Stone Steps 很多石階

July and August I had a lot of work at the office and was much more tired than I expected. I prefered taking a rest and longer sleep to exercising. In the mid of this month, I took one week off to refresh myself. Everyone has their own ways of refreshing. As for me, it is to stimulate muscles. Due to lack of exercise, I had not sweated for a few weeks. I remembered the good place for exercising.

I drove my car to my destination. Sweating profusely, I went up many stone steps, step by step literally until I took a fresh deep breath.

Some Shinto shrines welcomed me and others who had finished going up.

I still had stamina to climb the mountain. I love good smell mixed with variety of trees. This straw rope with pieces of lightning shaped paper shows that the inside is a sacred zone.

A big cedar and the blue sky refreshed me, too. 
Thanks a lot.

Scientific workshops for engineers in the future 大学为孩子们举行的科学实验

Science departments of a university in my prefecture held workshops titled "Enjoy science".

This is called a passive walking robot which can walk with force of gravity alone, without motor on a running machine.

An old training airplane is exhibited.

This is one of two engines. The other was disassembled and displayed for students to understand structures.

An professor made some interesting experiments of liquid nitrogen. Its temperature is minus 196C degrees. Childrens have had a great fun.

He said air volume is changeable due to change of temperature.Two girls put a balloon in liquid nitrogen. The air inside the balloon rapidly shrunk because of refrigeration.

When a shrunk balloon was put out of the can, it gradually swelled.