First Bloom

Not of the season. It is the first time this tree has bloomed! Ever. It has been pruned at the wrong times in the past. Everything has its season for blooming and pruning. It would get scraggly and in the way in the summer so somebody would snip at it. Finally, we got it right!


That's the top of the neighbor's house. The daphne (next post) is to the left of this tree.

Spring Snow

This daphne blooms every winter. Sun or snow. The olive tree in front of it is not doing well.

This one azalea bloom is a little early.

Girls' Day

We didn't put Big Sister's dolls out this year because we have a kitten in the house who knows no boundaries. This is a catalog from Isetan, a department store. Check the label below for other posts and photos.

World Read Aloud Day!
March 3!
Mark your calendars!

Extra Closet Space

Bedrooms in apartments usually have a closet for futon. They are big and spacious. There usually aren't clothes closets, especially in older apartments. People buy wardrobes that sit in the room. They are wooden or cloth cabinets. Some are just open racks. Others have cloth drapes around them.
These choices are from the catalog Big Sister, the high school graduate, received recently. These things are available throughout the year.

Here is the company's link. It takes awhile to link up:
http://www.seikatsuzacca.com/

Catalog for the Graduate in the House

This year we have a high school graduate in the house! Big Sister is graduating from high school in March! So that means she's getting a lot of catalogs.
This one has furniture for college students' first apartment or for those who want to remodel their rooms at home. I think it's safe to say that most college students in Japan live at home with their parents. That is, if their university of choice is in the same town. Papa and aunt lived at home and went to university. Actually, they never left home!

This bed system is a real space saver. That's a television underneath.

Patrick Gannon--SCBWI Presentation

Patrick Gannon gave a presentation about cut paper art. It was fantastic! And fun! We got a chance to make one ourselves. I did mine at home. I like doing it.

Check out his beautiful art at his website here. His art has appeared in Cricket Magazine, TIME Asia, and other publications.

Concrete Slabs

The crane also lifted concrete slabs. The worker directed them over to the pile.

These concrete slabs will be the outside wall of the house. Typically, houses are made of wood here.

This netting is to protect workers from falling tools, etc.

Jewel Lock Pins

I've had these for years but haven't used them.

I bought them to pin a towel to the top of a blanket. Baba used to use what we call 'diaper pins' to attach towels to blankets.

When Big Sister and Little Brother were babies (18 and 14 years ago) we didn't use diaper pins. Diapers were held on by woolen or cotton diaper covers that had velcro fasteners.

Building the Neighbor's House

A crane was brought in to do the heavy lifting.

It lifted metal sections of the frame. Workers fitted them into place.

Our vegetable stand man watched from below. Can you see him at the corner of his stand?w

Litter Box

The litter for this litter box is made out of recycled wood chips. The litter can be used for one month. Urine goes down through the grated tray and is collected in a block of compressed wood chips. The blocks need to be changed each week. For two cats more often. This system is so much easier than other cat litter. Our box has a cover so that the cats have privacy.

Seven Herbs of Spring

I totally forgot this! Packages of the seven "herbs" were sold at our neighborhood grocery store. I kept thinking later, later...then it was too late! Check this link

Kids Web Japan--Seven Herbs of Spring

First Tokyo Sunrise of 2010 from Our Roof Garden

Blue moon in the west. (almost had a bird on the wire.)

The rising sun in the east.

Mt. Fuji in the southwest.

Osechi

This year Big Sister bought a box of osechi from Isetan, a department store. It served two people. She bought it so we could sample some fancy side dishes. She ordered it several days ahead and then picked it up on the 31st (osechi is eaten the first three days of the new year including dinner on the 31st.) The osechi box was wrapped in a furoshiki and was packed in a cardboard box.

We had other traditional side dishes. Like walnuts and small dried fish.

Stewed vegetables that include lotus root, sato imo, mushrooms, carrots, gingko nuts, burdock, bamboo root, and konnyaku.

And datemaki, spongy sweet egg cooked with fish broth. It is served at room temperature.
Check this post for more pictures of osechi. I didn't take pictures of everything this year.

Check Kids Web Japan-- New Year's Day and New Year's Cards

Winter Solstice

We float yuzu in the bath on the winter solstice. This year we're drinking it in our green tea, too. It is from Lupicia. Tea can be ordered in the United States here. The labels on the cans are different. Check the label below for other posts about yuzu.

Birds Eye View

Early morning view of Mt. Fuji.

Early Morning View

The moon over Mt. Fuji in the morning.

The Nutcracker

Big Sister and I went to see "The Nutcracker" again this year. Little Brother went only once with us. A long time ago. He wasn't interested. Check this old post.

Ordering Christmas Cake

Starting in late November, you can order the traditional Japanese Christmas cake, strawberry shortcake, at some cake shops, grocery stores and department store food sections. You can also just drop by and buy one, but it's best to order, especially when buying from a small neighborhood cake shop.

Here's a post about other Christmas cakes.

Mt Fuji in the Afternoon

 

Persimmons

Persimmon tree across the taro field.