Cassandra's Clocks

Cassandra painted the faces of these two clocks to represent the time in Okinawa, Japan and Chishmy, Russia - the homes of the Halls and the Zhdanovs respectively.   Thank you, Cassandra, for doing such a great job representing these two cultures.

Baba-Yaga (Баба Яга) is a witch-like character in Slavic folklore. She flies around on a giant mortar or broomstick, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs.

In Japanese culture the Shisa lion dogs are guardians with magical properties and they have the power to repel evil spirits.  Beside the lion dogs is a tree with falling cherry blossoms.