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Making paper with kids
Today was another fun papermaking workshop at Oyama Senmaida. I have been taking lots of photos across all the sessions I’ve done this spring and I thought I’d write up a bit about how these workshops run. The preparation starts with delaminating milk cartons and boiling them. Then a day before the workshop, we make…
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Yoga at Oyama Senmaida
I’ve been watching the weather like a hawk for the past week, but watching it didn’t keep the rain away. I mowed the grass in our practice space yesterday, just in case the clouds passed by, but bad weather settled in overnight and the morning was soggy. Instead of the green grass, we practiced in…
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Misophonic rains
I believe I inherited misophonia – a dislike of and discomfort with certain sounds – from my father. He was sensitive to chewing noises. As a kid, I learned to chew food quietly and with my mouth closed. I still eat pretty silently with minimal chewing. I, too, dislike the sounds of chewing and eating.…
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Bringing nature indoors
I am becoming the kind of person who has flowers in her house. It’s a good kind of person to be because it brings me happiness and enjoyment three ways: exploring the garden and jungle looking for pretty colors and interesting textures; puzzling out how to arrange artfully; and admiring the ephemeral beauty on my…
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New circles
After building 555, I wasn’t sure what my next big project would be. Well, it has turned into a fluster of expanding my circle of acquaintances and activities. I am making time to get to know the neighbors, build rapport, find support, be a useful member of the community, and ensure my life is not…
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Conference Impressions
I attended the FEWture Conference last Friday. I had agreed to teach a yoga session and run a community art project for this long-running conference of women in Japan. But as it grew closer, the thought of going into Tokyo to spend a day in a hotel with a lot of strangers and attending talks…
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Refreshing signs
I am slowly working on improving visitor experiences at Oyama Senmaida by improving wayfaring and information. First step: make the existing signs look nicer. I started with the big wooden sign at the lookout point. This is one of the most photographed parts of Oyama Senmaida and it was looking pretty rough. So I gave…
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One painting, three works
I sat down to paint an abstract self portrait yesterday and ended up with three artworks for the price of one. My plan was to paint on canvas using a technique I’d seen recently. I knew I wanted the end result to have a woven effect and lots of color, but I didn’t have a…
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Struggling with Pride
Having realised that I am queer last year, I am struggling with Pride Month this year. Is being queer something to take pride in? I’m not ashamed of it in the least! Being queer is an essential part of me, like the color of my eyes or the way I thrive when I am outside…
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Beachy days
Our friend, Matt, had a long stopover in Japan after his flight out of Delhi and he came out to visit us over the weekend. Matt works in a think tank doing ocean policy research and was eager to see the ocean and our local beaches. We were happy to comply, hitting both the Pacific…
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