Kazuyo(owlmind)’s blog

I received a questionnaire from the management office of my apartment.
According to this questionnaire, we had to decide on a pigeon prevention system.

My apartment faces the park and it (has a beautiful view) is beautiful things but pigeons are trying to make a nest
every year on the apartment balcony.
Therefore the management office asked us whether we would like to install a pigeon prevention kit.

But.. these prevention kits are very ugly. It would (make it) look like a jail.

My husband and I decided to decline their offer and my husband sweeps the little branches from balcony every day.
Yes, it is war.

My husband said there is a good pigeon prevention in Europe.
Hawk shaped stickers are placed on the windows as they fear the hawk shape.

I do not know whether city pigeons know hawks or not.

Does someone know this (type of) sticker?

( These are corrected by ぴい太 with red character… 多いわ…)

tori.jpg

Last Sunday, we went to Exhibition at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
It was titled "commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Artist's birth -Kaii Higashiyama: A Retrospective-"
http://higashiyama-kaii.com/en/

He drew the murals in the Image Hall of the Toshodaiji temple (唐招提寺御影堂). I have seen TV program the document of that process.
At that time, he worked much of times for study.
And TV program also described his respect for nature and humility.
From then, I wanted to see his drawing and dream came true.

"The skill of catching color of air, especially dawn and sunset is unbelievable."
"Even the gray sky, it is very clear and beautiful."
"We can see the peacefully atmosphere."
We were expressed by his work during watching.

Especially "Sound of Waves" that was drawn for Toshodaiji Temple was spectacular.
I bet he drew many of study.

Peter said "I grow up near the sea and spent there much of time. Therefore I know well about sea... That sea (drawing) is almost real!!", and he did not move from there.

I grow up the country side near mountains, therefore I know the mountain and forest after dark.
His drawing has same atmosphere with real forest that I know.

Great drawing has power, even if they are calm.
If you have opportunity to see Japanese style drawing, Please go to museum.

Other Kaii's work
http://higashiyama-kaii.com/download.html

down_wph_1.jpg

When I talked with Peter, he heard kookaburra laughing (not singing) at backgarden of his house.
And he explained how much beautiful it is.
That made me remember a song I learned  when I was kid.
And then I tried to remember the lyric.

I thought the song starts, "Kookaburra sits on the old PALM tree..."
However, I found the lyric on the net is following.

Kookaburra
          Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree
          Merry merry king of the bush is he
          Laugh Kookaburra, laugh Kookaburra
          Gay your life must be

          Kokkaburra sits on the old gum tree
          Eating all the gumdrops he can see
          Stop Kookaburra, stop Kookaburra
          Leave some gums for me

          Kokkaburra sits on the old gum tree
          Counting all the monkeys he can see
          Stop Kookaburra, stop Kookaburra
          That's no monkey, that's ME!!!

How funny this lyric is!
Did I misunderstand Palm tree instead of gum tree?
Also I read an article the lyrics are difference between U.S. and other country even same song.
If you know other version, please let me know!

I have had a cold in a few days. Now I am almost OK.
When my throat sore, I always use a tea tree oil and boiling water.

Boiling water make my throat to keep moist, and I think tea tree oil is a kind of antivirus.
(I do not know whether it is sure, but I believe.. )

1. Pour boiled water into bowl and drop (2 or 3 drop) tea tree oil.

2. Suck in the steam. (And choke on..)

3. I get on big towel covered my head and bowl.
    Inside looks sauna.

I heard that many westerner does not wear mask, right?
Peter asked me why many Asian people wear a mask.

In my case, it is to protect others from my cough included virus and to keep my throat moist.

If your throat sore, please try to wear mask during you sleep.
I bet you will be surprised this effect.

Last Sunday, I went out to walk near my house.
It was very beautiful day.

Mt.Iwate

Takamatsu pond

2 comments

ducks

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Chichibu with a friend.

On the first day, we got on the train on Chichibu Railway to go to
 an onsen ryokan.
 
I didn't know anything about Chichibu Railway, so we were excited
 when we saw a steam train.
 
