Day-break

A friend of mine takes beautiful sunrise pictures. Yestrerday I decided to see what the sunrise looks like where I live. I often see stupendous sunsets but never sunrises. So today, when I saw the first colors appear on the dark sky I put on my jacket and ran out. The air was crisp and fresh, cold but not uncomfortable. The bridge over the river I was heading to looks quite close but is further away than I thought. At first I walked and then broke into a run - why not, it felt good and I couldn't wait to see the sun. I met a few early morning joggers on the way - it felt so good to exchange a greeting. Early birds are soul mates it seems and the usual reserve people have here is gone. It felt good to be there, to breathe, to connect with others and all around me. I was a bit late and the sun had already risen but it was still beautiful. Peaceful yet full with energy, the day getting ready for take off. I loved the flickering lights of the city, still asleep but slowly waking up. I so loved greeting my day on that bridge. I am doing it again tomorrow!

Something a friend wrote

Here is something my friend Sara wrote that goes into my box of treasures:

on the path of our dreams
the river is shallower that it seems
golden and silver sparkling beams
kindly show you the way,
the streams ....

When Fall changes to winter

These are a couple of pics I took yesterday during my trip to Costco. I wish I could stop the car and take a proper shot because the golden ginko leaves contrasted so beautifully with the red leaves of the shrubs by the road. Thank God for the red lights! In the spring the streets in Tokyo are often covered by a carpet of pink sakura blossoms. In the Fall that changes to the gold of the ginko



Rays of light through the gray skies of early winter. Tokyo's suburbia seen from the roof of Costco

First Frost

Today, on the way to the studio I saw my first frost for the year. It was a bright sunny day and when I looked over the top of the trees at the mountains in the distance to my delight I saw Fuji san sporting his white sparkling cap.
It was cold this morning - the temperature has dropped to 1 degree C and probably didn't go higher than 10 C during the day. The fields looked pretty covered with a blanket of white frost - the first one I saw this year. Winter has finally firmly stepped in here. I love the change of the seasons and how the vibrant energy of summer changes to the rich abundance of fall to the peace and quiet of winter to the burst of life and color of spring. Each one is beautiful and each one enjoyable in its own way. Time to bundle up warmly....


Fuji san sprakling over the mountain range in the distance. The mountain tops were 'frosted' too by yesterday's rain

Frost covering the fields

A bamboo grove near the studio

Three stalks of susuki - a leftover from Fall

Nana-chan - the studio's cat