yep, that’s what I was doing on the 14th of November, 2009.

Check out the flicker set for the photos. Here’s some of the stuff I made.

Invite

Strawberry Jam Favours

kusudama flower garlands

Origami Crane Garland

paper banners

my dreams, of course

[Click to embiggen!]

Until last weekend, we’ve had the original outdoor lights on either side of the front door — brass torch-like lamps — the same ones we put up when we built the house 20ish years ago.  Great when we bought them, but aging fast now.  One of the bulbs when out a couple of weeks ago and when DH went out to change it, the bulb broke off in his hand.  A closer look showed a lot more “age” than we’d realized.  And besides not looking so good, they were becoming unsafe too.

So . . . time for new lamps.  Yea!  Shopping trip!  We narrowed the choices down pretty quickly and bought black hammered iron lanterns.

DH got a little help supervision moral support from Sydney.

I'm here for you Dad. Just let me know if you need any help.

She’s a very focused helper — as long as it doesn’t take too long.

Looking good Dad. Keep up the good work.

The new lights add a little weight to the front of the house and a lot more light.  I think they look really nice.  Here’s the new lantern to the left of the door.  I’d show you the one of the right, but . . . well . . . it looks pretty much the same

Thanks for visiting today!

I know what you’re thinking: Leah, don’t even go there. You’re that girl who wants to do away with all the wedding unnecessary-ness and hoopla.

Trust me, I can’t believe I’m going there, either. I mean, come ON. A lighting scheme? Are you serious?

The answer, friends, is that I’m totally serious. We have already determined that I’m in love with our party site, yes? That has not changed one iota. This is what it usually looks like:

Gorgeous, classic.

However, the FI and I went up there last night for a tasting with all the other 2010 couples, and this is what we walked in to see:

Aaaaaaaaand my heart exploded. You see, we were worried about the height of the ceilings and making the site really warm and cozy. We were planning to use candles for the centerpieces and have them scattered all over the place to up the warm factor and make it seem not so gargantuan. Mission accomplished by the crew at Boston Uplights.

We are now HUGE fans of paper lanterns (I already was), and I’ve seen the light (har, har, har) about uplighting. It’s really subtle in the photo above, but there’s a warm wash over the three columns on either side of the ballroom. They had lights set up on the fireplace and scattered around other spots, but I think we’d stick with just the columns being lit. Also picture more candles on the table for added ambience, and skip the twinkle lights on the balcony– they seem a little harsh when compared to all the soft warm light. The best part? Those are pretty much the exact colors we’d use. No imagination required! Now fingers crossed that we can fit it into the budget.

We both absolutely loved the lanterns, since they remind us of being at Coldplay concerts. If you haven’t been, one of the common threads through most of their shows are yellow globes that magically appear whenever they play “Yellow,” which also happens to be our song.

Swoon.

A politician in Jersey calls for stricter controls over Chinese sky lanterns amid concerns about their safety…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: canton china. The blog is also related to: wuhan china.

Summer will be here before we know it, and we’ll be spending a large amount of time in our outdoor living area or patio. There are many outdoor decor ideas just like outdoor torches, planters, containers, lanterns, aluminum animals and many others.

Copper Planters: Copper planters can transform an uninspiring exterior into a superb wonderland. Turning a patio, terrace or even a deck into a peaceful paradise is made simple. It’s a matter of pooling the appropriate components. When will you think to décor your outdoor area with copper planters so, concentrate on these points. First colors, second plants and foliage, third handcrafted or not last but not in list antique copper planters.

Lanterns: In outdoor decoration and lightning, lanterns are really good way to make your outdoor area impressive. It can really bring exotic feel in combination with the stars in the sky, with everyone looking lovely in moonlight. If you want to enjoy your time outdoors that is even better. Outdoor lanterns can light up your garden, your patio, and your porch with their cozy glow.

Aluminum Animals and Furniture: Aluminum outdoor furniture is beautiful but also long-lasting. Aluminum can stand up to summer and winter conditions. It is even heavy enough to hold up winds that blow and collapse over other patio furniture. Because the furniture is made of aluminum, it will not rust. Most quality aluminum outdoor furniture is powder coated. Powder coating is the technique of applying dry paint to a part that is then placed in an oven. The powder particles melt and coalesce to form a continuous film. These all are related to production of aluminum animals and furniture. Aluminum animals and furniture will put extra glow in your backyard area.

