[SAKURA-2] The World Heritage - "Himeji Castle"

Hi again, here are SAKURA photos @ The world heritage ; Himeji Castle.
I hope you'll enjoy to see them! :-)

 

[SAKURA-1] Way To The Himeji Castle

Hello, thanks for stopping by, and thanks for your comment!
I appreciate for you all.

As I noticed in the previous post, I share photos of SAKURA (cherry blossoms) with you today!
On a very fine last Saturday, we cycled down to The Himeji Castle (The world heritage), and then I took so many beautiful SAKURA photos!!

My New Year WIPs and Gifts from Friends!

Hi, today finally I can share some cross stitch works (WIPs) with you!
I didn't iron, so they all are wrinkled, though...

Here is "Merry, Merry" © Birds Of A Feather.
I was going to present for my son Tass, though I couldn't finish this until the last Christmas.
There is gold thread that chart calls for, so I quite hesitate to stitch their parts...
So I bought gold thread for sewing machine, don't know how it'll be, but will see!

Here is a piece of "Birth Sampler III" © Prairie Schooler.
About 2 or 3 years ago, there were so many pregnant friends around me, it was about more than 10 people.
And recently there are many pregnant friends around me again, it's 2nd boom!
One of my best friend had have a baby girl the end of the last year, so I'm stitching a birth sampler for her!!
This is quite beautiful pattern, so I'm so looking forward to seeing the finished piece!! :D

And here is a new WIP, "Snowflake Serenade" © Country Cottage Needleworks.
I'm stitching this on 40ct Newcastle (Natural) that my friend gave me, as I wanted to put this piece in the white frame in the photo above, so choose 40ct.
But it's quite tough to stitch on 40ct as I haven't been stitching on 40ct for a long time now...
I hope I will be able to finish this in the winter season! :D

And here are also birth samplers "Bless the baby" © Lizzie*Kate.
I have been stitching them from the last year (actually I was forgetting them...) for my friend's baby boy, and another three are for my brother's children.
I should have finished this earlier and was going to present for them for Christmas, though I had terrible stiff neck the last Dec., so couldn't manage it.
Hope I can finish and present them soon!



I have received some gift and also Christmas cards from friends abroad!
So I share them with you!

Here is a gift from Caro in France.
She sent the parcel to my last address, though the post office forwarded to my present address on 24th of Dec., how nice!!
Thank you Caro for a lovely gift!!

And here is a gift from Carol R. in the UK.
She made a very lovely and beautiful scissors fob for me, and also she sent toy cars for my son! Thank you always so much, Carol R. for your kind heart!

And here is a gift from Nina in Hungary!
She sent me her original over dyed threads and lovely charms!!
Aren't they so beautiful?!

I don't remember that I have mentioned or not, but now the world heritage "Himeji Castle" is restoring old parts.

So here is the Himeji Castle now. Since tourists can't see the castle from outside, there is a big tent which was drew 3D silhouette by graphic art.
Why we went to Himeji Castle yesterday is, the Castle Marathon was held there, and my brother's children run!
So we went to cheer for them and take photos!!
Sweetie Tass made a flag to cheer for them! Tass is going to run Castle Marathon next year with me (under 7 years should run with an adult), so I have to train for it... whew...


Thank you for your visit!

Take care and have a lovely day!

Zoo, Amusement Park AND Himeji Castle

Today Tass and I went to zoo and wee amusement park where is placed in the site of Himeji Castle by bus, as my mum went to the party of Hula dance that she is having class, so we were boring with no car.
Tass was very excited to go to the zoo from when he woke up, but I was a bit tired in the morning actually, so just after lunch, we left home.
He said he wants to wear my hunting hat today to go to zoo, it's rarely happen that he says he wants to wear hats!
It was a bit funny because it was too big for him, though I respect his idea, maybe because he is awakened to fashion???


