Meiji Shrine on a beautiful fall day

A couple weeks ago there was a festival (sort of subdued, with the lack of tourists - Japan is still not open to tourists) at Meiji Shrine.  I met some friends there and we really enjoyed ourselves.  Not pictured are the many absolutely adorable children in their fancy kimono, being photographed.

At the entrance, an autumn display celebrating the harvest - with a ship made out of vegetables! 

A solemn procession of monks: 

A marvelous exhibit of ikebana: 

and chrysanthemums everywhere: 

I love spotting the Pawlonia kamon (family crest):  

Back home, I've not been doing much quilting lately.  I'm sort of stalled out.   I've been doing a lot of geneology, sitting at my kitchen table with the marvelous fresh air and sunshine streaming in: 

Cabell County West Virginia rural school class photo.  The tall guy in the back was my great-grandfather Garland Tennyson Brown.  We called him Pop: 

Last week in book group we discussed A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.  I read it for the second time (actually, the first time, I listened to it).  I took notes and really savored it because it was my turn to lead the discussion.  I highly recommend this epic, beautifully written novel! 

And now we are reading The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns - much quicker read, really enjoying it too. 

xo

Cynthia