Tiki Torches and Lights: Tiki torches and lights come in a wide variety of types and styles. Simply plug a few of them in around your backyard for the night time look and feel of the tropics. If you really want to bring the tropics to your home then there is nothing better to do this with then a tiki style bar or snack station.

Tiki torches and lights cover a larger area, and can be used especially when you are having guests over for a garden party. Garden tiki torches can be used as accent lights to highlight certain areas of your landscape. These are also available in different shapes, sizes and materials and can add to your property looks.

Because I work in retail, my Christmas shopping starts a bit early. But, you moms out there know it can’t start too early: my kids change their Christmas lists as often as they change clothes. I try to have most of my purchases complete by mid-November – once Thanksgiving hits, my schedule is a whirlwind as customer activity peaks at the store.

Last week, as I searched out the toys on my list, I noticed something unique at the big-box retailers that I’ve also noticed this year at The Schaefer House. The items that were sold out were not the same as they’ve been in past years. There were plenty of Wii game consoles (at least on the day I was there) and there were loads of ipods locked in the shelves. The aisles were well-supplied with high-end, high-tech items.

But there was not a ZhuZhu pet, normally priced at $9.99, to be found. Nor were there any “habitat” items for the popular hamsters. And the other toys on this year’s “Hard to Find” list are amazingly familiar to those of my childhood: a Barbie, a race car and a Nerf Toy (Barbie Fashionista, the Air Hog Zero Gravity and Nerf N Strike).

So, what’s it about these toy trends that I’m also seeing at the store: Customers are buying more this year but they’re returning to some fundamental strategies: Great deals and traditional values. Couple this with the fact that most retailers didn’t order as deep on items as they might have in the past, and we’re seeing sellouts everywhere!

One of my unwavering principles when I opened the Schaefer House was to seek out the most amazing in home décor at the best prices. The girls and I work like crazy at market to make sure we bring home only great deals for you. One of my favorite things to see in the store (and I see it often) is to see the gleeful, unbelieving surprise on a new customer’s face when she locates the price on one of our items.

And this year, customers are snatching up these items like crazy. I’ve sold out of some of our greenery picks (but I’m trying to reorder!) and I’m guessing that we’ll be sold out of our whispy pine garland by next week. At $26.50 for a six-foot strand, the garland is one of those things that’s almost too good to be true. There are dozens of ways to use it –from the traditional staircase and mantle to a chandelier embellishment.

At the Jr. League of Kansas City Holiday Mart, customers couldn’t get enough of these flat metal trees. The trees come in several sizes and range in 11.50-19.00. At one point, the girls couldn’t get them off the truck fast enough. We did save a few for the store but they are flying out the door here, too.

While my daughters and their daughters will probably always play with a Barbie, this year’s Barbie can twist and strike a runway pose that my 1975 Barbie never dreamed of. It’s the same with our customers who are looking for updated “workhorses” when it comes to home décor items they can use year-round. And they want to invest in pieces that won’t go out of style next year.

We can’t keep our new candles with timers in stock! Candles will always be part of adding warmth and drama to the homescape, but these new candles remove the stress of a real flame and the requirement to turn them on and off. Once you turn the candles on, they stay on for 8 hours, then turn off for 16 hours. They can also be operated with a manual switch, but the timer ensures they’ll turn off and preserve battery life, even if you forget! We still have the red candles in 3 sizes (3×4, 3×6 and 3×8) but I’m not sure how long they’ll last!

My little Charlie loves to play with race cars of all kinds including the tried and true Hot Wheels cars. But this year he has his heart set on mixing in a new Air Hog Zero Gravity car. If there is one under the Christmas tree, you can bet he’ll work it into the traffic with all of the other “lo-tech” cars we have.

Similarly, we’ve had lots of customers buy lanterns this year – to work into existing tablescapes, centerpieces and mantle decorations. As you might imagine, I have a fair amount of accessories in my home. But this is one I’ve added to the mix. I’ve included a picture of how I’m using them at home right now. And the lanterns can stay up all year – I’ll change them for Christmas by including seasonal filler and a trio of the timer candles. The range of styles is as broad as our customer base including different finishes, shapes and sizes. I’m sure we have one that’s perfect for your home.

