Monday Morning Star Count

I’ve started hand quilting along the vertical seams of the Year 3 temperature quilt. I have all of the vertical seams along the blocks quilted.

I think this quilt will get finished before the end of the year.

Setsubun no Hi

Although not a national holiday, Setsubun is widely celebrated in Japan. Depending on the Japanese Lunar Calendar, Setsubun falls on February 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.  This year, it falls on the 2nd.  The name means the Eve of the Beginning of Spring. I lived in Hokkaido when I first heard about Setsubun, and I thought this was a crazy name for something at the beginning of February. See this post.

Typically, (especially in homes with children) someone dresses up like the oni (demon), or wears a paper mask like the one in the picture above. Others throw roasted beans at the demon, while chanting, Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (Demons out! Good fortune in!) People also eat the number of beans that corresponds with the person’s age. This is not so difficult if you are ten years old, but when you are my age, well, that is a lot of beans.

Another tradition on Setsubun is to eat eho-maki, a long sushi roll with a variety of fillings. Some people make their own, but grocery and convenience stores sell them, if you are not inclined to make your own. For good luck, you need to eat the whole thing in silence, facing the direction of the year.  The lucky direction for 2025 is west-southwest.

Best of luck to you this year!

Cherry Blossom Forecast 2025

The forecast changes several times leading up to the flowers opening to make sure everyone knows the peak cherry blossom times all over Japan. It’s so much more than just pretty flowers.  Celebrating Ohanami is as old as Japan.

It looks like my area is in the March 25th section.

Friday Finish - Recent Stitch Group Projects

I finished a second Stitcher’s Omamori. 

Here is the original Stitcher’s Omamori.

Yo-yo and felt coasters

No Live Reptiles in the Mail

Japan Post does not allow mammals or birds to be sent by mail, and starting April 1st, live reptiles will also not be accepted for mailing, on animal welfare grounds. Customers had raised concerns and animal rights activists criticized the service online. With temperature control and food unavailable, it is considered animal abuse. 

I had no idea that reptiles were allowed to be sent through the mail.  I’m glad the practice will soon be prohibited. I’m curious to know if it is allowed in other countries.

Work In Progress Wednesday

Mill Hill Frosty progress

Japanese Pattern 30

Stitch Group Sunday

On Sunday we met for the first time in 2025. First, we worked on our stitcher’s omamori.

Then, we started a new project, making yo-yos for a coaster.

We will continue working on this project next time.

We enjoyed sweet bean and mochi soup, a traditional new year food, for tea time, along with tea and other sweets.

This is the start of another great stitching year!

Monday Morning Star Count

I moved my chair to make enough floor space, then taped the quilt backing to the floor. After layering the backing, the batting, and year three of the temperature quilts, I started pinning. The batting is Warm & Natural cotton batting.

When I finish pinning, I will start the hand quilting. This will be much less intensely quilted than the hexagon bedspread I recently finished.

Yesterday morning I felt my room moving a little and thought it might be an earthquake.  I checked the JMA website, and there was a small earthquake where I live.

You Can’t Drive the Ambulance

A 46 year old man was arrested by police in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture for stealing an ambulance. 

According to police, Hiroshi Hirata called 119 on Monday evening, complaining of stomach pains. Three paramedics treated Hirata, who was drunk, and determined he did not need to go to the hospital. Hirata became angry and threatened the paramedics with a knife, then went outside and stole their ambulance. 

Police found Hirata and the ambulance in a drugstore parking lot about 100 meters away. Of course, they arrested him on the spot. Police quoted Hirata as saying, “I thought I would go to the hospital on my own”.

I think it’s always a bad idea to steal an ambulance, but especially when drunk.

First Shogun’s Path of Worship Tour - Eating and Sleeping

Day 1 - Morning Tea House

Day 1 Box Lunch

Fujisan Mishima Tokyu Hotel

View from hotel lobby 

My room

Dinner Day 1

In the round covered bowl - Unagi (eel) over rice

Breakfast Day 2 - Hotel buffet with many choices, both Japanese and western foods, no photo

Lunch Day 2 Enfrance in Hotel Shomeikan, Mishima

The courses were brought out one at a time. (I traded my meat items with another person).

Dinner Day 2 - Atami Izusan Hotel Suiyoutei Izu buffet 

There are food stations around the dining room, and yes, I ate too much!

Atami Izusan Hotel Suiyoutei Izu - Japanese style hotel 

This hotel room for me alone is bigger than my apartment. It’s several rooms that can be closed off with sliding doors. This type of room is made for a family or group, with a closet full of futons that could be pulled out at bedtime.

Breakfast Day 3  - Hotel Buffet - see dinner day 2

Lunch Day 3 Cafe du Chemin in Atami

Crab quiche and salad

Fish over vegetables

Dessert and coffee

Thanks to everyone who planned and carried out this great trip!