A New Month... A New Variant

Well... It is a new month... December! And there is a new strain of the corona virus... again. More lockdowns... less freedom. More masking... less risk of spreading or catching the virus. More vaccinations... More hassle... Less money for people like me !

New Station Building

The night view of the new building at Hankyu Sannomiya Station.

Dill

 There were no fireworks this year in Japan but I thought that my dill flowers looked a little like a fireworks display. 

Lotus Flowers

 This was a new addition to the grounds of Ikuta Shrine in Kobe... Lotus flowers! I love this idea! This is a lotus flower that has finished blooming and is now producing seeds (which can be eaten).

Double Vaxxed

 Officially double vaxxed and waiting for a booster? The third wave came and went around the same time as the Tokyo Olympics... remember that? Now we are waiting for the word from the government on whether or not everyone needs a booster shot.

These are some dried "jack-o-lanterns" that were harvested along with some "edamame". The edamame were delicious. The jack-o-lanterns were a cute bi-harvest.

A New Season

 Cherry blossoms at Ikuta Shrine are an indicator of a new season.  I missed the big "Hanami" time this year due to the situation in the world but I could enjoy some cherry blossoms at the shrine.

Paper Lanterns in the Restaurant District

 Paper lanterns in Japan have meaning in certain situations. They often signify a restaurant with a special type of food and are usually red in colour. This restaurant went crazy with the paper lanterns as a way to advertise the restaurant.

Lucky Cats

 The view inside a small shrine located within a small shrine. Meow!

Will You Be My Valentine?

 At all of the shrines in Japan, the basin where people are supposed to wash their hands before entering the grounds have been "off limits". At Ikuta Shrine in Kobe, they have placed flowers in the basin to remind people not to use the water... and it looks nice! This was on Valentine's Day. How romantic!

The Second Wave

 After one year of a "fifteen day" stay at home recommendation, we are being recommended to stay inside to avoid the second wave. What's next?