After we arrived to Himeji Castle, we took some photos and then entered in the zoo.
Zoo and wee amusement park are in the site of Himeji Castle, although it's very tiny, it's good enough to spend one day off!

"SAKURA" - In Himeji Castle (Edited)

This week the weather is very fine, and so we went to see "SAKURA" (Cherry Blossoms) in the world heritage Himeji Castle.

Here are the photos of the way around the castle...
There are some trails and these area retains something of the flavor of the old working class section very much, and I love them.

Here is one of stone monument of Himeji Castle.

This photo is beautiful, isn't it?!
We can see the caslte from our house (mum's house), so for us it's very natural thing that the castle is there, but every year when this season came, I always think this castle is the best in so many SAKURA!

I like this shot (below)! Good shot, isn't this?!

This is like a post card!
I will print this out on the photo paper later by new printer! And see how it will be, if it's so good, I will use them as a post card! :D

Please look at these beautiful and pretty flowers "SAKURA" for a while...

People enjoying the cherry blossoms... It is called "Hanami"
Most of local people enjoy their meal "Bento" etc.. (beer, drinks, etc... some are doing sports, it's like picnic) under the trees.

Me in front of the Castle.
Yesterday was a fine day, so I was a bit vigour!

Sweetie and I. Sweetie didn't stop moving at all, so we couldn't take nice photos of him at all, shame!! (Actually he was sleepy!!)

I hope people enjoy my photos of "SAKURA" and "Himeji Caslte" very much!
You can compare the scene of the Castle from this post, photos was taken in last November.

Thanks for visiting!
Bye bye from Sweetie + Yuko (@_@)v

P.S. Unfortunately from the next year, the big repair for the castle will be started, so you won't be able to see such scenes for few years...

Feel Japan! - World Heritage "Himeji Castle"

As my husband is in Singapore for business trip, I can have much time for myself! Yay!
And today I feel not so bad, so I decided to update my blog, although it's yet not about stitching...

Have you ever heard of the World Heritage "Himeji Castle" in Japan?
The last December when my son and I went back to my hometown, we went there.

This is the main gate of the Castle.

This is the most beautiful Japanese Castle in Japan, and it's also called "Shirasagi-jo (white heron-castle)", because it's beautiful like a white heron.

When we went to Himeji Castle, the weather began to get dark, so I couldn't take good photos this time...

It was very huge Castle, there is still some stone walls in the city. From these walls, we can know how huge castle it was...

When we arrived there, it was the time to close the gate, so we couldn't see inside (my son wanted to go in, but we have seen inside SO many times from when we were child... so for us it's quite boring, lol).
But if you are interested in Japanese culture and have studied its history, it would be so fun to see inside!!!

From here, I share you some photos of Kokoen (Himeji Caslte Nishinoyashikiato Garden Kokoen) where is next to the Castle, it is the traditional Japanese garden.

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I actually wanted to visit Kyoto and Kobe, but I had no physical strength to go there this time, so next time! (Please click these links about Kyoto and Kobe, where is so fantastic place!!)

* Did you know where Kobe Bryant's name came from? it's this Kobe. I've heard that when his father had been to Kobe and had Kobe beef, and it was so yum, so he was named Kobe... (Is this true???)
*Edited--- Anna van Schurman told me the link about his name! Thanks Anna!

But next time when we back mum's home, I really want to go to Kobe to visit a big craft shop and some other very fashionable shops for zakka, etc...

And also some places where have sweet memories for me! :D
I LOVE KOBE!!

I stitched only a little bit today as I was a bit well.

But it's present for friend's birthday, so can't show anything...

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

And thank you always for visiting and your comments!

I really appreciate for them all!!

P.S. I have a Tourist Guide & Map of Himeji in English version with me now.
If you are very interested in it or if you have a plan to visit Japan, then if you would like to have this, please let me know, I will send it to you with pleasure!
But I only have 1 map, so if if there were some of them who want to get this, I will draw it later...
*Edited--- I found a participant of the Map! I will contact you, zirzyle!