Stone image

At Ki-no-jyo-u, there are more than 30 stone images around the hill.

This is one of them and the surface of big stone is carved.
Someone offered flower, rice, water and so on to the stone statue and are deifying it.

Callistemon

'Ha-na-ma-ki' or 'Ki-n-po-u-jyu'


Taking my dog for a walk, I saw this plant.

As the red flower is like a brush, it is called 'bu-ra-shi-no-ki' too.

The way to the golf course

On our way to Ki-no-jyo-u, we lost our way and reached this golf course.

Some people were playing golf in the fall beautiful scenery.




Ki-no-jyo-u golf course

Scarlet leaves

Japanese sumac (laquer) tree


I saw some little scarlet Japanese sumac trees; (u-ru-shi) here and there while I was walking in the hill.

The contrast between green and red caught my eyes.

Some would be poisoned by the tree if they touch the tree.

Sunlight

On the top of the mountain, I could see the sunlight shining among the clouds like a shower.

Ki-no-jyo-u (Castle for devils)

Today I went to Ｋｉｎｏｊｙｏｕ　with my husband.

The historic spot is on the top of the mountain which is about 400 metres high.
So the sight was wonderful.

It is said that the castle was built about 1300 years ago.

We walked around there for about 2 hours ( about 2.8km) looking at the ruins of stone walls, gates and so on.




west gate

west gate


stone wall of byo-u-bu-o-ri


south gate

Roses in winter

The roses are blooming now in my yard.

The picture above is the miniature one which changes the color as it blooms from pink to yellow.

Ginkgo

It's very fine and warm today.

The yellow leaves of 'ginkgo' are very beautiful against the sunshine.

Under the tree were many fallen 'ginko nuts';(gi-n-na-n).
We can eat the center part of the berry.


They smell very badly but they are delicious when eaten as 'gi-n-na-n'.

Nandin

The seeds of 'nandin' or 'sacred bamboo'


These are the seeds of 'nandin';(na-n-te-n).

The red color is shining like a ruby.

Now various kinds of birds are coming to have them.

After breakfast

John


Hello!

How are you getting along these days?
I've been fine.
It's the end of November but it's warm though it's cold a little outside at night.

Now I have just finished breakfast, but I can eat more.
I want another helping but no one will give me anything without water till supper.

My pleasure is playing with someone I like very much.
I am looking forword to thier coming.
But I don't know when they will come, so I'm going to sleep from now.
I have nothing to do but to sleep or dig the ground.

See you!

Ducks

There is a pond in the yard of 'Shi-zu-ta-ni ga-kko-u'.
Some ducks and carps are there.

Suddenly I could see a red big carp jump up from the water, but I regret to say I couldn't take a picture of it.

Sunset clouds and the moon

The clouds were pink this evening.

It will be fine tomorrow too.

And the moon was high in the east.

Proverb 13

No news is good news.

It means if you don't hear from your friends or aquaintances at all, they are getting well.
There is no need to care.


Narcissus

New house

This morning I visited a newly-built house.

It is a Western -style building of two-storied one for two-households.
The design of inside is a tasteful one using lot's of woods.
Every room is functional and very nice.
There is a system kitchen, a bathroom, a toilet and a walk-in-closet on each floor.
But tatami-room is only one.

Recently old-Japanese-style houses which have many tatami-rooms are getting fewer.
Most of them have some wood-floored private rooms and a family room and so on.
The design of the houses are changing little by little in Japan.


I saw this flower(ha-na-ki-ri-n) there.

A day trip

Yesterday I went to 'Shi-zu-ta-ni ga-kko-u' with my friends by train.

It was established as the center of public education by Mitsumasa Ikeda, the Lord of Bizen Province in 1670.
They put 'Bi-ze-n-ya-ki' tiles;(Pottery made in Bizen Province) on the roof of Lecture Hall.

The red and yellow leaves there were also wonderful!
Two tall very old 'Ka-i-no-ki' are especially famous for the beauty of the color of red and yellow in fall.





Ko-u-do-u


ko-u-mo-n


ka-i-no-ki(left)


ka-i-no-ki(right) and Confucius's Mausoleum


To the Confucius's Mausoleum