Mourning dress

 

The knitted vest is completed.

The woolen yarn did not quite suffice, so it was combined with another yarn in a matching colour. This might well sound strange, but the check pattern has come out really well and the pretty sleeves were admired by all. Apparently, a request for another piece has already been made.

 

We came across a household raising cows.

 

A calf born only last night.

It seems to have been a difficult birth, so that the calf had to be pulled out by a rope tied around its legs.

When we took the photo of the calf, the mother came and threatened us.

 

Because of the tsunami damage, this year no dry hay is available locally.

This one bale of straw costs as much as 2,000 Yen (around 20$ or 16€).

Even for a calf that bale won't last for a month.

Having to feed 8 cows means thus a considerable financial burden.

We heard that the family skips a meal, in order to feed their animals.

 

 

Stewed 'wakame' stems and pickled red radish

 

Here and there, new houses are being built and damaged ones repaired.

The number of new houses is increasing.

 

Rocks thrown into the river

The water around these stones displays a peculiar pattern.

Thin ice has formed into rose petal shapes 

that seem to curl up against the rock. 

I had heard that a person had no mourning dress to wear for a funeral, so I borrowed a gown and delivered it. As it was freezing cold, several sweaters needed to be worn underneath it. It took a lot of doing to find a mourning dress of the necessary large size.

She had been teased at the evacuation shelter for the black pumps belonging to her grandmother, which she had quickly put on when fleeing from the approaching tsunami. But for the funeral preparations these came in handy now.

The coat, which I found among the donated goods, was a bit thin, though. It was dark blue, so that was acceptable for the purpose of the funeral. However, in the hurry, I could not get my hands on a handbag or a rosary.