Celebrating Eight Years of Friendship and Stitching Together
Sunday, my stitch group went to Furaipan restaurant to celebrate our friendship and stitching together for eight years!
This is a sweet little restaurant. One of the stitchers called and made reservations for us, including our main dish orders (there were three choices).
The waitress was a tiny elderly woman. First she brought us each a hot roll, followed by a cream squash soup.
I ordered the fish plate, which included four shrimp, salmon (under the cabbage) and vegetables. This was the most popular choice in our group.
The other choices were a chopped beef patty and a beef plate.
In addition to the five stitchers, we were joined by the university student daughter of one of the stitchers and her university friend.
Finally, we had dessert with coffee or tea.
The two university ladies asked me ahead of time if I would stitch with them after the lunch and of course, I agreed. I planned a little fob project (similar to this, with their choices of colors and fabrics, etc.) Another of the stitchers also joined us for the stitching session and the stitcher/mother worked on her Clover Cutter Cover. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the finished projects.
Are you wondering about the history of this group? In May 2016, I moved to Shizuoka prefecture for a job teaching business English at a global company site. One of my students asked me who my friends in the town were. At the time, I knew few people and didn't yet have friends in this town. He (felt sorry for me and) invited me to his home to have lunch with his family and I brought a little stitched gift. My student's wife was not yet a stitcher at that time, but was interested in learning to stitch. She brought a few of her friends together and all of them became my friends as we stitched together. Over the last eight years we have stitched many things, we have hiked together, visited the art museum, and eaten out. They know how I love my birthday and always celebrate me in a big way. My life has been enriched by their friendships.
5 comments:
Pamela: What a joy it is to know that younger people are interested in stitching and crafts, lovely photos of the group, I wish you were in the photo with them.
The food photos make my mouth water, looks so yummy.
The story of how you met is lovely, the Japanese people are so kind. I hope you have many many more years together.
Catherine
Isn't taking that job and moving to Shizuoka one of the best decisions you have ever made? Not only for yourself but for all those people you have befriended.
Shizuoka has gained so much from your arrival.
The restaurant looks very fancy! I was surprised to see Wedgewood's Peter Rabbit plates - I ate my lunch from one of them today!
Will the university girls join in from time to time in the future?
Such a lovely group and your lunch looked delicious! xx
I love the story of how you came together. One act of kindness resulted in a whole circle of like-minded friends who sound like a blessing. The luncheon was a wonderful way to celebrate -- it looks gorgeous!
Wow, eight years! I didn't remember how it started, but I love seeing how it's going. And what a great meal you had to celebrate!
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