我が家の向こうの風景 Some lovely scenery beyond our back yard

今朝我が家の二階から目の前のＮＣＣ（日光カントリークラブ）の11番ホールで鹿の親子が憩っているのを目撃。今日は火曜日。ＮＣＣは休みの日であることを知っているのだろうか。のんびり家族の絆を温めていました。
From the terrace of the second floor of our house, we happened to find one family of deer being wandering around No 11 hole of NCC(Nikko Country Club). Today is Tuesday when NCC is closed. Do they know that? Maybe. That's why they are having relaxing time in the morning around 8:00.

日光清風塾特別イベント A big event by Nikko Seifu Juku

「講演といけばなデモンストレーションの集い」





The head of organizer introducing the guest speakers



Mrs.Yasuko Ikenobo


昨年夏から企画した大きなイベントが無事終了（２月２２日）。「講演といけばなの集い」と題して池坊保子先生の「次世代に伝えたい、託したい人間力」というご講演と次女の美佳先生によるいけばなのデモンストレーションがついに実現。会場となった東照宮・客殿は大勢の来場者で埋め尽くされ、主催者側として本当に安堵しました。大先生に来晃していただいてこのような品格のある文化の風を漂わせていただき感謝感激のイベントになったと思います。翌日の新聞記事に載せていただきました。

"Big event for Lecture and Ikebana demonstration"



Thanks to a good weather we went up
to Akechi level to have a magnificent view

A big event which we had been planning since last summer was successfully realized on the 22nd February, last sunday. The event was entitled "Lecture talk and Ikebana demonstration". "Human resources to be conveyed and inspired to the next generation"... was the title of the lecture talk by Mrs. Yasuko Ikenobo and Ikebana demonstration was conducted by her second daughter Ms. Mika Ikenobo.The Nikko Toshogu's hall was filled with a big audience, which made us, the organizer of this event, feel relieved. We were very grateful to these two guest speakers for their dignified talk and performance. This event's article was carried right away by the local newspaper on the next day.

人生悲喜こもごも Big wave in my life

2月16日　人生山あり谷あり

今日のレディーズコンペは悲喜こもごも。それもスケールの大きな悲喜あり。場所はサンヒルズ。コンペは前半のハーフ勝負の新ペリエ方式。ＩＮからスタートしていつもの調子でスコアは漣程度であったところが落とし穴にはまってしまいました。Ｎｏ15でグリーン周りのバンカーを行ったり来たり。ミドルホールで13個というスコアを出し、もう一つロングでもダブルスコアを。成績結果はＢＢ．なぐさめに靴下と手袋をいただきました。後半のハーフはコンペから解放され、アウトのＮｏ１、309ヤードのミドルホールで奇跡が待っていました。ドライバーはずっとスライス気味だったのが少しフック気味に修正され、二打目のフェアウエイウッドは抜群のショット。まっすぐ飛んでグリーンに転がり、ＯＮしたのを確かめてウキウキ気分でカートに戻って行くと、プレイメートが「ボールが入ったみたいよ！」と叫ぶ。何の事？こんなことってわが身にも起こるんだということを知ってもうたまらない気分でした。生まれて初めてイーグルなるものをやってのけたのです。チップインは何度かあるが、フェアウッドで長い距離をやってのけるなんて本当に奇跡。ショートのホールインワンに匹敵する。もう今日のゴルフはＢＢでダウンして（でも賞品を獲得）、イーグルで有頂天になって充分収穫がありました。

My lucky ball was waiting for me!

I didn't have to putt on this hole, No.1

I experienced both big joy and big disappointment in today's special ladies golf competition held at Sunhills CC. The first half was for the competition. We started IN course and No15 hole pulled me down into the bankers arranged around the green. I made 13 shots in this middle hole followed by another bad play on the long hole with double score. As a result I was the second from the bottom, so called B.B. I was down but a big present for B.B made me feel better. On the contrary, however, another half we played after the lunch happened to make me so happy. No 1 hole with 309 yard in the out course gave me an extra super joy. My driving shot was perfect and the following fairway wood was good enough to carry my ball onto the green. I was sure I could make par and I didn't watch the ball rolling where. Then my play mated shouted "The ball disappeared at the pin! It went in there!" I just couldn't believed what happened on the green.  I made an Eagle for the first time in my life.  I was saved by the God or Buddhist.  What a miracle was given to me. I ended up with such a happy feeling having the present for B.B and the miracle experience today. Big harvest I got today. 

