holding on

This beautiful image of Japanese carp kites is taken from a tiny little calendar book from 1901 which we found at work today. It's about 6cm square and is printed on beautifully crinkled, terribly fragile crepe paper in these lovely watery shades. Every May, Family Day is celebrated in Japan (although I think it was still called Boys' Day in 1901) and these paper kites are strung up to flutter in the breeze as a symbol of good wishes for your family and children.

Our family has been rather disrupted this last fortnight or so, but I think we are finding some sort of equilibrium again now. Lots of changes are happening which are all quite sudden and surprising although hopefully, positive, and so this image of the happy, colourful carp swimming bravely in the wind is a good one for me just now.

7 comments:

Frances said...

Hello Sue, and thanks for letting us see that tiny gem of an image. I do like its symbolism, and send you lots of wishes for springtime happiness, and ... why not have that happiness continue through summer, fall, and beyond.

xo

rachel said...

How very beautiful!

Gilly said...

A very happy-looking carp!

Disturbances can often bring forth lovely things that have lain fallow for a long time - like red poppies.

You deserve a whole host of lovely things!x

caireen said...

lovely image - timeless x

Jane said...

Such a lovely image. Hope things work out for you all.

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

I love your image and also Gilly's metaphor about poppies. Best of luck.

Acornmoon said...

Your job sounds so interesting. What a beautiful image, so tiny and delicate for a calendar?

I hope that things turn out well for you and yours.