Outdoor activity, Volunteer work in Ashio 足尾の植樹デー

4月23日(日）

今日は戸外活動には最適のお天気日和となりました。予定通り、足尾の春の植樹デーに日光清風塾から8名が参加。足尾の桜はまさに今日が最高のタイミング。青空の下、美しく華やいでいる桜に包まれて足尾の山を元のグリーンに蘇らせるボランティア活動に参加出来る喜びを存分に味わうことが出来ました。明峰高校の生徒さん達、新しく着任されたY校長先生、A先生も参されていました。標高900m、急な斜面に作られた階段の数700．
　登りは少々きつかったけれども、下りはスイスイ。下山してア
トラクションの音楽演奏をBMに、満開の桜の下でお弁当を囲ん
でのおしゃべりの楽しかったこと！900mの高さから見た川はエメラルド色で山の茶色とは不釣り合いな程美しいものでした。かもん君という足尾のゆるキャラに初めてお会いしました。
Under such a beautiful day, we, 8 members of Nikko Seifujuku, went to Ashio to join an annual project "Arbor Day in spring in Ashio".... We enjoyed very much this volunteer activity to make mountains in Ashio, which were damaged by copper industry a century ago, back to green. We were most happy surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms in just full bloom there. After stepping down from the 900m high on the mountain where we planted three young trees each person, we had a picnic, a wonderful time together chatting a lot and sharing food we brought respectively.

女性の集まりでトーク My talk for the members of WFWP

4月22日(土）

今日は宇都宮での女性の集まりでお話を。今までの人生経験談義をやらせていただきましたが、短い時間で要領よく話を進めることがまだまだ出来ないもどかしさを感じました。盛り沢山の情報を整理して焦点を定めること。それでもいろいろな方からの温かいコメントに励まされ、新たなエネルギーを貰うことが出来ました。

On the occasion of their annual meeting of WFWP covering the north area of Tochigi-pref. they gave me a good opportunity today to talk about my challenging life experience in and out of Japan during our career for half a century. As talking
according to a little note I prepared, I noticed that too much information bothered me. It should have been more simplified and focused on a few points. Thus a talk should have been well organized. But some ladies gave me some warm-hearted comments afterwards to encourage me to have another chance to continue my talk. Thanks a lot.

春の嵐の前のひと時 A quiet moment before the spring storm

夕方から明日にかけて低気圧が西から押し寄せて悪天候になるという予報の下、午前中は夏日の中、たっぷり2時間テニスをやった後、お昼は我が家の見事に咲き誇っているソメイヨシノを愛でながら庭でランチを。もったいない環境に感謝です。
According to the weather forecast, we will have a storm late this evening caused by a low atmospheric pressure coming from the west. Before it comes, we enjoyed playing tennis for two hours in the morning under a summer-like weather in the park nearby. Upon returning home, we decided to have a quick lunch out under the cherry blossoms in our garden. What precious surroundings we live in!

この季節ならではの感動の時 An exciting moment in this season

4月14日
近所の公園の本日の美。遅れていた桜がついに開花。こぶしの花、モクレンが一寸先を行き、向こうに座す男体山にはまだ雪が。冬から春へのバトンタッチが見られて心躍る風景です。
Today's beauty of the park nearby. The cherry blossoms have just started blooming. The white and dark purple magnolia are a bit ahead of them. The Mt.Nantai as seen over there still keeps some snow. It's an exciting moment to see the transition from winter to spring.

お花見にもいろいろなスタイルが。 Various ways of cherry blossom-viewing

4月11日

今日は日光彫の仲間でお花見BBQをする予定でしたが、雨で断念。その代り、工房で急遽ホームパーティーを。驚いたことに、男性軍が美味しいケンチン汁ときんぴらを作ってくれました。
We Nikko woodcarving circle members were supposed to go out to do BBQ under cherry blossoms but because of such a bad weather we changed our mind and we organized a home party in our atrier instead. The men made Kenchin, a Japanese typical soup made of many kind of vegetables. And Kimpira, burdock dish as well. A big bunch of green onions and burdocks was brought by the leader Mr.F from his farm. What a surprise! They cooked very well.

4月12日

昨日の寒さと雨とは裏腹に今日は好天気。夫とRCCでクラブを握ってお花見が出来ました。桜はやはり日本の原風景です。
Contrary to yesterday's cold & bad weather, we had a comfortable day today. Why not? We found ourselves out in RCC enjoying the cherry blossoms with our g.clubs in our hands. This is a genuine Japanese scenery.

ついに姿を見せたジョウビダキ君

４月６日

昨日は一日中、部屋にこもって机の周りを大整理。そのご褒美を得て、今朝の目覚めには勢いがありました。外に目をやると、恋い焦がれていたジョウビダキ君が庭先にいるのをついに発見。今年は野鳥が静かだと思っていましたが、今日はいろいろ目に入って来ました。鷹の一種（？）が松の木に。姿は見えないけど鶯の声をうっとり聴きながらのウオーキング。こぶしの蕾が朝日に輝く風景を我が物顔で満喫。日光連山にはまだ白いベールがうっすらと。そして、我が家の庭先もピンク色のシャクナゲの花、紫のヒヤシンス、黄色のミニ水仙が彩を添えて春の到来を告げています。おかげで、朝の

心地良いモチベーションのおかげで手際よく家事を終え、１０時半から１時間、仲間とテニスに打ち込むことが出来ました。
Thanks to my hard work to put the things in order around my desk yesterday, I got up early this morning in good feeling. What a lucky morning! I finally found ...that missing wild bird in our back yard. It has been rather quiet with no wild birds these days, then this sudden appearance. I missed him so much that this coming across

made me feel so happy and delighted.

Some nightingales' transparent voices kept pleasing me during my morning walk.in the park where magnolia flowers are about to bloom shinning in the morning sun against Mt.Nantai far way back still covered with a white veil. Cherry blossoms are still still.
Our back yard starts enjoying various colors of spring flowers such as rhododendron, hyacinth, narcissus, etc.

Upon finishing my routine house works, I rushed to the playground to play tennis with my tennis mates for an hour.that missing wild bird in our back yard. It has been rather quiet with no wild birds these days, then this sudden appearance. Some nightingales' transparent voices kept pleasing me during my morning walk.in the park where magnolia flowers are about to bloom shinning in the morning sun against Mt.Nantai far back still covered with a white veil. Cherry blossoms are still still.
Our back yard starts enjoying various colors of spring flowers such as rhododendron, hyacinth, narcissus. Upon finishing my routine house works, I rushed to the playground to play tennis with my tennis mates.