明大ＯＢマンドリン倶楽部コンサートc Concert by Mandolin club of Meiji university graduates

２月１５日(日）

花束のかわりに地元のお酒贈呈

会場風景(満員）

会長の挨拶風景をカメラに収める夫

今日は国際ソロプチミスト日光支部主催のチャリティーコンサートに。今回は明治大学ＯＢマンドリン倶楽部から12名が出演。明大マンドリン倶楽部創設者の古賀政男氏が他界された昭和53年に同倶楽部の卒業生がこのＯＢ倶楽部を結成したという。以来、「古賀メロディーの灯を消すな」という思いで演奏活動を続けて３６年。なるほど年季の入った演奏ぶりで数々のメロディーが聴衆をなつかしい世界へと引き込ませました。インターミッションで販売されたＣＤは完売という盛況ぶりでした。

チャリティーコンサート前の食事

I went to Kinugawa to join a charity concert organized by Nikko chapter of Soroptimist International. This year's concert was played by the mandolin club of Meiji university graduates and twelve members were in front of us. This OB club was established to keep Mr. Koga's spirit, a well known composer, when he passed away in 1978. Since then they have been performing his melodies for more than 36 years. They played so well that the audience was taken back to the old world of Mr.Koga. We enjoyed the concert very much. Their CDs were all sold out during 15 minutes' intermission. The event seemed very successful.

日光鉢石宿ひなまつり Annual Doll's Festival run by the local ladies

2月14日

バレンタインの　陽気に誘われて日光鉢石宿のおひなさま祭りに。おひなさま祭りに寄せてのイベント、少年少女合唱団の演奏を応援がてら、はなやかに陳列された由緒あるお雛様の数々を鑑賞。年々豪華になっているつるし雛は見応えがありました。コーラスの仲間に出会って、そのまま午後の山澤学先生の講演「日光の虚空蔵様（こくぞうさま）・磐裂様（いわさきさま」を拝聴。資料に基づいての詳しい歴史解説で日光人でないと理解出来ない内容のものであったが、要は、神仏習合で本地垂迹説（ただし神主仏従）が日光文化の根源であり、特徴であるというお話。今でも、虚空蔵様と磐裂様両方を地元の人は寺と神社の分け隔てなくお祭りを祝っているという。地域の伝統、習慣の存続の意味の重さを改めて考えさせられました。
The beautiful Valentine Day took me out to have a look of the annual doll's festival in Nikko organized by many local ladies living in the area of Hatsuishi. Most of them are members of the women choir group. A choir group of boys and girls was performing their songs on the first floor where lots of gorgeous and lovely dolls are hanging down from all over the ceiling of the tourist center. Some antique Hina dolls were displayed as well. I met some friends in our choir groups and we joined singing the last piece named Furusato, my old town, with those children's choir group. Then in the afternoon, I joined a lecture conducted by Mr.Yamasawa from Tsukuba university, who is a specialist of Nikko history.His lecture was very instructive and specific in details, which only Nikko people can understand based on their tradition and customs handed down from generation to generation since long time ago. They have respected the both, Buddhism and Shintoism, at the same time, which has developed Nikko culture.

