Dazaifu Ume

This shrine may look familiar, as I've photographed it before. It's the Dazaifu Tenmangu near Fukuoka, and I went there to get reference photos for my painting class.
As I've mentioned before, according to legend, the large plum tree, "Tobiume", flew from Kyoto to be with its exiled master, Michizane.

*Don't forget to click on the slideshow to see a larger version of it ;)

film pics

Here are the first photos I've taken with my film camera in a looong time. Here's another peek at Kyoto! Don't forget you can also click on the slide show to go to my Picasa album to see the photos.

Today is the day we get our new assignments for the next school year, which starts next Wednesday. I have to move my desk(contents) to another area, so I am not sure if I'll have internet set up there right away...so here are a few shots from my phone from my trip last week.

This is the view from my room in Nara. Not bad, eh? And only about $50 for a Japanese tatami room, luxurious bath, a full breakfast, and heat!

Kyoto was still quite chilly when I was there last week, so not too many of the cherries were in bloom. This was a lovely exception :)

Today, on the second anniversary of Mom's passing,
I will be saying a few prayers at noon and midnight my time
(which is 13 hours ahead of Florida - you can do the math ;) )
You are welcome to do so, too...

Prayer for the Deceased

Remember, Lord, those who have died
and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith,
especially for Noreen.
May she, and all who sleep in Christ,
find in Your presence
light, happiness, and peace.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace:
where there is hatred let me sow love,
where there is injury, pardon,
where there is doubt, faith,
where there is despair, hope,
where there is darkness, light,
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be comforted as to comfort,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.

Because it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


Thank you all for your continued prayers...
I can definitely feel them here on the other side of the world :)

And thank you, B, for the flowers - they're really lovely!

Funny how when the sun comes out everything can magically feel a little better.
(of course, I never underestimate the power of prayers and nice emails, either...thanks :) )
***
This week in my painting class I actually painted from a live subject. I usually paint from a book (twisting every step of the way...but I'm not the teacher...), however, this week my teacher let me paint some higanbana, a flower that's blooming now (& the one in the previous post). I'm going to need more practice with this subject, but I thought you might like to see my first attempt. The red thing is my inkan (name seal). I'll photograph that and explain it a little better in another post.

Here's a photo I took of my workspace at my teacher's house. It's a really interesting place. From what I understand, my teacher lives with his parents in one (Japanese style) house, the grandparents are in a separate one on the same property, and then they have this painting building. It looks like they might have a garden on the property, too.
In my workspace you can see my practice paper on a piece of grey felt, my ink well, water (brush rinse), the porcelain container that holds water to add to the ink to get various shades of grey-black, fude (brush - it almost sounds like "who-day"), blotting towel, my subject, higanbana, and, of course, some delicious tea and treats (this week it was homemade veggie tempura) from my teacher's mom.