Mama....move. I can't see the T.V.

A Japanese Autumn

If Nami's pictures could talk they might say something like this...

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.~John Donne

or this....

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  ~Albert Camus

She really nailed it this year.

How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days.  ~John Burroughs

Makes my previous photos look rather pathetic.

But I'm used to that when it comes to Nami's pictures.

Still I'm going to go out and buy the exact same camera and hope it does some magic for me.

See how she made the drab old port across the road look magical.

You should see what she can do to my girls..................and even me on the odd occasion.

Anyway back to Autumn.

falling leaves
hide the path
so quietly
John Bailey
Autumn, A Haiku Year.

I've actually got lots of lovely pictures from Nami. She went to Korankei, a very beautiful nature spot near Toyota city. The trees were spectacular but apparently it was very very cold. I was supposed to go but got grounded by my doc. Really miss going as we usually do an Autumn pilgrimage every year. Maybe next year we'll do Kyoto.

Here's the poem I always read the pair about Autumn.

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

George Cooper
October's Party.

Even in the rain there's colour....

School theatrical event yesterday for the pair. A real riot but more on that later. After both their stunning performances we went down to say hello to Ji-chan and Ba-chan. We also popped into the temple next door to say our prayers (at Bachan's request).

It was raining but Autumn in Japan is definitely one of the best times. I've got some GREAT pictures from Nami chan to prove that but before that, my poor efforts.

The "Yuzu" tree in the neighbours house. Yuzu is like a cross between a lemon and a large orange. Don't think anyone eats them at they are but them make great juice, jam and bath smellies.

The gang saying their prayers.

Look at the colour of those trees and the drizzle was toning it down too.

Moon fever........

I mentioned in a previous post that September and October were great months for "moon-viewing". The Japanese love to mark the seasons so Spring is all about "cherry-blossom viewing" and Autumn it's all about the moon.

Well yesterday was the best day for it. A full moon, very close to the earth. Spectacular. I'd mentioned it to the girls but didn't expect them to remember. However on the way home from school Nina pointed out that the moon was very big and very orange. She was right, it was really something else.

I tried to take a picture but you can guess what it came out like.

 

Yup, that tiny orange ball, right of the street light is the moon. Not what I was hoping for.

I didn't give up, I sent Masa out to get some more pics thinking he'd do a better job. He didn't, unless you count Nina prancing infront of tiny orange blob an improvement.

Then Nami came by, so I asked Nami if she'd taken any pictures of the moon today and she had.

Voila.

I hang my head in shame.

 

If only I could take pictures like these....

 

The Amazing Nami was out and about with her camera last weekend and took some very fine shots. She has allowed me to share them with you guys because they're great and it'll give you a feel some early Autumn in Japan. I so wish I could take pictures like this. Even Aimee takes a better shot than I do (seriously).

Sunset.

Irago Lighthouse.

It's rice harvesting time.

 

Autumn is up there with Spring as the best times to come to Japan. It's still hot (having spent the morning teaching English at the local primary school, minus air-conditioning, I can verify the temperature at still in the 30's) but you can feel the change a coming.

In Autumn all the leaves will go red and you're likely to be assaulted by dropping persimmons. The insects will start to quieten down and the moon......the moon is fantastic. Must order Nami chan out to take moon shots.

Aunty Brid's wheelbarrow and more....

 
This is Aunty Brid's house in Newbridge. Brid was great and put us up / put up with us for two nights.

 

Poor Brid also went beyond the call of duty to entertain the girls. The result was they didn't want to go home. They now also want a wheelbarrow.
 

They also told Masa Daddy that they would like a house, a garden and frying pans for the birds to have baths in. Best go see Brid's lovely garden to check all that out!!

 

They helped / hindered Brid with her gardening.

 

They watered / drowned the flowers.

 

Then they cooked dinner in the wheelbarrow.

 

Brid looks after the birds very well.

 

Brid is also very green fingered. She's also a fabulous artist, but I'm not allowed tell you that.

 

 

 

 

It's a wonderful house and holds great memories for me and now the pair. This is where Ganny Brewer, Brid and the whole gang of 9 grew up. I could never wait to visit when I was small. It's also the place where William Brewer took a hurley to poor Grandad's greenhouse, but that's another story.

 

More Yellow Sand from China

My laundry will be delighted.

If you can't see it then try and imagine crystal blue skies, that's what was there before this blew in around lunch time.