Monday Morning Star Count - Colorful Border

I have pieced the background and made a colorful border. Not the typical Christmas colors, but this is what I like.  I cut five inch strips, then cut the strips into random widths.  I put all the pieces in a basket and sewed them together in the order that I pulled them out.  

I loosely pinned the tree to the background, but I think it will be lower when I stitch it.  

I am pleased with how this is coming along. When I do things like this, I don't plan or draw things out.  It develops at I go and I like it that way. 

Look what the Easter Bunny sent me! Arigatou Okii Usagi!

Evening Hanami Party

Friday afternoon at work, I received an email from my friend, asking me to enjoy the cherry blossoms after work.  I was excited to say yes.  They purchased pizza from Napoli and bought some beverages (no alcohol for me with my high bilirubin issue) and I met them near the park.  

Ohanami is more than a tradition in Japan, it's a ritual. My friend said if the people of the world could experience ohanami, there would be no conflict.  I think so! The beauty of the sakura, the petals softly floating down, food and good friends for company.  I can't really explain it, you need to experience it.

Spring Festival

The company where I work hosts a spring festival every year.  Usually the festival is held outdoors under the flowering cherry trees, but this year it was rainy, so the mainstage was moved into the gym, with the vendors under tents outside.  

I saw and talked with many of my students and also met some of their wives and children.  There was entertainment for both the adults and the children.  

First there was a famous comedienne.  She is famous for imitating other celebrities.  I can't remember her name. 

The entertainment I was interested in was the KyuRangers.  I just found out about them the week before the festival from my students.  Apparently, there is a different set of Super Heros every year and the KyuRangers is this year's version.  I was a little dissapointed that only five of the nine Rangers were there, but I guess it came down to budget - five actors cost less than nine! There were lots of bad guys.

As I was leaving the festival site I met one of my students with his wife and their famous dog, Milk.  

I am glad I was able to attend this fun event.

Potato Chips in Japan

Recently I read that there is a potato chip shortage in Japan because of the typhoons that hit Hokkaido last summer, wiping out a lot of potatoes.  Several potato chip companies including Calbee and Kikeya have started limiting their varieties or discontinuing the large size bags.  Calbee has permanently stopped making 18 varieties including French Salad Flavor and Plum Flavor. Kiokeya had permanently discontinued Garlic Flavor and eight other flavors.  Calabee has had to import potatoes from the United States due to the shortage in Japan, but claims the majority of American potatoes are of insufficient quality.

(Last year I bought a can of ChipStar Strawberry Chips.) The article I read did not mention Pringles potato chips, which has many varieties, often available on a limited time basis. I remember Pringles in the US in plain, BBQ, and sour cream and onion flavors, but that's all.

The 2017 Pringles line up includes these flavors

Wasabi Nori

This year kicked off with the same Japan-exclusive flavour that was available back in February 2016, only this time with extra wasabi.

Jalapeno & Onion

Released on 14 March, this is the latest addition to the staple Pringles lineup, currently available in stores.

Music – Tasty Salt

The Music range returned for 2017 with another campaign offering free speaker attachments to customers who purchased 19 Pringles. 

Music – Sour Cream & Onion

Music – Jalapeno & Onion

Mayo Cheese

Another variety currently in stores for a limited time, this one combines the creamy flavours of cheese and mayonnaise.

Are Pringles or other flavored chips available where you live?   What is your favorite flavor?

Handkerchief Gifts

I was given these beautiful floral handkerchiefs and fabric.  

I have some ideas percolating already!  Thank you, Emiko!

Work In Progress Wednesday - More Background

Many people find this background stitching boring, but I'm not minding it.  I feel very tired most of the time and I don't have to think or check the chart for this.  I can stitch in the evening and listen to an audio book.  Hopefully I'll be feeling more lively when it comes time to do the beads.

