My mother's youngest sister lives in Sendai. I met her for the first time in 1970 when I stayed with my grandparents at their temple. My aunt, uncle and cousins lived with them. I got to learn from and love all of them during those three weeks. It was the first time meeting them and gave me memories that are still precious to me.
Mom and Auntie have been writing regularly for years and years. But now that mom's two other sisters in Hawaii have passed away, the letters are traveling even more often. I now scan mom's letters, add my own with lots of photos and email them to Sendai. Auntie, however, still does snail mail.
This year, Auntie sent a New Year card for each of us to match our personalities.
Auntie took me aside the first time she met Art and told me that I had chosen well.
She remembered that he liked woodblock masters, Hokusai and especially Hiroshige. She even gave Art some copies of Hiroshige prints that my grandfather had kept.
Thus, she selected a card with Hokusai's famous woodblock print of the Kanagawa Wave.
She gave mom a traditional elegant and beautiful plum or cherry blossom card.
And me? I got a huge cherry blossom tree bursting with blooms. That made me happy.
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Oh my gosh!
I just noticed that she even found a Hiroshige stamp!
What kind of card do you think you'd want for yourself.
You and your family share some nice traditions & customs Kay.... beautiful cards and what a great photo of Art and your mom!
ReplyDeleteYour mom is such a sweetie! You two are pretty cool, as well!
ReplyDeleteWow! Those are all frameable. I'd make them into a wall grouping. I would have a fourth framed piece and it would be the envelope. The stamps are beautiful too!
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe connection has been kept well, but my brain refuses to answer your question.
ReplyDeleteI think I would have one with a Japanese mountain range in the background. Those are treasures and I hope someone someday discovers them and treasures them as much as you do.
ReplyDeleteBoth of those stamps are beautiful. Not sure which card I'd choose.
ReplyDeleteWonderful thoughtful cards
ReplyDeleteI’d want bird or fowl on my tree and lots of limbs and roots.
ReplyDeleteMine would have to have flowers.
ReplyDeleteHow thoughtful to send cards that are personalized for each of you.
The waves one
ReplyDeleteLIN Floyd says I'd be happy with anything. I like birds a lot...
ReplyDeleteThose are gorgeous cards! I would love the prints of all of them to put up on my wall. I'm personally the most drawn to your card because I love flowering trees. (and yellow isn't my favorite color but don't tell your mom!)
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of tis tradition. sounds like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteFlowers for definitely, maybe big frilly chrysanthemums - although I do like the elegant design of your Mum’s branch of cherry blossom flowers
ReplyDeleteAll of them are beautiful! Hobby stores have pre-made frames with double glass, where you slide the item into the slot to appear between the glass. Especially if the writing is as beautiful and your Mom's Japanese, those would be wonderful to preserve and see both sides. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful cards! I like your way of preserving letters - a fantastic resource for future generations.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous cards. SO much love in your family!
ReplyDeleteI love the wave myself, but they are all wonderful. How thoughtful! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love anything that has pictures of the ocean, lighthouses, wild seas on it. My mom's sisters were very dear to me... thought of them like second mothers. My mom and her 2 sisters are all gone now, but my cousins and I stay in touch. Love your tradition with the cards.
ReplyDeleteI like artsy cards. However, people hardly send cards out anymore, including myself.
ReplyDeleteI love that. I love your pictures.
ReplyDeletePretty cards and stamps from Japan! Thanks for stopping by to comment :)
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