Autumn in New York, I mean Tokyo

The summer heat and humidity have finally relented and cool autumn air and crisp blue skies have arrived, along with the occasional rain shower.

At this moment in my hallway closet I have 17 umbrellas hanging on the umbrella bar (nice little feature in my Japanese home). My family of four also owns at least 4 collapsible umbrellas that we either keep in said hallway closet or in school lockers and briefcases. There may even be one more umbrella in the trunk of our car. That is a confirmed 21 umbrellas for four people! When I first posted this photo on my Facebook page last week there were only 16 hanging in my closet. I'm not sure where the other one came from. Perhaps they are propagating on their own.

We own so many umbrellas because it is considered poor form to be out in the rain in Japan without one. And when you don't have one handy when you're out and about and its starts raining, you buy one from the corner convenience store for 100 yen (about one dollar). Japan is the land of convenience and consumerism. If you don't have it and you need it, you buy it.

Years ago when I was still working in the corporate world of public relations and advertising downtown Tokyo, I invested about $50 in a really nice, very lovely umbrella. I still have it even though the silk fabric is moldy and the metal body and spines are rusty and a few even broken. I wish I could have it cleaned and fixed, but I believe that to be impossible. I will eventually have to get rid of it. And I may just have to take a trip downtown Tokyo to one of the finer department stores and buy a new one to replace it. Even though we have 17 other ones still in our house. But they are vinyl and plastic and cheap looking and not fashionable at all.

The other day we were out and about downtown and just happened to drive by the Tokyo Tower. Here is a photo that my daughter was able to shoot of it from the back window of the car. You can see the raindrops on the back window. And if you could see the area at the base of the Tower, you would see about 50 people lined up waiting for their turn to ride the elevator to the observation deck. All standing patiently in line with their umbrellas.

Its not all rain here though. Last Monday I was walking on the road approaching the park where my son was to play in a soccer game and looked up at the foliage on the side of the road. I have no idea what these lovely flowers/shrubs/weeds are called, but they looked gorgeous against the bright, clear, blue autumn sky.

Last time I promised that I would make some boy pages for my son, and I've kept my word. I also made yet another girl page for my daughter and a vintage page for my parents. Oh, and a Halloweeny page about how much I don't like Halloween. Happy viewing.

 papers and most elements from Howdy Ma'am by The Digichick Designers
butterflies from Around the World by The Digichick Designers
font is font is This One is Called Dana by Darcy Baldwin {fontology}
stamp is from Graphic Pop Sprays by Katie Pertiet
page template (altered) by Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs

 most papers and elements from Collect Moments by Bella Gypsy
silver leaves from Serenity by Etc by Danyale
brown stamp alpha from Coming Home by Dawn by Designs
font is Uncertain Tense by Darcy Baldwin
page template (altered) from Fuss Free Banner of Love 4 by Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs

papers and most elements from Oh My Darlin' by Kristin Cronin Barrow
small beige tag is from Cherished also by KCB
page template by Little Green Frog Designs
font is Snarky Bess by Darcy Baldwin {fontology}
stitches are by Anna Aspnes

most papers and elements from My Favorite Things - a Digichick Boutique Collab
clock “stamp” and hanging tag are from Around the World by The Digichick Designers
lace doilies and wings are from Roots and Wings by The Digichick Designers
page template (altered) is by Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs
font is Marcia Script by Darcy Baldwin {fontology}

 all papers and elements from #13 Rue Noir by Etc by Danyale
font is Quilted Butterfly

As always, thank you so much for stopping by my little corner of the web. I hope you'll be back soon. Happy Autumn.