Young Rice

Perfect Morning

Summer Food

This was good, summer salad, risotto and cream of asparagus soup.

Summer Solstice

Charity Yoga Class up the mountain.  Beautiful.  Fresh sweet air, birds singing, gentle breeze good crowd of people.  Thank you.

Radiant

Lovely view when I leave work.

Jion-Ji Temple

What a gem tucked away in the foothills.  Must get back here with my big camera for a morning.  This took me totally by surprise.

It was founded by a Brahmanic Indian priest in 746.  The current structure is only 400 years old.  Shall be making another visit soon, when the cicada are in full chorus, fully equipped with camera gear and notebooks.

Thatched Temple

What a fine temple.  Jionji.  Can't believe this was my first visit to this impressive Buddhist Monastery, and right on my doorstep. It's a very rare place of practice.  Most temples nowadays are very much part of the funeral industry, making money by keeping ashes of the deceased and performing funeral rituals. More like a family business handed down from father to son. Nice in it's own way.  But this place felt..how to say... authentic.

Temple Stairs

Nothing I love more than the feeling of excitement and expectation when arriving at the foot of a flight of stairs leading to a Japanese temple.  The way the gate house peeks out at you from the shady trees at the top.

Giant Pink Rose

Brightening up the staff room.

Time Eater

Been spending hours upon hours on my new obsession.  Making yoga mat bags.  I have a cloth fetish.  Time to finally put my stocks of cloth to good use.  This is one of the first experiments.  Many many more to come.