canyoning in minakami

Last week I visited my friend Victor who was camping in Minakami, Gunma. We camped just by Tone River. It was great to swim in fresh water again. There was a beautiful pool just behind where we were. One evening we got to see Bunny Gang perform. There I met Wisdom and made these drawings together.  On the third day we went canyoning, sliding down waterfall. It's so refreshing to be in fresh water. It makes me want to live near a lake.

群馬県の水上にでキャンプをしました。とねがわのすぐちかくだったので川で泳ぎました。滝をすべっていくキャニオニングをしました。そしてウィズドムと一緒に絵を描きました。

Ten days in Hokkaido

I went camping in Hokkaido with my friend Victor. We visited four different lakes in ten days, climbed a volcano, travelled on many trains and hitchhiked our way around. My favourite part of the trip was swimming in the lakes and the yubari melon I got at one of the stops on the way to Lake Nukabira.

北海道にキャンプをしに行きました。湖で泳いだり、火山を登りました。夕張メロンをたべました。

furry plants

When I examine plants through a magnifying glass I see that they are furry and wrinkly. I like how texture they are.

葉っぱを虫眼鏡でみるとしわしわで毛もいっぱい生えてる。

balcony garden

I've been growing some flowers and vegetables on my balcony. The salad leaves are so quick to grow. I'm also trying to propagate some lavender from cuttings. They are looking good so far so see how they do.

ベランダのサラダリーフとラベンダー

Rain in Tokyo

It's rainy season in Japan at the moment. Maybe this is why I am feeling curious and soaking up everything there is. I love the summer rain. The earth so wet and absorbing all the rain. The plants so lush and green. I have started taking Russian lessons and swing dance classes and picked up reading again. But I still feel hungry for more. If only I learned to wake up earlier in the day.

梅雨の日々は色々吸収したくなります。地のように。ロシア語の教室とスウィングダンスも始めて見ました。そしてまた本を読み始めました。でもまだまだ飲み込めそうです。もう少し早起きできるようになればいいのに。

wild flowers and night time drawing

It's been either rainy or hot during the day in Tokyo but I am enjoying wandering around the neighbourhood in the evenings. So quiet and everything looks different in the dark. There are so many little streets to explore. I like how the streets are lit and the plants on the streets. I've also started a small balcony garden myself.

holiday textures

Hotel signs in Ise and beautifully crafted items at Kurashiki Archaeological Museum. 

倉敷考古館と伊勢のホテルのサイン

Hiroshima / Kurashiki

 

After my travels through the vast forests of Russia, it feels anywhere and everywhere is so accessible. I've been catching the night bus to some cities for weekend trips. The last time I went on the night bus about 10 years ago, I just got up as I had to get off and found it really hard to function during the day. But now I know the trick is to get up at least half an hour before my stop and have a tea and snack to I'm ready to go. 

広い広いロシアを経験してからはどこでも行きやすく感じます。夜行バスで週末出かけます。

a nice thing happened

Although it's almost half way through the year,  I've decided on my new year resolution to spend as much time as I can with treasured friends. To share time and experience the days together. This year I've had some time off which meant that I was able to go on holidays with my dear friends. I'd like to fill more of my days with the such things.

Hachimakura

An old friend and a wonderful painter Kiborio organized a one day exhibition at a stationary shop in Kokubunji. It was great to see some friends that I hadn't seen for some years. I exchanged one of my meteorite drawing with this beautiful wooden receiver.

国分寺のハチマクラで一日展示しました。きぼりおさんが参加したみんなにおはなしをききました。そしてこいさくさんのすてきな受信機と作品交換しました。

Sumo

I went to see sumo wrestling in Ryogoku for the first time. Each match is very short and every time there is some chanting and cleaning of the sumo ring. It was surprising entertaining. I could spend a relaxing day there with a picnic. As the day went on the matches became more and more exciting. Very much like a martial art with quick and unpredictable moves.

両国国技館で始めて相撲を観ました。とても迫力がありました。一回のづつ名前を歌ったり、土俵をきれいにしたり形が決まっています。負けると思ったらくるっと早い動きで逆転するところがおもしろいです。

Fluffy blossoms

Last month was the month of cherry blossoms in Tokyo. I took a walk at night time and looked up to see the flowers hanging in the sky.

先月は桜の月でした。夜散歩をして見上げるとふわふわ空に浮いてるいるようでした。

Mandarin orange hill

The past five months I've been working in a town just at the bottom of Hakone. The train ride there was so relaxing. It's a slow, quiet train, slightly uphill. Just enough space and time to take in the mountain view. When I got off at the station little birds could be heard all around. Just across the river is the mandarin orange hill.

この前の5ヶ月間は箱根のすぐ下の町で働く機会がありました。そこまでは箱根登山電車に乗ります。ゆっくりで静かな電車は少し登ります。その時間は気持ちよく山を眺めることができます。電車を降りると小鳥が聞こえます。川を渡ったところにはみかん山がありました。

Springtime cardigan

Here I am wearing a knitted cardigan complete. This one I started about a year ago, and was sidetracked by a couple of other projects. But now it is complete and almost warm enough to be out without a coat.

BIF

This is a sketch of a large magnetic rock. Banded iron formation. It's somehow calming sitting next to such large still ancient objects. Observing and feeling the textures. I think the drawing looks a little like layers of cake or a ham sandwich.

Super Duper Nova

I am very happy to be part of collage challenge organized by a secret club. We sent eachother collage material and produced artwork on the theme, "stars". The catalogue for the show came through the post at the weekend and it was great to see what everyone else made from their little pieces.

Bird spotting

Meteorite

They look like any other rocks at first glance. But when took a closer look they were shiny and colourful. Surviving the adventure through space.

Felt toys

I made these tiny felt toys and I liked how they slowly come into shape. I've injured myself with the needle a few times so must be more careful next time.