This month I stitched an ornament by Elizabeth Foster of Elizabeth's Design's called Christmas Eve. I used threads, beads, and fabric I had on hand, not the ones called for in the pattern. I finished it with twisted cord I made from DMC #5 perle that I stitched down with invisible thread.
I'm linking up with Heather, at Stitching Lotus, the hostess of this stitch a long.
It's that time of year! The company where I work hosts its employee pang pong tournament in the summer. The winner goes on to compete against other company locations in the fall. I included a Youtube video in my post about this tournament last year. Pang Pong is an original Hitachi sport. I don't know if it is played elsewhere. Several of my students are on teams with their departments, so I like to go and cheer for them. It was incredibly hot in the gymnasium, so I couldn't stay until the end.
This week, I continued working on the butterfly kimono bag. I lined it with a Japanese print and stitched it together by hand. It still needs a draw string to finish it.
I also started a new little project - a kogin pattern on a prefinished pouch. It is taking quite a bit of concentration because it isn't a repeating pattern.
What are you making progress on this week?
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| Kumagawa, Saitama |
This summer it is just too hot for too long! Yesterday, Japan's highest ever temperature of 41.1 C was recorded in Kumagawa, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. Japan's previous high temperature of 41.0 C was in August 2013 in Shimanto, Kochi Prefecture.
What the heck is going on? It's only July, with all of August ahead of us. This horrible heatwave has been going on for weeks and taken the lives of over 40 people in Japan. Tens of thousands of people have gone to hospitals. Last week a six year old elementary school student died after collapsing from the heat. The news reports tell of many elderly people who have collapsed or died from the heat, (although I take issue with including sixty year olds in the "elderly" group).
How about where you live, how hot is it?
Year Two of the temperature quilt
Week 11, July 8-14
86, 88, 90, 93, 84, 93, 95
Sarah at Sarah Did It! is continuing to host us on Wednesdays, so please check out the temperatures around the world. Feel free to join it!
I am reporting the high temperature each day. My Year Two 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
If you've been reading my blog long, you know how I love giant pandas. I recently discovered the website Mainichi Panda, which means everyday panda. Forty year old web designer Takahiro Takauji has been taking photos of the Ueno Zoo pandas daily since August 2011. He has an annual zoo pass and usually takes photos on his lunch break or before work. You can read more about him in this Asahi Shimbun article.
These photos of his show baby Shan Shan at 6 months and in the same pose at 1 year. Kawaii desu!
My nighttime house is finished and in the mail. You can find out more about this project here in Japanese. I gave some details about this year's project here in English. There is still time to get your block made and in the mail!
I finished this into a holiday door hanger. The backing fabric is the same as the binding and I used some thin batting to give it a little body. I like how it turned out.
Most Japanese homes are small (by US standards anyway) and close together. People are polite and don't want to do things that will annoy their neighbors. That's the stereotype anyway.
The District Court in Nagoya ordered the forcible clean up of this gomiyashiki (garbage house) that neighbors have filed complaints about for the last ten years. This three-story, 180 square meter home, inhabited by the 62 year old son of the elderly owner, is being cleaned up against his will. Authorities estimated it would take at least 3 days to clean up the cardboard boxes, furniture, and other items which have overflowed from the house to the sidewalk. The resident is quoted as saying, "While I don't agree with the court's decision, it can't be helped".
I don't know how big of a problem hoarding is in Japan, but in the US there are television series devoted to the problem. They bring in psychologists, organizers, and cleaning crews. The families of the horders cry and still the hoarders can't let go of their "treasures" and often times just plain trash. It makes me cringe, as much about the health hazards as the disorganized mess itself. Are there any gomiyashiki in your area? What can be done about them?
I have a few (!) old kimonos and even more old handkerchiefs, so I have the idea to make some little bags. Here's the first one I've started, using the sleeve.
If this one goes well, maybe I'll make some as gifts.
We met to work on our NHK Partnership Quilt Blocks, and one person worked on her Chicken Scratch.
They will work on their blocks at home a little more and get them mailed in time to be received by July 31st.
I will show mine soon. I might be finished with it, or I might need to add another thing or two!
Year Two of the temperature quilt
Week 10, July 1 - 7
90, 93, 91, 90, 86, 77, 82
First 10 weeks of Year 2
Sarah at Sarah Did It! is continuing to host us on Wednesdays, so please check out the temperatures around the world. Feel free to join it!
I am reporting the high temperature each day. My Year Two 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
Tomorrow is a national holiday in Japan - Umi no Hi, or Sea Day. It is celebrated on the third Monday in July and is roughly around the time that the rainy season ends. The purpose of this holiday to give thanks for the ocean and what comes from it and to think about the importance of the ocean to the island nation.
I have the day off work tomorrow so maybe I'll talk a walk to the beach. This is what it looks like where I live (winter photo).
I read in Japan Today that the Tokyo Metro Police Department has arrested 525 people for violating the Road Traffic Act when they failed to pay fines for traffic violations between July 2015 and October 2017. In June, the Traffic Enforcement Division strengthened its investigation of these criminals and had them arrested. The committed offenses include ignoring traffic signals and operating a mobile phone while driving. In the US, there isn't enough jail space for the violent offenders, let alone the traffic offenders. If you live in Japan, pay your fines! Better yet, be more careful to follow the traffic laws.
I received this kit as a gift. It didn't take long to make and it is the perfect complement to my other Bee toolies.
Honda has announced it may scrap future generations of Asimo. Asimo, the humanoid robot that was launched in 2000, danced for German leader Angela Merkel and in 2014, played football with former US President Barack Obama.
Honda says it may focus on humanoid robots that can help care for elderly and disabled people. There have been no upgrades to Asimo since the seventh generation debuted in 2011.
I use Asimo in my beginner English class for teaching can and can't. First we talk about what he can do - open and close doors, operate light switches, walk forward and backwards, climb stairs, carry loads, push carts, bend and straighten his joints, raise his arms 105 degrees, etc. Then I ask the student what Asimo can't do and we discuss why he can't. Can he ride a bicycle? Can he talk on the phone? Can he swim? And so on. I can also introduce acronyms - Advanced Step in Innovative MObility with Asimo. In addition, Asimo is so cute!
I started working on a new ornament.
I also finished the stitching part of these four fobs. Next step decide on the beads and finish finish them.
It's always interesting to see how these turn out. The first layer of stitches are all done in the same varigated floss - Anchor 1360. The top layers were done in different colors.
So, my oncologist/surgeon was transferred to a hospital several hours away. When he told me, I was feeling sad because he was so kind and such a wonderful doctor. I didn't want a new doctor who didn't know my situation and hadn't been with me through it all. I wanted my same doctor. Nothing I could do about it and as it turned out no need for worry. My new doctor is kind and caring and I think it will be okay. I still miss my old doctor though.
Three weeks ago I found out my apartment building didn't meet Japan's building laws. It was a stressful couple of weeks, finding a new apartment, packing everything, then getting moved. The movers were quick and efficient Saturday morning. The new apartment is smaller and not laid out as conveniently as the old one, but I am on the second floor with a view of the sky. The new apartment is very close to the old one, so I will still walk by the stream on my way to work.
I am thankful to have such good healthcare here in Japan. I'm thankful to be in a safe building with a window.
Year Two of the temperature quilt
Week 9, June 24 - 30
81, 90, 84, 88, 88, 93, 91
Sarah at Sarah Did It! is continuing to host us on Wednesdays, so please check out the temperatures around the world. Feel free to join it!
I am reporting the high temperature each day. My Year Two 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