This lantern is perfect for some of may taller Christmas decorations too.

The part I love most about this year’s “hot” toy trends, is that they are a perfect match for what The Schaefer House has always about. Our repeat customers consistently tell us that we have the perfect combination of old and new, must-have items at can’t-beat prices. Stop by and let us help transform your home without breaking the bank.

And, if you see Zhu Zhu pet, please get it for me! I promise I’m good for it.

See you at the store,
Susie

We are in the time of year that our days are shorter and our nights longer.  In order for you to enjoy your yard or patio  into the evening, think about putting some outdoor lights around – nothing too bright or harsh; create ambiance and a cozy setting for relaxing and entertaining.

For a soft glow, put out candles.  You can put them in decorative lanterns or candle holders that fit your decor.  These can be mounted from the ceiling, wall or fence.  Try a free-standing floor lantern that has an old world feel.  Do you like the look and glow of colored glass?  Hang a Moroccan-style lantern! You can carry lanterns around with you as you walk or put them on a patio table.

Solar lighting is a wonderful option for areas that get direct sun in the day time.  They come in many style and can be used along walkways and paths.

Check out delightinyourgarden.net for a great selection of outdoor lighting options to give you the most use of your space, day or evening.

All Saints Day, Dzień Wszystkich Świętych, here in Poland is a very special holiday celebrated on November 1^st of each year.  This holiday is not like any other I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was a remarkable, extraordinary, and an unforgettable experience.

…………………………………………………..

When I first heard about All Saints Day from my sister, she basically described what exactly was to be seen.  She said all of the graves are covered and filled with flowers and lanterns as far as the eye could see.  She then referred to this day as the day of the dead, and immediately I thought about my Spanish lessons back in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and what I learned about The Day of The Dead in Mexico.  My Spanish teacher, Señor DiBernardo showed us videos of people in Mexico having celebrations, parties, and parades with bright decorations and colors everywhere for their loved ones who have passed away.  But, of course different countries celebrate holidays in different ways and that image of Mexico’s celebration was soon replaced with my own experience of the Polish holiday, Dzień Wszystkich Świętych, .

On the thirtieth of October my sister, mother, and I went to the Koszalin cemetery to clean and decorate my host families’ fathers’ grave.  When I got off of the bus all I could see were flowers and lanterns for sale.  Many people were also purchasing these items to decorate their loved ones graves.  We met up with Babcia (my host dad’s mother) and bought some white and red flowers to plant in pots and set on his grave.

While I was walking through the cemetery I noticed other families cleaning the fallen leaves off of the tombstones and dusting off the marble and stone slabs with damp cloths.  The designs of these tombs are all different shapes and sizes.  Almost every tombstone han the letters “Ś.P.” (Swiętej Pamięci) which means Holy Memory.  Also inscribed into most tombstones is the phrase, “Ave Maria”.  Unlike most of the tombs in the United States that  have just a head stone, tombs here have a head stone and a marble or stone slab laying on top of the place the person was buried.  This slab is usually where people place pots of flowers and lanterns.  Some slabs even have flowerpots built into them to grow plants on the tomb itself.  Every tomb is different in its’ own way whether  it is the design of the tomb or just the arrangement of the flowers placed near it.

Unfortunately, while we were there preparing my host dad’s grave for November 1^st there was a funeral being held not too far away from us.  Many people were gathered around the resting place and a few firemen in their uniforms.  A ceremony was being held in Polish so I really didn’t understand most of the priest’s speech but I did hear the wonderful music being played for this ceremony.  It did not sound sad at all.   The tone gave off a very peaceful vibe.

November 1^st

On November 1  my mother, sister, and I headed to the cemetery to place lanterns and say a prayer for all of the loved ones and people they knew who had  passed away. This trip back to the cemetery on this day was totally different. Chaos followed.  Today was the actual celebration of Dzień Wszystkich Świętych, and people everywhere!  There were so many people that it was actually very hard to get through the crowds right when we got off of the bus.  Once we found our way out of the crowd all you could see were even more flowers and lanterns for sale lining the gate of the cemetery.  Tables with different homemade pastries were present for people to buy cakes and pies for gatherings held at family homes following the celebrations. We would have a get together that night at Babcia and Dziadek house.

