Kimono Exhibit at Canton Museum of Art

On Friday, Al and I went to a fascinating art exhibit of beautiful kimonos made by Itchiku Kubota using a complicated process of dyeing silk. More details below.

"Kimono As Art: The Landscapes of Itchiku Kubota"

"Internationally acclaimed artist Itchiku Kubota used silk kimono as his canvas. Kubota had a lifelong fascination with the subtle changes of color and the quality of light achieved through skillful dyeing techniques combined with the reflective properties of silk. He often used nature as the inspiration for his work.

This stunning exhibition of forty over-sized landscape kimono is visiting the United States for only the second time, since its 1995 exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.

Itchiku Kubota’s dream was to live to be 100, the time it would take for him to complete a series of 75 kimono that would hang side-by-side, forming a monumental tapestry of the four seasons called Symphony of Light. He completed 30 of these pieces, Autumn and Winter, before his death on April 26, 2003."

More on the Artist: Itchiku Kubota
"Itchiku Kubota was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1917. He learned the art of dyeing as an apprentice at age 14. At age 20 Kubota visited the Tokyo National Museum, where he found inspiration in a 350-year old textile silk remnant of the long lost art of tsujigahana (Tsu-jee-ga-ha-na). “In a sudden moment” he said, “I encountered a source of boundless creativity which revealed to me my calling.” World War II intervened and Kubota was taken prisoner and put in a Siberian prisoner-of-war camp. Upon his release in 1951, he devoted himself to finding the secret behind this extraordinary technique. It wasn’t until 1977, when he was 60 years old, that he finally succeeded in his quest and developed his own method, which he called Itchiku Tsujigahana. Kubota used a complex process of layering dyes, inks and embroidery, on eight-foot-tall kimono. A single kimono could take as much as one year to complete."

To view more: Go to www.kimonoexhibit.com to see video

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More Pictures of Jacob and His Family

Four Generations Together

Have not been writing blogs for several days but plan to be more consistent. Have received new pictures of Jacob who is now over a month old. Rob sent me this picture of the four generations taken in Knoxville. Jacob is being held by his great-grandmother, Polly. His grandmother, Cecilia, is in the middle, and Rob is on the right.

Pictures of Jacob Robert Nye

Posting pictures of Jacob again in honor of Cecilia's bithday. What could be a better birthday gift than a grandson!

News from the Family Front

From Mary Evelyn: She is off for a few days to stay with Kate, Evan and Alvin (the dog) while Mark (birthday March 22)and Amy (birthday February 1) celebrate their 40th birthdays with a trip to San Antonio. Matt and Elizabeth (the DC folks) are on their way to Colorado to ski with friends. Matt celebrated his birthday March 20.

This month is full of family birthdays. Also celebrating this month are Meredith (March 19) and Cecilia (March 22). Happy Birthday to all!!

Of course Rob and Beth are busy with our newest family member, Jacob, born March 5.

Cecilia has told me that Ben has been accepted to the 11-month MBA program of Business School at the University of Colorado in Denver!! This will include international studies either in Ireland or China. He will learn the location in the fall. Congratulations to you, Ben.

Last Days of Our Trip

Monday, March 16,2009
We left Norris at 8:45 after having coffee and bagels at Jack and Loy's. The first 2 hours of our drive were filled with rain and heavy, thick fog...the kind that you cannot see 20 feet in front of the car. I was driving about 45 mph while everyone else sped by at 70 mph. Somewhat nerve racking! It seemed like 4 hours of fog not 2 hours. It rained until noon but skies cleared for the rest of the drive.

Made stop at Cinci for cigarettes and liquor. We were home about 6:00...safe and sound. Everything looked good at home ...Thanks to great neighbors, Mike and Pam, for watching over everything and stocking the kitchen with food and cookies. We unpacked the car and made a frozen dinner.....a big change from what we had been eating. Always good to be home to our bears and our own bed.

This was a good 6 weeks in Captiva but missed our family and friends who were with us in past years.

Sunday, March 15, 2009
We had a complimentary breakfast of waffles, juice and coffee in the motel lobby and then left for the drive to Knoxville to visit Cecilia, Rob and Beth and our great nephew, Jacob who is now 10 days old. We met Cecilia at Stein Mart because she had to work today. While at the store, Al bought shoes, 2 tee shirts, shirt, and grill press. Cecilia is thrilled with being a Grandmother. After spending time with Cecilia and shopping, we drove to Rob and Beth's and met Jacob, who is a beautiful baby boy with lots of brown hair and undetermined eye color....maybe green or blue. New Parents Rob and Beth beamed with pride for their little Jacob.

We then headed to Norris, TN about 25 miles north to visit Jack and Loy. We are spending the night at their friends' garage apartment where we have enjoyed staying before. We had dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant that serves authentic food, not anything like a Taco Belle. Fave place of Jack and Loy's since it is so close and the food is great. Spent fun evening catching up with them and exchanging stories. They promised that they will visit us soon and make the trip to Captiva next year.


Saturday, March 14, 2009
Saturday morning we were on the road by 8:30 after a quick breakfast of toast and juice. It was a sunny morning as we crossed the causeway and left the islands. Al sang his pelican song as is our tradition when we cross the causeway and see a pelican. There were many fish boats under the bridge as we left. We made a stop at Sun Harvest to buy oranges and grapefruit. Al drove the first leg of the trip headed north to our first layover in Carterville, GA at the Best Western at 5663 Highway 20 NE room #318. We arrived there about 8 o'clock shortly after sunset. There was rain on the last 3 hours of our trip at which time Al was driving again. We were slowed down by about 3 accidents. The drive through Atlanta seemed easier than the drive through there on the way down even with some fender benders slowing the city traffic. Al was quickly checked into our room. It has cooled down to the mid 40's...missing the warm temps already.