The kogin project is coming along slowly. I usually get one length of thread in each day. This is also a relaxing stitching piece.  I don't have to look at a chart since it is a repeating pattern.  I look at the last section to repeat the current section.

Frame Purse Finish

Stitching Group hasn't met in a couple of weeks - everyone has busy schedules this time of year.  At home, I have been working on my little frame purse and finished it!  I took pictures step by step, so that if I can't explain the finishing process to the stitchers, I can show them.  Mine looks kind of wonky in these photos, but I think it is the camera angle - it really looks fine in person.

Monday Morning Star Count - Background Thoughts

I pieced five neutral-ly fabrics for behind the tree.  I will also do some kind of bright border around this, but I'm still thinking on it. I have a couple of ideas about that.  My plan right now (subject to change) is to do the background with border, then applique the tree, then roll up the background and embellish the tree.  We'll see.

 

Sakura Tea

The cherry trees are in bloom elsewhere in Japan, but they are late here in our area of Shizuoka.  They are just beginning to bloom.   In the meantime, I am drinking sakura tea.

The Alphabet Club - U

My Japanese word with the letter "U" is uchi, meaning home or house.  Here are couple of my "home" stitching pieces.

Hokkaido has Four Seasons

Bird Houses

Linking up with Chiara at The Grey Tail.

Emperor and Empress to Visit Shizuoka Today!

If only I had the day off today.  Emperoro Akihito and Empress Michiko, along with Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit Shizuoka City today. The Spanish royal couple are state guests in Japan for four days.

The two couples are scheduled to have lunch at Fugetsuro, the old house of the last shogun in the Edo period and visit an earthquake disaster prevention center.  Later they will see elementary school students perform traditional arts at Shizuoka Sengen Shrine.

How I Want to Feel

Statue near where I live

Still feeling very tired.  My doctor says it's the high bilirubin count, among other things.  I guess it's good that my job and my hobby allow me to sit. I walk to work and the hospital, but I don't have the energy to do a lot more than that. I know it is just temporary, but every time I see someone running, I feel the urge (although not the energy) to run, too.

Work In Progress Wednesday - Mary's Background

I've been working on the background this week. It's coming along slowly.  

The kogin project has been my lunch time stitching at work, since I finished the rose afghan.  

I'm enjoying both of these projects right now and will continue working on them in the week ahead.

Gone, As Of Today!

I read on RocketNews24 that McDonald's Japan has removed the Quarter Pounder and the Double Quarter Pounder from its menu as of today and people are not happy about it.  In Japan, there are many seasonal items that are available for a short time, but this is a standard item on the McDonald's menu.  I don't know the reason for this and it doesn't really matter to me because I don't eat quarter pounders, but it does seem strange that this sandwich is no longer available.  

Is the Quarter Pounder disappearing from McDonald's around the world, or only in Japan?  Would you be upset if it were no longer available at your local McDonald's? I love living in Japan, even though I don't understand what is happening much of the time!

Monday Morning Star Count - The Tree is Together

I like this tree!  I'm trying to decide between a tree stand or a tree skirt at the bottom of the tree.  I'm also trying out background fabrics.

Doing What You Love

I hope you are doing what you love today.  I saw this fisherman  when I was walking near my home and thought about being able to do what one's loves. How lucky I am to be able to do what I love every day.  

"English Has Too Many Words"

At the beginning of my classes, I give my students the opportunity to talk about whatever they want for a few minutes - free conversation.  

This week one of my students pointed to his thumb and told me he hurt his finger playing volleyball on Sunday.  I asked if he hurt his finger and pointed to my four fingers.  He said no, he hurt his finger, and again pointed to his thumb.  I asked if he hurt his thumb or his finger, and he again pointed to his thumb and said he hurt his finger.  I told him that was his thumb and held up my fingers and thumbs - eight fingers and two thumbs. He had never heard the word "thumb" before.  He also didn't know about "toes".  He told me that English has too many words.

(image from the internet)