The Flowers For Sale

The Lanterns For Sale

The Pastries For Sale

Even thou we were at the cemetery just two days prior to this event the cemetery totally changed.  There were flowers and lanterns everywhere and just like my sister said they were to be seen as far as the eye could see.  The area still looked bright, vibrant, and beautiful with all of the colors scattered everywhere.  Cemeteries in my mind just seem to be a very grey, respectful, calm, and a simple place for people to be buried.  But here, on this day, the view was just breathtaking.

While we were going from grave to grave my sister pointed out all very interesting engravings   for me to see.  She showed me the smaller grave in the ground where cremated people were buried and the marble little huts where other cremated bodies are places.  Nearby was an area dedicated to important people such as doctors, professors, and government officials of  Koszalin.   There was also a grave she pointed out to me of a man who passed away on his one-hundredth birthday.   There were some with statues of Jesus and some with replicas of themselves.   Karolina pointed out a few tombs that were written in Russian too.  Every grave was unique.

After placing the lanterns on my families loved ones graves we went home to get some rest so we could return by nightfall.  Now nighttime on this very special day has its own wonders.  In the day time all you could see were the beautiful flowers, but at night that’s when the vibrant lanterns showed there magic!  Millions of candles lit up the whole cemetery and this place of sorrow turned into a place of awe.  A huge monument in the cemetary was dedicated to the Russian soldiers who helped Koszalin so many years ago. It h had hundreds of lanterns surrounding it that twinkled in the night.  That night was a chilly one indeed, but when you approached the groups of lanterns you could feel the warmth of the flames immediately.

There is almost no way to describe my feeling that night while walking through the cemetery.  I saw people young and old still setting out lanterns to add more light to this wonderful evening.  In the youth section of the cemetery I saw a very young boy placing a lantern on another child’s grave. A couple not too far from them were seated on a bench, which are commonly built in front of or alongside the graves, cuddling each other on this cold autumn night while remembering their loved one.  At that moment, I realized that this day was to bring loved ones together, to respectfully celebrate and pray for the passing of someone close and dear to them, and to show that they will never be forgotten.

Click the link below to check out the photo album corresponding to this blog.

Dzień Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints Day)
Photo Album

golden sadness

Throw a fireworks party and fill your home and garden with pretty paper lanterns for a cosy glow…

These lovely paper fairylights from Blueberry Park can be personalised with your own words or patterns – great for weddings, birthdays and children’s rooms.

I love the ‘tea & cakes’ idea – sweet at any time of year. I wish I could tell you that I’m having a lovely fireworks party tonight with twinkling lanterns, hot pumpkin soup and roasted chestnuts… but the reality is that I’ll be doing the same thing I do every year – standing in a crowded park, dodging sparklers, eating a cheap hot dog (and half the paper napkin too probably, in the dark) and wishing I’d remembered my gloves!

If you are having a party, these flying lanterns from Cox and Cox are fabulous for a striking display.  – Ellie

Martinmas/Lantern Walk

St. Martin of Tours was born in 316 and died on November 11, 397. He is known as a deeply religious man who shared his cloak with a beggar and represents the attitude of brotherliness. According to old customs at this time, as the days become shorter and the stars appear earlier, children would walk with lanterns through the streets singing. As the world grows darker, the inner light of man wants to shine forth – from Shepherd Valley Waldorf School

Golden light is turning grey,
Mists begin to rule the day.
Bare the trees, their branches lift;
Clouds of dead leaves earthward drift.

Through the field the farmer goes,
Seeds of ripened corn he sows’
Trusts the earth will hold it warm,
Shelter it from cold and harm.

For he knows that warmth and light
Live there, hidden from our sight;
And beneath a sheltering wing,
Deep below, new life will spring!

Deep below, deep below, new life will spring!

Martinmas stories

Martin & the Poor Man- http://herbnites.tripod.com/waldorfinspiredschool/id15.html

A Golden Lantern- http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW3808.pdf

This is the story I will use for a mixed age group. I will tell my daughter the story of Saint Martin while we make our lanterns.