日光彫秘話 An attractive story in our activity, Nikko Bori

最近まで７人の侍（女性４人、男性３人）と勝手に命名した日光彫の同友会日彫会に先生以上の腕を持たれる超一流の仲間Mr.Kが加わり、一同忘れかけていた緊張感が工房に漲りはじめました。今度の日光清風塾主催の講演会の講師へのお土産が一挙に解決。初めてＫ氏のお宅を訪問。見事な作品が部屋中、いや、お家の中隅々まで飾ってあって驚嘆しました。迷いなくお土産をゲットー。そこでピアノの側に置いてあった写真の作品を見つけて「挑戦できるだろうか？」と内心野心のような願望が出て写真を撮らせて貰いました。夫人がピアノを弾く姿をとらえた写真がはめ込んでありました。感動の作品です。同氏の夫人とは私のＥＥＣＣ（楽しい英会話クラブ）で繋がっています。

In our private club of Nikko Bori, wood curving, joined a new member recently. I shall say he is one of the real experts of Nikko Bori. He might be the most excellent not only in his skill but also his original design. His originality and creativity attracted me a lot. His way of facing this wood curving brought in a sort of stimulation and encouragement in our club which has been rather reluctant and routine since we lost our Master last year. I decided to choose some gifts out of his works kept in his house. I made my decision right away and I visited him at home.  To my surprise, I found so many works which are either decorated or displayed all over in his house. Without any hesitation, I picked up two hand mirrors for the gifts to be given to the two speakers on the occasion of our big event organized by Nikko Seifu Juku soon. Then I found an attractive piece displayed by the piano with a photo of his beautiful wife playing the piano in. I wish I could copy it. His wife is a member of EECC which I have been conducting since six years ago.

家族 Family

2月８日
この週末は娘達の家族が来晃して大賑わい。小二の従妹同士が庭で遊んでいて、１人がゴルフのクラブを振り上げる時、もう一人の瞼に触れて出血。両方ともショックで雰囲気が一挙に沈んだかと思いきや、病院に行って治療してもらい、予定していた翌日のスキー行きも大丈夫ということで一堂ホットしたことでした。男の子は目が離せません。
そのスキーは上々。二人とも道夫パパの指導が実って今や初級コースはもの足りないという。夫も孫達の手前、事前に予行練習までするという熱の入れ方。三世代が一緒にゲレンデを滑れるってありがたやありがたやでした。２歳のそれぞれの妹、弟達もそれなりにキッヅパークで大暴れ。交代で彼ら

を見る大人たちは重労働。アウトドアに乾杯。
February 8
This weekend welcomed our daughters' families at our place in Nikko. Our grandchildren are so active. Two boys, the second graders, happened to be involved in an accident when they were playing in the yard. One accidentally hit the other's eyelid with a golf club, and he got bleeding. They both got shocked to be quiet but when our doctor guaranteed they could go skiing the next day, they found it's not so serious and everybody got so relieved.
The boys are now so good in skiing thanks to Shota's father who has been training them these days. They aren't satisfied with a beginner's course anymore and wants to challenge advanced courses. We are behind them. Well, it's so wonderful and enjoyable to be able to ski with three generations all together. The small ones, two years old, also enjoyed in the kids park as their own way but guarded by us...it was tough. Cheers for the outdoor activity!

家族：お宮参り No6 grand-son's worship at the local shrine

１月３１日（日、大安）

孫息子Ｎｏ６のお宮参りに。昨日の雪日と打って変わって快晴だったのはラッキーでした。氏神さまの熊野神社（青砥）へ。健康で幸あれと無事祈ることが出来ました。午後は孫Ｎｏ２の学校での粘土工作が美術館に展示されているというのでそれを見に千葉まで行って来ました。まだフットワークは達者。この孫息子はあの１００名山中５０を踏破した小学二年生。この寒さの中、シャツ一枚という出で立ち。
We went to our son's place in Tokyo to take our No.6 grand-son, 2 months old, to the local shrine for the worship for his good health and good future. We had a heavy snow yesterday but it turned to be a beautiful day, good enough to have this happy occasion. Then we had one more schedule today to go to Chiba to see our No.2 grand-son's art work,a clay work, which has been displayed in the art museum with many good works by the primary and junior high school kids in Chiba city. We seem to be still in good shape moving back and forth following our grandchildren's occasions.