"Varied Tit" and their "Oracle Tricks"

* My first "Varied Tit" and their "Oracle Tricks"*

So sorry for my blurry image,  really felt discouraged by missing the chance to take good photo.  When I found she/he, I was SO happy and thankful this colorful bird appearing in front of me.  As I couldn't identify the name, I contacted to the Nature Park. The lady staff who answered my call mailed me detail about this bird. So amazed to know that with the high learning ability this bird has, they are known to show us "Oracle Tricks".   Through PC, I learned this bird's tick dates back to 700 years or so; which no longer seen due to wildlife protection act etc. 

I wished to introduce this bird's talent I didn't know; Happy if you can enjoy the videos.  

 For your clear idea of this bird, I found this picture above here  in the "Bird Fun" site.

Thank you SO much for your visits.

New Year's visit to a shrine, Hatumoude "初詣”

Hi, I DO hope you are having wonderful start of 2016☆☆☆

*New Year's visit to a shrine, Hatumoude "初詣”*

Yesterday, on 1st. we had a sudden guests and had unexpected busy day with them.  So this morning on 2nd, we visited a shrine. We pray for the peace and health for the year.  I hope you can see an atmosphere through my picture for our new year custom♪

Long queue to wait during  "the first three days" of the year.

We have special way to call these 3 days "三が日. sannga-nichi"

    This year happens to be "the year of monkey" according to Chinese Zodiac Sign.

おみくじ. Omikuji (also referred to as Mikuji) are Sacred Lots drawn at temples or shrines to tell our fortune.  If your written oracle "fortune" said that you would have unlucky year, you'll tie it like the picture below.

Mine was a middle luck :-)

Thank you SO much for your kind visits;

Calligraphy

 (posted; Japanese culture page)

*Calligraphy Exhibition*

On 6th, my retired husband's ex-lady colleagues demonstrated writing larger paper, rather than 25cm×35cm 半紙 (hanshi). This time I found attractive way of exhibiting and works on corrugated cardboards or round shaped plastic balls with seasonal items in them.  Lovely to find the names of the season written both English and Japanese.

This work was done by engraving Polystyrene foam；

*Demonstration of the big works*

*Finished Works and the calligraphers*

Thank you SO much for your visits.

Introducing New House;

*Introducing New House to Friends and Neighbors*

My husband's lady-keyboard player asked members to play some music for her sister's '家見せ・ie-mise' which means to show and introduce ones new house to friends and neighbors. And also the Shinto Ritual was conducted. My first time to see this ritual. Sure is depends on regional customs.  Normally, we throw celebrating mochi at the time of house-raising. 

     People were carrying 'Mikoshi', or 'divine palanquin'.  It was held early Oct. 

     People were enjoying music in front of the band and offered some drink and etc.

     Pasting part from my old post about 'mochi throwing';

           *Throwing cerebrating red and white mochi at house-raising

At the time of house-raising, people cerebrate the occasion by throwing small red and white mochi.  Different from showing already built house but happy time to share the joy of having a new house. I was happy to know about Housewarming from friends' comment for my post.

Hoping for the Happy life with New House;

These pictures were gifted from the keybord player growing at her garden.

First 'Dracaena' is called '幸せの木. tree of happiness '

Thank you so much for your Kind Visits;

'Twelve-Layer Robe' and Drying rice Straw;

(posted; Japanese culture page)
This Tue. I visited my aunt and cousins to thank them for their get-well visits to the hospital last month. One of my cousins had been to the trip to Kansai and Kanto area after I've seen her at the hospital. This 'Kyo Yuzen Dyeing' Handkerchief with embroidery is  the beautiful gift for me from her.  And the lady is wearing 'Twelve-Layer Robe' (Wikipedia page. picture page) which is an extremely elegant and highly complex kimono that was only worn by court-ladies in the old days. 

        So Happy to have this Precious Gift and Thankful for her thoughts ♪ 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　

On our way to visit them I've seen rice-straws on 'Ine-kake 稲掛け' to dry them, which scene is really rare as farmers use combine nowadays. Oh, I got really nostalgic :-)

The picture above with combine was I took last week in my area;  Currently, straws are not used much and the picture below I found here is another way drying straws. They are called 'toshaku としゃく’ which I also have seen when young.

I really appreciate your visits;

Local festival;

*At 水分神社 'mikumari-shrine'*

Along side Koto-River, there is an old shrine made to pray for the agricultural irrigation. For the Autumn Festival there, one of my husband's band member was invited with his guitar group to perform for one of the events there. 

Sacred Ritual;

Priestess’s Dance and ancient Japanese court music　'雅楽，gagaku'
I loved the sound very much as not many chances to enjoy them.

Several performances at this event;

Kind of intriguing to hear the sound of The Ventures for this occasion:-)

Mom, portable shrine is scary;

We all ducked under the shrine.
This is for hanving healthy year...   Oh, I DO hope so!　

Rice cake '餅, Mochi' throwing which is one of the ritual in Japan as well.

*For the last, portable shrine got into the river as this shrine is 'God of water' *

Thank you very much for stopping by;