HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

Happy New Year everyone!
This year I had experienced FIRST actions, one is to went to temple near by to the tolling of temple bells 108 times beginning a little before midnight on New Year's Eve.

And after that I went to shrine to pay the first visit of this year.

Temple? Shrine? We celebrated Christmas just a week ago, then Temple? Shrine?
Exact a mixed culture we have!

あけましておめでとうございます。

今年は、今までに出来なかったことに年始からチャレンジできました。

といっても、除夜の鐘つき、午前0時の初詣です。寒いのは昔から大の苦手・・・
これが今まで三十数年生きてきて初めてのこととは。

お寺に鐘をつきに行って、その足で神社に初詣？って、考えると何だかよく分からなくなってきましたが、これが日本の文化ですものね、クリスマスも楽しんだし。

I didn't like to take photos at shrine at night, so I took this photo this morning.

Midnight of today we had to let my son sleep soon, so didn't do anything, but there were free Japanese noodles at shrine and also was sold lucky charms, etc...

ちょっと夜中の神社は写真に撮りたくなかったので（何となく怖いものが写りそうで・・・）、今朝もう一度息子と行った時に撮りました。

Japanese New Year!!

Happy new year, everyone!
I wish you a very wonderful new year 2011!

Here is a photo of "Kadomatsu" at a shrine near by which was taken in the morning of 1, Jan, 2011, when we went to "Hatsumoude (Hatsumode)" .

Photos below are "Mochibana Kazari".
The real "Mochibana" is made with "mochi", though we use two thin crisp wafers made from mochi.

I made "Mochibana" with Sweetie this year, we used colorful two thin crisp wafers made from mochi and sandwich willow twig between them, like this below.

Sweetie seemed so fun to make them!
I would like to tell Japanese tradition a little by little to him.

Here is a photo of Camellia ("Tsubaki") that was taken near the shrine where we live.


Thank you for visiting!

Take care and have a lovely winter holiday!

Happy New Year 2011!

Happy New Year 2010!

Happy New Year to you all!

New Year's Resolution 2009

Just a note to remember!
Here is my New Year's resolution 2009.

* Make 3 more PIF gifts as soon as possible.
* Try to stitch a bit larger piece and frame them.
* Try not to make smalls as much as I can (because there is no space to decorate in this new house yet...)
* Try to make friends' Birthday present in time!
* Stitch Birth Sampler for my dear friend's new born baby.
* Join some Exchange/Swap.
* Set the time and theme for the private exchange, and try to stitch them in time!
* Try to stitch seasonal designs (Halloween, Christmas etc...).
* Stitch and present Christmas designs for dear my Mum, Aunts, Cousins who care about me so much always.
*Make and send some RAK if I had enough time!
*Try to stitch designs from Sweden or Denmark with flower threads!
* If I could, try to stitch Beatrix Potter Quaker sampler!
* Sell or trade my stash which I won't use anymore...

Are they too much? I think so... but just the resolution! :)
My son will start Preschool from this coming April, so I think I will be able to have time for myself more than now!!

Take care and Thanks for visiting!

New Year's Holiday : Day 3 - Shonan Beach in Winter

Thank god, the weather is very lovely during our New year's holiday this year!
Today we went out for driving aimlessly, and I just asked to stop at the beach nearby, it's very famous beach in Japan, Shonan Kaigan (beach) where is a mecca for surfers!

In the summer there are so many surfers, wind-surfers, etc... and very crowded, but in this season there are some surfers and wind-surfers there when the weather is fine.

A lady is ready to surf!

Today's wave was a ripple, so it was good for beginners, I think.
While they were waiting for wave coming, they were like crows on the line... :0

Here is a little boy who has gone down into a beach for the first time...
"Oh it's the beach and it's the sea, isn't it?"
We were living in the big city when he was a baby, and the last house was placed on the mountain side, so we had not so many chances to come to the beach until now!

And playing with a ripple with his daddy...
He seemed very happy playing with waves!

Here we are! This is my small family. The shadow of my hubby, sweetie and me.

After beach playing, we went to a big shopping mall where there is a craft shop.
I looked around the frame counter, but I didn't have finished piece with me (actually I have not many of finished pieces at all!), so next time!

My husband is not "stay at home" type at all, so when he is on holiday, I become busy... ;0
Actually I want to stitch all day long, though sweetie always wants me to go with, so my (small) dream is to stitch whole day alone with milk tea, at the moment! :)

Sorry for no stitching post at all.
Actually I have no photos to share about stitching at the moment at all.
Although I haven't been sharing stitching issues, thank you so much for your visit to my blog and lovely comments!