The Lantern

There was once a boy called George who had been outside in the garden all through the Summer running after the butterflies, jumping like a grasshopper, singing like a bird, and trying to catch the sunlight. One day when he was lying on his back in the meadow gazing up into the sun-filled sky, he said, “Dear Brother Sun, soon the Autumn winds will blow and wail, and Jack Frost will come and make us all freeze, and the nights will be long and cold.”  Brother Sun pushed the clouds aside and said, “Yes, it will be dark and cold. In the deep midwinter, warmth and light live deep within, hidden from sight. In the time of dark and cold, you will tend the Light Within.” “But,” said George, “How will I tend this Light when it’s dark everywhere around me?”“I will give you a spark of my last Autumn rays once you have made a little house for it, for this spark must be guarded well. It will light the way for you to tend the Light Within throughout the time of dark and cold.” And then Brother Sun once hid again behind a cloud. George went home and wondered how best he could make a little house for the spark of the sun. He took a thick piece of paper and painted a beautiful blue and yellow watercolor upon it. When it was dry, he cut windows into his painting. Then he placed colored tissue paper on the back of his watercolor – and – he formed it into a lantern. He took a candle and put it into the middle of his lantern. And, as it was growing dark, he went outside with it. George held the lantern up above him and said, “Brother Sun, I have made a little home for one of your golden sparks. Please may I have one? I will guard it well.” Then Brother Sun looked out from behind a cloud and said, “You have made a beautiful home. I shall give you one of my golden sparks.” And suddenly, George saw how the windows of his lantern were lit up, and as he looked into the lantern, he saw a spark happily dancing on top of the candle. Oh, how happy the light was in his lovely lantern! It shone and shone so brightly. “Thank you, Brother Sun,” George called out, “Thank you.” And he took his lantern and carried it carefully home singing:

 The sunlight fast is dwindling,

My little lamp needs kindling.

Its beam shines far in darkest night,

Dear Lantern, guard me with your light
~ from Autumn, Wynstones Press, originally by M Meyerkort and revised by L Sutter.

Martinmas lanterns

Paper mache globe lanterns http://maymomvt.blogspot.com/2007/11/making-lanterns-for-martinmas.html

turnip lanterns- http://resurrectionfern.typepad.com/resurrection_fern/2008/10/how-to-make-a-lantern-out-of-a-rhutabaga-or-turnip-a-seasonal-tutorial.html

water color lanterns- http://naturenest.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/watercolor-paper-lantern-tutorial/

glass jar lanterns-  http://ourhomeschooljourney.co.za/wordpress/142/how-to-make-a-lantern-for-waldorf-festivals-or-waldorf-inspired-gifts/

folded construction paper lantern (only for older childern) http://www.pacon.com/projects/PaperLanterns.htm

For 3 songs you can hear go to http://astorytellingofcrows.blogspot.com/

Aricles about Martinmas

http://chicmommyusa.com/martinmas-lantern-walk/

http://www.waldorfwithoutwalls.com/newsletter/39 -halloween & Martinmas

Loy Krathong is a Thai festival when beautiful lanterns are lit and floated on water. I attended the Loy Krathong celebrations held at the university. This is a shot of some of the unlit lanterns. Traditionally, the lanterns are made from plantain trunk, but the ones above are made from styrofoam and paper. In the middle of each floating lantern is a candle, a flag and flowers.

This was shot indoors and the Nikkor 50mm again turned night into day. I was very happy with the beautiful shots I got in night-time indoor lighting with this lens. Contrast adjustment and sharpening applied on the photo.

Annual party. Awesome decorations. Arthur. Harry. Patricia. Weather. Kids. Cookies. Creativity. Jack-o-lanterns. Festive.

Little pumpkin all set to trick or treat

Ghouls and ghosties are the order of the night for Hallowe’en. Trick or treating, visiting neighbours – to leave a dare or receive a treasure – has become not just an American ritual, but one which has caught on in the Western World.

How many of our children know the origins of the celebration which fills their imaginations with scary images until they shake with glee or cry for consolation?

2000 years ago the Celtic year began at Samhain. And as the Celts calculated in moons, their ‘new year’ night was celebrated during the moon of 31 October – 1 November: what is now known worldwide as Hallowe’en. For all Celtic peoples – contemporary with the height of Roman civilization – Samhain was a time of deliberate misrule and contrariness, rather like the Roman Saturnalia which was celebrated at winter solstice, or if calculated in the Julian calendar, beginning December 17 and lasting for a period of six days.

