September’s First Class Lesson - Apply Gold Leaf to Create a New Look Container

I ordered my gold leaf from Amazon, 100 sheets for six dollars only. Hata Sensei showed us how to apply gold leaf to the container you bought in and arranged in it, using your own materials. 

Here were some of our classmates’ arrangements: different containers and different gold leaf designs.  (9/16/2025)

Sensei made the wood structured container and showed us how to 
apply gold leaf on it (using any suitable kind of brushes)

Apply gold leaf to my round basket container to be looked
more unique and beautiful 

Embrace the Fading Day of Summer

Summer has flown by and all the activities are starting this month; our MainLine Branch, it’s first class of the new season will be in September 16, I thought I would like to use the container that my brother gave to me, but the subject of the class lesson is something different than usual! It will be applying gold leaf to any kind of containers to challenge your creativity!  But I really want to make an arrangement using this new container, so here comes the title “Embrace the Fading Day of Summer”. 

Hydrangeas, lily seed pods, dried wood 

And Philodendron 

Different angle

Side view 

Back view 

Two Containers - The Gift from My Brother

My youngest brother who is dentist, practicing in Kwansi our hometown. Occasionally he would voluntarily provide free dental treatment to the aboriginal communities in remote areas.  Besides, his hobby is fencing; at the latest, he representing Taiwan in an international competition at Tokyo, Japan, and won silver medal in the senior group. I am so proud of him! 

Ceramic vase, he loves to give me for Ikebana 

Other side of the vase

Another gift bamboo tall vase

Late Summer - Free Style

I have not done Ikebana for entire month of the August, because I still immerse myself in writing my “Taiwan Trip” blog while the memory is still fresh.  But I would like to start doing Ikebana today, the materials are readily available! I make it effortlessly and named “Late Summer” arrangement.  Using hydrangea, philodendron and painted mitsumata / basket   (7/7/2025)

Another Chapter of my life

We have been home from Taiwan trip for about three weeks now. Everything is back to normal. Up to this point I should focus on moving to our new house, that’s because my children would like us to live nearby, close to them and surrounding with grandchildren, it should do a lot of good for us physically and mentally, especially for my husband’s early stage dementia.  I have been gradually accepting this moving idea for a year. I think it will be my final chapter of my life!  (9/3/2025)

Below is my one last time to visit my brothers and see the house of my childhood during Taiwan Trip. Please google “ Shude Hospital, Guanxi - Historic clinic or Heritage building in Guanxi, Taiwan 関西樹德醫院”

My birth home. My father was a physician, he built this house 
in 1936. Western and Japanese touch construction. It’s a historic 
site and landmark building now. My brothers are still practicing 
medicine and dentistry here. 

Other side of the house 

My husband’s hometown elementary school 

School closed for summer vacation 

The stairs become learning places, English to Hakka 

Taiwan Trip (3)

It’s really hot and humid in Taiwan in the summer time, but we decided to go. Our younger daughter Melanie would accompany us and help along the way. Also our older daughter Vivian and her two kids were already in Taiwan. Although they had visited Taiwan before, that was decades ago. After all, seven years had passed since we were there. I was so grateful for my daughters coming along with us. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it on my own because of my husband’s situation. With us they would see more of their parents’ homeland and relatives, and meet some of their cousins for the first time. The ten days trip to Taiwan passed like a flash! We did a lot of things! Especially for my husband, it might be the best chance to see his older sister and their families. There were many touching moments; it was so emotional and a lot of tears shed.

My hometown Kwansi “Tune-an bridge” 関西東安古橋

It’s a video, High speed train, from Taipei to Kaohsiung

Kwansi Junior high school, I was a music
teacher 50+ Years ago 

My granddaughter (middle, short haired) received a Certificate.
Four weeks summer camp learning Chinese language 

My grandson (back row, second from right)

My husband and two daughters 

My husband and I 

Taiwan Trip (2)

It has been seven years since we visited Taiwan. Because of Covid, we cancelled most of our travel during that period of time. This summer vacation, our two grandchildren (16 years old girl and 14 year old boy), wanted to learn Chinese language and see their grandparents’ homeland, relatives, pay respects to our ancestors, and most of all, experience Taiwanese culture. My daughter asked us to go along with them, so she could help me take care of my husband (her father). It might be the last chance for him to see Taiwan, because he is suffering early dementia! So we decided to go, although it was only a ten day trip, it seemed a long journey for me! 

The Beitou hot spring town, near Taipei

The Beitou Thermal Valley 地熱谷

The Taipei Beitou public Library. The use of all
wood, one of Taiwan architectural treasures 

 

Beitou Library, it has stunning, eco- friendly buildings,
and beautiful landscaping too 

Witch’s Rock Waterfall 女巫石瀑

For me, it’s a rare rose of Sharon flower 

Taiwan Trip - My Mother Land

Taiwan, my motherland, is a tiny and beautiful country with many lush mountains, vibrant, friendly people and abundant scenery.  My husband, two daughters, two grandchildren and I took a vacation there from 7/30 - 8/10/2025. 

Here were some random pictures from Taipei, kaohsiung cities, my home town and other sites. (1)