I really appreciate for them all.

P.S. Sorry for my friends, I haven't been able to reply to your e-mails, comments, at all.
I will organize them and will write you back a little by little.
Thanks for your patience!

P.S.S. When I chatted with my old friend online, he simply asked me about my blog "why you hide eyes on your photos?" I thought he and everyone would think so!
In Japan, people care privacy very much, and I know there are some nasty online boards where are full of gross slander.
And I have became a target once before when I was writing Japanese blog (that's why I switched over from Japanese blog to this English blog...), so I don't want to show my family or friend's face...
I don't know who is stalking my blog to set as a target for nasty board again, that's why...

Anyways, take care and I wish you and your family a wonderful year with full of happiness!

Thanks for visiting and Happy stitching!

A New Year's Day Report!

Yesterday was the day that we had to visit PIL's home.
So I was planning to wake up earlier and before we go, I was going to visit shrine to get talisman!
But silly aren't I, I had alcohol in the midnight, so I over slept and couldn't go to shrine...

Today we went to shrine nearby to first visit of the year, and prayed for our happiness and got charms.

And I normally don't do it, but this year I really wanted to get a written fortune, and!!
I've got an Excellent Luck!!! Yeah!!
Last year, uhmmm not only the last year, I have been given much trouble for these 4 years, so this Excellent Luck meant me so much, it might sound a bit silly to you, though I felt very relieved!!

After we red written fortunes, we tie the paper to the rope or the trees like this.
I took top center of the rope and tied it very tight as praying for this year's happiness!!

As for the New year's day at PIL's house, SIL (my husband's brother's wife) and her 3 daughters didn't come, because they had cold, that changed the atmosphere so much I think, because now MIL is crazy for them!

Before then, she was crazy for my son (even she hates me!), but since I haven't been taking him to see them, she isn't interested in him now.

Is it the same "Love me, love my dog." = "Hate me, hate my son." ??? LOL

She is a bit indebted to me (actually my mum), so she seemed not want to talk with me, she also kept out of me, didn't talk to me.

I also didn't talk to her as much as possible.
So nothing trouble has happened! Thanks to everyone!!

But I was surprised when we all went to restaurant and while my son and I were having dessert, my son wanted to go to bathroom, so I took him there, but just after we were back to the table, check has finished and everyone was outside... I wanted to say, "Excuse me? we were still eating, though?" ;(

And MIL asked me about my son "Does he still love toy cars??", so I said "Yes, but recently he is getting interested in reading books", then she said "So there is Ponyo's book (Hayao Miyazaki's latest anime) at home".

So my husband said "Oh, so if he interested in it, gave it to him please".

But I didn't miss her funny face, and I realised that her face means...
When we were all back to PIL's home, she showed my son that book, but just soon after she showed him the book, she took away as saying "No, you are not interested in it, are you!, this wasn't bought for you, for Riko (2nd brother's daughter)!" and she took the book away from my son and said to 2nd brother "Here you are, it's for Riko, I thought she would be happy!"... ;(

My son even didn't open the cover yet, though! LOL

Anyway, don't care about her!!

FIL seemed still like my son, so when we were preparing to go home, he seemed a bit sad and said to my son "Tass, won't you stay over here? What do you think?"

But soon MIL said, "NO, put on your shoes immediately!!"

So my son was quite poor... But he seemed that he felt the atmosphere very much, he didn't talk to his grandpa and grandma at all, and didn't come to them.
Even though I have never told him about them bad, because I'm thinking he should judge in the future, so I don't like them but I don't tell about it to my son.
But children can feel it sensitively, my son LOVEs my mum SO much!! He kisses to my mum, hugs her, talk to her so much, always talking about my mum, but not to them!!

So you see, it's their loss!!!

MIL hates me, so she doesn't like my son anymore, isn't it strange?
I thought Grandparents love their every grandchildren...

But it was good for me, she didn't talk to me much.

I hope that my husband doesn't think it's my fault...

Anyways, I've got Excellent Luck!!!

So I will try to think positive and go forward to the right way!!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Happy new year, everyone!

P.S. Thank you so much everyone for telling me about your Christmas stories!!

I will prepare carrots for reindeer from next year, and I won't forget to leave tooth print on the carrot! LOL (it's lovely, isn't it!)
And I spill a bit of milk on the floor!
Thanks for lovely ideas! I love to know other countries traditions or culture so much, it's so much fun!

Happy stitching!! :)