Pumpkins ready for carving into Hallowe'en lanterns

Saturnalia did not otherwise survive 2000 years of change.

Hallowe’en, on the other hand, seems not only to have survived, but blossomed: its increasing popularity attributed perhaps to its ability to touch on the element of fire – candles flickering in lanterns – the dark, calculation by the moon, the unknown.

Celtic names                   Modern months                  Meaning

Samonios                                       October/November        Seed-fall
Dumannios                            November/December    Darkest depths
Riuros                                          December/January           Cold-time
Anagantios                              January/February        Stay-home time
Ogronios                                    February/March                  Ice time
Cutios                                          March/April                         Windy time
Giamonios                                 April/May                           Shoots-show
Simivisonios                                May/June                            Bright time

Equos                                             June/July                           Horse-time

Elembiuos                                      July/August                      Claim-time
Edrinios                           August/September      Arbitration-time
Cantlos                                         September/October             Song-time

In the earliest known Celtic calendar, the Coligny Calendar of 13 moons (months), now in the Palais des Arts in Lyon, Samhain was the fire-Festival of the Dead. It was a time when the veil between this world and the Otherworld was thought to be so thin that the dead could return to warm themselves at the hearths of the living, and some of the living – especially poets, artists, clairvoyants and shaman-healers – were able to enter the Otherworld through the doorways of the sidhe, or fairyfolk, such as the stone-lined entrance to the Celtic Hill of Tara in Ireland.

2000-year old Coligny calendrical calculations are quite complex and sophisticated, using a combination of moon and sun calculations which are obviously significant to the belief that the cycle of the moon ruled (and rules) people’s lives. The calendar dates from circa 1st century BC, and is made up of bronze fragments, once a single huge plate, inscribed with Latin characters, but written in the Gaulish language. It begins each month with the full moon, and covers a 30-year period of five cycles of 62 lunar months, with one of 61. It divides each month into fortnights (two-week periods) rather than single weeks, with individual days designated – from observation – as MAT (good) or ANM (not good). Each year is divided into thirteen (lunar) months.

The Christian Gregorian calendar never fully succeeded in spreading a veneer over its Celtic predecessor. It managed, however, to change the ancient festival of New Year – Samhain- from night to day, making the day of November 1st a celebration for All Saints, instead of the eerie ‘pagan’ concept of a nighttime fire-festival by moonlight the previous night. That was considered too ‘devilish’, rural or ‘ignorant’ to continue in an enlightened Christian world. But celebrate the country people continued to do.

Hallowe’en simply means the evening (night or moon-time) before All Hallows. So the older pre-Christian fire festival succeeded in perpetuating its Samhain roots, with parades and mocking the Dead – or even the Undead – allowing the Underworld to merge with the ‘real’ world, cavorting with spirits through the thinnest of veils. By perpetuating Samhain as Hallowe’en, the populace voted with its feet: adopting the Christian calendar name and applying it to a pre-Christian fire festival which would not go away.

This time of year we loosen Saturn’s bonds.
The ancient God awakens from His sleep,
and rules the Earth as in the Golden Age.

Trick or treat

Saturn’s influence, while associated with midwinter solstice, is also felt in the giving of gifts, or, what has become the fun of Hallowe’en: trick-or-treating. The Saturnalia was not just another fire festival to celebrate a time of misrule or night lording it over day, but for giving thanks for the bounty of harvest; and knowledge, said to have been brought to Earth by Saturn the God who showed Man how to store and preserve seed from a bountiful crop until sown again in spring furrows. While the giving of gifts perpetuates in most festivals of the Christian calendar (feasting after Lenten fast, Christmas Day giving and gift-unwrapping) the Celts were also masters of the soil, adept at tilling the Earth to encourage her to provide for next year. So the ‘treats’ of Hallowe’en are also rooted in that pre-Christian tradition of gift-giving and appreciation.

Star-shaped piñata for Lent from original Chinese paper-decorated designs

Piñata now decorate supermarket shelves at any time, not just at Lent

Hallowe’en may have survived its 2000-year transition, but it is doubtful whether any Celtic wraith floating in through the veil would recognize the 21st century version.

