Midori Kai Musings

peaceteaandsweets:

You may not notice it, but the switch from awase to hitoe kimono happened on the 1st of June!  So now I am wearing unlined kimonos instead of lined kimonos and one-layer obis instead of heavier awase obis.  I did some naughty pre-koromogae (clothing switch) hitoe wearing, but no one seemed to mind much.

Sorry, this is all I can give you for now, June is a busy busy month!!

Oh I am soo happy to see the drum obi making its way around the Midori Kai girls!!  (and my little faithful yellow table) And you have some lovely komon! 

Anonymous asked: Dear Lindsey, sorry to read about your and your parent's suffering during this terrible forest fire. We think of you and send our prayers and best wishes for good health and peace, in gassho, Ulrich (Urasenke Freiburg, Black Forest, Germany)

Thank you all so much for your support!  The fire is currently about 65% contained and my parents have been allowed to return home.  I am thankful everyone is safe, but is is confirmed that two of my childhood friends have completely lost their homes in this recent disaster.

With the beauty of the summer season arriving all over the world it is with a heavy heart I write this update to you my dear followers and beloved friends.

If you are following the news you are aware that Colorado is once again suffering from severe fires.  The now most destructive fire in Colorado history has arrived all too close to home.

This morning my parents evacuated from my childhood home north of Black Forest, CO, on a 35 acre plot, which is a beautiful home full or warmth, love and memories.

In the past 12 hours it has been an intense emotional roller coaster as we exchange phone calls, trying to find and pack the items we hold most dear. Suddenly very few things that seemed important before for remained so, and the ones that were truly important became like precious jewels.

I hope in the coming days and weeks to have a brief chance to find a bit of calm and solace with Tea.  If there was ever a time it is now, it encompasses all I hold dear, my supportive family, the warmth of friends and sharing something unique and precious in this chaotic and changing world.

If you have a moment to spare today, please keep not only my family but ALL the families who have lost their homes, may still loose them or are touched by this disaster in any way in your thoughts and prayers.

Much love and my most sincere thanks,

Lindsey (littledemonpixie)

PS:  I will keep updates going…

onushi:

This Monday was very interesting. Wake up at 6 to do haigata in the morning because Hamana sensei didn’t know the place of our jitsugi (Tea practice), but after a hard-core morning, we had the chance to relax and drink tea in the morning. We didn’t go to eat because something very good was…

Now I clearly see how I survived the Kyoto winter… Oimatsu Kinton and Suntory… ありがとう！！

I was feeling a little lonely and nostalgic today but I’m so happy my photos made me smile.  I really miss Kyoto…

I miss trying to catch our beloved MK taxi…

I sometimes forgot how we look to others because we are just so happy to live in the moment!

裏千家の皆さん会いたいよ！！

onushi:

This Sunday (2nd of June), we (the gaijin gang) went to see one of the finest examples of Edo period ageya architecture.

Ageya was an elegant restaurant where banquets and dinner parties were held by geisha and taiyu who performed tea ceremonies, sang and danced. The geisha and taiyu lived in…

So I’ve been back in the US for two full months now.  I’ve attended keiko once or twice each week (excepting when I had a cold) and the unthinkable has happened.

The OVERLOAD has totally settled in.  I had expected to just become totally overwhelmed with Tea in Kyoto.  I never want it to be  a “chore” or a “job” so I was very careful to try to have a balance as much as possible in Kyoto. I never dreamt it would happen here in cozy Colorado.

But the reality has finally sunk in.  This past week, I DREADED going to Tea.  I put on a new kimono and studied so I could use the new Daime-dana my Sensei made, but that feeling was in the pit of my stomach.  And after six hours in Boulder, CO, I was not refreshed like I used to be.  I was just drained.

Even though I’ve scaled back, maybe its time to scale back just a little more.  Perhaps group keiko only twice a month, and a private session in between.  I don’t know but something just feels very wrong right now.  However I don’t want to disappoint my group or my Sensei, but I think its time to have a talk with him, express my concerns.  And take a deeper breath and step back a little more.

It will be hard because I KNOW he will be disappointed, but I want to keep this passion alive all my life so maybe its time to just slow down, and start to filter what my year at Midori Kai was, and how it will help me on my path with Tea.

Has this happened to you?  Any advice and some encouragement would be wonderful  I trust you my dear followers, and do bear with me. 

Thank you always for your support and patience.

jennyhime:

Trailer for “Ask This of Rikyu” (Rikyū ni Tazuneyo) starring Ebizo Ichikawa

Looks really interesting

I can’t wait to see this!!

(Source: nipponcinema.com)

littledemonpixie:

peaceteaandsweets:

Okay, so I haven’t really explained what kind of schedule I have here, so some of you friends and family may have been wondering why it seems like I have dropped off planet Earth. Let me lay out an average day for you…

5:30 start trying to wake up

5:45 throw off the covers and freeze to death;…

なつかしい！！！！

I have decided that when my first check comes  (if ever)  my new project will be embroidering an obi.  Because I can, and I always need new accessories.

So I ask you!  My followers what should I pattern? Do I go traditional?  Do I go Western or do I just go totally cute/nuts?  Its a cream base fabric.

jennyhime:

strawberrykimono:

karankorondori:

A bike made specifically for cycling in kimono!

I NEED one of those in my life!!!

I’ve always wanted to try riding a bike while wearing kimono. I don’t have a bike though :(

I MUST HAVE THIS IN MY LIFE!!!

peaceteaandsweets:

I can’t believe this happened two weeks ago already, our entrance ceremony to the Gakuen!  I am sure you will be seeing a lot more of these people in my pictures (first picture is Andrea, left, and Kelly, right) and you can see the back of a few people’s heads in the second picture which was when we visited the grave of Rikyu and previous Urasenke grandmasters at Daitokuji temple.

We used to wear business casual to class, but since we started wearing kimono, there is no going back now, so a substantial amount of my time everyday is dedicated to getting dressed and cleaning up kimono stuff.

chipcococafe:

Japanese Wagashi

Whoamahgosh!  I’m making these!  Cat lovers prepare!  (Remember when Murata-sensei had to apologize when eating a bunny…  hahhahahaha!)

(via pumpernickelandcoal)

(Source: meninkimono)