I attended my first bonsai show put on by the club I joined this spring. Not only did I help where I could, I was able to take two classes. It was quite a learning experience!
Observed big-time how folks put their displays together. Bonsai are always displayed in show on some sort of "stand". It could be as simple as a bamboo mat to a wooden stand up to a little miniature room! You can also use a stone, or a wood slab or such.
My first workshop was on putting together kusamono. What's that? It is a little "companion planting" that is displayed with a bonsai. Its size is in ratio to the size of the bonsai - so they can be very tiny. The name means literally "grass thing". Ikebana - the Japanese floral arranging - is very similar in feel, except kusamono uses living plants and can last several years or longer (tho you will have to redo it as the plants grow). Tho normally you use 3 plants, tho there are some that have only one plant. It can be a bowl of moss (very pretty). Kusamono can be planted in little tiny pots, or on driftwood pieces, or on stones with pockets and so on.
The other workshop was done by Roy Nagatoshi - a 2nd generation bonsai Master. He makes it look easy! This workshop was "bring your own tree" and he helped each person with whatever they needed. I had a tree I'd just gotten and learned quite a bit with his help.
It was so much fun! I can't wait til next year. And by then I'll have something to put in the show too!
Bonsai Master Roy Nagatoshi instructs a class as Mike B. listens.
Gone Walkabout...
This blog was going to be about my travels and impressions I had from them. But my attention span went walkabout. And like with any good walkabout I discovered unexpected things. I invite you to come explore with me...
You can contact me at teri-gonewalkabout@live.com
You can contact me at teri-gonewalkabout@live.com
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Red Light Cameras
According to some of the "vocal locals" in Clarksville, the newly installed red light cameras at various high accident intersections are the first step towards becoming a communist city or getting "Big Brother" activated.
Please! Sounds like a lot of barking by folks who are guilty of running red lights.
As someone who has 3 times - by the grace of God - just barely avoided being T-boned in an intersection by idiots blasting thru a hot red light, I WELCOME the cameras! I wish every intersection had them. Maybe then you wouldn't have to sit at a green light waiting for people to stop running their red light.
Break the law - get a ticket. Works for me! And using 21 century technology to do it makes perfect sense.
Even sweeter... local cops are getting caught blowing thru lights on routine patrol.
Please! Sounds like a lot of barking by folks who are guilty of running red lights.
As someone who has 3 times - by the grace of God - just barely avoided being T-boned in an intersection by idiots blasting thru a hot red light, I WELCOME the cameras! I wish every intersection had them. Maybe then you wouldn't have to sit at a green light waiting for people to stop running their red light.
Break the law - get a ticket. Works for me! And using 21 century technology to do it makes perfect sense.
Even sweeter... local cops are getting caught blowing thru lights on routine patrol.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Cruising on the General Jackson showboat
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