Little by little the clear blue skies became overcast, day seemed to turn to night, the temperature dropped instantly, and all of a sudden our coats and umbrellas seemed out of their depth. The next minute you could see your breath in the air, torrential rain and huge amounts of hail fell from the sky,  everyone was sent scurrying for cover.

Here is a small collection of photographs taken in Asakusa, Tokyo, before, during, and after a tornado passed the Eastern Honshu coast line of Japan.

Lomo LC-A

www.christopherjonesphotography.co.uk

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Tornado, Asakusa, Japan

Another weekend, another festival. October seems to be Festival Month here in the Gifu area. Nearly every town surrounding us has had one recently. We just attended our fourth in 3 weeks. In previous weeks we wrote about the ➔Seki Sword Festival, ➔Mino Lantern Festival, and the ➔Tajimi Pottery Festival. This past Saturday we made our way with three friends to the Inuyuma Festival.

Inuyuma is a fairly small, but immensly beautiful city. The city is crowned with Japan’s oldest castle. It stands triumphantly at the top a hill that over looks the city and gracefully stands over the Kiso river. The castle was our first stop, which was ¥300 ($3) with our ‘tourist map’ which gave us ¥100 ($1) off, and the view from the top is worth it. Japanese castles are very different from the typical Western European castle. They are big, but are not as vast as European castles. Depending on your perspective the castles here are either very small castles or very big outposts/forts. Inuyama’s castle is quite tall, and so exploring it involves more climbing than walking. Steep stairs allowed us to go to all the different levels and, best of all, enjoy the top view. (Click to read more about Puppet Shows and Lantern Floats).

Japan still has 47 castles throughout the country, but Inuyama’s castle is the oldest original castle. Many of the castles have been destroyed by typhoons or during WWII firebombings. In recent years, many have been rebuilt according to their original blueprints or restored.

After walking/climbing through Inuyama Castle, we watched a series of puppet shows. A friend that went with us is a real life puppet master and so he was able to explain some of the “magic” to us. The puppets perform at the top of large displays with the “operators” standing directly below the puppets. This type of puppet-erring is very different from the dangling string puppet that Westerners automatically associate with puppets. The shows were impressive and slow at times.

At a tea house nearby we grabbed coffee and talked about teaching English in Japan. Afterward we met up with a whole herd of Gaijin (foreigners) who are also teaching in Japan. After this we were able to watch the main event, lantern floats! Earlier these 50 foot (high) floats were used as stages for the puppets, but at night they are transformed into glowing towers. This was quite the show since these floats were made way back in the 1600s and are still used today. And we wonder why people like Japanese cars better…they last forever! Each lantern has a real candle that is lit with fire and then the floats are pushed by hand down the road by 20 or 30 men. Inside kids and musicians sing, play flutes and hit drums. The most impressive part of all of this was watching the floats make a 90° turn with wheels that don’t turn. All in all it was an incredible performance!

We had a great day! Best of all we ate our first Chinese food in Japan only a few minutes from our apartment. It was so delicious! Put Inuyama on your list if you ever visit Japan!

More Pictures Below via Picasa:

Inuyama Matsuri 2009

After he fixed my bike, my friend Cary showed me around his house.
Y’see, when he’s not out riding bikes with the cool bike-race set, he’s a contractor. He builds things in people’s houses to make the houses pretty and raise their property values.
And he’s good at it.
Heck, the space he nonchalantly refers to as “The Bike Shed” is really a man-cave of the highest caliber.

Anyway, he asked me if I’d be interested in shooting some of his projects from time to time. I was all for it so when he suggested I start with some shots of the killer living room he’d put into his house, I was thrilled.

This is one of the ones from a hurried 1 hour session earlier this week.

I’m looking forward to working with him on more projects as the opportunities arise.

Continental small birdcage chandelier

Continental small birdcage chandelier with multi colored crystals. 24″H x 15″W
$900.00

19th Century French Chandelier

19th Century French iron and crystal two-tier chandelier. Very good condition. Diameter: 30″; H:42″

$ 9600.00

19th Century French wood, brass and crystal two-tier twelve light chandelier. Diameter: 29″; H:34″.