We went to a nearby Ruby Tuesday's for dinner. The food was great...started with Asian Dumplings filled with a blend of chicken and seasonings, then steamed and served with peanut sauce. I had Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. Al had Shrimp Scampi & Steak served with fresh, steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes. But the service was as bad as the food was great! A Good dinner ruined by really bad service!



Friday, March 13, 2009
Tomorrow we leave! These 40 days have gone very quickly. We began some serious packing this morning and started loading the car. Every thing was loaded except what we need for today and for our trip home. We had brunch around 11 on the porch...I made an omelet with corned beef. Al checked our reservations in Cartersville, GA. This was a beautiful day to spend on the beach for our last day. No dolphins today... and not many people either...just a quiet day relaxing with each other...sunning, walking and listening to the radio. We left the beach about 4:30.

Rene invited us over for a fish fry tonight. He and a couple from Toronto had been out fishing this morning and caught several sheephead which is a tropical climate fish. Also invited were Josh and Michelle, the couple from Toronto, and Ella(his mother). Rene did the deep frying of the fish in a beer batter. Margarethe served a first course of pasta and tomato sauce. She made a German tartar sauce made with finely chopped apple for the fish and served a mixed green salad. Josh,a wine connoisseur, brought several bottles of white wine. The dinner was finished with a plate of cheeses and crackers. Dinner was great....you can't get fresher fish than this!

The sun sets on our Captiva visit.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Skimmers at Bunche Beach

We drove over to Ft. Myer's this morning. Our first stop was Bunche Beach to see the skimmers who seem to be here this time of the year. Also spotted a great blue heron and many gulls. Even though it was only 8:30, there were also a lot of people setting up for a day at the beach. Nice view of the causeway from here. Then off to the car wash for a much needed cleaning. Then we made a stop at Tanager Outlet to shop for shoes for Al. We bought white shoes, sandals, white Polo hoodies, and Polo shorts for Al. Also took a quick look at an Arts and Crafts show in the parking lot.

We wanted to lunch at the Lighthouse Restaurant near the causeway but there was no space to eat outside so we drove back to Sanibel to the Thistle Lodge (Casa Ybel Resort)which we have not been to in several years. Al had reuben sandwich with fries and I had a wrap of crab and shrimp salad with fruit salad.
Late afternoon was spent at the beach. We saw a group of dolphins playing in the rooster tail behind the Sanibel Thriller (a diesel powered 55' motor yacht for touring) which sails by every afternoon. Great blue herons are starting to nest in a location by the beach high in an Australian Pine by the dunes. We observed the male heron in the nest doing what seemed to be a mating ritual stretching his neck while another great blue watched from a swaying branch. They both made sounds by clacking their bills together. After sunset, we had dinner again on the porch dining on yellowtail snapper, cheesy grits and salad. Staring packing this evening for our trip home.

Great Blue Heron Nest

Days Dwindling Down on Captiva

Early this morning, we walked the Bailey Tract. Not much bird activity but we saw a very large alligator sunning on the shore of the first pond. It must be the same one we heard bellowing about 4 weeks ago. Saw several mottled ducks, grebes, tri-colored herons, and blue winged teals. We noticed that blue ribbons were tied about every 50 feet along the trails marking small hav-a-heart traps. We wondered "what are they trying to trap?"

After our walk we had brunch at Over Easy. Al ordered lox and bagel and I had tuna salad on tomato half. Back to an afternoon on the beach for reading and watching shore birds.

Sunset is now after 7:30 with DST...seems so late. Have not really had a "wow" sunset this trip. For after sunset-dinner I made chicken puttanesca (which has become a fave of Al's) and salad. Was a beautiful sunny day and warm enough to eat outside on the porch this evening.

Dolphins in the Gulf

Took early walk on the beach and Al did his walk on bike path. Today is another "free day" so we spent time in the morn leisurely. Lunch of bologna sandwiches. To the beach about 2:00.....sun was hot but a cool breeze was stirring. Three dolphins from the south swam by and came close to the shoreline (directly in front of where we sat), then they circled around in the gulf before continuing north. It was the first time this trip that we were together when we saw the dolphins. Think it may have been a young one with 2 adults. I followed them up the beach until they were out of sight.

We had dinner tonight at The Mad Hatter just across the Blind Pass Bridge. Mike joined us for dinner at 6:00. He brought us a copy of the diary that Peggy wrote when she journeyed to Galapagos Islands, Ecuador in 2003 with her daughter Candice. It is titled "The Voyage of the Ahmara". It brings back memories of Peggy since she often talked about her adventures on that trip.

Al and I shared a Caesar Salad served with garlic crostini. Mike had Hudson Valley foie gras pan seared with rosemary & honey caramelized Asian pears drizzled with an aged balsamic reduction, as his appetizer. Al had as his entree the Grilled Buckhead filet mignon with fresh Béarnaise sauce served with yukon mashed potatoes & grilled asparagus. I had pan seared Tuna Au Poivre with a cracked black peppercorn crust finished with a cognac, peppercorn cream sauce served with roasted garlic baby red potatoes & grilled asparagus (delicious sauce). Mike had another appetizer as his entree....crab meat in a martini glass crowned with tropical fruit salsa & yucca chip finished with mango cream beurre blanc,shrimp with a barbecue sauce, and another seafood delicacy that I forget. We always enjoy an evening with Mike.