A couple of weeks ago, one of my knitting friends turned me onto a TV show on PBS called At Home with Venetia in Kyoto. It didn't really sound like something that would interest me, but she raved about the show so enthusiastically, I decided to overcome my own negativity and give it a try.
After just one show, I was entranced. The show is simply about the life of Venetia Stanley-Smith, a British expatriate, who has lived with her husband in Kyoto's Ohara district for the past 30 years. Kinda grabs you by the throat, right?
Venetia's life is measured and thoughtful. Each week, Venetia tends to the herb garden of her rural home, makes handmade gift for her friends, and visits one of the artisans who live in Kyoto. So far, she's visited the Rakuten Bamboo Shop, the wirework shop of Tujiwa Kanaami, and a defunct factory for a milk-based drink sold during the 20's and 30's. Also, the pianist who composes music for the show, Mine Kawakami, stopped by to visit Venetia and wrote an impromptu composition about the mint tea Venetia brewed for them.
Some of Venetia's handmades have been oatmeal and lavender bath bags, jasmine and sandalwood face cream, and lavender vinegar.
The things that draw me in most are the ways Venetia lives her life: a slow, measured pace, extending thoughtfulness towards her friends, mindful of reusable and renewable sources. She expresses her creativity through making small gifts with the herbs and plants she grows herself. Watching Venetia's mindful life, listening to the lovely accompanying music leaves my mind as relaxed as a bit of quiet yoga.
12 comments:
I am also a fan of Veneti's. Watching this program leaves me with a peace and serenity hard to find in the hustle/bustle of a large city (also in So. Calif.) I have tried, without success to find on the Internet some of the shops and vendors highlighted on the show, without success. Have you ever tried to do this?
I just happened on this show for the first time today and was hypnotized by it. It's very unusual. Venetia seems like somebody important to know. She exudes some sort of otherworldly tranquility and gentleness. And she lives in an environment so completely different from my chaotic and complicated one, it's as if it's a fantasy or some sort of shangri-la. I've immediately set up the DVR to record every show of this series; they'll be keepers. How does a person radiate such calm and serenity? She seems so quietly beautiful.
If you click the links in the post, you will find the websites of some of the people Venetia has visited.
she brings peace and calm for a small point in time to our busy world. still thinking of the persimmon preservative she made on one of her visits.
I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don't know who you
are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers!
Feel free to surf my page - what is seo
Hey, I think your website might be having browser
compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening
in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other then that, amazing blog!
Also visit my website :: mzansi
I'm not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I'll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
Feel free to visit my site; twitter
Great dеlіѵerу. Outstanding arguments.
Keeр up the gooԁ еffοrt.
Feеl freе to surf to my homеpage diamondlinks review
Hello there, I found your blog by way of Google even as searching for a
comparable subject, your site got here up, it seems to be great.
I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply became aware of your weblog through Google, and located that it is
really informative. I'm going to be careful for brussels. I will be grateful in the event you continue this in future. Many people can be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Here is my site ... hotgirlsexcam.com
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your website?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But
maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having
one or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?
My web site party porn videos
Hi all. Does anybody knows what is Venetia's favorite book/ artwork/film/music or song?
I'm basing my project in a herbalist and I chose her. She has a very inyeresting background and current lifestyle.
Thanks
Post a Comment