Happy Spring

“If someone smells a flower and says he does not understand, the reply to him is: there is nothing to understand, it is only a scent. If he persists, saying: that I know, but what does it all mean? Then one has either to change the subject, or make it more abstruse by saying that the scent is the shape which the universal joy takes in the flower.” 
― Rabindranath Tagore, My Reminiscences

What have you done for yourself lately?

On Friday after work, I had some time before meeting a friend at her upper west side apartment, so I got off the subway at 103rd street and walked into Central Park, intending to find a nice spot to have myself a private little picnic dinner.  Upon entering this area of the park, I noticed immense hilliness.  To my left, the path led uphill and was overgrown with vegetation, and to my right it went steeply downhill, leading to a glimmering pond below.  I gambled and turned left, and began walking up a narrow curving path.  The plants grew heavier and wilder with each step.  They were so unruly that they scared me a little, so I was glad to see a few people sitting on the grass and a few others walking by.  New Yorkers are very lucky to have access to such a park.  While I was looking for a nice spot, an orange-bellied bird perching on a fence caught my eye, and I noticed that the fence was at the entrance to another passage, to the left.   I walked on by at first, but then decided to turn back and check it out.  I had to duck my head a little to enter, and then I stepped into a clearing with a big, shimmery, black rock and more grassy field and gardens beyond.  The sun was shining from the west through the tree branches, and the rock was wide and seemed like a welcoming place to sit.  I stepped up onto the rock and immediately noticed that I was not alone.  A man and a dog were sitting on the grass under a shade tree farther up the hill, and to my left there was someone else, also on the grass.  I stood for a moment, observing, making sure that I truly wanted to be here and that I would not be disturbing anyone.  However, the rock was all mine at the moment.  I carefully and quietly climbed to the top with slow deliberate steps, trying not to slip or otherwise reveal myself to those who were nearby.  Success!  Facing southeast, I sat and stretched my legs out in front of me and got comfortable.  I breathed deeply, and exhaled the stresses of the day from the office. I let the sun light my face and the heat from the rock warm my tush.  Ahh yes, a perfect spot for my Japanese dinner: three onigiri and a hot cup of miso soup.

After a while, I lay down on the sun-heated rock and, using my backpack as a pillow, I watched the blue sky, the wind blowing through the leaves, and the birds riding the air. I was moved to take the photo below with my iPhone.

What the rock sees from the Great Hill.

I had purchased the onigiri (squeezed rice with goodies in the middle) that morning at Sunrise Mart in SoHo.  The "goodies" inside were three of my many favorites: grilled salmon, simmered bonito, and seasoned seaweed with sesame seeds.  The miso soup, however, I purchased at Pret-a-Manger in Midtown, after finishing my work errands, just before taking the uptown subway ride.  How brilliantly convenient was that?  I <3 NYC.

Tea Under an Orange Tree in January Arizona

Orange tree providing us with perfect shade for an afternoon tea.

Oranges are just coming into tasty season

Here we all are

Autumn foliage in early morning light against cliff side rocks.

We recently leased a car.  A hybrid.  It's been two weeks.

With this new found access to car, and freedom and responsibility that come with it, our minds are expanding with new ideas of how we can spend our weekends.

Last night, we decided to drive ourselves to near by George Washington Bridge and Interstate Park with our cameras to meet the sunrise, and explore.  I wasn't 100% convinced that we would actually wake up, pretty up, and go out in time to see the sun rise, as part of me imagined scenarios where we would simply over sleep, or snooze the heck out of the alarm, succumbing to the trap of coziness and warmth under the blanket.  Needless to say, my husband enthusiastically forged the way to a special Sunday.

PU'U O HOKU RANCH, MOLOKAI

My first trip to Moloka'i happened this year, in September. One of the most remote islands of Hawaii, known for cattle ranches, forbidden mountains, and a small town called Kaunakakai. My friends and I stayed at a ranch named Pu'u o hoku, meaning hills of the stars. The night sky was magnificent, and too bad that my camera wasn't equipped to take it all in. Next time I go, I'll be bringing a little more appropriate equipment. What I could not visually capture with my Nikon Coolpix S10, I took it all into my heart. The way I had to twirl 360 to gaze the whole night sky, how almost touchable the stars and planets seemed, and the wide wide milky-way so clearly distinct in the deep indigo sky, were all simply breath taking. And that's just the night time. During the day, the weather shifted continuously, giving to experience the daily rain showers and bright sun, great breezes and changing cloud scapes and light. The experience of being surrounded by vastness of nature was so tremendeous that I naturally woke up each day around 4:30am, to witness the night turn to dawn and into bright day.

My favorite breakfast spot.

Bright Yellow

Walking cross town on flower district, in the mornings. Sometimes for work, I travel near by, so I'm there by 9 am. After my work errands, and on my way down town to office, I walk over to the 28th street subway station. Between 7th Avenue and Broadway, there are vibrant green leaves, bright colorful flowers, and funny growing things that I've never seen! It's such a treat to see all the happy plants in glee in the morning sunlight. Grey days are ok, too, because then you can really see the true colors. Although, nothing beats the morning light around 10 am for brilliant color. So so nice. One of my favorite times of a day.

Clovers

Budding Branches

Hug From a Tree

New Things

Safflowers

Rockefeller Plaza

Green Cracks Through

Daffodils

Spring smiles I saw on the way inside my building this evening...

A Family Tradition

When I was a child living in Kyoto, Japan, I had a pleasure of being surrounded by my parents creative whimsy. The day after Luner New Year celebration in February 3rd, (In Japan the ceremonial date is fixed.) I would find a new addition of fired clay figurines or masks in the garden or attached to exterior of the house, or sometimes inside the home. This year, I was finally able to aim our bi-annual trip to Japan and participate in the big midnight bonfire which is the highlight of the ceremony. Here, people toss old wishes or protective charms of the year past, any old memories you want to forget into the fire, to purify and have its spirit renewed. Just before dawn, I woke up and walked back to the fire, and with several others picked through the calmed fire and ashes to see my luck would produce those figurines and masks from my happy childhood. The pictures above, are some of the treasures we found and carried back to New Jersey.

Frozen

On my way home, just as I got off the bus around 7:30 in the evening, these are what caught my eye. They are very pretty, in my eyes. They remind me of a storybook winter world I imagined in my childhood, and winters in Chicago.

Autumn Leaves

It was drizzling when we arrived to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. It was 10/26 around 2pm. This was one of the first photo I took, Autumn Leaves on wet asphalt. My husband kept on walking ahead since he didn't like to get any more wetter than he felt.

Leaves in the Sky

Lotus Blossoms

Lotus Buds