Best of 2020

What a long strange year it has been. Do I have anything to write about for a year end recap?  Mmmm, let me think.  

Well, I went to Kyoto for the New Year holiday.  

At the end of January, I went to the Tokyo International Quilt Festival. 

Ted came for a visit and we did some touristy things near where I live in mid-February.

I met with friends early in the year, before You Know What.

In early April, I enjoyed the cherry blossoms near my apartment by myself.

Over Golden Week, I visited some local shrines and temples that were within walking distance of my apartment, again by myself.

For most of the year, I went to work and stayed home.

In early November, I went on an overnight Green Tea Tour in my prefecture. 

Shortly after that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases started going up in Japan, so again, I went to work and stayed home.

I voted in the US presidential election.

I celebrated my birthday in December.  

And of course, I stitched a lot! You can check out my 2020 finishes here.

You know what?  In spite of the pandemic, I've had a good year and I am thankful. I'm also very hopeful for the new year.

Work In Progress Wednesday

 The pumpkin stitching is done, now I need to finish it into the pumpkin.

I continued with the mini stocking band sampler.  I really like this one!

I've worked on the blackwork band sampler this week, too.

Tokyo Disney Price Increase Announced

Starting March 20th, ticket prices for Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea will increase by up to 500 yen during peak periods such as weekends and holidays.  The parks operator claims this is to encourage a more even distribution of guests throughout the year.  

Currently, the one day ticket for either park costs 8,200 yen for adults but will increase to 8,700 yen during weekends and holiday periods such as spring vacation.  Tickets for junior and senior high school students will  go up by 400 yen to 7,300 yen.  Tickets for children age 4 to 11 will go up 300 yen to 5,200 yen.  Prices for tickets outside of peak periods will remain unchanged for now. The last time ticket prices increased was April 2020.  The operator of the parks said it expects a net loss of 51.11 billion yen in the business year through March 2021 due to the coronavirus. 

I don't think I will visit Tokyo Disney during any time, so the price increase doesn't affect me.  Would a price increase make you attend on a non-holiday weekday instead of the peak increased price time? Do you think Disney park ticket prices are worth the cost?

Monday Morning Star Count - Week 34

Year four of the temperature quilt 

Week 34 

December 13 - 20 

57, 52, 52, 48, 48, 52, 50

I am reporting the high temperature each day.  My Year Four temperature/color (Fahrenheit) scheme remains the same: 

100 + Brown 

90-99 Red  

80-89 Orange 

70-79 Yellow  

60-69 Green  

50-59 Blue 

40-49 Purple 

30-39 Pink 

20-29 White 

10-19 Black  

You can see my finished Year One Quilt here.  

Imperial Family Update

Photo from Wikipedia

There has been little news about the Imperial Family in Japan this year because of the pandemic. 

On December 1st, Princess Akiko turned 19 years old.  Empress Masako turned 57 on December 9th.  The Emperor Emeritis turned 87 on December 23rd.  The Empress Emeritis turned 86 in October. (I think the news is avoiding using the word celebrated out of respect for people suffering in the pandemic).

In mid-December, Emperor Naruhito and Emperess Masako remotely visited a factory in central Japan where disabled people work. They also attended the Global Environmental Action International Conference in Tokyo.

Princess Akiko, daughter of the Emperor and Empress is a first year college student at Gakushuin University in Tokyo and is attending classes remotely because of the pandemic. She is studying Japanese literature and taking language classes in English and Spanish. The Emperor, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, and Crown Prince Akishino all graduated from Gakushuin University. Although she is the only child of the Emperor and Empress, she is not in line for the throne.  Currently the law says only males can succeed.

Twenty-nine year old Princess Mako, niece of the Emperor, publicly stated again she will go ahead with her postponed marriage to commoner Kei Komuro, although a date has not been set. Their engagement was announced in September of 2017, but for various reasons, including her parents disapproval, the wedding has not yet taken place. When she marries, she will lose her imperial status. 

The annual new year event at the Imperial Palace has been canceled for 2021.  This is the first time the event has been called off since 1990, the year Emperor Hirohito, grandfather of the current Emperor, died.

Year End WIP/UFO Report

Has the year gone by already? What a strange year it has been.

I last posted about my WIP/UFO's here. Here's my latest update. I've taken out the finished projects and added the new ones. In case you are wondering, I did finish a few things - and they can be seen here.

Year 2 of the Temperature Quilt 

Year 3 of the Temperature Quilt 

Year 4 of the Temperature Quilt 

The House Quilt

The Midnight Mystery Quilt 

Flower Applique Wall Hanging

Hexagon Block Wall Quilt

The Hexie Tree Wall Quilt 

Miscellaneous Diamond Hexie Shapes

Ribbon Album Wall Quilt

Mary Queen of Scots  

Bess of Hardwick 

Paisley Purse

RSN Knot Garden 

RSN Rice Fields

The Miniature Rug 

Miniature Footstool

Miniature Chair Cushion 

Silk Gauze Cat 

EGA Drawn Thread GCC

Blue Hardanger 

White Hardanger

Kogin 

Dogwood Afghan 

Bluebell Pillow

Winter Banner

New Year's Eve Mystery

Sneek Sampler

Horse Cross Stitch

Pumpkin

Bead Fob

Band Samplers 

 

Sashiko Table Runner

Temari

Fashionable Ladies 

Scarf

Fairies Hiding

Redwork Girl

Little Dragonfly Stumpwork Project

Sardinian Filet

I think visiting this list from time to time is helpful.  It reminds me what I have that is still unfinished (and also how many things are still unfinished).