Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year's!

Happy New Year's from Japan! We welcomed in the new year eight hours ago but I'm afraid I am a party pooper and didn't stay up for the count down. This is the year of the cow by Chinese calendar and one of my students gave me this cute New Year's decoration.

Tetsu and I have gotten this house looking pretty good! Anyone want to come visit? It won't stay this way very long! I washed windows, washed screens, moved furniture, cleaned out shelves and the refrigerator. Tetsu swept the yard and the forest (I don't know why) and spot cleaned the rugs. He worked on a few closets too and Choco even got a bath! My sewing room is back so that it looks like I can use it!

We did last minute grocery shopping and had revolving sushi for lunch. I made sweet bean paste for more omochi and then the two of us sat down and wrote New Year's cards! A little late. All New Year's cards are supposed to be received on January 1st (a whole stack of them just came in the mailbox as 7:30 this morning!) and so the post office guarantees January 1 delivery if you mail them by December 25. Almost every year the first few days of the new year Tetsu and I are writing cards.

As for today's schedule, Tetsu has already gone off to work. He always takes the January 1st workday because we don't have kids in the house and his foreign wife doesn't do much for New Year's anyway. I'll go to church at 10:30 and then the rest of the day is mine to do as I like. I did not get the December block of the Noah's Ark BOM done yesterday but since you all are still in 2008 I'm declaring myself on time!



"Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits!"
Psalm 103:2


16 comments:

R.H. said...

Happy New Year...Tanya,Tetsu and Family. We are counting down now here in the States. We have 6 hours and 12 minutes to go. Glad to hear that you were able to get things cleaned up for the New Year, I have to report that I didn't. I had to work today, but I'm off tomorrow, so maybe I'll get some cleaning done. With your sewing room in order, we should be seeing something beautiful soon, right? Hugs Rae Ann

sewprimitive karen said...

Happy New Year, Tanya and Family!

Takumi said...

Happy new year!! It's still new years eve over here but. I saw the bed in your room. Where does Tetsu san sleep now? The picture looks nice but it gave me the idea to grow my hair a little longer. Anyways, I wish you a happy new year!!

Françoise said...

Happy New Year to you and your family!

meggie said...

It is evening here now Jauary 1st. We had a nice night with friends & family, & I even managed to last the distance. I was taxi service, so only had a small glass of bubbly to toast the new year.
Love that photo of you all together!
Happy 2009 Tanya & Tetsu.xx

Catbulle said...

Bonne année à toi et à tous ceux que tu aimes

Guzzisue said...

Happy New Year, I've been reading your blog for quite some time and thught I had better say hello and thank you for the insight into Japanese life.Love the family photo :-)

roberta said...

dear Tanya, god bless you and your family during the 2009 and beyond. I enjoy your blog daily and have fond memories of our time in Ca. this past summer, it was one of my highlights for 2008.
You had a very productive year quilt wise !!!

Love from snowy ( very unusual ) Italy,
Roberta

mamaspark said...

Have a Happy and Blessed New Year for you and your family!! You are such a source of inspiration to all of us.

Shasta said...

Happy New Year to you Tanya. I slept through the ringing in of the new year too. Your house certainly does look nice. Now come over and do mine!

Team Tabby said...

Happy New Year to you Tanya. We stayed home to ring in the new year due to a blizzard that blew in fast and it's still going on. You made me smile when you described going to Starbucks to get some things done, ha, ha, I certainly can relate to that!

Nina and the kitties
PS up to 4 cats now, we are fostering a very shy tuxie.

Julie said...

Happy New Year! The ten of you make a lovely card!

The Calico Quilter said...

Happy New Year to you! I'm curious after you wrote "He always takes the January 1st workday because. . .his foreign wife doesn't do much for New Year's anyway" What to Japanese families usually do on New Year's Day?

Oh, yes - I love your New Year's card. It makes me happy to see people acknowledge their pets as part of the family.

Callie said...

Happy New Year to you and your family!
I was so happy to find your blog a few weeks ago when I was searching for information about persimmons. We were gifted with Fuyu persimmons fresh and some dried. I am going to try and make persimmon pie out of the fresh... I already ate the dried ones. Very sweet and yummy! I loved reading your blog and finding out that you are also a quilter. I love your quilts! And I look forward to a new year of your delightful posts. Thank you!

andsewitis Holly said...

Cleaning the whole house at the end of the year -- I should adopt that custom and I think I will! I like it (but I don't like cleaning so much). Happy New Year to you, Tanya.

Chocolate Cat said...

Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!