We couldn't get on that train that day because the steam train
 only makes one journey daily.

After we got off a normal train, we enjoyed seeing an temple and
 a big dam.
 
And we revised our plan to include the steam train.

RIMG0129

Finally we got on the steam train!!

 It was the first time for me to experience it.

I was really excited.

I enjoyed the smell of coal and the sound of the steam whistle and
 I was amazed at the energy needed to pull the passage car.

We were also happy to experience the beautiful nature in Chichibu.
If you do not live in Japan and you want to enjoy the countryside,

then I really recommend this place.

(もちろん日本在住のみなさまも)

文章をLang-8で添削していただいた内容におきかえました。
かなり直されています（涙）勉強がんばろう。

Original

Corrected

In new system LingQ, one of my favourite is Vocabulary section.
Especially learning with flashcard looks like a game.

I wanted to that section when I get on the train or in the cafe.

 I have a palm TT5, so I had tried to find good software for this.
YES!! I found it!!

 That's name is "Learn?!"  

C30CD036

In this software, I can make the database by Excel or also notepad. 

And I can choose ' kind of data card '.

"Question and Answer" or "Question and Hint and Answer"
I chose "Question and Hint and Answer"  pattern.

It is same as LingQ sheet. Therefore I can copy and paste. It is easy.

And I notice that it has good system to learn something.
It is the principle of the software.  It uses five boxes.

Once I make the database, these data are included 'BOX1'.
And When I am learning, there are switch of ' Question and Hint' and 'Question and Answer' in screen.

When I answer correct, I can click the smiley button.
Then the card will move to next higher box, 'BOX2'.

If I answer correct straight 4 times, the card will be in 'BOX5'.
It accounts "I learn the word/phrase perfectly".

However if you do not answer correct, the card will go to back 'BOX1' 

I thought it is very similar with LingQ's flash card.

If you have a palm OS device, I recommend the software to improve your vocabluary.

(And I thought it is useful to learn other things.)

In Japan, "A THOUSAND WINDS" is hit song.
Yes it is good song to understand LIFE. 

Recentrly I watched the animation again, and I noticed this was translated some languages.
I recommend it if you like the song "A THOUSAND WINDS".
Http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood/1387/walkingtour.html

Today, I want to share this song.
When I heard the song first time, I love it immediately!

I am satisfied with "I am" as my age.
Japanese people intend to say "Young girl is best."
However I do not want to be back to young girl.
I want to be a nice mature woman... I will try to be.

This song lyrics makes me have courage.

I will try to tlaslate of this lyric,
please correct my translation of lyrics, somebody!

Jinsei no Tobira
The Door of the Life

春が来るたび　ひとつ年を重ね
目に映る景色も　少しずつ変わるよ
陽気にはしゃいでいた　幼い日は遠く
きがつけば五十路を　超えた私がいる
信じられない速さで　時は過ぎ去ると　知ってしまったら
どんな小さな事も　覚えていたいと　心が言ったよ
Spring has come again, I get old again.
It has been changing common view.
The young day in high spirits cheerily was far away.
and I already become over 50 years old.
I want to remember even if it is a small thing,
because I know the times flies.

I say it's fun to be 20
You say it's great be 30
and they say it's lovely to be 40
but feel it's nice to be 50

満開の桜や　色づく山の紅葉を
この先いったい何度　みることになるだろう
ひとつひとつ　人生の扉を開けては　感じるその重さ
ひとりひとり　愛する人たちのために　生きてゆきたいよ
How many times I will see
great cherry blossoms and colored trees.
Whenever I open the life of doors, I feel worth of living
I want to live for someone I love

I say it's fine to be 60
You say it's alright to be 70
And they say still good to be 80

君のデニムの青が　褪せてゆくほどに　味わい増すように
長い旅路の果てに　輝く何かが　誰にでもあるさ
You know the more your denim-blue fader the more you like it.
It looks like our life.
You will see something which shines after your long journey.

I say it's sad to get weak
You say it's hard to get older
And they say that life has no meaning
But still believe it's worth living
But still believe it's worth living