Proverb 20

　You cannot eat your cake and have it.

It means things are gone if we use them.

But 'LOVE' will not vanish if we use it, differrent from things.
It will flow out more and more like a spring.
It's a wonderful thing!!

Bell and Carving of dragon

The picture above is the one of the bell tower.

I struck the bell once wishing for our happiness.
It sound very nice.
Hearing the sound, I feel the comming of New Year.




Water is running from the mouth of carved dragon.
The visitors to the shrine purify themselves by washing their hands and mouth.

A bringer of good luck; (ki-ttyo-u)

Many stores along the approach to Inari Shrine, they sell these ornaments.

It is put on an altar for a year.
And they buy a new one in the next New Year.
It is one of the bringers of good luck like decorative arrow supposed to ward off evil;(ha-ma-ya).

Written oracle

I consulted an oracle at Inari.

The written fortune said that I would have the best of luck this year.
It had been bad luck in the oracle for the last few years.
So I feel happy this year.

Somethig good may happen to me this year!!




The left picture is the one of bamboos for tying the oracles that aren't good.

And in the right picture, they are burning incense.
The smoke seem to be good for our health.

A new product

Finger print reader


The other day my son brought back this 'finger print reader.'

Using a computer, we need a password or a code.
But this reader can save the trouble of typing the password.
Putting our forefinger on the red place, a computer reads the finger mark.
Once we register them, we don't have to type a code or a password.
We have only to put our finger on the red place.

This is a very useful thing!

Cyclamen

I bought these cyclamens at a shop of the open air in Inari Shrine.

The price was half as much as usual and was 500 Yen a pot.
If I take good care of them, they will keep blooming till May.

Both red and white are beautifull!!

　

Giant Shinto straw festoon

A giant straw festoon is put in front of the main building of Inari Shrine.
It weighs about 1.5 tons.

And under the Indian-style main gate is a pair of stone statue of fox.


　

Candy

There are many souvenir stores along the approach to the Inari Shrine.

They sell various kinds of goods.
Among them I saw these colorful candies at a small candy shop.
Though I took pictures, I didn't buy any of them.
I'm sorry !!



　

A big to-ri-i

Yesterday afternoon, I went to Saijyou Inari with my family.
I'm not sure but it is said to be one of the 'best 3 select of Inari Shrine in Japan'.
I go there every New Year.




This is a big 'to-ri-i';a gateway at the entrance to a Inari Shrine at Takamatsu in Okayama prefecture.
We can drive under the to-ri-i.

Ｓｋｙ

I can see the sky from the kitchen.

The shape and color of the cloud caught my eyes.



The sky in the evening of January 5.

Northpole

Chrysanthemum;(Northpole)

This is one kind of few flowers blooming now.
It is a kind of chrysanthemums.

The beginning of midwinter

It's very cold today.

Today is 'the beginning of midwinter';(ka-n-no-i-ri).

'Ka-n' is from today till the day before the calendrical beginning of spring;(se-tsu-bu-n).

It's the coldest season of the year.


　
Sky in the afternoon

Proverb 19

　Where there is a will, there is a way.

If we have a will to do something, we can find a way to realize the dream or smething like that.

So let's have a dream !!

　
Sasanqua

New Year

Happy New Year !!

A new year '2005' has started.

I wish this year be a happy one and all of you could lead a happy and sound life!