Silver almonds

You can't see the silver almonds in this picture because they're tucked inside the belly of this fabric flying Chinese doll.

It's that time of year when a very special birthday arrives. The birthday of one of the most generous, wise, magical, and loving beings the Universe has ever known. Well yes, Him too, of course, but right now I'm talking about my mother. Happy birthday Mom!

I've posted two photos of the same image taken at the same time just to show the difference that light can make. The first was taken outside, the second inside.

Saru

I bought this sweet little monkey at a store in Takayama, Japan that sold figures made out of printed fabric, cut and sewn into simple shapes. There was a basket for each animal of the zodiac. I bought two, a monkey for the year I was born, and a horse for the year I fell in love with Japan.