$6900.00

20thC Iron Chandelier with Arrow Design

A continental iron chandelier with arrow design circa 1940’s. Two tiers: bottom tier 4 candle lights of varying heights. top tier 3 candle lights set at an angle. Dimensions: H. 36″ W. 27.5″

$1600.00

An American Victorian Painted Chandelier

An early 20thC (Victorian)American painted metal and wood 14-light chandelier. Dimensions: H. 32″ W. 21″

$1900.00

19thC Louis XVI Style Bronze D’Or Chandelier

A beautiful antique French 15-light(candles), 3-light(bowl), chandelier (ca. 1860). Adorned with antique Baccarat crystals. Dimensions: H. 42″ W. 28

$24,000.00

19thC. Italian Iron 8-light Chandelier

A beautiful, blackened iron Italian chandelier with rock crystal pendants and balls. Ruby and blue glass crystals dispersed within. Dimensions: H. 41″ w. 25″

$17,500.00

19thC Italian 6-light Gilt Metal Chandelier

Fine Antique chandelier with cut crystal and amethyst drops. 36″H x 18″W

$2600.00

Late 19thC Continental Small Crystal Chandelier

H: 20″ W: 17″    $2600.00     SALE $1300.00

Early 20th c. Tole Italian chandelier

$3200  SALE $1600.

Antique Iron Floral Chandeliers, Pair

W:19″; H:31″.    $3600.00   SALE  $2600.00

A Pair of French Tole Chandeliers

A Pair of French Tole Chandeliers.15″ diameter    $5800.00

ALSO IN STOCK

Palazzo Como Chandelier, contemporary

approx. 43″ high and 43″ wide   $5400

Mercury Glass Pendant Lamps

A contemporary pendant lamp. Dimensions: H. 13″ Diameter 9 3/4″

Clear Bell Glass Jar Lantern.

$560 – 19″H x 7″D.

Baby: 15.5″H x 7″D: $400, Small: 19″H x 7″D.: $560, Med. 21″H x 9″D: $690, Large: 25″H x 12″D.: $850, Jumbo: 33″H x 14″D: $1,850, Extra Jumbo: 36″H x 16″D:$2,800, Super Dooper Jumbo: 38″H x 20″D: $3,450.

AVAILABLE  IMMEDIATELY

The York Lantern

A contemporary 3-light ceiling fixture shown above in Natural Rust with Linen Shade. Custom sizes and finishes available. Dimension of shown and priced: 42″ Square H. 57″   $6395.00

Glass Swirl Design Lantern

Also available: 21″ H x 9″ D: $795 ; 23″ H x 11″ D :$925 and 33″H x 14″ D:$1,620.

Unique Mosaic Lantern

A very unique Moroccan style Lantern: 29″H x 18″D.

Unique Mosaic Lantern

A very unique Moroccan style Lantern: 29″H x 18″D.          $1200.00

Tapered Greek Key Lantern

$795 – 21″H x 9″ D

Also available: 25″H x 11″ D. : $920.

Opal Unique Lantern

$950 – 21″ H. x 9″ D.
Also available: 26″ H x 12″ D.: $1,250.

Clear Glass Lantern with Metal Bottom

Only one size: 22″H x 9″ D. Jar Ht.: 11.5″.   $820.00

Mercury Glass Lantern

$750 – 19″ H x 7″ D.

Also available in 21″H x 9″D: 825.

Two-line Greek Key Lantern

$760 – 21″H x 9″

A contemporary glass jar lantern with two line Greek key design. Three or four light fixture available. Also available: 26″H x 12″D: $950

Mini Star Cut Glass Bell Jar Lantern

$640 – 19″H x 7″D

Small 7″ diameter 19″ high $640,Medium 9″ D 21″ H $720, Large 11″ D 23″ H $900, Jumbo 14″ D 33″ high $2040

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” Camilla” Iron and Crystal Chandelier

Eight Light Chandelier. 30″ W x 42″ H. 25 different finishes available. Please email us for samples.

19th Century French Chandelier

Stunning Solid Bronze Lantern – two sizes – small- and large. width: 51 cm 20 inches height: 86 cm 35 inches . Small: $2790 Small 15″ diameter, 26″ high

$3180

The Georgetown Lantern

Width: 15 inches ,Height: 30 inches Standard Finishes Raw Brass, Polished Brass, Polished Copper, Bronze, Weathered  $5250.00