The artichoke has landed.

Shungo and I have a bit of a 'thing' going on with artichokes...he showed me his and I sent him one in reply.
Here is his fantastic dynamic drawing of an artichoke flower, sadly past it's eating prime but very decorative nonetheless.

Also another Double Delight from DosankoDebbie, what did I do to deserve such goodness?
The droll mosquito etegami reminds me that although we are mosquito-less at the moment, it is not only good things that happen in summer but I still love it.

I particularly like the little spot of blood where she has penetrated the skin......ouch!

This card of a whale breaching illustrates a poem by John Masefield and is eerily apropos at the moment as we are able to see the Southern Right whales making their way up the coast to their birthing grounds in the warmer northern waters. Are you prescient Debbie?
Now a whale may conjure up a different thought to a Japanese person...but we won't go there!

Coool!!!

Japan is struggling through another hot humid summer. I visited Kyushu 6 years ago and I could not believe how hot and humid it was. It is a pity I did not know then that  Fumiko lives on Kyushu or I could have visited her there! Never mind, she is a very good correspondent and given the problems with language we manage to comunicate quite well.
This latest card from her using the Kirie or papercut technique conveys the idea of 'coolness' (the weather that is but it is pretty cool anyway).
The character she has cut  reminds me of the stone lanterns I saw in Japan, happy memories.

Thanks Fumiko.

Two cards from Fumiko!

I was happy to receive this card from Fumiko yesterday, I think what it says is "What is the red color? It is the color of your kindness". What a lovely message.

It is done in her signature papercut style, and today I opened my mailbox to find this card

                                                                                        

and its delightful accompanying envelope with a swirl of watercolour and stamped goldfish. (I wonder if she knew that my other hobby is keeping goldfish?  I have two large ponds with about 200 fish.)
The second card is painted on handmade paper (made by Fumiko) and brings me happy memories of the flowers in my grandmother's garden. Batchelor's Buttons were one of the things she grew every year. The words mean "It doesn't matter if it is small, having one is important. DREAM!!

Thank you to my Daughter in law Tomomi for the translation (via email)

'Senior" sends a card.

A wonderful drawing of hydrangea flowers, seemingly dashed off with all of the energy that characterizes Shungo's work, the cat stamp on the back is a bonus! Shungo is well known for his stamp carving and my own name seals or hanko were made by him as a gift to a newcomer.